Legacy of the Elder Star

About

Legacy of the Elder Star is a single player action game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Kickbomb Entertainment LLC and was released on June 7, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

Legacy of the Elder Star is a mouse-driven shoot 'em up for the rest of us. You are the Cosmonaut, an eternal cosmic hero who must shatter the robotic Infinite Legion and rekindle a dying star!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a unique mouse control scheme that allows for precise and fluid movement, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
It offers a vibrant art style and a catchy soundtrack, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere while playing.
The game is free to play and provides replayability through various unlockable weapons and modes, making it accessible for both casual and hardcore players.

The game has a very short campaign, typically taking only 20-30 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
There are design flaws, such as a broken learning curve and repetitive gameplay that relies heavily on memorization of enemy patterns.
The requirement to use only mouse controls can be awkward and may not appeal to all players, especially those who prefer traditional keyboard or gamepad inputs.

story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The story mode is brief, lasting around 20-30 minutes across five stages, and features a simple, somewhat nonsensical plot that many players found unimportant given the game's focus on fast-paced bullet hell action. While the narrative lacks depth and detail, it serves its purpose for a quick, enjoyable experience, with infinite continues allowing for replayability and point-based ranking. Overall, players noted that the story is basic but adequate for the game's design, with more emphasis placed on gameplay than on narrative substance.
- “The story is simple, but well done.”
- “While the story mode was rather short (5 stages, approximately 20-30 minutes playtime), there is still a lot to unlock as far as game modes and weapons.”
- “Only takes about half an hour to beat the 'story mode' - but it's half an hour of rootin' tootin' good times.”
- “The plot is extremely simple and there's little support to explain why all life in the universe relies on one star, or who exactly the cosmonaut is.”
- “I guess my point is I don't think any plot was required at all, given how short the game is.”
- “There are things I like - the infinite continues, the mouse moving the character (as a concept), but I really don't care about hunting points and trophies when the story and gameplay is this anemic, the soundtrack just alright and the design sort of bland.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their vibrant and cartoonish style, making it easy to distinguish between bullets, enemies, and backgrounds. While some reviewers find the art style charming and characterful, others consider it merely adequate. Overall, the visuals are described as clean and appealing, contributing positively to the gameplay experience.
- “This is an awesome shmup, with gorgeous visuals, fun music, and great play.”
- “My wife and I love this game :D the mechanics are finely tuned, the artwork is beautiful, the music will be stuck in your head long after you stop playing.”
- “The art style isn't my thing, but it's lovingly drawn and exudes a ton of character.”
- “Lastly, the artwork has been boasted as 'vibrant.' I thought, 'meh, everyone boasts great artwork and they deliver on a couple levels.' The artwork is vibrant throughout each level.”
- “The artwork, which emulates the Behemoth games style cartoon work, makes it easy to distinguish bullets trying to kill you, moving enemies, and backgrounds.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique control scheme that ties the protagonist's movement to the player's mouse cursor, offering precise controls and a straightforward experience. While some players appreciate the well-crafted mechanics and various game modes, others criticize the repetitive nature and lack of depth in design and challenge, leading to an overall mixed reception. Despite its flaws, the game is noted for its solid core mechanics and enjoyable shooter elements.
- “The game mechanics are unique and control via mouse is precise.”
- “This is a very well-made shooter, there's plenty of modes to keep you on your toes, quite a bit of customizing to be had, and the mechanics are well put together; absorbing bullets to fuel a special attack is a nice touch.”
- “The controls and gameplay are simple but function beautifully.”
- “Repetitive gameplay.”
- “There are things I like - the infinite continues, the mouse moving the character (as a concept), but I really don't care about hunting points and trophies when the story and gameplay is this anemic, the soundtrack is just alright and the design is sort of bland (with some additional issues keeping track of the hero and shots).”
- “All of its mechanics, scoring systems, and design decisions are based on the idea that the player’s character is fixed permanently to the player’s mouse cursor.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and fitting integration with the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. Many players find it memorable and catchy, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding other aspects like gameplay depth and design. Overall, the soundtrack is highlighted as a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and mechanics effectively.
- “Readers might find this odd to mention first and foremost, but I have to start with praise for the music of Elder Star.”
- “I'm particularly sensitive to music in video games, and this one struck the nail on the head for me.”
- “The music is great and fits the game very well.”
- “There are things I like - the infinite continues, the mouse moving the character (as a concept), but I really don't care about hunting points and trophies when the story and gameplay are this anemic. The soundtrack is just alright and the design is sort of bland, with some additional issues keeping track of the hero and shots.”
- “Every level has a scoreboard as well as various challenges that drive you to replay and improve your score, but the soundtrack is just kickin'.”
- “Music was a solid piece.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game offers significant replayability despite its short campaign, as players can unlock new weapons and game modes with each completion. Randomly generated enemy patterns and daily challenges further enhance replay value, making it appealing for competitive players and fans of the genre. Overall, while the number of levels is limited, the various unlocks and modes provide ample incentive to replay.
- “The story mode can be beaten quickly, but there is lots of replayability.”
- “A small number of levels are partly offset by replayability: for each completion, the player opens up new game modes or weapons.”
- “The replayability is a really nice touch with challenges and different weapon loadouts.”
- “Unfortunately, replayability won't fix these problems.”
- “The campaign is pretty short, can be finished in 15-20 minutes, but there is some replayability as completing it unlocks new weapons.”
- “Most of the game's worth is through replay value.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players note that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often requiring a second playthrough to fully engage with it. However, once the main story is completed, many feel that the motivation to continue grinding, especially for leaderboard purposes, diminishes significantly.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If, like me, after unlocking everything you don't really care about leaderboard grinding, then there isn't much to do after you finish the story.”