Starship Troopers: Extermination is a cooperative first-person shooter inspired by the cult-classic 1997 film. Offworld Industries set out to deliver the relentless, large-scale battles fans associate with the franchise. The game puts you in the boots of a trooper, working with others to defend humanity from the endless arachnid swarm.
Multiplayer is the core focus, with chaotic 16-player missions blending shooting, base-building, and survival. Dynamic battlefields, customizable loadouts, and the unique “corpse permanence” mechanic create a distinctive experience. The game thrives on teamwork, emphasizing the need to strategize and adapt in the heat of battle.
In this review, we’ll explore how Extermination delivers on its promise of large-scale cooperative action. Does it honour the legacy of the film, or carve its own path as a standout shooter?
The Call to Duty on Valaka
Starship Troopers: Extermination draws heavily from the iconic 1997 film, placing you in the boots of a Federation trooper. The game captures the desperate fight for survival against the arachnid menace, emphasizing the challenges in every encounter. Johnny Rico, voiced by Casper Van Dien, returns to guide you through the missions. Hearing his voice again immediately brought back memories of the movie’s over-the-top Federation propaganda. It felt like a clever nod to the film, even if his role is mostly limited to briefings and updates.
The game’s story takes a backseat to the action, opting for immersive world-building rather than a deep storyline. Set on the desolate planet Valaka, the environments reflect the brutal conditions of humanity’s war against the bugs. The barren deserts, towering arachnid hives, and atmospheric soundscapes reinforce the hopelessness of the Federation’s mission.
While the story takes a backseat, the setting and atmosphere make up for it. Every mission feels like a small piece of a larger, ongoing war. The game successfully conveys the militaristic and relentless tone of the franchise, drawing you into the struggle against the overwhelming arachnid threat.
Boots on the Ground
The gameplay in Starship Troopers: Extermination focuses on teamwork, mission variety, and chaotic battles against the arachnid swarm. Missions typically involve resource gathering, base-building, and defending objectives while managing waves of increasingly aggressive bugs. The variety of tasks ensures missions don’t feel repetitive, keeping the experience fresh, even when things get hectic.
Each match starts with players selecting a class, such as Operator, Hunter, or Bastion, each offering unique weapons and abilities. I gravitated toward the Bastion class, thanks to its deployable shield and heavy firepower, which felt perfect for holding key positions during bug waves. This flexibility in playstyle, combined with the option to switch classes between missions, encourages experimentation and adaptability.
One mission still stands out in my mind. My team and I went into bug territory to gather resources, moving cautiously as the sound of skittering bugs echoed around us. The first wave hit hard, scattering us as the bugs swarmed from every direction. I dug in near an abandoned turret, firing as bugs closed in. There were too many and we had to retreat. Racing through canyons toward the fallback point, I relied on my squadmates to cover me while reloading. It was chaotic but incredibly satisfying when we regrouped and were able to turn the tide.
The “corpse permanence” mechanic, where bug bodies pile up and change the battlefield, adds a tactical element to gameplay. Explosives become important for clearing corpses, as they can create ramps for enemies to climb over defenses. Combined with different bug types and destructible environments, this feature keeps the action unpredictable.
While the mechanics feel rough at times, particularly aiming feedback, the experience rewards coordination and strategy. It’s not a game for lone wolves, but teamwork makes the chaos worthwhile.
Battles Brought to Life
Starship Troopers: Extermination captures the chaos of battle with its visuals and sound. Valaka’s barren landscapes, towering bug hives, and dusty plains emphasize humanity’s grim struggle for survival.While the settings fit the tone, textures and details often appear flat or muddy, making the world feel less alive than it could.
The battlefield’s dynamic nature stands out. Bug corpses pile up during combat, altering movement paths and adding to the chaos. Seeing hundreds of Bug bodies scattered across the terrain was surprisingly satisfying, making the carnage feel impactful. Lighting and shadows work but lack polish. In one nighttime mission, I relied on flashlights and a glowing bug hive for visibility. The atmosphere added to the experience, but the choppy frame rates during these moments were distracting and broke the flow.
The game’s sound effects and music help make up for the game’s weaker visuals. Bug screeches and distant gunfire add atmosphere, while the music builds during battles for added intensity. Voice acting is sparse, but Casper Van Dien as Johnny Rico adds a nostalgic touch. Unfortunately, Starship Troppers’ technical performance is inconsistent. I noticed stuttering during large-scale fights, and occasional visual glitches. These issues didn’t ruin the experience but were noticeable enough to be frustrating.
Strength in Numbers
Multiplayer is the core of Starship Troopers: Extermination, offering 16-player missions where four squads work together to survive the arachnid onslaught. The cooperative design emphasizes teamwork, with success often depending on how well squads coordinate objectives, resource management, and defense strategies.
One aspect of multiplayer that stood out to me was how naturally strangers worked together. In a match on Valaka, I joined a squad of random teammates who quickly divided roles without any real discussion. While one person focused on repairing defenses, another hauled resources back to base. My role was to run ammo to turrets, which became critical during a prolonged assault. Watching the squads operate like clockwork was both impressive and reassuring.
What sets the multiplayer apart is the dynamic mission structure. Beyond base-building and defense, objectives can split squads into smaller groups tackling different tasks. For example, in an “AAS” mission, my squad was sent to capture a distant objective while others held the main base. The constant need to adapt to evolving goals keeps every match interesting.
Community goals give multiplayer matches a broader sense of progress. Completing objectives adds to a larger narrative progression tied to the Galactic Front system, where milestones unlock new story content. While this feature is not essential, it gives multiplayer matches a sense of purpose beyond individual rounds.
Despite some rough edges, the multiplayer experience captures the large-scale camaraderie and chaos the franchise is known for. It’s where the game truly shines.
Starship Troopers: Extermination Brings Teamwork and Chaos Despite Its Flaws
Starship Troopers: Extermination succeeds in bringing the chaos and teamwork of the franchise to life, especially in its multiplayer mode. The cooperative missions, dynamic objectives, and mechanics like corpse permanence capture the film’s spirit. Despite weak visuals and a forgettable solo campaign, the core experience delivers for fans of large-scale cooperative shooters.
For me, the standout moments weren’t the massive battles or towering bug hives but the smaller victories with my team. One mission ended with our squad barely making it to the dropship as a wave of Tiger Bugs swarmed behind us. I remember shouting into the chat as we scrambled aboard, feeling the same rush of relief I imagine Federation troopers would have felt.
That said, the game isn’t without its problems. The rough edges, including inconsistent performance and lacklustre visuals, are distracting at times. If you’re a fan of the movie or enjoy cooperative shooters that reward teamwork, Starship Troopers: Extermination might be worth your time. It’s by no means perfect, but it delivers enough chaotic fun to keep you coming back for more.
Starship Troopers Extermination
Summary
Starship Troopers: Extermination brings the chaotic, large-scale battles of the franchise to life through cooperative gameplay. While the visuals lack polish and the solo campaign falls flat, the multiplayer experience offers dynamic missions, teamwork, and unique mechanics like corpse permanence. Despite technical issues, the game delivers exciting and chaotic fun, making it a devent choice for fans of the Starship Troopers universe.
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