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Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a first-person space simulation game, in which you play as a blue-collar worker who salvages ships to pay off a massive debt. Your everyday duties include cutting open ships, harvesting their innards, and trying not to die in the process.
With Hardspace: Shipbreaker's intricate physics engine, the in-game tutorials may not teach you all you need to know. While certain skills will come from practice, there are a few things you'll want to know before you start your life as a Shipbreaker. Let's take a look at a few tips and tricks to help make your first day as a Shipbreaker a little less daunting.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
When you begin a shift on a new ship, take a minute to look around first. Instead of cutting directly into a panel and risking a pressure explosion, find the designated cut points around the ship. On larger ships, you can usually find accessible ones through the airlock into the inner panels of the ship.
Looking for and cutting cut points will help you maximize profits while remaining safe. Always be sure to watch where you're cutting before you put the laser on the ship. Never use your cutting tool on a fuel tank or other volatile object, as even a small cut can create a massive, deadly, and expensive explosion.
Utilize Tethers
One of the most important tools in your Shipbreaker toolbelt is tethers. These handy items can be used to pull salvage into the furnace or processor, tear parts off of a ship, or keep things suspended in place. Learning when and where to use tethers will increase your Shipbreaking productivity ten-fold, saving you time and headaches when moving around different parts of the ship.
Tethers have a higher gravitational pull than your regular Grappler, meaning they can pull objects that are too heavy for you to pull yourself. Use tethers to yank the inner frame of the ship into the furnace, or pull heavier fuel tanks into the barge.
Forget The Debt
At the start of the game, the Lynx Corporation places a massive 1.2 billion credit debt on you. While this debt may seem overwhelming, don't worry about paying it off just yet. At the beginning of the game, you won't be making a sizable dent in your debt with the value of ships you are salvaging. Instead of trying to make the most amount of money on each ship, focus on hitting your salvage goals, which will allow you to rank up and access higher-level ships. Better ships mean more profit, so don't be afraid to spend your hard-earned credits on things you may need early on.
At the terminal, you can refill your oxygen, fuel thrusters, and tether supply, repair your suit, purchase repair kits, and buy demo charges. For the safest time salvaging ships, we recommend keeping all of these resources topped off as much as necessary. Don't be stingy when it comes to refilling your oxygen and tethers, as it will cost much more to create a spare if you die.
Repair Your Tools
In Hardspace: Shipbreaker, your tools are your life. Neglect your tools, and you may find yourself forking over thousands of credits for a spare. The durability of a tool will slowly deplete as you use it, and its effectiveness will drop at certain intervals. For example, when the cutter reaches 75 percent durability, the part of the overheat gauge will be grayed out, meaning it will take less time for the cutter to overheat when cutting an object.
Repair your tools as frequently as necessary. While you can purchase repair kits from the terminal, or salvage them from ships, you can only repair your tools in the HAB, so be sure to check their status before you begin each shift.
Upgrade Your O2
One of the most important tools to upgrade whenever you get the chance is your O2 tank. Of all your replenishable resources, your oxygen will run out the most frequently, causing you to go back to the terminal to buy more. To alleviate this constant back and forth, always upgrade your oxygen tank whenever you can. The more oxygen you can hold at once, the less often you'll need to head back and buy more.
Same Ship Or New Ship
In Hardspace: Shipbreaker, you will have 15 minutes to complete your objectives during each shift. The most frequent decision you'll be making as a Shipbreaker is whether to abandon or continue working on a ship. For high-value ships, you may want to get the most expensive items out as quickly as possible, then call it quits. Other times, taking a slow and methodical approach may be better, completely salvaging every part of the ship. Ultimately, the decision to continue or move on depends on your goals at the time.