73
MONSTER
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is an all-new action-adventure game developed by Ubisoft Toronto. This deep, open-world space saga features Smart Building Technology empowering players to assemble and customize real-world physical starships. Each part attached to the starship appears instantly in-game and players can experiment with different pilot abilities, weapon types, and status effects and unleash devastating combos upon their enemies.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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66
Praised for charm, humor, and nostalgia but slammed for clichés, shallow characters, and a formulaic sci-fi plot that relies on overused tropes, leaving many calling it a generic adventure more about gameplay than storytelling.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
66
Positive Reviews (80-100)
20%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
73%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
7%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Praised for charm, humor, and nostalgia but slammed for clichés, shallow characters, and a formulaic sci-fi plot that relies on overused tropes, leaving many calling it a generic adventure more about gameplay than storytelling.
Gameplay Mechanics
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77
Starlink: Battle for Atlas dazzles with inventive ship customization, dynamic combat, and expansive exploration but is bogged down by repetitive missions, grinding mechanics, and a clunky pay-to-win model, leaving its creative potential mired in inconsistency.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
77
Positive Reviews (80-100)
55%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
45%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Starlink: Battle for Atlas dazzles with inventive ship customization, dynamic combat, and expansive exploration but is bogged down by repetitive missions, grinding mechanics, and a clunky pay-to-win model, leaving its creative potential mired in inconsistency.
Graphics and Visual Design
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79
Starlink's vibrant visuals and creative design dazzle, with praise for its alien color palettes, whimsical art direction, and immersive planetary worlds—though Nintendo Switch version stumbles with technical flaws like low res, pop-in, and barren landscapes, undermining its potential despite a stunning core experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
79
Positive Reviews (80-100)
65%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
34%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Starlink's vibrant visuals and creative design dazzle, with praise for its alien color palettes, whimsical art direction, and immersive planetary worlds—though Nintendo Switch version stumbles with technical flaws like low res, pop-in, and barren landscapes, undermining its potential despite a stunning core experience.
Music and Sound Design
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76
Starlink: Battle for Atlas' sound design and music earn praise for immersive nostalgia, standout Star Fox themes, and stellar voice work—yet suffer from repetitive motifs, inconsistent acting, and technical hiccups that undercut their impact.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
76
Positive Reviews (80-100)
51%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
47%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
2%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Starlink: Battle for Atlas' sound design and music earn praise for immersive nostalgia, standout Star Fox themes, and stellar voice work—yet suffer from repetitive motifs, inconsistent acting, and technical hiccups that undercut their impact.
Voice Acting
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70
Starlink's voice acting shines with bold, immersive performances for key characters like Fox McCloud and the Star Fox crew, injecting charm and nostalgia, but struggles with flat, repetitive lines for secondary roles and inconsistent delivery, making its impact uneven and reliant on perspective.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
70
Positive Reviews (80-100)
38%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
54%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
8%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Starlink's voice acting shines with bold, immersive performances for key characters like Fox McCloud and the Star Fox crew, injecting charm and nostalgia, but struggles with flat, repetitive lines for secondary roles and inconsistent delivery, making its impact uneven and reliant on perspective.
Technical Performance
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75
Starlink: Battle for Atlas delivers solid tech performance across platforms—Switch shines with portability and co-op, Xbox One boasts 4K resolution, and PS4 offers smooth gameplay—but all face minor hiccups like texture pop-in, frame drops, or graphical compromises, which don’t derail the experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
75
Positive Reviews (80-100)
46%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
54%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Starlink: Battle for Atlas delivers solid tech performance across platforms—Switch shines with portability and co-op, Xbox One boasts 4K resolution, and PS4 offers smooth gameplay—but all face minor hiccups like texture pop-in, frame drops, or graphical compromises, which don’t derail the experience.
Replay Value
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65
Starlink: Battle for Atlas offers replay value through exploration, customization, and collectibles, but repetitive missions and monotonous tasks undermine its longevity. While toys-to-life mechanics and loot systems engage some, critics cite lack of innovation, bland variety, and tiring loops as major drawbacks. A mixed experience: fans of its depth may overlook flaws, but others find it wearying.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
65
Positive Reviews (80-100)
15%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
80%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Starlink: Battle for Atlas offers replay value through exploration, customization, and collectibles, but repetitive missions and monotonous tasks undermine its longevity. While toys-to-life mechanics and loot systems engage some, critics cite lack of innovation, bland variety, and tiring loops as major drawbacks. A mixed experience: fans of its depth may overlook flaws, but others find it wearying.
Overall Verdict
73
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
73
Positive Reviews (80-100)
43%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
54%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
2%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Starlink: Battle for Atlas dazzles with inventive toys-to-life gameplay, stunning visuals, and Star Fox content, but repetitive missions, weak storytelling, and technical issues drag it down—still a fun, customizable space adventure with franchise potential.
73
MONSTER
Reviews
142 reviews found100
Gaming Age
Oct 15, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is highly recommended for its engaging gameplay, impressive visuals, and the enjoyable integration of Star Fox, making it a standout title.
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98
Impulsegamer
Oct 18, 2018
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Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a friggin good game with relatively flawless mechanics. It trumps similar games in terms of fun and offers a satisfying gaming experience.
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90
Hardcore Gamer
Oct 16, 2018
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Starlink: Battle for Atlas is the best integration of toys-to-life so far, offering an enjoyable open-world space adventure with challenge and fun for players of any age.
90
Forbes
Nov 1, 2018
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Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a fun and engaging experience that successfully combines RPG elements with toys-to-life mechanics, despite some minor drawbacks.
90
Areajugones
Oct 15, 2018
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Starlink: Battle for Atlas is an entertaining exploration and adventure game with a solid foundation, appealing to both casual players and collectors of interactive toys.
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90
Gaming Nexus
Oct 26, 2018
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Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a fun and engaging game that serves as a promising start to a new franchise, with beautiful graphics and a solid toys-to-life component, despite some repetitive gameplay.
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90
Nintendo Life
Oct 15, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a solid entry in the genre, especially on Switch, with enjoyable gameplay and integration of Star Fox content, despite some repetitive elements.
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89
COGconnected
Oct 22, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a fast-paced and gorgeous space adventure with intuitive controls, challenging combat, and satisfying tactile response. However, it is marred by repetitive dialogue and enemies, as well as occasional flat textures.
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87
Generación Xbox
Oct 20, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, Starlink: Battle for Atlas is seen as a refreshing and entertaining game that prioritizes gameplay over narrative depth, appealing to fans of space adventures.
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87
Digital Chumps
Oct 19, 2018
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Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a unique and entertaining game with a lot of heart, despite some repetitive gameplay and narrative challenges. It successfully combines toys-to-life elements without forcing players into that model.
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