SOL CRESTA

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 93 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
SOL CRESTA Game Cover
PlatinumGames try their hand at a vertical shooter and the result is a near bullseye.
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Sol Cresta is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up game that pays homage to the classic arcade titles Moon Cresta and Terra Cresta. Players control a spacecraft facing numerous enemy fleets across different stages. A unique feature is the ability to dock ships together to form more powerful combinations, with distinct attacks and abilities. The game retains the pixel art style of its predecessors while introducing updated visuals and audio for a modern twist.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 93 reviews
gameplay25 positive mentions
  • The game features a unique formation mechanic that allows for strategic gameplay and adds depth to the shooting experience.
  • The soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro is highly praised, providing an engaging and nostalgic audio backdrop.
  • The game offers a variety of difficulty settings, making it accessible for both casual players and hardcore fans of the genre.
  • The graphics are often criticized for being overly pixelated and difficult to read, leading to confusion during gameplay.
  • Many players feel the game is overpriced, especially considering the additional costs for DLC content that should have been included in the base game.
  • The level design and enemy patterns are seen as uninspired and repetitive, lacking the creativity found in other modern shooters.
  • gameplay66 mentions

    The gameplay of "Sol Cresta" is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as the formation system and ship swapping, which offer a fresh take on the shmup genre. While the game is praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, some players find the graphics distracting and the hitboxes inconsistent, leading to occasional cheap deaths. Overall, it provides a complex and enjoyable experience, though it may require patience to fully appreciate its depth and nuances.

    • “Sol Cresta is a very solid and creative shmup that combines old school sensibilities with modern gameplay ideas and mechanics.”
    • “Behind the retro graphics and chiptune soundtrack hides a very modern and enjoyable shmup, full of creative gameplay touches, be it the formation mechanics or the special moves triggered by doing motions straight out of a fighting game.”
    • “I really recommend Sol Cresta because it contains combos that you can execute, the formation mechanic is amazing, and every spaceship has its unique shot.”
    • “The graphics are ruined by the lack of a video mode that doesn't make them look like a shimmering mess of pixels, and the gameplay is a bit too gimmicky.”
    • “The mechanics are very poorly explained in the manual and it looks like they're trying to sell you the plot as a $10 day 1 DLC.”
    • “Sol Cresta can be a little annoying with its mechanics for anyone who is willing to take the time to get good at it.”
  • graphics33 mentions

    The graphics of the game are described as rough and overly pixelated, with a charming retro art style reminiscent of 90s arcade games. However, many players find the visuals problematic, citing issues with visibility due to saturated backgrounds and inaccurate hitboxes, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, while the nostalgic aesthetic appeals to some, the lack of clarity and polish detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially in a genre where visual precision is crucial.

    • “Behind the retro graphics and chiptune soundtrack (a marvelous and insanely catchy effort by the great Yuzo Koshiro, here in top form) hides a very modern and enjoyable shmup, full of creative gameplay touches, be it the formation mechanics (where detaching your three ships is used to trigger massive special attacks, and the order you reattach them in results in different primary and secondary shots), or the special moves (triggered by doing motions straight out of a fighting game, something unusual for the genre).”
    • “Pros: fantastic pixel old school graphics.”
    • “It sounds old-school in a very charming way and it has the graphics look of the advanced 90s arcade machines (think Darius Gaiden).”
    • “The graphics are ruined by the lack of a video mode that doesn't make them look like a shimmering mess of pixels, and the gameplay is a bit too gimmicky.”
    • “That being said, the messy graphics thing is definitely the most harmful to a shmup/danmaku experience.”
    • “The graphics issue in this game might be due to some nostalgia or whatever, but I don't think it's working -- making things 'look bad on purpose' isn't how dedicating stuff to the past works, and if it is, then I'm fine with the future.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game, composed by chiptune legend Yuzo Koshiro, is widely praised as fantastic, catchy, and energetic, enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers express a desire for the soundtrack to be available as DLC, highlighting its standout quality in the context of the game's retro graphics and modern gameplay mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest features, contributing significantly to its appeal.

    • “Behind the retro graphics and chiptune soundtrack (a marvellous and insanely catchy effort by the great Yuzo Koshiro, here in top form) hides a very modern and enjoyable shmup, full of creative gameplay touches.”
    • “Wonderful music by Yuzo Koshiro.”
    • “It also needs the soundtrack as DLC.”
    • “At the very least, the music is pure fire and energy - some of Koshiro's best work to date.”
    • “[five difficulty settings, in-game achievements unlock new content, sublime soundtrack from Yuzo Koshiro]”
  • story14 mentions

    The story mode has received criticism for being locked behind a $10 paywall, which many players feel should have been included in the base game given its high price. While the narrative follows the classic Kamiya style and shares similarities with "Wonderful 101," players have expressed frustration over the lack of localized voiceovers, making it difficult to follow the fast-paced action while reading subtitles. Overall, the story is considered good, but accessibility issues detract from the experience.

    • “As for the story mode, it's the classic Kamiya kind of story. It shares a ton of similarities with Wonderful 101. It's good, but I really wish it was dubbed, since the game is pretty frenetic and it's hard to read the subtitles while playing.”
    • “I end up playing on easy difficulty to be able to enjoy the story.”
    • “The drama mode really needs localized voiceovers, as trying to follow the story can be challenging.”
    • “Something that bothers me was that the story mode was behind a paywall; they should have made it part of the base game since it is pretty expensive as it is.”
    • “Edit: just realized they literally put the entire story part of the game (dialogue, actual characters, stakes) behind a $10 DLC... why would you do this?”
    • “The mechanics are very poorly explained in the manual, and it looks like they're trying to sell you the plot as a $10 day 1 DLC.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Users consistently highlight the game’s high replayability, indicating that it offers numerous opportunities for players to enjoy it multiple times.

    • “This game offers a lot of replay value.”
    • “There is plenty of replay value to keep you coming back.”
    • “The replay value is impressive, making each playthrough feel fresh.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report excellent stability, with the game running smoothly on their machines without any issues, even in vertical mode.

    • “It runs great on my machine and has no problems in vertical mode.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

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