Fractured Space Preview

Fractured Space is a unique take on a combination of MOBA gaming and space combat simulation that uses a three dimensional map that you use to move around. Compared to other MOBAs, Fractured Space plays at a much slower pace and requires a bit more finesse. The objective of the game is to procedurally work your way through the map capturing different stations with the help of your teammates and the end goal is to capture the enemy’s base. By capturing stations your team’s ships will earn upgrades that enable you to take control of the map with less of a struggle. Your ship is not limited to one configuration when it comes to the weapons that your ship uses.

The game has a number of configurations for a variety of ships that can be unlocked with credits that are obtainable by playing the game. Before the start of each match you have the opportunity to choose the class of ship which you will be using throughout the entire match. Once you have locked in your ship you cannot switch in the middle of the match which means that you have to choose carefully, as I quickly found out when trying to use the sniper class. There are a few different options when it comes to weapon customization, however the current build does not allow for much and many of the current weapon change options are rather useless. It is also possible that more options will become available when capturing stations in future builds, but as of right now choices in customization are fairly limited.

One of your other choices as a pilot is to pick the crew that works within your ship. At the moment changing your crew does nothing other than change the voices that yell instructions to you in game, however there is a lot of potential for a passive boost depending on which crew members you choose. While the crew may not have a serious impact on the game the ship you choose plays a significant role.

The game consists of a number of ships that have very clear cut roles which is quite the opposite of space games. Certain ships are required for different situations and you have to make sure you pick accordingly or your entire team falls apart. Some ships have stealth while others have stealth detection which creates opportunities for counter-play and strategic team planning to counter the other team’s composition.

Fractured Space breaks down into a typical 5v5 game mode that involves you capturing and holding certain points on the map. In total the map has five separate zones (two of which are the team’s bases) that you are able to jump to at any time which gives multiple options when attempting to overtake a specific station. The chances of your team outright capturing the enemy base is improbable, however it can be done with proper coordination with the rest of your squad. To do this your team must first capture at least two objectives in either the Alpha or Beta sections of the map and upon capturing them, you will be able to jump across to the enemy base. If you fail to capture at least 2 points and attempt to overtake the enemy base you will start to take persistent damage as long as you stay inside the enemy base. In order to take some of these points you will need to coordinate with the rest of your team.

One of the main reasons you want your team to continue capturing points on the map is the bonus to resources that you passively gain after a certain amount of gas resources has been reached. At the moment these boosts are nothing more than passive boosts to your ships defensive and offensive stats. On top of the in-match resources, there are also game resources and in-game currency called credits. These credits are currently useless, however in the future they will be used for unlocking ships, as well as weapon changes and upgrades for your ships.
While the combat is not the fastest in this game, it is actually quite fun once you get the hang of it. Due to the variety of ships and weapon functions there are a number of different play styles that both you and your team can use to capture the enemy base. It is very important that you learn what your ship’s role in the fight is because using it incorrectly can be a huge detriment to the rest of your team. The role each ship plays in this game along with working as a team to conquer the map is possibly the most balanced I have seen in this type of game.

Fractured Space is a game that definitely has potential to be something unique, a MOBA style game with a 3D map that is actually well balanced. While the combat may be slower paced than most games involving space combat, this one has a tactical approach to it that very few games can hope to achieve. I look forward to seeing where the dev team takes Fractured Space in the future and will certainly be playing more!