'To Lyris'

The orbital views get better and better

The preceding story mission was: 'Secondary Intel'

The following story mission is: 'Deliver Mine Intel'

Another simple travelling mission, though this one does reveal more than most. In orbit around Kalabesh Bill Darius, referring to the previous story mission 'Secondary Intel', says that you are not done yet and that there is more intelligence to be collected on Lyris. He tells you to explore the route to Colossus first, and then to Lyris. Colossus costs 30 crystals and takes a couple of minutes. When you get there you'll find that you won't be able to enter the atmosphere. The planet has high pressures in its atmosphere so you can only land when conditions allow, in other words when Splitscreen arranges a special tournament or other event. There is however a star base here, unlike at Lyris.

Exploring the route from here to Lyris costs 10 crystals and takes twenty seconds or so. Now, you don't have to explore to Colossus and can go straight to Lyris, but the hangar around Colossus is the nearest from there so it's worth having access to it.

As soon as you reach Lyris the mission is done. This gives you access to a whole new list of white missions and once you enter the atmosphere the Sentinel Slayer achievement is unlocked. Get in there and fill your boots.

Steel Legions

A few days ago, on a bank holiday morning, I was tempted to give Steel Legions (SL) a go. My resistance was not due to any forebodings about the quality or concept of the game. What worried me was that I might really love it and start a new boy-meets-game, passion-filled affair. It would be difficult to maintain a blog on Pirate Galaxy (PG) if I never played it, or begrudged every minute that it kept me from my new, exciting and adventurous mistress.

If it wasn't for Cryonite Cove (CC), the apple-of-my-eye, I'd have no qualms about ditching PG as soon as a saucy new waste of time became available. But I have responsibilities, obligations. I couldn't just abandon CC, leave it orphaned and unloved. It wouldn't be CCs fault that PG and I had been torn apart by my eye for a pretty game and taste for exotic role-play. Dare I open Pandora's box and risk the future of my darling child?

Ah what the hell. It's only a bit of fun, nobody'll get hurt.

I downloaded the client from the SL website and fired it up. First of all there is a very cool loading screen with a battered tank giving it large with a machine gun. It made me all nostalgic for my BattleTech and Mechwarrior gaming past, which is probably not what Splitscreen intended but there you go.

I was able to log in using my existing Splitscreen account so I was soon able to bagsy 'Serig' as my screen name. There is a server choice but only the Europe server is available at the moment. The next thing that happened was I had the chance to join the Golden Territories faction straight away and get a bonus of 50 gold. I wanted to consider all options and not be rushed, so declined and looked at all the possible Empires.

Pictures of the four Empires are laid out in a line for you to select. I've read through the website and know that there is background to each Empire. As the richest faction, the Golden Territories, had offered me 50 Gold to join them, I deduced that each faction must have a benefit. For example the Phoenix Empire is described as having a rational way of life and being a culture of thinkers, so perhaps you get some advantage in tactical or technological skills. I clicked on the first Empire, which was the Pandora Rebels, expecting to get an explanation on their background and the benefits of joining them. However I found that I had now, apparently irrevocably, joined the Pandora Rebels. There was no 'Are you sure?' message, just 'bam!' you're a Rebel. Bugger! I have no problem with the Rebels, cool name, bull's head for a flag, but I felt as I'd been press-ganged. Anyway the deed was done.

I found myself at a Player Factory in a dinky little tank with the engine turning over. The graphics are very nice, as in PG much better than you'd expect a browser game to be. They are of a different style to PG, more animation less realism perhaps. No bad thing. As you try clicking here and there a series of hints pop up which explain how to move, how to fire, how to upgrade your tank etc. It doesn't take long before you're able to get into the action. There are things which don't get explained, for example there are little icons under your health bar which are still a mystery to me.

A big blue arrow kindly shows you the way to the nearest HQ for your Empire. When you arrive you can ask to be assigned a mission. Then you wait while the game decides what to do with you and a timer counts down. The first two missions I had were against Marauders, NPC unaligned tanks. You simply have to kill so many in a set time limit. Sound familiar? As you kill the Marauders you pick up items that you can use to upgrade or repair your tank. Before long I was in the workshop beefing my gun-wagon up, though there's no visible difference just yet. Again this was easy enough but I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing. I know my armour was getting tougher but by how much? Did that cost as much as upgrading my weapons? I then found out that I could hire crew members, all of who look extremely cool. There is a description as to what they offer you but I still found the details of the mechanics of it all hazy.

