Spartaga
- August 28, 2017
- House of How
Get on Steam"Spartaga" is a VR bullet-hell starfighter game with intuitive motion controls, challenging enemies, and 32 handcrafted stages. It features five play modes, four bosses, and 27 enemy types, as well as upgradeable secondary weapons and synchronized art and music. Compete for high scores with leaderboards and stage ranks, and unlock skins for additional replay value.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Spartaga offers a polished and engaging gameplay experience with a variety of enemies and levels that keep the challenge fresh and exciting.
- The game features a unique combo system that adds depth to the gameplay, encouraging strategic thinking and rewarding players for skillful play.
- The VR experience enhances the traditional bullet hell mechanics, making dodging and shooting feel immersive and satisfying.
- The graphics and backgrounds could be more visually interesting, as they sometimes feel simplistic and less engaging.
- Some players may find the difficulty spikes challenging, particularly around Level 10, which can lead to frustration.
- The ship's movement can feel less fluid compared to enemy ships, which may detract from the overall immersion in the VR experience.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly polished and engaging, featuring a well-designed combo system that adds depth and encourages strategic play, making it accessible for newcomers while challenging for veterans. Players appreciate the variety of enemies, bosses, and game modes, which keep the experience fresh and exciting. The VR implementation enhances the gameplay, providing a unique and immersive challenge that complements the core mechanics.
“The combo system adds a level of depth to the gameplay that will keep hardcore gamers busy for hours trying to improve their scores, but the game is super easy to pick up and play for anyone.”
“The game mechanics are very easy to learn, yet the gameplay never feels dull given the large variety of enemies and upgrades which forces the player to adopt new strategies to surmount difficult levels.”
“Although the core mechanics are familiar, experiencing them in VR is a whole other thing - having to aim by hand while dodging and maintaining a sense of the enemies in the play space creates a lot of fun challenge that feels totally unique when experiencing them in VR.”
“If, however, you played Xertex in awe of the mechanics but really wanted more ships, a real score, a real endless mode, and just an all-around more complete game?”
“The game mechanics are very easy to learn, yet the gameplay never feels dull given the large variety of enemies and upgrades, which forces the player to adopt new strategies to surmount difficult levels.”
“Although the core mechanics are familiar, experiencing them in VR is a whole other thing - having to aim by hand while dodging and maintaining a sense of the enemies in the play space creates a lot of fun challenges that feel totally unique.”
- music13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the energetic arcade-style tracks and the relaxing tunes from Carbon Based Lifeforms, which enhance the overall atmosphere. While many players enjoy the soundtrack and its synergy with the game's visuals, a few feel that it could have been improved. Overall, the music contributes positively to the immersive experience, complementing the retro aesthetic and dynamic gameplay.
“A solid VR bullet hell with a kick-ass soundtrack.”
“The music soundtrack could have been better as well.”
“The soundtracks can be switched between fast-beat arcade-style music or some rather relaxing tunes by a band I had never heard of called Carbon Based Lifeforms; the latter is what I mostly opted for, and it works well with the game.”
“The enemies have a decidedly retro look and feel which goes well with the game’s sound effects and soundtrack.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the nostalgic arcade-inspired visuals and immersive art style, others find them lacking in detail and interest. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the gameplay, evoking a retro feel reminiscent of classic arcade games, though they may not impress those seeking cutting-edge visuals.
“Spartaga does a great job of capturing a nostalgic arcade feel through its bright 1970's vector graphic inspired visuals and satisfying sounds.”
“The game also has really nice visuals and you can tell that each level was not just thrown together.”
“The graphics aesthetic speaks to a retro futurism pastiche of Tron meets Battlezone in space.”
“The graphics are not that good, but the gameplay is very polished and is what puts it above every other game of this type.”
“My only complaint about this game is the graphics and background could have been more interesting.”
“These graphics aren't going to blow anyone away but they work well with the style of game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and effective optimization, ensuring a seamless gaming experience.
“This is a very smooth and well-optimized game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its thoughtful design, encompassing both the game environment and enemy aesthetics, while the background music enhances the overall immersive experience.
“Well-designed atmosphere, from the game area to the enemy design.”
“What goes on in the background also fills the atmosphere nicely as you're listening to the music.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through its action-packed gameplay, various modes, and competitive leaderboards, which keep players engaged and encourage repeated play.
“Action-packed and full of replayability thanks to leaderboards and different modes of play.”
“A good amount of replayability, and the gameplay definitely draws you in.”
