The RSI Apollo Medivac, launched in Star Citizen alpha 4.3, offers a spacious, well-designed medical ship with customizable medical facilities and decent armament but is hindered by a slow quantum drive, high operating costs, and limited profitability. While praised for its aesthetics and functionality, it is considered a niche vessel best suited for dedicated medical players, with recommendations to wait for future updates before purchasing.
The RSI Apollo Medivac has been a highly anticipated medical ship in Star Citizen for over seven years, and it finally launched with the alpha 4.3 update. The ship features a spacious and well-designed interior with configurable medical rooms that support varying tiers of medical beds, from tier one to tier three, allowing for customization based on mission needs. The ship includes practical features such as a triage area, patient bathrooms, medical refrigerators, and storage for med gels, alongside a cockpit with good visibility and crew amenities like a kitchen and sleeping quarters.
In terms of armament, the Apollo Medivac is surprisingly well-armed with two size four gimbaled laser repeaters on the nose and a remote turret controlled by the co-pilot or pilot, equipped with size three Mantis Gatling guns. It also carries 16 size two missiles, making it a decent combatant, although it remains somewhat fragile due to its shield setup. The ship’s handling is heavy but stable, with a respectable top speed in both atmospheric and space flight, though its quantum drive is slower than expected for a ship designed to respond quickly to emergencies.
Operating costs for the Apollo Medivac are generally moderate when not using weapons, but costs can rise significantly when firing guns or missiles. Profitability is limited; while the ship has some cargo capacity, it is small and awkward to load, making hauling or looting less practical. Medical missions pay poorly, and the high cost of med gels further reduces profitability. The slow quantum drive hampers rapid response times, making the ship less effective for urgent medical support unless upgraded with a faster drive.
The Apollo Medivac’s design and aesthetic receive praise for their spaciousness, clean layout, and Star Trek-like vibe, with thoughtful touches like emergency lighting and engineering terminals that add to its functionality and immersion. However, the lack of drone functionality, expensive med gels, and the risk of patient ambushes detract from its appeal. The ship is seen as niche, mainly useful for dedicated medical players or specific group scenarios, rather than a broadly versatile or profitable vessel.
Overall, the Apollo Medivac is considered a beautiful but somewhat flawed addition to the Star Citizen fleet. Its high price, limited profitability, and slower-than-ideal quantum drive make it a less compelling purchase at launch, especially compared to the similar but cheaper Apollo Triage model. The reviewer suggests waiting for future patches and price adjustments before investing, while encouraging feedback from the community and promising a forthcoming review of the Apollo Triage.