Binarystar Infinity

About

"Binarystar Infinity" is a 1-bit shoot 'em up game with challenging arcade-style gameplay and handcrafted levels. Players must defend against an unknown mothership that destroyed their moon, either in single-player mode or with a friend in co-op. The game features nostalgic 1-bit graphics and smooth feedback controls, with the option for a more intense experience with friendly fire in co-op mode.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

music5 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a great art style and enjoyable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
It offers fun replayability with multiple game modes, including Arcade, Survival, and Boss Rush, providing a variety of challenges.
Controls are responsive and the gameplay mechanics, such as power-ups and boss patterns, are engaging for fans of the shoot 'em up genre.

The limited color palette and high contrast visuals can be straining on the eyes, making it difficult to focus during gameplay.
Gameplay can feel unbalanced due to overpowered power-ups and frustrating mechanics, such as losing upgrades at critical moments.
The level design is often crowded and cramped, making it challenging to navigate and enjoy the intended playstyle.

graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the consistent retro pixel art style and clarity, while others criticize the high contrast and limited color palette that can become visually overwhelming. Many users express disappointment over the lack of customization options and the overall unpolished appearance, which detracts from gameplay, particularly in terms of bullet detection. Despite these issues, some find the aesthetic charming, suggesting that it resonates with the retro shooter genre, though improvements in visual variety and settings are recommended.
- “The 1-bit aesthetic is nice and everything is visually clear.”
- “Unlike many self-proclaimed retro shooters, this one rings true by that statement and genuinely sticks to a consistent and minimal aesthetic.”
- “Lastly, the graphics and music are just spot on.”
- “What is neat at first glance quickly becomes an eyesore and sure, aesthetic preferences aside, I found myself wondering if they put all that work into the art and design of the game at least add some more palettes or make it a few more colors...seriously.”
- “You do get some fun pickups like orbiting defense orbs and so on, but any depth in gameplay is quickly eradicated by some of the laziest visuals I've seen.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fast-paced and enjoyable soundtrack, perfectly complementing the retro-style bullet hell gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience and making it a key reason to play for fans of side-scrolling shooters. Overall, the music is described as fitting and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “With a great art style, fun replayability, cool power-ups, and an awesome soundtrack as you're sent into the depths of Talios to eliminate various threats.”
- “Music is fast-paced and suits the game nicely.”
- “A fun retro style bullet hell game with minimalist design accompanied by an enjoyable soundtrack.”
- “The music is forgettable and doesn't add much to the overall experience.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “While the visuals are appealing, the music fails to leave a lasting impression.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The story in Binarystar Infinity is described as loose and passable, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay, which revolves around saving Earth from invading aliens across eight missions. While the narrative may not be particularly strong, players find the campaign enjoyable and entertaining, with each mission offering a mix of scripted elements and random power-ups. Overall, the story complements the arcade-style experience without being a standout feature.
- “The main arcade mode consists of 8 entertaining and exciting missions on a backstory of saving Earth from the invading aliens.”
- “I had a fun time playing the eight mission campaign, which took a little over an hour to beat.”
- “The story feels loose and disjointed, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The missions are scripted, which takes away from the overall narrative experience.”
- “The chapters lack cohesion, resulting in a passable but forgettable story.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Gameplay features some enjoyable pickups like orbiting defense orbs, but is hindered by poor visuals and unpolished mechanics, making bullet detection challenging. The fast movement may alienate both novice and experienced players, while a unique mechanic allows players to retrieve power-ups upon ship destruction, adding a layer of strategy. Overall, the gameplay lacks depth and polish, failing to impress.
- “Gameplay is also great.”
- “A cool but debatable mechanic is the option to retrieve some of your power-ups when your ship is destroyed.”
- “You do get some fun pickups like orbiting defense orbs and so on, but any depth in gameplay is quickly eradicated by some of the laziest visuals I've seen.”
- “Gameplay itself isn't winning any awards here either. Apart from the hideously bad graphics making bullet detection difficult, the game itself is highly unpolished, movement is way too fast, and won't appeal to novices or experienced die-hard fans of shmups (yes, both of them).”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, enhanced by engaging power-ups, a captivating art style, and an impressive soundtrack. After completing the main story, additional modes like survival and boss rush provide further challenges, ensuring continued enjoyment.
- “With a great art style, fun replayability, cool power-ups, and an awesome soundtrack as you're sent into the depths of Talios to eliminate various threats.”
- “Once you beat the game, the survival mode and boss rush keep replayability up.”
- “After completing the main story, there isn't much incentive to play again.”
- “The lack of varied endings makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding in Binarystar Infinity to be tedious and repetitive, likening it to a lackluster imitation of other similar games in the genre. The game's retro pixel art and arcade style do not compensate for the monotonous gameplay experience.
- “Binarystar Infinity is a very tedious 2D retro pixel/minimalistic side-scrolling console ported arcade-style shoot 'em up/bullet hell game, ripping off countless identical games before it, only worse.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
- “In-game purchases are heavily pushed, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “The reliance on microtransactions detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”