STARBO - The Story of Leo Cornell
- January 4, 2018
- Diax Arts
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamCheck out (my new game) Karen Sees! ツ About the GameSTARBO tells you the story of a dead man's journey through a horrendously blue world filled with strange messages and beings all trying to tell you a story, the story of Leo Cornell. Leo Cornell was just another regular working-class guy, trying to make a living under horrendous circumstances due to his evil patronizing boss, Jorge Blue. Unfo…
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a unique visual style that enhances the dreamlike atmosphere.
- The sound design and music are well-executed, contributing to the overall experience.
- The game presents an intriguing story that, while minimal, offers moments of depth and philosophical reflection.
- The gameplay is overly linear and repetitive, often reducing to walking through similar corridors with little variation.
- The game is very short, lasting only about 20 to 30 minutes, which many players feel does not justify the price.
- There are significant issues with the story's coherence and character development, leaving players confused and unsatisfied.
- story42 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its brevity (20-30 minutes) and linearity, leading to a lack of depth and engagement. While some appreciate the visual storytelling and unique design choices, others criticize the minimal narrative and underdeveloped character arcs, leaving them wanting more context and substance. Overall, the story is seen as an interesting concept with potential, but ultimately feels incomplete and unsatisfying for many players.
“The story is very minimal but pretty much the majority of the uniqueness in the game.”
“It looks gorgeous, handles smoothly, and has a coherent story.”
“It's not only beautiful, but it tells such a compelling story.”
“It only lasts 20 to 30 minutes with a weak storyline and linear gameplay.”
“The story could have been a saving grace for the game except it had no real end and lacked context in many parts.”
“I understand that a lot of this is symbolic, but since we're told absolutely nothing about Leo's character or life story, we don't really know what these symbols could represent.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being linear, repetitive, and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it consists mainly of running through similar corridors and avoiding monsters, which can feel frustrating and tedious. The absence of engaging mechanics, puzzles, or a compelling storyline contributes to a short playtime of around 20 to 30 minutes, leaving players wanting more substance and variety. While some appreciate the atmospheric experience, the overall consensus is that the gameplay fails to deliver excitement or challenge.
“Mainly because it not only handles the story but also the gameplay just as if you would actually be stuck in a very dark dream.”
“Which I totally get because when you buy a game you do want more actual gameplay but for Starbo it is absolutely perfect as it is.”
“The gameplay part of it isn't as good, but I personally think it's worth it for the experience.”
“It only lasts 20 to 30 minutes with a weak storyline and linear gameplay.”
“There's hardly any gameplay; the story and plot are simple and common.”
“There's not really much gameplay to speak of besides running down nearly identical corridors over and over again and then being surprised by a monster that you either run away from... down a corridor... or around some darkly lit areas with lighting to either show you the way or completely get you off course - which essentially turns the game into a memorization game rather than a thrilling experience.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising their beauty and dreamlike quality, while others criticize them for being outdated, lifeless, and plagued by issues like jagged shadows and blocky textures. Although there are moments that are visually appealing, many feel that the overall graphical presentation does not meet modern standards and detracts from the gaming experience.
“Very nice graphics and sound, some intense moments involving interesting creatures.”
“It has a good story, good soundtrack, good atmosphere, some really good moments and okay but still beautiful graphics.”
“I did get better graphics by turning up the graphic settings, in-game.”
“Everything else in the game is so clean and hard-edged that seeing this extremely jaggy shadow really breaks the visuals apart.”
“The graphics appear 20 years old and it's all corridors and no guidance.”
“Graphics are sad for a late 90s beta.”
- music9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with a beautiful theme song and impactful ambient tracks that enhance the atmosphere. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack can feel repetitive and short, the overall sound design, including powerful effects, contributes positively to the experience. Many players expressed a desire to obtain the soundtrack, highlighting its quality and emotional resonance.
“The visual style is beautiful, the theme song is simplistic but impactful, and the final message is something I have never witnessed in any medium before.”
“I want to get my hands on the soundtrack.”
“The scenery is beautiful, the story is really neat, and the music is on point!”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is often described as spooky and immersive, enhanced by a strong soundtrack and sound design. While some players appreciate the beautiful graphics and engaging story, others note that the experience can feel repetitive and short, particularly in balancing the exploration typical of walking sims with the tension expected in survival horror. Overall, the atmosphere is highlighted as a standout feature, creating memorable moments within a dreamy setting.
“Short indie game with a sometimes spooky atmosphere.”
“I like it because of the atmosphere and sound design.”
“Excellent atmosphere and dreamy setting.”
“The game has a short indie vibe with a sometimes spooky atmosphere.”
“One problem is that walking simulators typically encourage you to explore your surroundings and soak up the atmosphere, while survival horror games are meant to be tense.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd visual gags, such as the protagonist's comically oversized hands, and is complemented by witty dialogue that elicits genuine laughter. Overall, players find the humor to be a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience.
“The initial video shows your character as having absolutely hilariously massive hands; I'm not sure why that happened.”
“With amazing dialogue and a moment or two that made me laugh, Starbo is well worth a try.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's short story limits its replayability, with users noting that it does not offer much incentive to play through again.
“As it's a short story, the replay value is not very good.”
