Mirage Feathers
- September 6, 2024
- oyasumi Workshop
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Mirage Feathers" is a rail shooter game with an anime theme, where you play as Notari, a cybernetic fighter from the Federation's FEATHER program. After losing her best friend Miroita, Notari fights to uncover the truth and reunite with her, with the help of Miroita's AI, Luciolla. The game features fast-paced combat as you destroy enemy aircraft in your quest to find Miroita.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fast-paced and engaging gameplay reminiscent of classic rail shooters like After Burner and Space Harrier.
- Visually stunning with cute character designs and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Offers a variety of modes, including a story mode with a charming narrative and an endless mode for high score challenges.
- The game is quite short, with the story mode lasting around 1-2 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Some players find it difficult to see incoming projectiles, making dodging feel more like luck than skill.
- The English translation has some issues, which can detract from the storytelling experience.
- story81 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally described as short and straightforward, with a mix of engaging characters and cute art, but it often feels rushed and underdeveloped. Players appreciate the inclusion of dialogue and visual novel-style cutscenes, which add depth to the narrative, though some find the pacing awkward and the overall plot lacking in complexity. Despite its brevity, the story is seen as a charming vehicle for the gameplay, with potential for future expansions or sequels.
“The story mode for this game had much more story to it than I thought it would, with a prologue, epilogue, and dialogue that would pop up between stages.”
“Mirage Feathers has two main modes: story mode, where you follow a narrative with charming character art and emotional twists, and endless mode, which is all about surviving against increasingly difficult enemies.”
“The story is short but the main characters got to shine their personalities very nicely through the ups and downs of the story, while it ends in a nice spot leaving room for a sequel.”
“The story feels so absurdly rushed.”
“I feel like this game could be a lot more if given more time to develop and make a more complete story.”
“The story scenes feel all terribly rushed, the way characters talk is like they are so behind schedule they need to just get it done with in order to fit the allowed time to speak.”
- gameplay48 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a standout feature, combining nostalgic mechanics with fast-paced, engaging action that appeals to both beginners and hardcore fans of the genre. While some players find it initially frustrating due to limited options and enemy patterns, many appreciate the depth and replayability offered by the endless mode and scoring systems. Overall, the game is praised for its tight controls, vibrant visuals, and satisfying mechanics, making it a compelling experience for fans of rail shooters and bullet hell games.
“The gameplay is surprisingly really fun, a lot more fun than I was expecting.”
“Mirage Feathers is a refreshing twist on the classic rail-shooter genre, with a slick anime aesthetic and engaging, fast-paced gameplay.”
“Beautiful visuals, gorgeous character art, and fast-paced gameplay that feels great.”
“The gameplay is decent, I've never played a game like it before, so sometimes it felt a little too frustrating as if there was no way to dodge certain situations and also taking a lot of damage all at once.”
“Moment to moment gameplay works well too, but there seems to be multiple ways to break the game to basically ignore the game's patterns and boss attacks.”
“It's a spectacle, but ultimately it fails on the gameplay design, in my opinion.”
- music42 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its energetic and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some players noted a lack of variety and occasional repetitiveness, many highlighted standout tracks that evoke a nostalgic arcade vibe. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, complementing the game's vibrant visuals and fast-paced action.
“Love the heroic metal soundtrack ... gives you that m.u.s.h.a.”
“The music fits the action and aesthetic of the game well.”
“Exciting high-speed action, solid controls, beautiful pixel art, catchy music, and a good story, these were the ingredients used to cook up this gem.”
“The music is very repetitive, not nearly as hype-inducing as Afterburner's stuff.”
“Good rail shooting, very frantic, good art style and animation selling you on the speed of encounters, a shame that there couldn't have been a bit more varied soundtrack.”
“Soundtrack can turn repetitive but is still pretty fire.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful visuals, unique anime-inspired art style, and vibrant character designs, which enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the retro aesthetic and pixel art, noting that it effectively captures the essence of classic rail shooters while providing a polished and engaging presentation. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replay value.
“Overall, the visuals alone are worth the price of entry, with a unique style that isn't common to see.”
“Beautiful visuals, gorgeous character art, and fast-paced gameplay that feels great.”
“A top-tier space harrier-like 3D rail shooter with a top-notch aesthetic and superb soundtrack.”
“Graphics are fine, although I would have preferred a non-pixelated style.”
“And while initially I thought the pixel art style could make it confusing to differentiate between incoming attacks and the background, they are very brightly colored that it isn't so bad after I got used to it.”
“I've been shown what this kind of character/art style looks like when drawn with malice, and these ones don't look it.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently described as cute and funny, with many reviewers highlighting the charming characters and engaging story. The overall tone is lighthearted and enjoyable, reminiscent of classic arcade games, making it a delightful experience for players seeking a whimsical and entertaining atmosphere.
“First of all, this game has a very funny story and the characters are very cute!!”
“Very cute and funny game, with great music and just fun in, just like how old arcade games used to be, and the stage and stage transitions are top tier, very fast and frenetic in general.”
“Extremely cute and funny.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its endless mode and a points-based upgrade system that encourages players to aim for high scores. While the core gameplay is engaging and complemented by a good story and soundtrack, some players feel that additional unlockables, such as achievements or cosmetic items, would enhance the replay experience even further. Overall, it provides ample value for its price, making it a recommended choice for those seeking replayable content.
“Frenetic aerial combat, good story, banger OST, and endless replayability.”
“It seems that the developer wants replayability to come from the endless mode, where you 1cc random levels for as long as possible.”
“After you beat the main story mode, most of the replay value will be going for high scores in the endless mode.”
“For a very low price, the game offers plenty of replay value due to a points-based upgrade system that offers both temporary and permanent improvements between runs, so if you aim for a high score, you can take full advantage of it.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is characterized by well-crafted, cute anime designs that align with the Japanese shoot 'em up aesthetic. While the character designs may be typical, they are praised for their quality and charm, enhancing the overall experience as players navigate through dynamic environments filled with action.
“Amazing character designs and top-tier cute characters while you fly through the skies and the seas, against the many missiles and lasers.”
“The character designs are typical, but well-made cute anime characters that fit the Japanese shoot 'em up vibe.”
“The character designs are really cute.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the games is characterized by a blend of touching narratives and charming character art, though some reviews note that the storytelling may be poorly executed. While "After Burner" offers light yuri themes and joy in its presentation, "Mirage Feathers" features a compelling story mode filled with emotional twists, alongside a challenging endless mode focused on survival.
“Mirage Feathers has two main modes: story mode, where you follow a narrative with charming character art and emotional twists, and endless mode, which is all about surviving against increasingly difficult enemies.”
“Afterburner features light yuri elements and a touching story that, while told imperfectly, is filled with enough joy in its presentation and soul to be worth the asking price.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, indicating a high level of stability during gameplay.
“Playing on the Steam Deck, it runs great.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a stable gameplay experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
