Another Star
- July 28, 2015
- Vision Riders Entertainment
"Another Star" is a sci-fi RPG that follows the journey of a space explorer searching for a new home for humanity. The game features turn-based combat, character customization, and a robust skill system. With an open world to explore and a strong emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving, players must navigate through various planets and encounter alien species to advance the story.
Reviews
- Another Star is a nostalgic throwback to classic JRPGs, capturing the essence of games like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy with its retro graphics and music.
- The game features a unique and fast-paced battle system that simplifies combat, allowing for quick decision-making and reducing the grind typically associated with the genre.
- With a fair price and a decent amount of content, Another Star offers a fun and engaging experience for fans of old-school RPGs, filled with secrets and a charming story.
- The combat system can feel overly simplistic, as players can only choose one action for the entire party each turn, which limits tactical depth and can make having multiple characters feel like a liability.
- The game lacks depth in its story and world exploration, with towns often reduced to simple menus rather than interactive environments.
- Some players may find the graphics and interface painfully retro, making it difficult to read text and navigate menus comfortably.
- story27 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of "Another Star" is a unique science-fantasy narrative set in a vast world ruled by various tribes, featuring engaging writing and memorable characters. While it lacks depth and relies on simple text-based cutscenes, the plot is well-structured with unexpected twists and a compelling tale that unfolds through exploration and side quests. Overall, it offers an enjoyable, story-driven experience that resonates with fans of retro RPGs, despite its minimalist presentation.
“It's a science-fantasy story where various tribes rule the lands.”
“Being an RPG, the story is important, and it is a great tale, with the usual unexpected twists and turns, funny moments, deaths of popular characters, and a slew of memorable characters you start to take in as the story progresses.”
“The clan-based story is interesting, the writing is good, and the combat - which does away with targeting and simply applies attacks across all party members - is extremely fast.”
“Another Star isn't going to wow you with incredible cutscenes, complex battle mechanics, or a very intricate story.”
“The overall story is told through very short cutscenes with textboxes without actual animations.”
“There is no built-in world map, there is no mission log, so keep paper and pencil ready to take lots of notes.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Another Star" is a blend of classic JRPG mechanics with some innovative twists, offering a simplified yet engaging experience. While it features enjoyable battle mechanics and a nostalgic 8-bit aesthetic, some players may find the slower combat and limited exploration frustrating. Overall, the game appeals to fans of retro RPGs, thanks to its clever design choices and modern quality-of-life features, though it may not satisfy those seeking complexity or depth.
“Nice battle mechanics, including a magic system that makes you think.”
“The map exploration, narrative story, character upgrades, and especially the fight mechanics have been smart and challenging.”
“The developer has made many clever design choices that really make the gameplay feel good.”
“The gameplay is very simplified compared to other games of this genre.”
“In addition to royally screwing up the battle mechanics, the game cheaps out on having towns you can actually explore.”
“If they had just put the time in to flesh out mechanics instead of taking shortcuts, especially with the combat, this would be a positive review.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized as charmingly simplistic, reminiscent of classic NES RPGs, which appeals to fans of retro aesthetics. While some users find the visuals passable and rudimentary, others appreciate the nostalgic art style and effective worldbuilding that enhance the overall experience. The combination of retro sprite graphics and fitting audio creates a nostalgic atmosphere, though the interface may feel overly dated for some players.
“Really good RPG with a nice story and visuals.”
“The aesthetic underlying the design and the story would make this game stand out.”
“I enjoyed the retro sprite graphics and the music was overall fitting and catchy (like an earworm, but enjoyable).”
“The graphics, the battles, everything is similar to the classic NES games.”
“The interface graphics are painfully retro.”
“The art style of the game is rudimentary, but it is going for that and it pulled it off.”
- music13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy chiptune style, reminiscent of classic NES-era games, and is delivered through high-quality sound chip emulation. Many players appreciate the retro aesthetic and find the soundtrack both pleasant and fitting, with standout tracks that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a highlight for fans of lo-fi and retro sounds.
“The music track uses a soundchip similar to old Sega consoles, and the score is rather pleasant to listen to.”
“I enjoyed the retro sprite graphics, and the music was overall fitting and catchy (like an earworm, but enjoyable).”
“Edit: I would like to point out that the overworld music is seriously the most awesome retro-RPG music ever!”
“The music, character design, and visuals are all passable.”
“The music and sound effects are all delivered through Yamaha sound chip emulation, which is again spot on.”
“Music is mostly catchy 8-bit style chiptunes reminiscent of (but higher quality than) Dragon Quest and other NES-era games.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers customizable grinding options at the start, allowing players to choose their preferred level of engagement with grinding mechanics. It features quick battles and a streamlined experience that minimizes tedious grinding, making it feel modern despite its retro aesthetic. Overall, players appreciate the optimized design that enhances enjoyment while reducing the burden of traditional grinding.
“It even has a bit in the settings to choose between 'I hate grinding', 'normal', and 'I love grinding'.”
“Always a plus, as grinding just to progress is one of those things that should be left in the past.”
“Takes the old and tedious RPG grind fighting and somehow makes it work!”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting no significant glitches or crashes during gameplay. The developer's active involvement in the community further enhances the experience by providing support and addressing player feedback.
“The game frequently crashes during gameplay, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced several bugs that disrupted my experience, including freezing and graphical glitches.”
“The stability issues are frustrating; I often find myself having to restart the game due to unexpected errors.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is considered average, with users noting that while the music, character design, and visuals are acceptable, they do not significantly enhance the depth or growth of the characters.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their growth throughout the game is minimal at best.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring convenient save options, fast-paced battles, and minimal grinding, all contributing to a fun and engaging story-driven experience.
“It has all the things I've wished for in other games: you can save anywhere, battles are quick, and grinding is nearly nonexistent when you press the button to speed up text. It's a story-driven, optimized-for-fun experience that leaves me wanting more.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the RPG is highlighted by its engaging story, featuring unexpected twists, funny moments, and the impactful deaths of beloved characters, all contributing to a cast of memorable personalities that players grow attached to as the narrative unfolds.
“The humor in this RPG is top-notch, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you laughing, even during the more serious moments.”
“The game is filled with funny moments and memorable characters that you can't help but love as the story unfolds.”
“The blend of humor and storytelling is fantastic, making the deaths of popular characters surprisingly impactful yet amusing.”