Shooting Stars!
- January 19, 2016
- Bloodirony
- 3h median play time
Have some high points, but they soon give way to glaring faults. Not the worst, but difficult to recommend.
Get on Steam"Shooting Stars!" is a fast-paced, arcade-style shoot 'em up game with a humorous twist. Protect the earth from an alien invasion while collecting coins and power-ups. Choose from a variety of wacky characters, each with unique weapons and abilities, as you blast your way through hordes of enemy ships and bosses. Fight to become the top starfighter pilot in this addictive and entertaining game.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Fun and colorful bullet hell shooter with humorous celebrity parodies.
- Simple controls and gameplay make it accessible for casual play.
- Great for short gaming sessions, providing a light-hearted distraction.
- Achievements and daily runs are broken and no longer supported by the developer.
- Gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth after a few runs.
- Visual effects can obscure gameplay, making it difficult to see enemy attacks.
- humor43 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of pop culture references, celebrity parodies, and meme humor that some players find entertaining and others deem repetitive and forced. While many appreciate the lightheartedness and comedic elements, including funny weapons and boss fights, others criticize the humor as bland or cringey, with some feeling it falls flat or becomes tiresome over time. Overall, the game's comedic appeal seems to resonate well with those who enjoy its style, but it may not satisfy everyone.
“It's just fun and funny with pop culture references.”
“The boss fights are funny and the game is packed with little jokes here and there.”
“Fast-paced, energetic, and absolutely hilarious.”
“Repetitive and boring, the memes get unfunny very fast.”
“It's not the worst game ever, but it just has painfully mediocre gameplay in addition to being terribly unfunny.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, the bosses are too predictable and easy, the humor is forced and totally random; the whole experience can be described as 'waste of time' - not funny, not engaging, not even challenging.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplistic mechanics and repetitive nature, often described as reminiscent of classic shmups like Space Invaders. While some players appreciate the tight controls and interesting power-ups, many criticize the experience for being bogged down by bugs, lack of challenge, and visual obstructions that hinder gameplay clarity. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable moments but is marred by mediocrity and technical issues.
“I give it a thumbs up for the content and gameplay, plus graphics.”
“The controls and mechanics feel nice and tight.”
“Great gameplay with interesting power-ups.”
“It's not the worst game ever, but it just has painfully mediocre gameplay in addition to being terribly unfunny.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, the bosses are too predictable and easy, the humour is forced and totally random, the whole experience can be described as 'waste of time' - not funny, not engaging, not even challenging.”
“Mind-numbingly repetitive gameplay.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by vibrant, retro pixel art that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of classic titles and animated shows. While some players appreciate the colorful visuals and humorous aesthetics, others criticize them as lazy and overly reliant on memes and pop culture references. Overall, the graphics receive mixed reviews, with many praising their charm and fun appeal, while some find them generic and unoriginal.
“The game's graphics are really colorful and retro.”
“The visual aesthetics are good and fun, the witty parody of famous people was enjoyed and the accessible nature of the game was right on the money.”
“The graphics themselves are something I found particularly satisfying.”
“The developers are charging $7.50 for a joke game with very lazy retro pixel graphics, I can't really recommend this.”
“The visuals and 'story' are just annoying memes and pop-culture references.”
“Plus, its aesthetic is tiresome and its 'humor' falls flatter than a pancake.”
- music17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its retro style and variety, which complements the gameplay effectively. The soundtrack is described as enjoyable and fitting, enhancing the overall experience, despite some players noting a generic feel reminiscent of 80s shooters. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“A really great retro shooter with some upgraded retro music and sounds.”
“Is a fun shooter with a pulsing soundtrack and enough variety in power-ups to keep me coming back for short bursts all the time.”
“A wonderful soundtrack is also present to go along great with the graphic choice.”
“A bullet hell game full of memes and references for the time with a decent soundtrack.”
“Pixel graphics, cheaptune soundtrack, huge onscreen text, bullet hell – everything about this game screams 'generic shooter from the 80s'.”
“I was expecting the music of the meme music but this is also fine.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and often overshadowed by pop-culture references and memes, leading to a sense of disconnection from the characters, who feel more like superficial cameos than integral parts of the narrative. While there is a vague plot involving aliens and kidnapped celebrities, it lacks depth and clarity, resulting in a story that may not resonate with players despite the game's high replay value.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“There isn't much in terms of story and the game is not super long, but it has a very high replay value that should keep you coming back.”
“The visuals and 'story' are just annoying memes and pop-culture references.”
“There's apparently a story of some kind involving aliens and kidnapped celebrities, but it's not explained to you at all other than in some vague dialogue with 'Nuck Chorris', who appears as every sixth boss fight.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a mixed level of replayability; while some players find it highly replayable due to its randomly generated stages and power-ups, others feel it lacks depth and is primarily focused on achievements. Overall, the absence of fixed patterns enhances its replay value, making it appealing for those who enjoy varied gameplay experiences.
“There isn't much in terms of story and the game is not super long, but it has a very high replay value that should keep you coming back.”
“But the really nice thing is that it's infinitely replayable because unlike traditional bullet-hell games there's no patterns to memorize; everything is randomly generated every time.”
“The random nature of the stages and power-ups gives good replayability.”
“Low replay value; most of the playtime is spent on achievements.”
“It might not have much replay value, but it's a well-put-together mini-game.”
“I'm also not sure about the amount of replayability.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report mixed experiences with stability; while some encounter minor bugs and issues with achievements, others have not faced any significant game-breaking problems or crashes.
“I don't know why they're a little buggy, but they are.”
“Achievements do work, but can be a bit annoying and/or buggy to get.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that the emotional aspect of the game provides a satisfying contrast, serving as a refreshing experience after engaging with more intense or frustrating titles.
“This game left me feeling a whirlwind of emotions, from joy to heartbreak.”
“The story resonated with me on a personal level, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
“I was completely immersed in the characters' struggles, and it truly tugged at my heartstrings.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players who enjoy grinding for points will find it rewarding, as it offers opportunities to climb leaderboards and earn power-ups, alongside a satisfying level of challenge.
Critic Reviews
Review: Shooting Stars!
Have some high points, but they soon give way to glaring faults. Not the worst, but difficult to recommend.
40%Kermit sipping tea - Shooting Stars review
Shooting Stars can provide some thrills due to its solid bullet-hell focused gameplay systems. The mechanics are tight and the special pick-ups diversify the combat a bit. But at the end of the day, its comedy feels more painful than enjoyable. The fact that it is thrown your way constantly only makes it more unenjoyable. It simply feels forced.
55%
