Star Merc
- February 10, 2017
- NewWorldsGames
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreStar Merc is an open world rpg where player choices heavily affect outcomes and drastically change the storyline. The game is about exploring different planets, learning about the inhabitants and dealing with the different factions that like to think they control the universe. There are many different weapons, items, dialogue options, aliens and alien races within the game and many secrets to unco…
Reviews
- The game provided a sense of joy and hope for players during difficult times, helping them to cope with personal struggles.
- Exploration of the universe and the level of choice in gameplay were appreciated, offering a unique experience.
- The ambient music contributed to the atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience despite some issues with looping.
- The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including script errors, inability to interact with objects, and a lack of a quest log.
- Combat difficulty is unbalanced, with enemies being overly powerful early on, leading to frustration for players.
- The game feels unfinished, lacking polish and content, which detracts from the overall experience.
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story of the game presents a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, which resonates with players. However, many users express frustration over the lack of a quest log, making it difficult to keep track of numerous quests, and suggest that improvements in quest organization and difficulty scaling would enhance the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the intriguing, mysterious narrative and the significant player choice it offers.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Some things that I really like about this game so far are the vague story that hints at a greater mystery and plot and the impressive level of choice.”
“After playing for only an hour of the full release, I was pretty disappointed. You could still glitch the first level and not be able to complete it, and a quest log is still not added in.”
“Adding a quest log would make this game tons better. Early on, you get a lot of quests, but since there is no quest log, you basically forget all the quests you were given, so you're forced to write down the quests NPCs give you.”
“Adding in a difficulty meter for quests and giving enemies and areas levels (basically saying what level every enemy is on the planet) would also make the game better since it's too easy to walk into an area where enemies can two-shot you.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for enhancing the dark atmosphere, particularly the ambient tracks, but it suffers from quick looping that can become irritating. Reviewers suggest a need for more memorable and longer music tracks to improve the overall experience, indicating that while the music contributes positively, it could benefit from greater variety and distinction.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“I like the ambient music in the game because it adds a lot to the dark atmosphere.”
“My main recommendations are to focus more on memorable music with longer tracks that are distinguishable in the game and not generic.”
“Aside from the gameplay and level design, the music is a mixed bag.”
“That is obviously easier said than done, so the music and difficulty lowering should be top priority.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being bland and basic, with low-quality visuals typical of RPG Maker asset flips. Reviewers note that both the writing and level design contribute to an overall negative experience.
“Like most RPG Maker shovelware and asset flips, the game features extremely low-quality, copy-pasted 2D retro pixel art, looks awful, and has even worse gameplay.”
“The writing is horrible and the gameplay is really bland and basic.”
“Aside from the gameplay and level design, the music is a mixed bag.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics in this RPG Maker game are criticized for their low quality, particularly in fullscreen mode, and the lack of full HD support or graphics customization options makes it unsuitable for dedicated modern PC gamers.
“As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
