Star-Crosst
- August 6, 2023
- LunaticMoon
"Star-Crosst" is a single-player Role Playing game set in 2323, where Earth has just won a war against an alien species called "riklid". You play as Ezra Foy, a university graduate navigating life, relationships, and personal growth amidst a changed world, with three romantic interests and diverse characters in a futuristic setting. The game offers a good story with deep branching storylines and hundreds of dialogue lines.
Reviews
- The game features a good story with lovely art and well-developed characters, making it engaging and enjoyable.
- Voice acting and music are well-executed, adding to the overall experience and emotional impact of the narrative.
- Despite its short length, the game is thought-provoking and captures themes of uncertainty and personal growth effectively.
- The game is quite short, leaving some players wanting more depth and exploration of its themes and characters.
- Some characters, particularly the protagonist, feel underdeveloped and less interesting compared to the supporting cast.
- The dating sim elements are not as focused as expected, and choices often feel limited or inconsequential to the overall story.
- story23 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging characters, well-presented themes, and emotional depth, despite being described as simple and somewhat short. Reviewers appreciate the vibrant art and character development, noting that while the narrative is enjoyable, it could benefit from additional content to fully explore its themes and relationships. Overall, players express a desire for more choices and expansions to enhance the storytelling experience.
“A very cute and pleasant story with heavier introspective themes than I was expecting going into it.”
“Things take a little bit to ramp up, but I felt myself become emotionally invested in the events of the story, and the writing delivered its core message coherently and effectively, with a handful of moments making me genuinely teary-eyed.”
“However, the detail to world building and character development is out of this world; the artwork is so vibrant and expressive, and the story pacing is picture perfect.”
“I found the characters and plot very interesting, though sadly the game is too short to explore all the themes it presents properly, and while I'm fond of the characters, I sadly feel that I wasn't given enough time to grow attached to them.”
“I would say though, that the story could really benefit from a few more thousand words, both to develop relationships as well as not to rush important parts.”
“Also, depending on a particular choice, the story tries to dive into a topic rather unrelated to the main plot, and given the already rather short script, it didn't fit particularly into the narrative.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, complementing the writing and art direction to create an impactful experience. While some users appreciate the unique themes and quality of the soundtrack, there are mentions of it being sparse or not fully utilized, leaving room for improvement in emotional expression during intense scenes. Overall, the music is considered good, though some players feel it could have been more prominent.
“Writing, art direction, music, and voice acting all combined well to deliver an impactful experience, though some of the supporting characters could have benefited from additional expressions to convey deeper emotion in some of the more intense scenes.”
“It's a shame, because the visual novel has unique themes (reminds me of 'The Wind Rises' and making planes for the war effort), and all the other characters are rather interesting, with a gorgeous art style, fine music, and voice acting.”
“The game is a little short, but it has good art, actual voice acting, and a great soundtrack.”
“Music and sounds are alright.”
“I do have one gripe with the music, not that it's bad, far from it.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as short yet impactful, featuring witty and enjoyable character writing. It balances dumb humor with genuinely heartfelt moments, creating an uplifting experience overall.
“Short but quite impactful, humorous, and uplifting.”
“The character writing overall is great, and the humor is witty and enjoyable.”
“Full of dumb humor and some genuinely heartbreaking moments.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a gradual emotional investment in the story, with effective writing that conveys its core message and elicits genuine tears. The blend of humor and poignant moments, particularly highlighted by character traits like isol's tail reflecting her emotions, enhances the overall emotional experience.
“Things take a little bit to ramp up, but I felt myself become emotionally invested in the events of the story, and the writing delivered its core message coherently and effectively, with a handful of moments making me genuinely teary-eyed.”
“Gotta love Isol's tail being an indicator of her emotional state.”
“Full of dumb humor and some genuinely heartbreaking moments.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their vibrant and expressive art style, which is both consistent and visually appealing. While the writing is clear, some users feel it leans too heavily on lore dumping, overshadowing the unique themes and character development. Overall, the artwork, music, and voice acting contribute to a captivating visual experience.
“The visual art style is gorgeous, with a unique aesthetic that truly stands out.”
“The artwork is so vibrant and expressive, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
“The graphics are stunning, with a fine balance of detail and creativity that captivates the player.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of voice acting in the game is highly praised, with particular commendation for Liam Cunningham's standout performance as Gabriel, contributing to an overall strong vocal presentation.
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's exceptional character development, highlighting its intricate world-building and vibrant artwork. The story pacing is also noted as being expertly crafted, enhancing the overall experience.
“The detail in world-building and character development is out of this world. The artwork is vibrant and expressive, and the story pacing is picture perfect.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-crafted, making each character feel unique and relatable as they evolve throughout the game.”
“I was genuinely invested in the characters' journeys; their growth and development were both believable and engaging.”