Drox Operative Review

I’m a big fan of the ‘get dropped in a world somewhere to fend for yourself’ method of starting an RPG. I’d read little about Drox Operative before accepting to review it because I was sold pretty quickly, an action RPG where

you have to build your ship up, make alliances with other colonies to survive and a steep learning curve really touches all my gaming G-spots. I’m not really an avid fan of the endless loot grind but I thought setting it in space and it being about the ships firepower than a muscular barbarian’s axes might give it a breath of life for me.

There are many different ways to carve out your way in the world each catering to a certain playstyle. The lone-wolf will enjoy doing the quests for Drox Operatives who in turn will kit you out with upgrades to your ship and crew. While this is all well and good you will just act as an observer to the incredibly complex, ever changing diplomacy and warfare raging all around your galaxy. To really get to the meat of Drox Operative you have to start taking a part in the politics of the different species and coalitions around you.

My main issue playing Drox was learning to let go. So many things are constantly vying for your attention, whether it be a request for weaponry from a species or a distress call from a planet you are constantly forced to make decisions that could impact your whole game experience. As someone who plays a lot of sandbox games I liked that I was having a real impact on the world and that it would continue on without my involvement.
“Chill Winston.” I kept saying to myself. “You are just one ship, you can’t save everyone!” That is when I decided I would raise the nicest empire that ever existed! It was just a matter of killing everyone else in the universe. Gotta’ break a few eggs though am I right? With my aim set I felt like I knew what calls of help I should answer and which ones would impede my progress.

One of the very few shortcomings of Drox is it’s combat which is a little dull and unimaginative for a game that offers so much in terms of sandboxy goodness. I felt myself dreading the combat parts and only putting up with them as they were an integral part of my nice world domination plan. I didn’t mind though, the other elements of the game more than made up for its sub-par combat systems just don’t be expecting anything revolutionary.

I’ve always tried to tread on the side of good when it comes to morality in video games, like my grandma would judge me for letting the peasants die. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t playing just one character but a crew who were hidden from sight that I began to exercise my, dare I say it, naughty side. There was defiantly a feeling of depersonalisation and distance from what was happening on screen that didn’t make me feel bad for torching a planet of plant loving bastards just because.

Just with so many games with steep learning curves I felt like every move I was making was a mistake at the beginning. You are going to make mistakes but don’t get disheartened if the people you originally wanted to ally yourself with are now trying to shoot you to pieces they were bitches anyway.
Life doesn’t always work out how you want it to and neither does Drox Operative the trick is rolling with the punches and throwing a few of your own.

Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.