In Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax (For the rest of this review we will refer to the games title as SGWSC) you play as a warrior that is in space investigating a disturbance but you can be join with three other warriors in this frantic SHMUP (Shoot ‘em up)
General Gameplay
Being a SHMUP type of game, SGWSC is a pure side scroll shooter. The game can be played with others via couch co-op and it can frantic with everything going on the screen. With shooters like this it is more of a shooter fans but this game is a great family shooter that everyone can enjoy. The game also has a light RPG element in which in between levels you can upgrade your stats/weapons and specials. The levels are broken up into three parts in which at the end of each level you fight a “boss” battle with that level’s boss. The story of the game without giving spoilers is as expected but there is text conversation to progress the story. The game is meant to be more action vs story but that is not a bad thing.
Audio
SGWSC soundtrack is a great soundtrack that fits the action that is going on the screen. It is a mixture of electronic style of music and high energy, but the beauty of the music is that it does not overpower through the speaker, it is more of a compliment to the game action. The game sound effects are a mixture of weapons firing, explosions and other types of sounds that you would find in a shooter. The game is in surround sound and supports 5.1 systems, there is no need to own a surround system to enjoy the audio as this is also represented well in stereo. Parents please be aware that there is no type of dialog or even offensive music to the game in which that would be questionable for children to hear. Also in our play test none of our special needs gamers had any issues with the sound from the SGWSC.
Visuals
This is a beautiful visual game in itself. The game has very vivid graphics and very details design to its background environments. From the starts in the background, enemies, and the characters everything is drawn in a very detail way. You can see the flames from the feet of your character to bullets whizzing around the screen, the game is a work of art. The game also can get very hectic with the action going on in the background (more on this in the Family Friendly Section of the review) but overall a great visual experience. There is no colorblind mode to speak of, however the game does not need it as the visuals are very easy to see on the display. Parents be aware that there is no type of offensive visuals, text or anything else that would be of concern for any younger gamers playing this game.
Controls
As with any shooter the controls have to be on point, and SGWSC controls are very easy to pick up and play. With the left stick to move the character and the triggers to use to shoot your primary and secondary weapons and the “A” button to use for melee it is a very friendly game for both fans of SHMUP games and newbies to play. The controller setting can be changed better suited for your playstyle but I can personally say that the controller setting are fine the way that they are. Also there is no need for any special controller or device to play the game, SGWSC. In our playtest the controller setting work well for all of our gaming family. The best part as that the controller buttons can be held down and still will repeat fire, this made the game easier to play for our family gaming members that have special needs.
“Playing solo, or with 3 more people, Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Steller Climax is a very fun couch co-op”
Delivery
The one thing that we can say is that if you are looking for a fun couch co-op shooter, then SGWSC is the game that you want in your digital library. The game is a fun co-op game that is easy to pick up and play for anyone. The controls are very easy, the game is a fun game, and best of all this is one of those couch co-op games that is not frustrating what so ever. The game mechanics are very simple, shoot everything and help your team mates, wash, rinse, and repeat. Now this is a good thing for a game like this as it does not get dull what so ever. From the level of enemies that are on screen to the different variations of bosses there is something to do in this game, also there are different modes of gameplay that will keep you busy in the game.
Family Friendly
Normally a game that is a SHMUP may not be the friendliest family game but SGWSC is a great couch co-op for any family. The game is a fun game, I can’t say that enough. In our playtesting everyone from young gamer to old enjoyed the game very much. One of the reasons why is its approachable nature of being an easy pick up and play type of game. Also with the ability to adjust the game settings from how easy to hard you want the game to be it makes it easy for anyone to play the game. Imagine if you want the game to be a bullet storm from enemies, well you can set this, or if you and your fellow gamers want a fun casual game to play, well you can go into the setting and also make it easier for people to play of all skill levels. The level of game customization is endless and why makes this a great game for the whole family to play. Also to point out during our play test that our special needs gamers also had a great time playing the game as the action on the screen kept them engaged throughout the game and also the level of ease of the controller made it a fun time for them to play. A warning though for older gamers that the game can game screen during the game can get very busy and we did notice that some gamers did have a harder time trying to focus on what is going on. Now keep in mind through that this is the nature of SHMUP games in which everything is going nuts on the screen but with the option to increase or decrease the action on the screen via the game options this should not be a problem. Also we advise that if you are going to play the game it would be recommended to play the game on a screen that is 32” or larger, this will make it easier for all to see their characters and be able to enjoy the game.
Closing
Shooters come and go these days but Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax is a great, fun, family friendly game that co-op mode makes it a great addition to any digital library.
Family Gamer Awards
Also here at Family Gamer Review we are rewarding the game both our seals of approval for Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax. Our Family Friendly Favorite Game Award, as well Our Special Needs Family Favorite!
