The video reviews Star Citizen’s new refueling gameplay featuring the MISC Starfarer and Starlight, highlighting its simplicity, bugs, and balance issues, particularly with fuel consumption and mission design. Despite its flaws, the system offers a relaxing, profitable non-combat activity with customization options and potential for future improvements, making it a valuable addition to the game’s universe.
The video discusses the recent introduction of refueling gameplay in Star Citizen, focusing on the MISC Starfarer and the new starter refueler ship, the MISC Starlight. While players were initially excited about the addition, the debut has been marred by bugs, unbalanced mechanics, and overly simplified gameplay. The Starlight, despite being large for a starter ship, offers a straightforward refueling experience with an easy-to-use cockpit UI, removing the previously more complex valve and pressure management system. However, the gameplay itself feels somewhat basic, involving lining up, docking, and toggling valves without much skill or engagement.
Missions for refueling vary from single-ship tasks to fleet missions involving up to three ships, sometimes including unexpected combat encounters with easy targets like Auroras. The video suggests that the missions could benefit from more depth, such as time pressures or additional tasks like repairs, to make the gameplay more meaningful rather than just repetitive combat breaks. Mission payouts vary significantly by location, with higher-paying missions available only in a few star systems and often requiring travel to different systems without prior notice, which can be frustrating for players.
Several bugs affect the refueling experience, including issues with docking after disconnecting to refuel the ship itself, missing mission targets, and malfunctioning landing gear controls. Despite these problems, balance remains the bigger concern, especially regarding fuel consumption. Hydrogen fuel usage is disproportionately high, with even the largest tanks struggling to refuel multiple ships efficiently. The recent hotfix improved this slightly, allowing the Starlight to refuel two small ships before needing to restock, but fleet missions remain difficult without larger ships like the Starfarer.
The video also covers the customization options for fuel tanks and nozzles, which affect fuel capacity and flow speed. Larger tanks hold more fuel but release it more slowly, and players unlock blueprints for nozzles that vary in flow rates. Currently, refueling is relatively quick, and there is little incentive to upgrade nozzles unless future changes make slower tanks more efficient. The Starlight is priced reasonably at $60, making it accessible for players wanting to try refueling gameplay without investing heavily, while the Starfarer requires more credits but offers greater capacity and convenience.
Overall, while the refueling gameplay is not the most engaging or complex, it offers a relaxing alternative to combat-focused activities in Star Citizen. The system has potential and can be profitable, with players able to earn significant credits relatively quickly once ranked up. The video’s host finds the gameplay enjoyable after spending time experimenting with different setups and appreciates its utility for supporting friends and organizations, especially with future plans for refining gameplay on the Starfarer. Despite its flaws, refueling adds an interesting non-combat dimension to the game’s universe.