DarkStar One

Did You Know?

• The game received a Metacritic score of 71/100 based on 33 reviews.
• GameSpot praised its accessibility and simplicity, while ActionTrip derided it as overly simplistic and repetitive.
• The game was frequently compared to Elite, Freelancer, and the X series.

Storyline

The DarkStar One is an advanced, partly organic starship built by the protagonist's late father, Simon Jarvis, using technologies from an ancient race. Jarvis was co-founder of SimRob Industries, and his business partner Robert Altair gives the ship to Jarvis's son Kayron after his father's death. Robert reveals that Jarvis's weapons system was sabotaged by his former co-pilot Jack Forrester, whom Robert identifies as a traitor and murderer. Kayron sets out to hunt Forrester, while attacks on research stations by unknown drones lead Robert to convince the Galactic Council they are of Thul origin, a genetically engineered human civilization. This antagonizes all races against the Thul, escalating border disputes and piracy. Kayron later meets a pilot named Eona, who is also seeking Forrester for undisclosed reasons; her criminal contacts make her Kayron's co-pilot.

Gameplay

The game is divided into action role-playing quests, including main storyline quests, side quests, and missions accepted from trade stations. These missions involve freighter escort, transportation, bounty hunting, espionage, or photographing objects of interest. Players can also trade, mine, or liberate star systems from space pirates. The ship DarkStar One is a long-range fighter that is partly organic and upgraded by absorbing alien artifacts found inside large asteroids. Artifacts enhance firepower, weapon compatibility, maneuverability, and resistance, and change the ship's physical appearance. The ship has four upgradeable parts: hull, wings, engines, and plasma cannon. The plasma cannon provides additional offensive or defensive abilities. Once all 100 artifacts are recovered, it unlocks a zero-point drive for unlimited hyperspace travel.