Solar Shifter EX
- September 11, 2015
- Elder Games
This vertical scrolling shoot’em up adds a number of modern refinements to the genre’s common conventions; that said your personal enjoyment of the game might depend more on your opinion of the genre as a whole.
Get on Steam"Solar Shifter EX" is a sci-fi shoot 'em up game where you pilot the Phase Shifter, a ship equipped with a unique jump drive that allows you to warp out of dangerous situations. The game features intense combat against numerous enemies in space and on distant planet surfaces. The story revolves around mankind's fight for survival against a powerful alien race, after they have defeated us and are about to destroy the sun that gives life to our solar system.
Reviews
- The game features decent graphics and a colorful visual style that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics.
- The shifting mechanic adds a unique twist to the gameplay, making it different from other shoot 'em ups.
- At a low price point, the game can provide some entertainment for casual players looking for a simple shooting experience.
- The gameplay is repetitive and lacks variety, with many enemies and attack patterns feeling the same throughout.
- Technical issues such as poor collision detection, camera angles, and unresponsive controls detract from the overall experience.
- The game fails to engage players, as evidenced by low achievement completion rates and a lack of replay value.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique 'shifting' mechanic that adds an interesting twist, but it suffers from poor execution, including janky collisions, buggy mechanics, and a lack of depth or replay value. While some players appreciate the fast-paced nature, many find the overall experience to be underwhelming and lacking in quality, with issues like ineffective camera angles and minimal upgrade systems detracting from enjoyment. Overall, the game fails to deliver a satisfying gameplay experience, leaving players disappointed.
“Fast-paced gameplay.”
“'Shifting' mechanics add a very unique twist.”
“The idea and some game element implementation is quite good.”
“This is an old and dead genre, and while some professional production quality went into making this, it still ends up having less than average quality gameplay, with some rather janky collisions and what ultimately is a less than enjoyable look and feel.”
“The idea and some game element implementation is quite good, however the gameplay itself is horrible.”
“Sound doesn't work, gameplay is boring, camera animation is just simply bad and the developer clearly doesn't know what makes a shoot 'em up game good.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the modern and colorful visuals that evoke an old-school vibe, while others criticize the overall quality as merely decent and plagued by graphical bugs. Although the visuals are generally considered good, they do not stand out as cutting-edge, and the game exhibits some limitations typical of console ports. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight for some, but not enough to elevate the game's overall experience significantly.
“Art style and graphics are nice.”
“The graphics aren't going to blow anyone away but it's meant to have old-school vibes and it does in my opinion and does a decent job of being challenging but doable and fun as well.”
“Graphics are pretty good, not a bad price regularly, but definitely worth taking a look if on sale.”
“While this is on PC, it has all the hallmarks and deficiencies of a console game, from the clunkier than needed control scheme to the less than cutting-edge graphics.”
“The graphics aren't going to blow anyone away, but it's meant to have old-school vibes, and it does a decent job of being challenging but doable and fun as well.”
“- Graphical bugs, cannot set detail level higher than 'high', else massive texture bugs/flickering (used newest drivers on Radeon 290x and other components).”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for being rich and satisfying, contributing positively to the overall experience. While some reviews highlight it as one of the game's standout features, others describe it as merely decent, with mixed opinions on its impact compared to visuals and storyline.
“Music is surprisingly rich and satisfying.”
“Good, moody music.”
“The only good thing about this game is the visuals (in static) and the music.”
“Not a bad game; the storyline is okay, the voiceovers are okay, and the soundtracks are okay.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game lacks replayability due to the absence of leaderboards, scoring mechanics, and significant challenges, as generous checkpoints diminish the incentive to replay. Players seeking a polished shoot 'em up experience with replay value may find this title unsatisfactory.
“There are no leaderboards, no scoring mechanics, really nothing, and never a drop of replay value.”
“There's no replayability or challenge since there's no scoring, and the game is generous with checkpoints.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for significant frame drops and stuttering in certain levels, rendering it nearly unplayable even on high-end hardware. Users report inconsistent performance, with small enemy ships exhibiting noticeable stuttering despite an overall high framerate.
“In some levels, there are massive frame drops and strong stuttering for no reason, making the game nearly unplayable. I have a 2500K @ 4.5 GHz, 16 GB of RAM, and a Radeon 290X, which should be more than enough for this game.”
“Small enemy ships move with a weird stuttering, despite the game running somewhat consistently with a high framerate.”
“The optimization is so poor that even high-end systems struggle with performance issues, leading to a frustrating gaming experience.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story is generally perceived as silly and lacking depth, with some users finding it merely okay. While the game itself is not considered bad, the narrative and voiceovers do not stand out significantly.
“The story is super stupid and silly.”
“Not a bad game, but the storyline is just okay.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy and inconsistent, with users reporting a range of issues that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the upgrade mechanic is described as overly simplistic and somewhat nonsensical, further contributing to the game's instability.
“Senseless, buggy, weird, and ultra-simple upgrade mechanic.”
“So far this is good; however, it is quite buggy.”
Critic Reviews
Solar Shifter EX Review
While the Xbox 360 became known for being a great shoot ‘em up machine, especially in Japan where it was pretty much the only reason people bought one, the Xbox One is particularly lacking in this genre so far (which explains the complete lack of interest in Japan too!). So seeing Solar Shifter EX arrive on the console is particularly welcome news – well, it is if Headup Games’ title lives up to the initial promise it offers.
40%Solar Shifter EX (Xbox One) Review
This vertical scrolling shoot’em up adds a number of modern refinements to the genre’s common conventions; that said your personal enjoyment of the game might depend more on your opinion of the genre as a whole.
80%Solar Shifter EX Review
Solar Shifter EX is a fun and dynamic shoot 'em up that embodies the genre and adds a little something unique. It's a well thought out romp with plenty of great moments, but it just misses out on greatness. No doubt this is an amazing effort from a one-man team and it will provide fans with plenty of challenge.
60%
