Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Reviews
Citizen Sleeper 2's broader scope stretches its mechanics thin, even while its story flourishes.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector fine tunes the slow-paced, dice-heavy gameplay of the original with its new and aptly named stress system and multi-stage, multi-character missions.
With a new found sense of tension, and showpiece Contract missions, Citizen Sleeper is transformed. This follow-up has improved the RPG formula in every way.
The writing is as striking as it is illustrative, which is so important in a text-based game. The RPG mechanics have been fleshed out, iterated, doubled down upon. It’s Citizen Sleeper, but more. I’m just not sure if I wanted less.
Citizen Sleeper 2's space and stations can be cold and cruel, and the vast corporate machine never ceases its churning, but there is a certain romance to everyone moving forward with their lives and loves – often in spite of all this – and it is hard to not be charmed.
Cowboy Bebop and Firefly influence an even bigger, more ambitious cyberpunk noir RPG
With more dicey systems and crew management than the first Citizen Sleeper, this sequel risks losing some of its storytelling heart, even if it remains a well-crafted sci-fi world.
It features complex but fun dice mechanics, a choose-your-own-adventure playstyle, and many memorable characters to interact with. If you're able to push through the initial learning curve, you'll find a worthy and long-lasting VN experience.
Citizen Sleeper 2 isn’t about living in a perfect world free from oppressive systems, nor does it posit that such a thing is possible. Its comfort is in the belief that we can carve out a home in a world that’s built to box us out. That’s accomplished through the people we keep close, the communities we build, and what we do with our bodies. These should be the things that no one can take from us.
It challenges you with harsh conditions and constant dread while telling you a story about what work does to a body, practically forcing you to reflect on your own history. It doesn’t reward you with hope or simple optimism, but it does offer validation. In this case, that might be better.
In large part due to its stellar characters and writing, Citizen Sleeper 2 stands as a remarkable achievement not only in the video game space, but in the sci-fi genre as a whole.
The main thrust of gathering a motley crew and exploring a small slice of the game's universe is great, and with various classes and upgrades to choose from, there's plenty of reason to replay too.
More than its predecessor, Starward Vector is concerned with the relationship between the human soul (as one character warmly and plainly puts it) and its body, even and especially when that body doesn’t look or function how it’s expected to. More broadly, it’s about being a misfit in a world filled with other misfits and figuring out how to work together anyway.
If you enjoy text- and systems-driven RPGs, or well-written sci-fi in general, Starward Vector is a remarkable achievement as both game and fiction.
Fans of the original will surely enjoy this — keeping what I’ve said in mind — while those that are intrigued by its concept should get out the original first. Engage accordingly.
Boasting a rich and imaginative sci-fi setting, stellar writing and storytelling, and addictive, choice-driven gameplay, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector improves on its excellent predecessor to deliver an even more memorable experience.
Like Citizen Sleeper before it, Starward Vector feels like a tremendous coming together in so many senses. The marriage between the original's core concepts and the new mechanics feels natural, while the motley crue you take to the stars with, their stories included, are an exceptional cast of characters whose place in my sleeper's own journey I'll never forget.
Everything that I loved about Citizen Sleeper is present here in Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. The music and art are as stunning as they ever were, the quality of the writing is exceptional and there is no shying away from complexity when it comes to the questions posed and the sometimes painful, but often beautiful conclusions drawn from them. While it doesn't engage with its core theme as extensively as I might have liked, I found myself enjoying every moment I spent in the Starward Belt, and I was captivated by everything I saw through the Sleeper's eyes.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector builds on everything that made the original great, introducing new features that elevate the experience. Its twisting, turning narrative, refined mechanics, and atmospheric world make it a great standout in the indie sci-fi genre.
Let me put it this way. This game is not for everyone. There is minimal gameplay and the gameplay that is there can be frustratingly random at times. You are completely dependent on the dice. That said, the story is just as wonderfully written as the first game and the atmosphere sucks you into the world. If you are a fan of narrative games or science fiction and you are looking for a game that you can relax and play without too much action, then I would definitely recommend making this your next game.
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