"Jump Ship Preview: Sea of Thieves Meets Left 4 Dead, Now More Polished and Fun"
It was almost exactly one year ago that I walked into a meeting during the Game Developer's Conference and was introduced to Jump Ship, a captivating four-player sci-fi PvE shooter that masterfully blends elements from Sea of Thieves, Left 4 Dead, and FTL. Recently, I had the opportunity to dive into the latest build with some of the developers, and I'm convinced that if any indie game has the potential to make a significant impact in this year's crowded release schedule, it's Jump Ship. As it gears up for an Early Access launch this summer, the game is more refined and enjoyable than ever before.
If you're not yet familiar with Jump Ship, let me introduce you to this non-grindy space adventure designed for up to four players. It's worth noting that the team at Keepsake Games is actively responding to player feedback and is working on a feature that will allow solo players to experience the game with narratively crafted AI assistants. You get a glimpse of this in the Prologue, which not only serves as a tutorial—introducing you to gameplay mechanics such as shooting, space suit flying, ship manning, and combat—but also enriches the game's lore.
Jump Ship - Closed Beta Screenshots
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The game now boasts a compelling story integrated into its core PvE gameplay. The narrative revolves around a malevolent virus infecting machines across the galaxy, and it's your mission as an Atiran to reach the galaxy's heart to eradicate it. You'll navigate through procedurally generated mission chains in each sector, with missions varying from 10 minutes to an hour. The Jump Map provides color-coded indicators to help you gauge the level of danger and potential rewards associated with each choice.
Assisting you on this journey is Iris, a non-infected AI you encounter in the Prologue, who serves as a narrator during your missions. This adds a layer of structure to the already solid gameplay foundation. The Hangar acts as your hub where you can spend in-game currency on customizing outfits, exploring the Galaxy Map, and even enjoying a game of soccer during your downtime.
Let's delve into that exhilarating core four-player gameplay. It's a thrilling experience! As you embark on your mission, things can quickly go awry. Your ship might be attacked en route, prompting one player to pilot the ship and use the pilot's chair weapons, while another takes control of the ship's primary weapon station, wielding a 360-degree pivoting cannon against adversaries. Meanwhile, the remaining two players could be mag-booted to the ship's hull, taking shots at passing ships. But if your ship sustains damage, someone needs to rush inside, grab a fire extinguisher, navigate the vents, and extinguish the flames—ensuring your precious pineapple pizza-maker remains functional!
Jump Ship
Keepsake Games Wishlist
Once you reach your destination, all four players disembark and navigate through the structure to secure the loot. The infected robots won't go down without a fight, making teamwork crucial at every stage. Your grappling hook allows for swift movement both on the ground and in space, and once you've secured the big prize, one player must carry it back to the ship while the others provide cover.
Both my demo from last year and the recent one were brief, yet they demonstrated that Jump Ship can be incredibly fun in short bursts, without requiring you to sacrifice your day job. However, I haven't yet explored enough of the broader mission structure and the variety offered by procedural generation to fully assess its long-term replayability. Nevertheless, everything I've experienced so far points to Jump Ship having the potential to be a major hit. With all the right ingredients in place, I'm eagerly anticipating the chance to play much more.
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