It’s fair to say that among my colleagues at TheXboxHub, I have a reputation for enjoying simple pleasures. Give me aliens to shoot, powerful weapons to wield, and explosions galore, and I’m a happy gamer.
So, it’s no surprise that Starship Troopers: Extermination, immediately caught my attention.
This game, as you might have guessed, draws inspiration from the late-90’s film, Starship Troopers (which I also enjoyed, for the record). But can a game based on a brainless action movie from that era still hold its own in today’s sophisticated gaming landscape?
Let’s start with the presentation. With such an iconic antagonist – the Bugs – the developers had a solid foundation. The warrior bugs are faithfully recreated, their appearance and movements ripped straight from the film. Seeing a swarm of them skittering towards you is genuinely unsettling. The environments are equally impressive, vast and detailed, offering ample space to manoeuvre when the bugs attack. And from there, the different worlds are well-realised, each with its own distinct atmosphere.
As a first-person shooter, the action unfolds through your character’s eyes, immersing you in the conflict. The sound design is top-notch, with authentic weapon sounds and chilling bug screeches. It truly feels like stepping into the film, an illusion further enhanced by Caspar Van Dien reprising his role as Rico to guide you through basic training. Sadly, no Denise Richards cameo this time…
Regarding the story, it’s worth noting that the film has been criticised for its arguably fascist undertones and portrayal of a militaristic society. However, Starship Troopers: Extermination avoids such political commentary, opting for a simpler and more straightforward narrative. You are a member of the Mobile Infantry, deployed to the far reaches of the galaxy to eradicate the Arachnid threat. It’s a classic good versus evil scenario, and while not particularly deep, it serves its purpose effectively.
The gameplay is where Starship Troopers: Extermination truly shines. It offers a couple of primary game modes, both of which are highly entertaining. This is a multiplayer-focused title, with up to 16 players teaming up in squads of four to combat the hordes. Playing with friends is ideal, as communication and cooperation are crucial for success. The game boasts a healthy player base too; I never had to wait more than 30 seconds to find a full match.
The modes available offer distinct experiences. There is a classic Horde mode, where your squad is tasked with constructing a base. Your rifle can be swapped for a build tool, allowing you to place walls, turrets, and other defenses. Once the building phase is complete, waves of Bugs attack, and you must defend your position. After repelling a wave, you repair and reinforce your defenses before the next onslaught. The threat becomes progressively stronger, faster, and more resilient, keeping the tension high. When the extraction ship arrives, it’s a frantic dash to the landing zone, culminating in a final stand to protect the ship from the relentless bugs.
The other mode is reminiscent of Rush mode in Battlefield. You must advance through key points on the map, completing objectives such as repairing generators or mining ore while fending off attacks. Once an objective is secured, you move on to the next, culminating in a mini-horde mode where you build and defend a base before extracting. These missions are lengthy and intense, with overwhelming numbers of enemies.
There’s also a third mode focused on hunting down and exterminating Arachnids, but it appears much less frequently in the rotation.
To prevent gameplay from becoming stale, Starship Troopers: Extermination features a class-based system. You can choose from six classes: Sniper, Demolisher, Guardian, Engineer, Medic and Ranger. Each class has unique abilities and weapons, and they can be leveled up to unlock perks and cosmetic items. Weapons can also be ranked up through use, granting access to cool-looking skins.
You’ll have a blast playing Starship Troopers: Extermination. The online community seems refreshingly devoid of the toxicity often found in games like Call of Duty and the gameplay is genuinely thrilling. While not perfect (occasional lag spikes and enemy teleporting can be frustrating), there’s a lot to enjoy.
“The Only Good Bug Is a Dead Bug!” – Starship Troopers: Extermination Deploys on Consoles – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-only-good-bug-is-a-dead-bug-starship-troopers-extermination-deploys-on-consoles/
Buy Starship Troopers: Extermination on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/starship-troopers-extermination/9NTK9D44ZZQW/0010
300 players isn’t a healthy player base. That’s the number playing yesterday when I checked