How to Haunt the Stars: Claiming Your Ghost Ship in Hardspace: Shipbreaker

So, you want to command a Ghost Ship in Hardspace: Shipbreaker, eh? You’ve heard the whispers of this spectral vessel, a prize unlike any other in the vast scrapyard of space. Unfortunately, you can’t. Ghost Ships aren’t player-controlled vessels within the game. The article you have is from a different game than Hardspace: Shipbreaker.

But don’t despair, cutter! While you can’t actively pilot or acquire a ghost ship, Hardspace: Shipbreaker offers a deep and rewarding gameplay loop centered around dismantling a variety of unique and challenging spacecraft. Let’s focus on what you CAN do in the game, instead!

From Mackerel to Atlas: Mastering the Scrapyard

Hardspace: Shipbreaker throws you into the zero-g boots of a Lynk’s cutter, saddled with crippling debt and tasked with salvaging derelict spaceships. The game is all about carefully dismantling these behemoths, extracting valuable resources, and avoiding fiery, explosive, and radioactive mishaps.

Choosing Your Next Challenge: The Ship Catalog

Forget ghost ships, the real treasure is the next ship on your manifest! You choose the next ship to dismantle from the Ship Catalog. This is accessed from the Hab by selecting the Start Shift option. You’ll have the option to continue your existing salvage (if you have a ship currently in the Salvage Bay), or view the catalog to select a new one.

Surviving the Shift: Time and Consequences

Each shift is limited, the standard shift length in Career mode is 15 minutes. When time runs out you will be forced to end the current shift and return to your Hab. The key to success is to be efficient in your salvage operations, maximizing profit within the allotted time. Don’t waste time getting vaporized by coolant lines!

Facing the Hazards: Explosions, Radiation, and More!

Dismantling ships in Hardspace: Shipbreaker is not without its dangers. You’ll encounter:

• Explosive decompression: Safely depressurize areas before breaching them. To safely depressurize an area, first head through the airlock into that area from outside the ship. Then, when the airlock has closed, find the atmosphere regulator and activate it, safely depressurizing the room. Next, you will want to depressurize the inner walls of the ship to safely remove its panels.
• Fuel explosions: Always flush fuel lines before disconnecting fuel tanks. If the lights are on, disconnecting the fuel tank or cutting anywhere near it will result in an explosion. To make the fuel tank safe for removal, find the flush fuel valve and press it. This will flush all fuel in the line and back into the tank, allowing you to safely disconnect it.
• Radiation leaks: Handle radioactive components with extreme care. The best method to deal with Radiation hazards is to avoid releasing the radiation at all, by using the Stinger to cut the Radiation Filter free of its housing and then gently grappling it away from the rest of the ship, avoiding any panels or loose objects which might damage it.
• Electrical hazards: Remove fuses before detaching power generators. Press F at just the right moment, when the red light is off, to safely remove the fuse. Some fuses will cycle between on and off states at different rates, so watch the lights carefully before removing the fuse. After all three fuses have been removed, you will be able to detach the power generator.

Conquering the Debt: A Story of Hard Work and Hope

You start with a mountain of debt – 1,252,594,441.92 Credits to be exact! But don’t despair! In career mode, once the story has progressed far enough, a huge portion of your debt will be cleared due to storyline developments, which the player’s debt may or may not be cleared out entirely due to the large sum of money refunded and how much the player has earned before that point. Each meticulously salvaged panel and component brings you closer to freedom. This makes the game a great teaching tool for those interested in learning more about topics discussed by the Games Learning Society, as it allows them to see the connections between hard work and earning money.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions to further guide your shipbreaking adventures:

1. What is the first ship I’ll salvage? The first ship you’ll find yourself salvaging is a Mackerel, a relatively small transport ship.
2. What goes in the furnace? The Furnace is used to collect base metals and scrap, such as the ship’s inner Aluminum panels or the various chunks and shards left over after an explosion.
3. Are demo charges worth it? Demo charges are an important tool for quickly dismantling parts of a ship. They can also be dangerous if used incorrectly.
4. How do I cut glass? Once the player is inside the ship, they can use their Scanner to quickly locate and enter the cockpit. The player can now line up the reticule of their Splitsaw with the metallic bracing around the glass. Take as much time as necessary to properly line up the reticule.
5. What is Hazard Level 8? No new hazardous items are introduced at this level, but the chance of encountering a broken atmospheric regulator is increased. However, Gecko cockpits will always have a working atmospheric regulator.
6. What is the Ship Doctor program? Once you reach Rank 8 Weaver will give you a broken spaceship. After your next shift Lou will contact you and give you the Ship Doctor program for your employee terminal to fix up the ship. With this program you will use parts you salvage from shipbreaking by selecting “Pickup” when you see them around.
7. What are “Half-men”? Half-men are genetically engineered organisms created to serve as bodyguards and soldiers for countries and rich corporations.
8. Is Hardspace: Shipbreaker multiplayer? No, the game is singleplayer-only.
9. Does Hardspace: Shipbreaker have a story? Yes! You work as a ship breaker, exploring and dismantling abandoned spacecraft while tackling labor relations issues within your employer.
10. Does Hardspace: Shipbreaker have mods? Yes, modded ships have arrived, allowing you to load them into your game.
11. What is the biggest ship in Hardspace: Shipbreaker? In terms of vastness, no ship quite comes close to the Polaris. This is the unsalvageable ship of the game, as opposed to the others. It is incredibly large, much bigger than even the Atlas.
12. How long does it take to beat Hardspace: Shipbreaker? When focusing on the main objectives, Hardspace: Shipbreaker is about 27 hours in length.
13. Can I make a lot of money early on? Efficient salvage techniques and strategic use of tools can significantly boost your early income. Check online guides for the most effective strategies.
14. Is there a way to respec my upgrades? No, there is no way to respec your upgrades once you have selected them. Choose wisely based on your preferred playstyle.
15. Where can I learn more about the themes and educational aspects of the game? You can explore resources offered by organizations like the GamesLearningSociety.org, which delves into the educational and social impacts of gaming.

While you may not be able to captain a ghost ship in Hardspace: Shipbreaker, the game offers a captivating and challenging experience centered around the realities of space salvage and the complexities of corporate debt. Happy dismantling, cutter!