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 fun game about time management and collecting resources, perfect for young children.
- The game features nice graphics, engaging voice acting, and a charming, 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, taking only a few hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Some players found the gameplay repetitive and lacking in challenge, with no achievements to motivate them.
- The voice acting and storyline were criticized for being poor and nonsensical, detracting from the overall experience.
- story68 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a classic fairy tale narrative featuring a handsome knight on a quest to rescue a princess, filled with clichés and humorous elements that some players find endearing. While the plot is often described as generic and simplistic, it unfolds in a light-hearted manner across 30 levels, making it accessible and entertaining for a younger audience. However, criticisms include poor voice acting and a lack of depth, which detracts from the overall experience for some players.
“The story plays like a fairy tale book.”
“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.”
“On his quest to rescue his chivalric pride... err beautiful princess, Solar encounters various obstacles that Grogan has placed in his way, and ends up on a variety of detours that lead him to unexpected encounters, and to forge alliances with new friends.”
“With bad voice acting and a storyline that makes absolutely no sense, I was already taken out of the experience.”
“I don't know what the 'story' is about, as I didn't have any pleasure in following it.”
“It's nearly impossible to lose a level, the storyline is all but annoying, and the voice acting is horrendous.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their charm and quality, featuring well-drawn characters and attractive artwork that enhances the overall production. While some users noted a mix of opinions—ranging from "nice" to "meh"—the visuals are often described as cute and engaging, with smooth performance and the ability to adjust settings. Overall, the game is recognized for its appealing graphics that contribute positively to the casual gaming experience.
“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.”
“The graphics are lovely hand-drawn pictures and I was surprised that the game was fully synchronized.”
“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.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay features 30 levels that are simple and somewhat repetitive, with basic mechanics reminiscent of similar titles in the genre. While the graphics and music are considered lackluster, the game is easy to pick up and can be enjoyable for newcomers or genre enthusiasts, despite its generic story and limited content. Overall, it offers a straightforward experience that may not stand out among more acclaimed games.
“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.”
“The gameplay consists of 2 or 3 maps per level.”
- music14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as pleasing but ultimately forgettable, fitting the scenery and mood without being intrusive. While some levels, like the desert, feature enjoyable tracks, there are complaints about abrupt endings that disrupt the experience. Overall, the sound effects are considered good, though the voice acting is notably poor.
“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.”
“Also, I will say I loved the desert level music, but I hate the fact it would just randomly end... like, what a way to ruin my good time!”
“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.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % 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 gold stars, the general consensus is that the game can be completed in a few hours, making the replay value minimal.
“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.”
“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.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by its cheesy dialogue and a lighthearted, albeit absurd storyline that some players find amusing. While the voice acting is often described as hilariously poor, it adds to the overall charm and entertainment value of the experience.
“The storyline is a cute one and there is some cheesy humor from your characters.”
“The music and sound effects are pretty good, though the voice acting is hilariously terrible.”
“It was kind of funny to listen to it and realize just how absurd the story was, so there is another reason to get the game.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be simplistic yet engaging, striking a balance that prevents it from becoming overly boring or tedious. While some may consider it repetitive, it is still recommended for those interested in game farming.
“I debated giving it a thumbs down, but even though it's simplistic to the extreme, it's not overly boring nor tedious.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features a mix of charming yet cliché designs that evoke classic fairytales, alongside fun and interesting companions. However, some players 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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a charming, cliché fairy tale vibe, enhanced by whimsical character designs and engaging companions, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience for 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.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, featuring appealing graphics and running smoothly without any issues reported by users.
“Graphics are nice and the game runs smoothly without any problems.”