Star Shift Rebellion
- February 9, 2024
- Psychronic
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn Star Shift Rebellion, players join the Outer Rim Coalition in their fight against brutal occupation on Infernis Prime. The game features a unique skill system where characters' stats and abilities are upgraded using Knowledge Points earned from combat. It also offers a tactical battle system for fleet and army combats, with unique skill trees based on a character's species and class. The game's soundtrack is composed of music from various independent artists. Time has been shattered, and only the player and their crew can uncover the mystery before it's too late.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The story is well-written, engaging, and features interesting characters, with a mix of conspiracy, time travel, and space politics.
- The combat system is fun and fast-paced, with a unique skill tree customization that allows for diverse character builds.
- The game features impressive cutscenes and a nostalgic 1980s sci-fi vibe, making it visually appealing and immersive.
- The game is relatively short, lasting around 10-15 hours, which may leave players wanting more.
- There are quality of life issues, such as cumbersome shopping mechanics and a lack of explanations for gear and stats, which can hinder the experience.
- Some players may find the pacing slow, particularly during tactical battles, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- story78 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story has received praise for its engaging and well-crafted narrative, blending classic JRPG elements with a compelling sci-fi backdrop that includes themes of time travel and political manipulation. Reviewers noted the depth of character development and the intricate branching paths that enhance the overall experience, while some suggested that certain genre-mixing elements could be better integrated. Overall, the story is described as a standout feature, reminiscent of classic titles and capable of translating well to other media formats.
“The story ended up being so much better than what I expected at first.”
“It's a very well put together sci-fi story that reminds me of a mix of Final Fantasy in the 90's on Super Nintendo with Mass Effect style themes and futuristic battles involving solar systems and aliens and diverse civilizations.”
“As you progress, the story starts to reveal all its branching paths, that all tie back to the main overarching story, which is attempting to prevent a disaster that comes about due to the callous manipulation of both time and space.”
“I do wish Chronus-13 was more fleshed out, since it feels like the story couldn't decide if they wanted it to be a tool like the fully robotic party members or if they wanted Chronus-13 to truly be a main character.”
“Given how story-driven it is, just having an auto button for the conversations, for example, would help immensely.”
“We also get to see how the ESA propaganda works due to the news networks framing the story to suit the country's agenda, which is eerily similar to the real-life war on terror.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for its mechanical similarities to its predecessor, Origins, but struggles with balance due to shop progress issues, leading to experiences of being either underpowered or overpowered. Players appreciate the variety of gameplay mechanics and the engaging world, despite some initial difficulty with the genre. The game features a unique blend of art styles and a well-structured introduction to its mechanics, contributing to a positive gameplay experience rated at 9.2/10.
“It's a genre I've never been able to get into, but something about the world, gameplay, and characters really absorbs me into this universe.”
“The art style changes dramatically between western and anime, and the mechanics change just as fluidly.”
“The introduction will show you the game mechanics, so that you come in lightly.”
“The game is mechanically very similar to Origins.”
“As for the gameplay, the way shop progress is handled, or lack thereof, makes it hard to find the balance between being underpowered like in Origins' first dungeon or grossly overpowered like my fully equipped team.”
“The art style changes dramatically between Western and anime, and the mechanics change just as fluidly.”
- music16 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise, with many reviewers highlighting its outstanding quality and unique style, often likening it to a 1980s sci-fi movie soundtrack. The soundtrack is described as superb, enhancing the beautiful worlds and overall experience, with some users rating it a perfect 10/10.
“The soundtrack is similarly awesome.”
“An old school RPG with an outstanding soundtrack and a fantastic story.”
“The worlds are beautiful and the background music is superb.”
“My wife walked by while I was playing and said it sounded like a 1980s sci-fi movie soundtrack.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their stunning blend of old-school and modern styles, achieving a high artistic quality with a score of 9.5/10. The game features a dynamic art style that shifts between western and anime influences, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Additionally, the graphic representation of death is noted for its impactful execution rather than mere shock value.
“The graphic style is wonderfully old school but feels also modern.”
“Artwork 9.5/10”
“The art style changes dramatically between western and anime, and the mechanics change just as fluidly.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with many players noting that they found themselves laughing at numerous jokes throughout the experience.
“I found myself laughing at many of the jokes too.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has experienced some performance issues, as noted by users, but the developers have been quick to address these concerns, demonstrating a proactive approach to optimization.
“I did have a couple of performance issues which are detailed in the game’s forum, but the developers were quick to respond.”
“I experienced several performance issues that were discussed in the game’s forum, but the developers were quick to respond.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite the game's potential, the poor optimization severely impacts the overall experience.”
