A tactical RPG on its own EA journey - Cyber Knights: Flashpoint
Colony Ship wouldn’t be here without all of you who supported us in Early Access. It’s a huge help to indie devs, and a unique opportunity to shape a game and see it evolve.
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint is a squad tactics heist RPG by the Trese Brothers that started Early Access in October and I think is worth checking out. They’ve been getting some fantastic reviews comparing it to games like XCOM, Shadowrun, and Invisible Inc. It’s less of a cRPG than Colony Ship, but much more of one than most XCOM-likes, with squad member backstories and character-driven storylines playing a big role in the missions you can take on.
Like Colony Ship, it has in-depth combat and character build systems. It’s not possible to do total pacifist playthroughs but they do have extensive stealth and hacking options; you can go full ninja, guns blazing, or anywhere in between. Enemy units are independent, so you can pull off a lot of great ambush and diversion tactics; you just have to stay ahead of each levels’ ruthless security AI trying to detect intruders and use guards and security devices against you.
They’re aiming for some major replayability, and the Trese Brothers have a great reputation as developers. I’d say they’re off to a good start in EA with already over 40 updates since launch. If you’re looking for another game to help turn into a lasting gem in your collection, check it out.
The first update of 2024 is focused on the party members (we expanded the existing conversations where appropriate and added new ones). We'll continue adding more conversations throughout this year, but we don't want to overdo, so we'll go step by step and evaluate your feedback after each update.
Other notable changes:
- improved visuals in several areas - improved journal entries - minor balance changes (Controlled and Focused Bursts, Annihilator, energy SMG magazine size) - new implant upgrade (Stress Response: when HP drop to 13 or less, Action Points +4, Evasion +12) - bug and typo fixes - engine optimization
if you're an existing player we'd like to thank you for your support and assure that we'll keep improving the game throughout 2024 and pay close attention to your feedback. If you're just discovering the game and wondering if it's for you, try the demo first or watch one of the impression videos:
Quality of Life update
The first major update is now live. It adds many ‘quality of life’ improvements requested by the players:
Customizable difficulty (for players who thought that playing on Underdog was too hard and playing on Hero mode was too easy)
Animation speed slider (for players who wanted to speed up combat and stealth; you can set up it for all characters or enemies only)
Follow and focus camera options
Walking/running toggle
Different inventory grid options
Chapter ending slides
Improved font readability (work in progress)
Improved the help screen
When leaving the Pit and the Habitat, listed quests that will be auto-resolved, giving you a chance to go back and finish them
When fixing Romeo, listed the missing parts
Numerous minor improvements, balance changes, and fixes.
Thank you again for your support. Happy New Year to you and your families.
Update Notes for Nov 22
- Added more dialogue with party members when arriving to the final area of the game. - Added a journal entry for when you talk to Eli about the robot but didn't accept to destroy it. - Fixed being able to start combat in Brotherhood's Habitat plaza sneak sequence. - Fixed an issue with the gap in the armory incorrectly triggering the armory attack sequence. - Fixed Stanton not being reachable in the alliance quest (needs a reload on the factory on old saves). - Fixed energy weapons and vests selling for less than intended (they sell for more than regular weapons now). - Added alternate solution to Justice building computers check. - Fixed issue with map markers in Habitat top. - Added energy ammo loot on energy turrets. - Increased size of items in inventory/loot/trade, added scrollbar (auto-sort in old saves to adjust). - Minor tweaks to level visuals and sounds. - Fixed typos and journal issues.
Nominate Colony Ship for the Steam Awards
The Steam Awards nominations are now underway and with so many people enjoying the setting and the story, we'd like to ask you to consider nominating Colony Ship for this prestigious award if you think it deserves more exposure.
We've received a lot of support and encouragement since release, more than we thought we would. It's humbling and overwhelming and we'll continue improving the game to deliver the best possible experience for you.
Thank you
We’d like to thank everyone for the fantastic reception and support. It really is amazing to see so many people enjoying the game we worked on for so long.
What’s next?
Right now we’re working on QoL improvements requested by the players, ETA – mid Dec.
