Starship Troopers: Continuum, developed by XR Games and published by Sony Pictures Virtual Reality, transports players into the chaos of a war-torn future, drawing inspiration from the cult-classic sci-fi film that’s been turned into a franchise. As the first VR entry in the Starship Troopers universe, the game aims to immerse players in intense battles against the Arachnid threat. While its squad-based combat and engaging multiplayer mode stand out, some aspects of the experience could benefit from additional refinement.
Set 25 years after the Battle of Klendathu (a focal point of the film), the game introduces a narrative that blends military camaraderie with high-stakes missions. Players assume the role of Federation troopers tasked with uncovering a secret on the planet Janus-4 that could shift the balance of the war. While the premise aligns with the universe’s lore, the single-player campaign feels light on narrative depth, focusing more on combat scenarios than storytelling. Despite this, fans of the franchise will appreciate its nods to the original films and characters and its faithful recreation of the Starship Troopers atmosphere.
Gameplay is split between a solo campaign and a multiplayer mode for 2-3 players, offering diverse ways to engage with the Arachnid menace. Multiplayer missions encourage coordination, with squad-based objectives that feel dynamic and intense. In contrast, the single-player mode leans heavily on survival mechanics, challenging players to fend off waves of bugs while managing resources and weaponry. The inclusion of manual reloading mechanics adds an extra layer of tension, rewarding precision under pressure. However, some players might find the motion controls to be unintuitive at first, especially during chaotic encounters where manual reloads can become a source of frustration rather than an empowering feeling.
The game’s arsenal features over 20 weapons that cater to various playstyles. From classic pulse rifles to high-powered explosives, the combat feels satisfyingly visceral, especially when wielding some of the franchise’s iconic weapons. Boss battles, such as those against Tanker and Plasma bugs, provide thrilling moments of scale and challenge. However, the difficulty curve can be uneven, with some encounters feeling disproportionately punishing, particularly for solo players who can feel like they’re running into a wall.
Visually, Starship Troopers: Continuum delivers an authentic representation of the franchise, with detailed environments and well-designed Arachnid enemies that you’ll recognize from the films. The game’s use of VR to create a sense of scale works particularly well during larger battles, where players are dwarfed by towering bugs. That said, the graphical fidelity on the Meta Quest falls a bit short, with noticeable compromises in texture quality and environmental detail. And while the sound design captures the chaos of battle, with booming weapon effects and the screeches of incoming bugs, some of the voice acting feels lackluster.
Despite its flaws, Starship Troopers: Continuum is a strong debut for the franchise in virtual reality. Its combination of cooperative gameplay, iconic enemies, and satisfying combat mechanics makes it an enjoyable experience for fans of the series. However, newcomers might find its steep learning curve and technical limitations on standalone VR systems to be hurdles. For those willing to squad up and dive into the action, the game offers an engaging, bug-filled adventure that captures the spirit of Starship Troopers, albeit with a few rough edges.
Score: 7.7/10
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