Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector review: Until the wheels fall off

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As a devoted enthusiast, stepping into Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector feels like diving headfirst into an immersive role-playing game. Unlike traditional dice games like Yahtzee, where the focus is on social gatherings and scoring points, this intriguing sequel uses its straightforward mechanics to delve deep into the essence of existence. It’s a poignant exploration of what it truly means to live – not just the pleasurable aspects, but the complex systems that govern our access to life itself.

The game simulates the daily grind, the choices we make, and the trade-offs between time, energy, and the cold, hard numbers that dictate our quality of life. It’s a stark reminder of the lack of control we often have over these figures, and the relentless pursuit they can drive us towards. The game also captures the toll this constant struggle takes on our physical and mental wellbeing, pushing us to our limits until we reach a breaking point.

But amidst all this, Citizen Sleeper 2 invites you to craft your unique self, shouldering the weight of these experiences and emerging stronger, or perhaps broken, depending on your choices. It’s a thought-provoking journey that promises an engaging experience, wrapped in the guise of a simple dice game.

In Citizen Sleeper 2, instead of traditional monster fights and treasure hunting found in tabletop RPGs, you encounter deep-seated existential concerns. Set within a dilapidated sci-fi universe, you take on the role of a Sleeper – someone who’s mortgaged their body for a loan, with their consciousness transferred into a robot body. You’ve lost your memories and are now working off your debt. While most Sleepers are addicted to drugs, keeping them under control, you have managed to break free and only require basic necessities like food and sleep. However, there’s something else troubling you, and you find yourself on the run from a potentially more dangerous entity than the corporation.

Rolling the dice

Life is an ongoing battle for existence. Initially, you’re overwhelmed by a multitude of systems and a complex user interface that disorients your senses. You’re in a constant sprint against the clock to accomplish tasks, juggle resources to ensure sustenance and maintain your vessel, combat stress to remain focused and productive, labor to generate income, network and make connections to secure opportunities, mend your body as it succumbs to wear and tear, strive to keep going, to keep living. On the other side of that struggle could lie something greater, but giving up means never knowing for sure. You have limited control, but as long as you can keep playing the game, you can keep trying to make a life for yourself.

In this game, the dice serve as both a fundamental part of gameplay and a significant source of tension. Each day or cycle, you’ll roll these dice, assigning them to tasks that rely on your various abilities like intuition or endurance to shape the results. However, the anxiety arises from the constant threat of risk, especially when a low roll is needed for a task outside your area of expertise. An unfavorable outcome can range from expending extra energy to causing damage to the dice themselves. The dice are not indestructible; they wear out, malfunction, crack, and eventually break. It’s not a question of if, but when this will happen. There may be instances where you’re famished, penniless, out of fuel, and lacking parts to repair your dice. All you can do is rest and hope tomorrow brings some relief.

Art imitates life, for better and worse

Experiencing Citizen Sleeper 2 was akin to performing a real-life job, not in the sense of it being a burden or chore, but more like my experience working at Walmart, which I recall as a difficult period for numerous reasons. With the recent layoff leaving me uncertain about my future, I found myself accepting the only employment opportunity available within my time constraints. Each day brought new faces, replacing those I’d meet briefly and never see again. People struggling with health issues worsened by long shifts on unforgiving floors, encounters with individuals who treated me as less than human, and managers who seemed indifferent to the struggles of their employees. Long commutes home left little time for personal life or adequate rest.

Reflecting on current circumstances, I’ve been pondering over writing, travel, and pursuing publication, only to face another layoff and carpal tunnel issues. Rebuilding my aspirations as a freelancer has been challenging, but the work is more gratifying. However, the strain shows – I feel worn out, medicated, anxious, fatigued, stiff, older… and yes, exhausted again. The thought of escaping everything to live as a hermit, subsisting on Sapporo and River City Ransom, is tempting. Yet, rent continues to escalate every year, and our family’s needs become more intricate. So, I keep pushing for work, generating income, feeding the system until it eventually breaks down. Though it may seem dismal when presented this way, there are bright sides too. It isn’t always a struggle.

The tipping point

Initially, Citizen Sleeper 2 felt overwhelmingly intense, causing me to ponder if perhaps I wasn’t playing it correctly. However, subtly, things began to ease up. Money flowed a tad smoother, allowing me to sustain myself and make necessary repairs. This newfound comfort provided room for contemplation. The individuals I encountered and their tales unfolded with more depth, and my concerns over imminent demise lessened, enabling me to focus more intently. Although the pressure remained, Citizen Sleeper 2 transformed from a struggle for mere existence into something resembling life-building. This revelation struck me during a space mission, where I was tasked with repairing a ship as worn as the one I’d been stretching beyond its limits.

The ship is in a state of chaos, struggling to house just one person. Yet, as I navigate its bothersome idiosyncrasies and untidy repairs, the Sleeper experiences an epiphany:

OR

The ship is in shambles, barely suitable for its lone inhabitant. However, while dealing with its irritating oddities and makeshift repairs, the Sleeper reaches a profound understanding:

“And yet, despite all this, it is an object you feel close to. That you feel a kinship with. Because, in the end, you, too, are an accumulation of broken parts, long outliving their operational limits. You, too, are a machine that has become a story, and a story that has grown beyond the ability of others to understand it.”

In this instant, these repeated words I’ve encountered hold immense value for me. It seemed as though the situation recognized my challenges, my battles against frustration, and my attempts to dismiss my efforts as futile. This validation, presented in a contemplative manner, was subtly included, an unexpected reward concealed within. It triggered self-reflection, but from an alternative perspective. The world can be harsh, yet even amidst the struggle, there’s a narrative being crafted – etched into mind and body with hardship and life experiences serving as the ink and parchment. This sensation is profoundly personal and difficult to fully communicate.

Starward Vector seems to convey a message about personal growth amidst adversity. It’s not just a sci-fi video game with mechanical and dice elements; it’s also a thoughtful dialogue on selfhood. The game presents you with challenging conditions and persistent fear, but it’s these difficulties that help you ponder your past experiences. Unlike other games that offer hope or optimism as rewards, this one validates your journey instead. It doesn’t aim to make you feel better, but it does provide a sense of understanding.

On January 31, 2025, you can play Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector on your PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, or PlayStation 5. For this review, I received a Nintendo Switch code from the publisher.

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2025-01-30 21:28