Custom difficulty (you’ll be able to custom-tailor the Hero mode to your liking)
Adjustable font size
Colorblind mode
Walking toggle
Auto-follow camera
Improved help and descriptions
We have several content updates planned for 2024, the first update will roll out in Feb and will be focused on the party members.
We’re listening to your feedback and will continue improving the game.
Update Notes for Nov 13
- Fixed tilted characters bug (which prevented entering some areas). - Fixed frogs sometimes softlocking the game during rotation. - Fixed crash in Frog Psi attack, if it's still running while the game is shut down or reloaded. - Fixed failed teleports where PC party blocks the destination (being stuck in sneak burglaries). - Fixed mass upgrading stacked gadgets (and duplicating parts that way). - Filter modes are reset to All on each trade start. - Fixed movement AP tooltip. - Clamped sneaking to 0-100. - Minor map, collision and text fixes. - Minor balance tweaks on creatures.
Update Notes for Nov 10
- Fixed collision issues in the pit when trying to reach the judge at high frame rates. - Fixed character "flying" at Jia event when doing it with a full party. - Mathias has +1 CON from the new Gifted feat. - Adjusted Gifted on NPCs. - Fix to map being blocked after failing the justice mission. - Implemented cursor and cursor info scaling on higher resolutions. - Fixed an exploit where one could get endless skill points in the Character Creation. - Minor UI fixes.
Update Notes for Nov 9 - Release Version
IMPROVEMENTS
- Game is now content complete. - Added achievements. - Added civilians moving around in populated areas. - Added weapon reload sounds. - Added footsteps sounds. - Added ambient sounds. - Added interaction sounds. - Improved camera during dialogue. - You can select a jumpsuit color in character creation. - Improved "warning" sequence on the monks path. - New music for Armory, Mission Control and Hydroponics areas. - Added help screen.
CHANGES
- Interface tweaks. - Tweaked premade characters. - Added a non-combat solution for Jia's quest. - Gifted is +3 to stats, +4 to skill points (from +2/+3). - Added shop on Eli when delivering the machine to the monks. - Tweaks to stores and loot. - Updated Arena shop on CH3. - Made bodies a bit harder to be found by enemies during stealth. - Improved pathfinding around characters. - Adjusted noise and sneak penalties. - Tweaks to some early game checks (might require a new game to work correctly). - Tweaked hydro red elder creeper encounter, added a tech option. - Stealth tile danger now renders over objects around the mouse cursor. - Energy rifles can now fire snap at point blank. - Tweaked early game dialogues, especially some of the main character questions. - Improved journal descriptions.
FIXES
- Fixed outlines and characters being visible through the "fog of war". - Fixed issues with building interior objects outlines and interactivity (Camp Reid in particular). - Fixed issue with forcefield door in Hargrave's quest. - Fixed being able to use map in Menzel's quest, breaking the flow. - Fixed being able to use map in Hargrave's ambush by leaving the conversation. - Fixed issue with not getting the fuel cell and Mathias when he's not in your party. - Fixed combat activating on Brotherhood warehouse stealth. - Fixed issue with map screen button position. - Fixed issues with characters blocking navigation. - Fixed issue with sneak on armory frogs. - Fixed issue with being stuck in apostolic heights apartment. - Fixed "stiff body" issue with off-screen deaths. - Fixed Hit & Kill Master trader interaction. - Fixed loop when trying to leave ELCSS via elevator on the Hydro Alliance quest. - Fixed issue with wall hole in gang building in pit outskirts. - Fixed several issues when not doing certain events and going to the location later. - Fixed incorrect interrupt tiles against melee enemies. - Fixed issue in Jonas/Church events in the epilogue chapter. - Fixed missing door sounds. - Fixed minor misc errors.
Colony Ship is out now!
We proudly present Colony Ship and invite you on a dystopian adventure of a (very short) lifetime.
Seven years in the making, Colony Ship is our third game and a second full-scale RPG that emphasizes choices and different ways to play. We hope you will enjoy the game (if in doubt, try the demo first) and we look forward to your feedback.
We’d like to thank the Early Access players who supported us and helped us make a much better game. We wouldn't have made it that far without you.
