Starhawk preview horde mode in a wide-open battlefield

At GDC this week, we got our hands on a few new features for the upcoming successor to Warhawk. In addition to the full-fledged single player campaign and popular 32 player multiplayer battleground, Starhawk will also include four player co-op – which plays like the game’s own take on Horde mode.

This new mode can be played with up to four players who are tasked with protecting a power generator at the center of the map. If the generator’s life bar depletes completely, it’s game over. However, there is an (as of now) unspecified, finite number of enemy waves – so this Horde mode doesn’t always end with your guts getting splattered across the map.

Players have access to all of the weapons, power-ups, and buildings in the multiplayer, only this time they will be using them against waves of AI controlled enemies. In our play session, the first wave started out with the usual infantry cannon fodder that we made short work of with the mech we got fresh off the assembly line, but soon we were dogfighting enemy aircraft and bombarding incoming tanks. We didn’t feel nearly as overwhelmed playing the horde-type gameplay in Starhawk as you would in the Gears of War games. Since the map is wide open, it makes it easy to run away from danger rather than tough it out in a corner with a shotgun.

Otherwise, co-op plays out as you might expect. The real strategy comes in coordinating building defenses and vehicles, and managing resources with teammates so you don’t end up getting obliterated using a group of mechs against the more powerful enemy tanks. But even if you’re team is a bit lacking in effective strategy, the developers have also added a useful practice feature in the game as well, called Explore mode.

In Explore mode, players can set up practice matches for their team to develop and play out their building and battlefield strategy. All of the timers and game mode rules still apply – there just won’t be an opposing force to compete against. This could be used to help beginners familiarize themselves with maps or clans with coordinated attacking and defensive strategy.

In addition to the new details on the game’s co-op Sony announced the public beta patch 1.3 is available today. The update gives players a chance to play with two new vehicles: the Sidewinder Jetbike and the OX Heavy tank, and experience the Planet Dust map.

Starhawk releases on May 8th for the PS3.

CATEGORIES
PRODUCTS
Lorenzo Veloria

Many years ago, Lorenzo Veloria was a Senior Editor here at GamesRadar+ helping to shape content strategy. Since then, Lorenzo has shifted his attention to Future Plc's broader video game portfolio, working as a Senior Brand Marketing Manager to oversee the development of advertising pitches and marketing strategies for the department. He might not have all that much time to write about games anymore, but he's still focused on making sure the latest and greatest end up in front of your eyes one way or another.

Latest in Third Person Shooter
Jeff the Land Shark as he appears in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals has an unintentional Team-Up ability for Jeff the Land Shark and Doctor Strange, who can join forces for a bug that sends foes into an inescapable void
Four Helldivers lined up on base ship
A year after Malevelon Creek became Helldivers 2's fiercest battleground, it looks like the Automatons are coming back for more
Helldivers 2 screenshot showing someone using a big gun
Helldivers 2 boss says "death and rebirth" is a natural part of the games industry, but it's "unnecessarily brutal" right now "because we don't diversify enough"
The Invisible Woman in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals devs know exactly how popular Invisible Woman is, and say that "body shape or silhouette" add to a character's popularity in a way far more innocent than the internet deserves
Helldivers 2 Warbond
Helldivers 2 players "became obsessed" with Malevolon Creek, but it was Gabe Newell who really kicked off one of Super Earth's bloodiest battles
Heroes and villains face off in Marvel Rivals key art
Marvel Rivals exec isn't afraid of roster bloat after NetEase promised new heroes every 6 weeks: "There's no limit for the sky. We just throw everything at it"
Latest in Features
Naoe kills a target with a black and white filter over the camera highlighting the red of blood spray in Assassin's Creed Shadows, with an On The Radar orange frame
Assassin's Creed Shadows "has a little bit of Tarantino flavor", but its real secret ingredient is intrigue: "It's almost like you're watching an episode of Shogun"
Helldivers 2 Borderline Justice Warbond helldiver using hoverpack to shoot down with hunting rifle
Talking points from the Game Developers Conference 2025 and how they could impact the future of gaming
Flexispot E7 Plus with plant, monitor, soundbar, and controller on top next to white wall lighting.
Gaming desks vs regular desks: which surface should you buy?
Google Pixel 9a smartphones on a beige background
One Google Pixel 9a feature could make it a better gaming phone than most budget mainstream models
Yasuke and Naoe ready to fight on the Assassin's Creed Shadows On The Radar thumbnail
On The Radar: Assassin's Creed Shadows coverage hub
Captain Planet #1
Captain Planet is back after 33 years with a "sexy" makeover and a message that's as important as ever: "Reality has gotten a lot less subtle"