The Drake Ironclad Assault ship in Star Citizen 4.8 boasts impressive design, heavy armament, and extensive crew and cargo features, making it well-suited for combat drop missions once fully functional. However, severe bugs—such as the command module detaching during quantum jumps and disabling critical systems—render the ship nearly unusable currently, leading the reviewer to recommend waiting for future patches before using it.
In this detailed review of the Drake Ironclad Assault ship in Star Citizen 4.8, Even Lee highlights both the ship’s impressive design and its significant technical issues. The ship is currently plagued by severe bugs, including the command module detaching unexpectedly during quantum jumps and causing frustrating gameplay interruptions. These issues render the ship nearly unusable at present, despite its potential. The command module’s malfunction also disables essential systems like radar and weapon controls when gunners occupy turrets, further complicating its operation.
Despite these problems, the Ironclad Assault boasts impressive features and specifications. It is a large, slow-moving ship designed to carry a massive cargo load of 1,440 SCU, with a total health pool of 278,000 and quadrant shields totaling 288,000. The ship is equipped with numerous weapons, including size 5 ballistic Gatling guns and EM missiles, although the current armaments lack sufficient alpha damage to effectively engage larger targets. The ship also includes extensive fuel capacity, repair bays for vehicles, and a variety of defensive turrets, making it well-suited for combat drop missions once fully operational.
The ship’s interior is elaborately designed with multiple floors accessible by elevators and ladders. It features three ground entrances, large cargo bays with the ability to open and close the roof, and numerous fire extinguishers throughout the vessel—an unusual but welcome safety feature for a Drake ship. The interior includes an armory stocked with weapon racks, jump seats for crew members, and a habitable operations area equipped with remote turret controls. The design emphasizes crew functionality and defense, with interior turrets guarding the cargo bay and multiple access points for personnel.
The command module, which is critical for piloting the ship, is praised for its aesthetic and functional design, including a captain’s quarters with privacy features, a bathroom, and a relaxing ambiance with rainforest sounds. However, it suffers from severe bugs that prevent stable operation, including issues with docking and system functionality. The module also contains additional crew seating and living space, reinforcing the ship’s role as a large, multi-crew vessel. Unfortunately, these features cannot be fully appreciated until the bugs are resolved.
Overall, Even Lee rates the Drake Ironclad Assault at a potential 93 out of 100 based on its design, features, and intended role, but emphasizes that it is currently broken and not worth using until future patches address its critical issues. He encourages players to wait for updates before investing time or resources into the ship. The review concludes with a call for community feedback and a recommendation for Longship Industries for PC builds, underscoring the reviewer’s commitment to quality and support in both hardware and gameplay experiences.