Starlink: Battle for Atlas Reviews
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is an entertaining blend of planet-hopping adventure and spaceship customization built on the back of the dormant toys-to-life genre. The level of care and detail put into making this unique slice of space isn't burdened by somewhat repetitive gameplay and exploitative systems.
Even without the toys, or even in spite of the toys, Starlink is a great game. Add in couch Coop and this is a fun way to get younger players into RPGs of this scope. It's also one of the few RPGs of this style that deal with space an technology and aren't just pure fantasy. With an interesting story to tell and compelling game systems Ubisoft has built a solid new IP. Hopefully they can continue to expand upon it into the foreseeable future.
An enjoyable story, solid gameplay and a respectable solution to the pitfalls of the toys-to-life concept make for a surprisingly good experience no matter how you play
Starlink is a well-done mixture between an arcadeshooter and an openworld game with focus on exploration, which delivers players a good package combined together with the classic formula of Ubisoft, a good (but expensive) toys-to-life product line and the possibility to complete the game without any additional payments. Both younger and grown-up fans of the genre should give the new franchise a try.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite the repetitive nature of Starlink, I still mostly enjoyed my time with it, and I think that's partially because it doesn't feel bloated content-wise. In the end, it's a game made for a younger crowd of gamers, and if I put myself in that mindset, Starlink is one hell of a good time.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas lands on the Nintendo Switch with its additional vehicles, weapons and long exploration that make this more than just a space-based action game. While its visual environment could certainly be richer and its total price will be higher than that of most other games, Starlink presents a very engaging exploration component as well as its own Star Fox flair which fits perfectly in a Nintendo system.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Starlink marks a bold and intriguing return for the toys-to-life genre. An engrossing even if ultimately flawed space journey.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a fantastic sci-fi game that's well worth playing no matter how old you are. The physical toys are attractive enough to adorn any shelf, and robust enough to actually be played with, while a large collection of ships isn't essential for completing the game, and there's even an option not to use them at all. It's a shame then that the story doesn't quite live up to rest of the game's promise, but you might be having too much fun to notice.
Ubisoft's late-stage toys-to-life entry is pretty, derivative and slightly lacking in charm.
As frustrating as the experience can be, there's a lot of enjoyment — and potential — to actually be had..
Starlink: The Battle for Atlas is a solid and very enjoyable space-fighter themed take on Ubisoft's traditional open-world formula. It has a good amount of content and is a genuinely fun experience. The only thing dragging it down is the vestigial toy system, which works against the rest of the gameplay. Fortunately, the digital version of the game allows you to entirely side-step that trouble and contains enough content at the regular retail price to make it worthwhile. It's a good purchase for kids, and some adults (especially Star Fox fans) will find a fair bit to like here.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is an incredible experience providing a seamless transition of space and planet exploration.
Starlink: Battle For Atlas is a fun game that adults and children alike will enjoy. The planets are beautiful and the amount of customisations that can be made in the game is impressive. Ultimately, the missions get a little bit repetitive and the Nintendo Switch version leaves a little bit to be desired in the visuals department, but as far as Star Fox goes, this is better than most Star Fox games in recent times.
At its core, Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a fantastic space exploration game, with solid flights, fights and enemies, but can be a complicated toys-to-life proposition to recommend, and understand.
With its exclusive use of some substantial Star Fox content, you're getting the best version of Starlink: Battle for Atlas on Nintendo Switch. And with a more accessible and ultimately enjoyable version of No Man's Sky's gameplay mechanics and Mass Effect's original vision, you're getting one of the best dogfighting/space exploration games you can buy outside of Elite: Dangerous. Its gameplay loop does run out of steam after a while thanks to the required grind, but with a surprisingly ungreedy approach to content access and toys-to-life integration, Starlink really could be the spark that reignites the genre's renaissance.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a fun, arcade-y revival of the spaceship shooter that's been filled out with a lot of extra open world stuff - both the good and the bad.
Overall, Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a solid foundation if Ubisoft wants to make this into an ongoing franchise. Allowing you to play with or without the toys was a smart call, especially since if you're playing on the Switch and don't want to bring a bunch of toys with you. The world and characters they've created are intriguing enough for me to want to see more of it. If there was just a bit more variety, Starlink could be a fantastic franchise for both kids and adults alike.