IGN: Starhawk Review

Closing Comments

Like its protagonist, Starhawk is a half-breed, something out of the ordinary and against tradition. It picks up the narrative slack on the battlefield, where a simple strategy system is an inspiring spin on the third-person shooter.
This hybrid form of thinking and shooting has a layered depth that comes completely to life in multiplayer, where building a fortress to protect a flag is as fun as flying headlong into the enemy's HQ. Combining these gameplay elements seems so obvious that, in hindsight, it's a wonder it's taken this long to take off.
The defining factors of Starhawk will, in all likelihood, garner a strong community to support it for years. Deservedly so: This is multiplayer at its finest, and it's among the best you'll find on any platform.
Mitch Dyer is an Associate Editor for IGN's Xbox 360 team. He used Warhawk as a surrogate for Star Wars: Battlefront III. Read his ramblings on Twitter and My IGN..

IGN Ratings for Starhawk (PS3).


6.0 Presentation
Cool-looking comic book cutscenes do what they can for a limp story.

8.5 Graphics
There's great visual diversity in the pretty settings plus some nice explosions and effects.

8.0 Sound
There's a ton of great action sounds at any given moment and a killer soundtrack.

9.5 Gameplay
It's awesome to summon structures, build bases, and go on the attack in powerful vehicles. This is a smart shooter that understands what makes games fun.

9.5 Lasting Appeal
Unlockable skills and cosmetic customiztion are novelty perks to a multiplayer experience you won't want to let go of.

9.0 OVERALL Amazing

I watched the video review and it actually looked like a pretty fun game. I may need to wash the dust off my PS3 and let it update (haven't since 3.5). I figure by then I'll have some money from work.

I was in the beta and it’s a very good game. The RTS elements add a new strategy to gameplay. I feel there is a little something for every type of player. Play supportive, protecting your base with turrets (ground or laser turrets) and making sure there are supply bunkers and stuff for your team. Saving up for that big shield is always helpful in defending the base.

Take to the air in the hawks, which also transform in to mechs. Defending your team from enemy hawks or destroying enemy buildings. Tanks, Jetbikes, Jeeps are all pretty much self explanatory. Tanks do double as arcing artillery fire. You’re not worthless on foot either. Lay linemines for those pesky vehicles. Rockets can take out most vehicles in about 2 hits. Even a skilled sniper can kill the pilot of hawks in mech form.

It was refreshing for me to finally have an online shooter that feels different for a change.

I downloaded the beta for this but never really gave it a fair chance. I played in one match where nothing really happened. Everyone seemed to want to play defense, no one was attacking anyone. I didnt really know what I was doing either, so my lack of fun with that was mostly my fault.

I'd like to try this game out though. Seems like something I would enjoy.

There is a learning curve no doubt. The developers added a patch later for a game mode just to play around in the sandbox. Drive/fly. Play around in maps. Use different weapons.

I was in the beta as well. My main problem with the game (at least in the beta, the maps you were on) were the closness/small size.

In Warhawk I looooooved, well the Warhawks. That was the main thing I enjoying, flying around, getting beter and better at dogfighting.

In starhawk the flying just didn't seemt o have that openess/space it needed, maybe it was the space maps or something, just seemed the maps were too small for getting in good dog fights and things.

Stiler said:

I was in the beta as well. My main problem with the game (at least in the beta, the maps you were on) were the closness/small size.

In Warhawk I looooooved, well the Warhawks. That was the main thing I enjoying, flying around, getting beter and better at dogfighting.

In starhawk the flying just didn't seemt o have that openess/space it needed, maybe it was the space maps or something, just seemed the maps were too small for getting in good dog fights and things.

Click to expand...

Space was a small map. Did you try the others? Acid Sea was larger and Dust was even larger than that.

Does anyone know if this game is going to be downloadable on the PSN any time soon? I am at work so my research options are all behind firewalls for the most part.

Wheresatom said:

Does anyone know if this game is going to be downloadable on the PSN any time soon? I am at work so my research options are all behind firewalls for the most part.

Click to expand...

There is only the disc version for now. No PSN download.

I picked it up on my lunch break at work. Stupid move on my part. Now I'm going to anticipate playing it all afternoon...