NIGHTSTAR: Rogue Wings
- March 1, 2017
- SOLIDMESH
Get on Steam"NIGHTSTAR: Rogue Wings" is a challenging top-down shooter set in space. As a rogue pilot, you must complete dangerous missions, upgrade your ship, and battle against formidable alien fleets. With procedurally generated levels, each playthrough offers a unique experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has potential and offers a fun arcade-style experience reminiscent of classics like Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Star Fox.
- Visually, the game is more than acceptable for an indie title, with smooth performance even on lower-end PCs.
- The developer has shown commitment to improving the game, with updates that enhance gameplay mechanics and user interface.
- The game feels unfinished and lacks significant updates, leading many to consider it abandonware.
- Controls are overly sensitive and uncustomizable, making gameplay frustrating for many players.
- The game suffers from a lack of content and depth, with repetitive missions and minimal enemy AI.
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for being underdeveloped and hard to follow, with many players feeling it lacks depth and engagement. While there are hints of a narrative and choices that can influence the outcome, the overall experience is described as feeling more like a series of tasks rather than a cohesive plot, leading to a sense of detachment from both allies and enemies. Despite some moments of tension, the arcadey style detracts from a more immersive storytelling experience.
“Choices that affect the story and ending (stay with and defend a colony or take the battle to the enemy).”
“Eg: silence before the storm, so soft music when escorting a freighter on what you thought was an easy mission, then boom!”
“Story - 1 - dumb and hard to follow.”
“That said, the arcadey feel of the game might take you away from a driven plot and feel more like an overlay for a set of A-B tasks.”
“- whether it's down to the plot or otherwise, enemies still feel like drones, or target practice; equally, your allies also seem lifeless.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of Nightstar have received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that it resembles a low-budget PS3 port despite being played on ultra settings. While the visuals are considered acceptable for a game released in late 2017, they are described as simplistic and primarily designed for consoles. However, improvements in menus, user interfaces, and overall smoothness have been noted, indicating ongoing development efforts.
“Visuals are more than okay, even for the end of 2017.”
“The menus and user interfaces are greatly improved, controls are easier to find, adjustments to the game's graphics and resolution are also a lot easier to change, and the game just looks smoother.”
“I know the author is working hard on visuals, controls, and additional features.”
“Nightstar is an indie game that looks pretty good from the store page, but on playing it, it feels like a PS3 port in both graphics and gameplay.”
“The graphics are barely okay, and I ran on ultra, which should have looked much more realistic, but it has that low-budget feeling kind of game.”
“Con: simple graphics designed for consoles.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Nightstar has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the significant overhaul and features like the lock-on system and barrel rolls, while others criticize its outdated feel reminiscent of PS3 titles. The fluid-reality mechanics add a unique challenge, but the lock-on system has been noted as difficult to use compared to similar games. Overall, the gameplay experience varies widely among players.
“The fluid-reality gameplay makes you realize you cannot slow down to a stop while playing the levels; it teaches you that you do not have to kill everything, and sometimes you do.”
“Great music, scenario, and gameplay.”
“The lock-on system and barrel rolls are a major gameplay plus point.”
“Nightstar is an indie game that looks pretty good from the store page, but on playing it, it feels like a PS3 port in both graphics and gameplay.”
“The fluid-reality gameplay makes it clear that you cannot slow down to a stop while playing the levels; you understand that you do not have to kill everything, and then sometimes you do.”
“The lock-on system is hard to use; Ace Combat: Assault Horizon has a much better example of the same mechanic.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its engaging and dynamic use, enhancing the gameplay experience with well-timed shifts that match the action, such as transitioning from soft melodies to intense beats during critical moments. However, some players find that the music can become repetitive and annoying after extended play. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere and scenario.
“Great music, scenario, and gameplay.”
“More interesting use of music and sound as opposed to repetitive, non-changing music.”
“Silence before the storm, with soft music when escorting a freighter on what you thought was an easy mission, then boom! You get ambushed and the music kicks into gear, with beats and heart-pumping bass.”
“Music gets annoying after 10 minutes.”
“There needs to be a more interesting use of music and sound as opposed to repetitive, unchanging music.”
“The music could enhance the experience more, like having silence before the storm, with soft music during escort missions, and then a sudden shift to intense beats when ambushed.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its low replayability, with users expressing that it lacks engaging content to encourage multiple playthroughs. Suggestions for improvement include adding sensitivity settings for controls, which could enhance the overall experience.
“The replayability of this game is incredible; every playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“I love how each decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay it multiple times.”
“The variety of characters and storylines keeps me coming back for more adventures.”
“Replayability - 2 - if you're a masochist.”
“No replay value (yes, it's an EA game, but anyway).”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while optimization is generally satisfactory, there are some minor performance issues that could be improved.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the game run seamlessly without any noticeable lag.”
“The game's optimization ensures that players can enjoy a high-quality experience regardless of their hardware.”
“The game's optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I was disappointed with the optimization; it feels like the game was rushed and not properly tested on various hardware.”
“Despite having a powerful PC, I still experience lag and long loading times, which is frustrating for an otherwise enjoyable game.”
