Ballad of Solar
- May 22, 2014
- Alawar
- 7h median play time
"Ballad of Solar" is a sidescrolling shooter game with RPG elements. The player controls Solar, a bounty hunter seeking revenge against the Space Pirate Federation. Featuring fast-paced combat, upgradable weapons, and a variety of enemies, the game offers a challenging and engaging experience in a vast sci-fi world.
Reviews
- A short but enjoyable time management game that is perfect for casual players and children.
- The game features charming graphics, amusing voice acting, and a light-hearted, cliche story that adds to its appeal.
- Players can adjust the difficulty settings, allowing for a more tailored experience, and the game is compatible with Windows 11.
- The game is very short, with only 30 levels that can be completed in a few hours, leading to concerns about replayability.
- Some players found the gameplay to be overly simplistic and repetitive, lacking in depth and challenge.
- The voice acting and storyline were criticized for being poor and nonsensical, detracting from the overall experience.
- story34 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story is a classic fairy tale narrative featuring a cliché plot of a knight on a quest to rescue a princess, filled with humorous and campy elements. While some players appreciate its simplicity and charm, others criticize the poor voice acting and lack of originality, deeming it generic and at times nonsensical. Overall, the storyline is seen as light-hearted and entertaining, appealing primarily to a younger audience despite its predictable tropes.
“The story plays like a fairy tale book.”
“The storyline is a cute one and there is some cheesy humor from your characters.”
“The story, which is cheesy as heck, unfolds neatly as you go along, each level taking no more than a few minutes and leading neatly into the next and the one after that.”
“With bad voice acting and a storyline that makes absolutely no sense, I was already taken out of the experience.”
“The 30 levels will only provide even the most patient of gamers a few hours to complete, which is just enough time to get to know these characters and this story before it becomes too pretentious.”
“I don't know what the 'story' is about, as I didn't have any pleasure in following it.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game are generally well-received, featuring charming artwork, cute character designs, and smooth animations that enhance the gameplay experience. While some users noted a mix of opinions on the quality, with a few describing the visuals as merely "meh," many praised the hand-drawn style and attention to detail, contributing to an attractive and engaging production. The game runs smoothly, and the visuals can be adjusted to suit player preferences.
“It has nice graphics, fairly interesting locations, voice acting, and just felt like a good overall production.”
“The artwork and animation is quite charming and amusing.”
“From the setup and dismantlement of the tent for each level, to the conversations the characters have, even the movement of the workers you control to do your prince’s bidding, graphically the game is really attractive.”
“There are 30 levels in total that will take some hours to complete, a generic story and gameplay mechanics, with mediocre graphics and music.”
“The graphics are mostly still images, but well designed.”
“The graphics are lovely hand-drawn pictures, and I was surprised that the game was fully synchronized.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay features 30 levels that offer a simple and somewhat repetitive experience, with basic mechanics reminiscent of similar titles. While the graphics and music are considered lackluster, the game is accessible and enjoyable for newcomers to the genre, making it a decent option despite its generic story and content.
“The gameplay reminds me of the Kingdom for My Princess series.”
“This is a simple but enjoyable game with extremely basic mechanics.”
“Artwork is cute, and the gameplay is tight and easy to pick up and play for what it is.”
“There's not really much to the content or gameplay though, so this won't stand amongst the great games, but is worthwhile if you enjoy the genre, or are new to it and want to try it out.”
“The gameplay is very simple and kind of repetitive.”
“Ballad of Solar is a very simple game with very simple mechanics, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to play.”
- music7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as pleasing and fitting for the scenery, though ultimately forgettable and not particularly spectacular. Some users enjoyed specific tracks, like the desert level music, but noted issues such as abrupt endings that detracted from the experience. Overall, while the music complements the gameplay, it lacks a lasting impact.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The music is nothing spectacular, but fits the scenery and mood properly and isn't intrusive or boring.”
“There are 30 levels in total that will take some hours to complete, a generic story and gameplay mechanics, with meh graphics and music.”
“The music is pleasing if ultimately forgettable.”
“[i]Music/Sounds[/i]: the music and sound effects are pretty good, though the voice acting is hilariously terrible.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with most players noting that it lacks challenge and offers little incentive to replay beyond achieving full star ratings on levels. While perfectionists may find some value in revisiting levels for better scores, the general consensus is that the game can be completed quickly, diminishing its long-term appeal.
“If you're a perfectionist, then the game is replayable as you can aim to get full stars for each level.”
“I finished the game in about 5 hours, and there's some replay value if you want to go back and earn all the stars by finishing the levels in a certain time.”
“There isn't much replayability unless you're going for all gold stars.”
“There isn’t much in the way of challenge, and replayability is non-existent.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
“I finished the game in about 5 hours and there's really not any replay value unless you want to go back and get all the stars for finishing the levels in a certain time.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a mix of cheesy dialogue and a lighthearted, albeit absurd storyline that adds to its charm. While the voice acting is noted as hilariously poor, it contributes to the overall comedic experience, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate its quirky humor.
“The storyline is a cute one, and there is some cheesy humor from your characters.”
“It was kind of funny to listen to it and realize just how ridiculous the story was, so there is another reason to get the game.”
“The music and sound effects are pretty good, though the voice acting is hilariously terrible.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be simplistic yet not excessively boring or tedious, making it suitable for farming activities. While some may consider it a drawback, it still maintains a level of engagement that prevents it from feeling like a chore.
“I debated giving it a thumbs down, but even though it's simplistic to the extreme, it's not overly boring nor tedious.”
“Recommended for game farming.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features a mix of charming clichés reminiscent of classic fairytales, alongside some fun and interesting companion designs. However, some users find certain character designs to be overly familiar, which may detract from the overall originality.
“It has a charming cliché atmosphere that brings to mind all the great fairytales of yore but spins it with some fun character designs and interesting companions.”
“Some questionable character designs that seem too familiar for comfort.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
“Many characters follow predictable arcs, leaving little room for surprise or growth.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a charming, nostalgic fairy tale vibe, enhanced by whimsical character designs and engaging companions, creating a delightful and enchanting experience.
“It has a charming, cliché atmosphere that brings to mind all the great fairytales of yore, but spins it with some fun character designs and interesting companions.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, featuring appealing graphics and smooth performance without any reported issues.
“The graphics are nice, and the game runs smoothly without any problems.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for a seamless gaming experience.”
“I appreciate how well the game performs on lower-end systems without sacrificing quality.”