Solbane
- March 31, 2023
- Odime Games
Get on Steam"Solbane" is a boss-rush shoot 'em up game set in a retro-arcade style with modern RPG elements. Players can journey through the solar system, battling 14 unique bosses with their own mechanics, while evolving their spacecraft with over 50 abilities and three distinct pilots. Customize your ability build and strategy to defeat each boss, experiencing a varied and challenging adventure in this bullet hell space shooter.
Reviews
- The game features a solid gameplay loop with a fun upgrade system and a wide variety of customization options.
- Boss fights are engaging and challenging, with unique mechanics for each boss that encourage strategic thinking.
- The music and graphics enhance the overall experience, making it a visually appealing and enjoyable game.
- The difficulty can be overwhelming, with some bosses having cheap instakills and a lack of difficulty modes for less skilled players.
- There are some quality of life issues, such as the need for back buttons on certain screens and a lack of cloud saving.
- The game may feel short for some players, as there isn't much replay value after completing the campaign with the available ships.
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its enjoyable mechanics, particularly the auto-shoot feature and life steal, which contribute to a solid and fun experience. The unique boss rush format enhances the game by focusing on challenging encounters rather than tedious minion battles, making the game's length reliant on player skill. Overall, players see great potential in the gameplay loop and hope for further development.
“The game overall is fun to play; I really like the auto-shoot game mechanic paired with life steal... awesome!”
“Really close to something great, solid gameplay loop. I hope you continue working on the game and bring it to its full potential.”
“The boss rush gameplay is arguably the most unique thing about the game.”
“Each level you're sent straight to a big bad instead of annoying minions that just waste hours of gameplay, and because of that, the length of the game is actually very dependent on your skill.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many users noting that it significantly enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack, particularly the boss themes, exceeds expectations and adds intensity to the gameplay, making it a standout feature.
“And by the way, the music makes the game!”
“Music was on point.”
“I would have expected a lot worse of a soundtrack, but the boss themes go hard as hell.”
“The music makes the game!”
“The boss themes are surprisingly intense and engaging.”
“I expected a lot worse from the soundtrack, but the boss themes are really impressive.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game lacks traditional RPG elements, particularly grinding, as players do not experience significant character progression or difficulty variations. This absence, combined with questionable boss design and a lack of replayability, leaves players feeling unsatisfied and without options for less skilled gameplay. Overall, the grinding aspect is minimal, leading to a quick and potentially unfulfilling experience.
“Unfortunately, it's weighed down by some questionable boss design - a lot of instakills feel cheap even though the game says it will usually warn you. The next-to-last boss, Archangel, works differently from all of the other bosses, and not to the game's benefit. There weren't really any bosses that I felt I wanted to try going up against a second time after winning. The lack of difficulty modes means that while I could play with the other two ships I didn't use to complete the campaign, there's not really much left for me after just a little over an hour of play, and there's no easy mode (or RPG-style grinding) for less skilled players, either.”
“Longer would be grindy, shorter would just be unsatisfying.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their simplicity and aesthetic appeal, reminiscent of classic flash-based boss rush games but enhanced with superior visuals and audio quality. Overall, they strike a balance between minimalism and impressive design.
“It's very reminiscent of classic flash-based boss rush games, but with far better graphics and audio.”
“One final thing to mention - the graphics are really simple and yet look amazing.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally well-received, but players express a desire for improved quality of life features, such as back buttons and easier access to mission retries, to enhance the overall experience.
“The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving me feeling disconnected from their journeys.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, particularly as a boss rush experience, offering players numerous opportunities to engage with its content multiple times.
“A fantastic boss rush game with plenty of replayability.”
“The game offers a variety of challenges that keep you coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different strategies you can employ.”
