In Ensign-1 you play the role of a space fighter pilot returning from a deep space colonization mission. On arrival back to our own solar system, you find Earth has been colonized by a hostile alien force. It's now up to you, with the help of your mothership, the Ensign-1, to take it back Ensign-1 allows allows for complete freedom in approaching objectives. You can fight from the safety of your spacecraft, or land and exit to explore space stations and carriers on foot. You can commandeer any spacecraft in the game, no matter how big or how small. Defend an asteroid base, or take the fight to the enemy with a huge mothership, friends manning turrets, it's your choice. The game also features a multiplayer mode where players can explore a randomly generated galaxy, either fighting co-operatively to clean out enemy fighters, or battling each other for supremacy.
This is a fantastic concept with some really really great ideas. I rated the game higly purely because of this, and because I really believe this is one of those gems that deserves to rise above the average games out there.
But there are some serious stumbling blocks that need to be addressed:
1. Resolution settings option. There isn't one that I could find.
2. Horrendous FPS (unplayably bad sometimes) despite my excellent hardware specs. Other games run smooth (Tremulous, Torchlight, Nexuiz, Open-Arena, etc etc)
3. Default music versus other sound volume is too loud.
4. Menus deserve to be a lot prettier.
5. Game intro deserves to be a video, or a graphic slideshow with text plus more dramatic voice-over.
6. A bit confusing in the beginning as to what-to-do. Trial and error is sadly not the best at making a good impression.
7. Targetting reticle and other HUD graphics seem to be after-thoughts ... make these prettier & more engaging.
Yadda yadda yadda ... It's a cool game, for sure. The ability to leave the captain's chair at any point and climb into the turret is cool. I look forward to being able to exit my ship and kick some malevolent-alien ***!