The tank-on-tank action is great fun with nice explosions, fire and smoke. I managed to complete these first missions easily enough and this is definitely a game you can get into straight away. The best was yet to come though. My next mission turned out to be me plus another Pandora Rebel versus two players from the Golden Territories. The objective was to defend a flag for a set time limit. For player versus player (PVP) action, SL knocks PG into a cocked hat. The game arranges it all for you so there's no awkward or annoying "Who wants to PVP?" messages or hanging around until someone has the time to come and give you a match. Plus you are matched up evenly. I was level 1, my partner was level 3 and we were fighting two level 2 players. This mission was even more enjoyable, even though we lost and the Golden Territories took the hill.

There is a tactical map which gives you a wider view of the world and command centres give you a picture of the world map. This suggests that as you progress you can lead armies and conquer territories, or at least that this is coming soon. If the idea is that as you win a battle against an enemy Empire then the world and tactical map changes and your faction advances, then I'm sold. That will add depth and a campaign feel to the game which would keep me coming back.

So first impressions of Steel Legions. Very easy to get into, great for fighting and blowing things up, top drawer set up for PVP and the promise of more depth and long term objectives to come. Negatives? Well the initial Empire selection process annoyed me greatly with no supporting information or second chance, and the detailed mechanics of how to play the game beyond the basic point and click combat system aren't entirely clear to me yet. To be fair I haven't played for very long and if I fully understood everything this quickly then it would be a very simple game. I will be playing again and am looking forward to it. If you like Pirate Galaxy then give Steel Legions a go, you may never look back.

Is Steel Legions now my latest obsession, tearing me and Pirate Galaxy apart? N0. At least for now Steel Legions will be my bit on the side, but at the end of the day I'll still be going home to Pirate Galaxy.

'Energy Depletion'

Shields, don't fail me now

The preceding Story Mission was: 'Help Fighters'

The following Story Mission is: 'Possible Weakness'

This Pirate Galaxy story mission, though not as good as the preceding 'Help Fighters', is still an enjoyable one. Natassia kicks things off as usual, telling you that the Baumarians' energy reserves are running low. You are dispatched to their central base of Jogan to see if you can help.

At Jogan, Ethan explains that the E-scouts introduced in the last mission are Missing In Action (MIA). They regularly call in their position so the Baumarians have a good idea where they are. You are given an area to search and have to retrieve the E-scouts.

As soon as you reach the edge of the search area you get a transmission from one of the scouts saying that  he's in his pod but is still under attack. (The Mantis are such bounders aren't they?) You should activate your large map at this point (use the spacebar). You will see a red dot which is the location of the E-scouts pod. You have 3 minutes to find the pod, collect it, and Afterburn (AB) out of the marked area. If you take too long, or get destroyed carrying one or more of the pods then the mission is failed.

You collect three pilots and then have to get back to Jogan. I was podded very close to home the first time I tried this but completed it at the second attempt.

A nice mission which I enjoyed. Not too difficult but I was in a Tank which has to be the best ship for this mission. The Mantis come thick and fast when you approach the pods so you'd struggle to survive in a frailer craft.

'Secondary Intel'

Come back Uncle Bill

The preceding story mission was: 'To Kalabesh'

The following story mission is: 'To Lyris'

A very simple and easy mission this one. I was still in my AnIn-1400 and got through it with no problems. 

Darius has been given the job to collect some intel concerning the Vega mine complex from Cassius Rock, who runs the mines on Kalabesh. Darius has a new ship so you have meet up with and escort him. Jake Rattenbury has a snarky dig about making sure you protect Bill properly this time. 

All you have to do is fly to meet Uncle Bill then escort him to collect the intel. Once he's got it he goes to orbit, and the job is done. The only hindrance are the level 8 Colonial Guards who try to pod Bill. All you have to do is fire at them so they focus on you, but stay on Bill's tail. Give the Guards enough damage and they'll back off. Like I said, simple and easy, which unfortunately also means nothing special. 

April 20th 2011 Update

On Wednesday 20th April there was an update to Pirate Galaxy (PG). It was a big one, in fact the biggest since Draconis. For all the details see the official word here. There were a few bugs that required a hot fix on 22nd April, though none of them affected me. Hotfix details here.

A number two shaped candle (snigger)

The first change you notice is the loading screen. If that doesn't make you smile then there's no hope for you. You may detect an Easter theme, and the game has plans for special events. For more details on that click here. You will also note that the pirate bunny skull (three words you rarely see together) is topped by a cup cake with a number two candle. Yes PG is in it's terrible twos. Expect temper tantrums and breath-holding over the next twelve months. Happy Birthday PG. Have I really been playing one game for two years? Yes, and that's a good endorsement.

