Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock, Atmospheric First-Person Sci-Fi Adventure

Gear Diary is independently owned and operated. We receive compensation through advertising and from the companies whose products we review, usually in the form of the reviewed product. We test the products supplied to us, and the opinions expressed are our own.

Gear Diary is also reader-supported. When you buy through links posted on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. You can learn more by clicking here.

Nostalgia can be a powerful thing, especially when it is invoked through a more modern means. I loved classic sci-fi adventures such as The Journeyman Project 20+ years ago, so when I was in the midst of deciphering a puzzle in Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock, that warm feeling of revisiting a great experience washed over me.

17-corridor3

Type of app: Adventure

Platform/where to buy: iPad; available in the iTunes App Store

Developer: Red Herring Labs/ Phoenix Online Publishing

18-gorge2

Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock Description:

  • Experience an immersive sci-fi adventure, packed with gorgeous HD graphics, brand-new puzzles and scenes, and an all-new, streamlined interface
  • Newly remastered cinematics display the haunting landscapes in beautiful high definition
  • Uncover the mystery of Deadrock through new and optimized puzzles and an extended storyline
  • The alien planet of Deadrock comes alive with full voice acting and engrossing sound effects
  • Includes an atmospheric remastered soundtrack with over 30 minutes of original music

19-gorge-bottom

Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock Major features:

The opening sequence of Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock tells you the aftermath of a crash – you are trying to get your bearings, figure out what happened – and deal with the fact that your ship is plummeting towards the planet surface. You quickly realize that of the crew you are alone in being able to do anything – one member is dead and the captain has been gravely wounded. It is up to you to repair the ship and investigate the mysteries you discover along the way.

Morningstar is a fairly standard survival adventure game in many ways – you need to explore areas, find items, use specific objects to trigger actions needed to go forward, combine things in your inventory, solve logic puzzles, and so on. Morningstar executes all of these things very well, making for an experience that is both challenging and rewarding, and enjoyable throughout.

11-storage-cylinders

The game is relatively short, and offers little in the way of replayability – you need to accomplish certain tasks to proceed, and there is basically a single path to your ultimate quest to escape. That is typical for the genre and isn’t really a negative, just something to understand. My only criticism is that there is a single game profile without the ability for multiple users to each have their own save.

20-medical

Ease of use/Overall performance:

Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock controls like a classic point & click adventure, which makes it both simple to play and fun for people who have followed the genre for years.

15-armstrong-engineering

The visuals are excellently detailed and nuanced. Considering you are spending a lot of time on a basic spaceship or a desert planet, the developers had to work hard to make things stand out and keep the game interesting and engaging. The music and sound are similarly well done, creating a tense environment as you work your way through.

10-storage-area

Would use again/recommend?: Definitely! Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock executes well on everything you can ask for out of an adventure game, and doesn’t fall short in any significant way. For a budget-priced game it is a very solid experience.

Suggested changes/wish list for updates: Multiple saves / profiles

Source: Publisher provided review code

16-corridor2

Price: $9.99 from Phoenix Online Publishing, also available on Steam for $9.99

Here is the Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock trailer:

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!

About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!