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 young children.
- The game features charming graphics, cute characters, and a light-hearted fairy tale story that adds to the overall experience.
- Players can adjust the difficulty settings, allowing for a more tailored experience, and the game is compatible with Windows 11.
- The game is quite short, with only 30 levels, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Some players found the gameplay to be repetitive and lacking in challenge, even on higher difficulty settings.
- There are no achievements or significant replay value, which may deter players looking for more depth and motivation.
- story36 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story is a lighthearted, cliché fantasy narrative centered around a knight's quest to rescue a princess, featuring humorous and campy elements that playfully acknowledge its own tropes. While some players appreciate the cute and engaging storyline, others criticize the poor voice acting and lack of depth, describing it as generic and overly simplistic. Overall, the narrative serves as a charming backdrop for the gameplay, appealing primarily to a younger audience.
“The story plays like a fairy tale book.”
“The storyline is a cute one and there is some cheesy humor from your character's.”
“The simple but cute fantasy fairy tale storyline really helps to keep this time management game interesting, despite its strict time limits and somewhat repetitive levels.”
“With bad voice acting and a storyline that makes absolutely no sense, I was already taken out of the experience.”
“The overall story for Solar is your normal fantasy cliché plot of a 'white knight' trying to rescue his princess.”
“It's nearly impossible to lose a level, the storyline is all but annoying, and the voice acting is horrendous.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game are generally praised for their charm and quality, featuring nice hand-drawn artwork and well-designed characters that add personality. While some users found the visuals to be above average and appealing, a few noted that they could be generic or lacking in depth. The game runs smoothly, and the visuals can be adjusted to enhance the experience.
“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.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % 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. Overall, it may not stand out among great games, but it provides a straightforward and engaging experience for those who appreciate its simplicity.
“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 and sound effects are considered decent, they do not stand out significantly.
“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 (and aren't hit by the bug I've run into), then the game is replayable only to get full stars for each level.”
“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.”
“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 overly tedious, making it suitable for farming activities. While some may consider it repetitive, it manages to maintain a level of engagement that prevents it from becoming boring.
“I debated giving it a thumbs down, but even though it's simplistic to the extreme, it's not overly boring or 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 questionable character designs that may feel overly familiar. While the characters are engaging and accompanied by interesting companions, the overall design choices may not resonate with all players.
“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 hardware; it really shows the developers' commitment to optimization.”