Reading through the changelog I see that Cryonite Cove has slain another bug. In 'Hostage Negotiation' I was misdirected via the starmap to Kalabesh rather than Aurora due to an undone Tutorial mission. That annoyance is no more. Thank you 'anonymous reader who has some clout at Splitscreen'. One bug still exists that annoys me regularly though. I can't see my position in the Hall Of Fame. The circular 'jump to your position' button doesn't work and if I keep paging back down the ladder the game crashes at around position 975. Splitscreen must have half-a-dozen crash reports from me for that.

Right then. A significant change is the introduction of new white missions. Wahey! I love white missions me. First is 'Defend the Energy Collector'. In these missions a new type of allied ship collects energy from an energy field and you have to protect it from Mantis attack until it's full. This is good fun and a great addition to the game. An assortment of Mantis types land to attack your charge while a timer counts down. Good to have another use for the Taunt, and Engineers will be in their element too.

This is going to be hard work

Second, there is 'Cryonite Harvest', a squadron mission. This is very much like the destroy harvesters white missions but without a time limit. The one I initiated wanted me to blow up 5 of the blighters which would take yonks on my own, so I aborted it. All of these new white missions are going to make the 'clear all white missions in a system' achievements even harder to get. I'd be very unhappy if I was two whites from the achievement the day before they put all of these in the game. Luckily I managed to get all of Gemini's white missions a month or so ago. It was a nice surprise to also get 5 points for the 'Gemini Finalizer' achievement at the same time for doing all story missions and all whites. I wonder if I'd get a surprise achievement for getting all the Blueprints too.

A different meaning to 'Pod Race'

The third new type of white mission are the races. Brilliant. Totally different to anything else in PG, though I remember a time trial mission in the old Vega system just after you got an Afterburner. First you have to get to the start point, and sit there while Mantis blast you. There's a count down and then you have to race, against NPCs or your fellow squad members, through various check points. This is difficult and exciting, especially as stun equipped Mantis can really throw a spanner in the works. As you take the mission you are told the best time to beat and the pilot who set it. Wonderful. I can see players becoming specialist racers before you know it. I tried one race and came last by a mile. I don't know if you have to come first to beat the mission but I'm sure I'll find out.

There's a lot to try out in the new 'Terrible Twos' PG, and we haven't even spoken about Log Files yet. It's still early, but I'd have to say nice job Splitscreen, nice job.

‘Help Fighters’

I just want to know what's down that shaft

The preceding story mission was: 'Planet Search 2'

The following story mission is: 'Energy Depletion'

This is a cracker. If I had a rating system I'd give this mission 5 stars. It's original, tests your flying skills, has a seductive trap within it, is tough enough to make you work, but not so hard to drive you nuts.

The Baumarians in Jogan, their one remaining settlement, are under sustained Mantis attack. They're running out of Energy so you have to go and help. First you fly to the centre of Jogan, probably passing one of their under attack outposts. You might be shot at but just ignore it and fly on. Once there Ethan explains that they use E-Scouts to find Energy and supply their fighters. With the heavy attack underway they need help. Your task is to collect canisters of Energy and transport them to the marked outpost.

The canisters appear in Jogan near the shaft and you need to collect them then get them to the marked outpost before the 1 minute timer runs out. Then you have to get back and collect another, again in 1 minute. You have to supply three outposts to succeed.

Making the journey in a minute is difficult because you have to fly through the narrow and winding gorges. I was tempted to switch back to the standard 'non-relative' steering system, as with the use of the mouse it is better for tight manoeuvring. However I stuck with it and managed it at the third attempt. The first time I took too long reading the mission prompts and the second time it was just taking a wrong turn.

In a cunning and plausible tactic by Splitscreen, when you reach the outposts you find it littered with the debris of battle. Cryonite and BluePrints (BP) are scattered all around, but you need to ignore the booty and get on with the mission. At the end you can quickly try and hoover up the loot, and I managed to get 2 BPs and 239 crystals before they vanished.

Here's a thought. Can you keep re-taking the mission but ignore the objectives and scavenge this loot over and over? Maybe but I haven't tried it. Warning! If it is possible, then it would probably be seen as an Exploit, in other words cheating in Splitscreen's eyes. So don't do it. There, that should be clear enough. 

'To Kalabesh'

Everything you need to know about this mission.

The preceding story mission was: 'Smuggler's Revenge'

The following story mission is: ‘Secondary Intel’

In orbit around Axiom, Jake Rattenbury comments that he's surprised that Major Ivanova survived the bomb you lured her over in 'Smuggler's Revenge'. He also has a mission for you on Kalabesh. Use F7 F8 (thanks Pbhuh) to get to the star map and make the short journey.

That's it. Travel to Kalabesh. For 20 crystals and whatever war score it gives you. Don't get too over-excited.