The RSI Aurora Mark II in Star Citizen is a versatile and modular starter ship offering cargo and combat modules that enhance its functionality, with solid stats and a sleek interior, though it currently faces some bugs like low nose health and missile rearming issues. Despite these flaws, the ship is highly recommended for new players due to its upgrade potential and overall value, earning a strong review score of 92 out of 100.
In this detailed review, Even Lee introduces the RSI Aurora Mark II, a new starter ship in Star Citizen, highlighting its modular design as a significant upgrade over the Aurora Mark I, which had multiple variants. Priced at $40 for the standalone ship and $55 with modules, the Aurora Mark II offers flexibility through two available modules: a cargo module and a combat module. The cargo module increases storage capacity, while the combat module enhances defensive capabilities with an additional shield generator and more missiles. The ship boasts respectable stats for a starter ship, including decent speed, shield strength, and armor, though its weaponry requires upgrading for optimal performance.
The ship’s exterior features practical design elements such as side-opening doors, accessible shield generators, and cargo bays. Even demonstrates the cargo handling but warns about some collision issues with certain vehicles on the cargo ramp. The combat module adds eight size two electromagnetic missiles and a third shield generator, boosting the ship’s defensive and offensive potential. However, the ship’s maneuverability, while competitive with light fighters, can be outmatched by more advanced ships, and its stock weapons are considered underwhelming, prompting players to customize their armaments.
Inside, the Aurora Mark II has a sleek and functional interior with a bed, armor and weapons lockers, personal storage, and an engineering terminal for managing ship systems. The lighting system currently has some bugs, with interior lights not activating properly until manually switched on. The cockpit offers a decent field of view with two multi-function displays and radar controls. The ship lacks LAM (night vision), a feature present in the Aurora Mark I, which may be a consideration for some players.
During combat testing, the reviewer notes that the ship performs well in PvE scenarios, especially with upgraded weapons, though power management and cooling systems need improvement. A critical flaw is identified in the ship’s nose health, which is extremely low and causes it to take damage disproportionately fast, likely a bug that needs addressing. Additionally, missile rearming is currently buggy, requiring manual intervention, which could hinder combat effectiveness until fixed.
Overall, the RSI Aurora Mark II is praised for its modularity, design, and potential as a starter ship, earning a high score of 92 out of 100 despite some bugs and issues. The reviewer recommends it to new players and those looking for a versatile, upgradeable ship, emphasizing its value and future promise once current problems are resolved. The video concludes with a shout-out to a veteran-owned PC building business, encouraging viewers to support quality craftsmanship in gaming setups.