Space Rats, Permadeath, and Procedural Planets: Space Scum Boldly Goes Where Battle Brothers Has Gone Before (But With More Rodents)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Space Scum, a new sci-fi strategy RPG, draws heavy inspiration from Battle Brothers but adds its own unique flavor with space rats, procedural planets, and a "gritty" universe. A demo drops next month, promising turn-based combat, permadeath, and plenty of opportunities to get your team munched on by interstellar critters.
Alright, mates, gather 'round the digital campfire. Seems like Sole Survivor Games is cooking up something called *Space Scum*, and early buzz is... well, it's giving off some serious *Battle Brothers* vibes. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Another strategy RPG with permadeath? Haven't we seen it all before?" And fair dinkum, you'd have a point.
But before you write it off as just another clone, let's have a squiz at what makes *Space Scum* potentially interesting. Rock Paper Shotgun's Nic Reuben reckons he kept scanning the trailer for something *different* than Battle Brothers. I can't blame him, it's what we all do now. But the art style does catch the eye, and if the bloke in the trailer looks like he'd "nut me if I dwelled on the comparison too long," as Nic from RPS eloquently put it, then there's gotta be something worth exploring, right?
Here's the deal: we're talking turn-based combat, procedurally generated planets (so you'll never quite know what kind of weirdness you're walking into), and the ever-popular mercenary permadeath. There's gear looting, skill trees – the whole shebang. Nothing to report on with any blockchain tech sadly, but that doesn't stop the game's overall potential, does it?
Where *Space Scum* potentially sets itself apart is its sci-fi setting and, more specifically, its *denizens*. Forget orcs and goblins; we're talking space rats, space lizards, space bugs – the kind of critters you definitely don't want infesting your interstellar grain shipments. And these aren't your garden-variety rodents, mind you. According to the RPS article, these rats are *emotive*. A cornucopia of rage, apparently.
Range combat also seems to play a more significant role, which makes sense in a sci-fi setting. You can specialize your mercenaries in hacking and turret operation – because who *doesn't* want a turret-wielding space rat on their team?
Now, about that “gritty” sci-fi universe... Sole Survivor Games uses the word "gritty" in its description and, I'm not going to lie, I always raise an eyebrow at that one. Does the game look gritty? Yeah, sure. But is that really the most compelling thing you can say about your world? I reckon they could have picked a more specific, more evocative word. But that is just my opinion. I'll still give the demo a bash next month (you can also sign up for a playtest now, apparently). It looks like a right laugh.
Full release date is TBC, so keep your eyes peeled. And who knows? Maybe *Space Scum* will surprise us all and carve out its own unique niche in the crowded strategy RPG market. Or maybe it'll just be *Battle Brothers* with space rats. Only time will tell.
Tags: strategy RPG, sci-fi, indie games, permadeath, Space Scum
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun