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Many of you might not know it, but before the democracy-fueled soldiers, we had Starship Troopers as the first bug-squashing elite. After some time without a proper game from this iconic franchise, Auroch Digital and Dotemu worked on Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War, and after trying its demo, it is looking like an excellent retro FPS with the hectic action of this franchise, and all of that without leaning too hard into a grunt fantasy or realism that often feels like a gameplay clutch.
Welcome to the Bug Beach
I got the opportunity to try the demo for Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War early, and as a fan of the original film and some of the sequels, I must say it felt pretty faithful and engaging as an FPS.
In this version, I was only able to play one mission with different difficulties, but since I’m not a veteran Starship Trooper, I went with the standard one and got into the boots of Samantha Dietz, as she landed on Zegema Beach to fend off the bug invasion. As soon as I landed, I noticed several bugs closing in on me, so I started blasting and proceeded to move to the closest objective. This mission had four tasks, and a final one that was the toughest of them all.
For the first one, I helped fellow troopers secure a beach base and destroy a hulking Tanker enemy. Then, I destroyed some anti-air bugs by placing satchels on their back, and also cleared a few landing zones for other troopers to land.
In terms of gameplay, the gunplay is fantastic. All the weapons I found and used were quite responsive, but what made this demo shine out so much was the plethora of bug-squashing options I encountered. While I started with a simple assault rifle, I quickly found a pulse rifle that destroyed bugs with two hits, and even a rail gun-like weapon to bring down the toughest of foes. There was even a mech suit you could use to clear enemy waves more easily.
Another thing I liked was the orbital items, which ranged from deploying an electrical pylon to calling down a devastating orbital strike, and even one that let you use a ship’s mounted gun—all of it was great to use. Yet, my favorite part is that the game doesn’t lean toward the tedious grunt fantasy. You’re an elite Starship Trooper with several weapons at your disposal to complete every task, and I feel that is something that really elevates the experience of fighting in this perilous bug war.
Retro Greatness
Another standout, that really left me wanting more, besides the combat, was the gorgeous retro style. Ultimate Bug War features a look reminiscent of 16-bit games, with low-poly scenarios yet packed with detail, making it highly unique and extremely easy to run. I loved looking at other troopers and moving as if they were part of an old-school DOOM game. And despite the retro style, it still looks modern due to its gameplay mechanics that stand next to any of the recent first-person shooters we’ve seen.
Even if it was just one mission, I was quite surprised by what I saw, so much so that I ended up replaying the mission in different difficulties. As a fan of the franchise, I’m glad Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War captures the feel of the original film and its sequels, from the humor to the chaotic bug action. Yet, I’m also intrigued as to what it has in store, because it seems there’s a bigger plot unfolding in the background involving a dangerous bug, and frankly, I can’t wait to dive in more just to see the end of this Bug War.
