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…
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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 immersive experience.
- Some players found the story intriguing and appreciated the artistic approach, making it a memorable experience despite its flaws.
- The gameplay is overly linear and repetitive, with minimal interactivity and a lack of meaningful puzzles.
- The game is very short, lasting only about an hour, which many players felt did not justify the price.
- There are technical issues, such as poor collision detection and performance problems, which detracted from the overall experience.
- story84 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as weak and minimal, lasting only 20 to 30 minutes, with many reviewers noting its linearity and lack of depth. While some appreciate the visual storytelling and unique design choices, others criticize the narrative for being underdeveloped and lacking context, leaving players wanting more substance and a clearer understanding of the characters. Overall, the game presents an interesting concept but fails to deliver a fulfilling story experience.
“It's not only beautiful, but it tells such a compelling story.”
“The scenery is beautiful, the story is really neat, and the music is on point!”
“I really like the concept, story, and art; I wonder what happened to Leo though. Overall, great game for a good price.”
“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 (especially towards the end), but since we're told absolutely nothing about Leo's character or life story, we don't really know what these symbols could represent.”
- gameplay38 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being linear, repetitive, and lacking depth, with many players finding it frustrating due to mechanics like a stamina bar and a walk/run toggle that detract from the experience. The game primarily consists of running through similar corridors and avoiding monsters, which turns it into a memorization challenge rather than an engaging adventure. While some appreciate the atmospheric experience, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is weak, with a short duration and minimal interactive elements.
“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.”
“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.”
“There are no puzzles, the writing is cliché and weak, and the gameplay is slow and boring.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising certain areas as visually appealing and screenshot-worthy, while others criticize the overall quality as outdated and lacking detail, particularly in shadows and textures. Despite having adjustable settings that can improve visuals, many feel the graphics do not justify the purchase, describing them as reminiscent of late 90s titles and often lifeless. Overall, while there are moments of beauty, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback for many players.
“Very nice graphics and sound, some intense moments involving interesting creatures.”
“It had multiple levels for anti-aliasing, a toggle for VSync, and a few other graphics settings to tinker with.”
“It has a good story, good soundtrack, good atmosphere, some really good moments, and okay but still beautiful graphics.”
“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.”
- music18 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with a beautiful visual style and impactful theme song that enhances the overall atmosphere. While the soundtrack is praised for its quality and effectiveness in creating tension, some reviewers noted it can feel repetitive and is relatively short. Overall, the combination of ambient music and sound effects contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“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!”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is often described as spooky and dreamy, enhanced by a good soundtrack and sound design. However, some players find it repetitive and feel that its short length limits the immersive experience typical of walking simulators and survival horror games. Overall, while the atmosphere is praised for its beauty and tension, it may not fully engage players seeking a more varied exploration.
“I like it because of the atmosphere and sound design.”
“It has a good story, good soundtrack, good atmosphere, some really good moments, and okay but still beautiful graphics.”
“Excellent atmosphere and dreamy setting.”
“One problem with that is that walking sims typically want you to look around its surroundings and soak up the atmosphere, whereas survival horror games are supposed to be tense.”
“Short indie game with sometimes spooky atmosphere.”
- humor4 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 character'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.
“With an amazing dialogue, and a moment or two that made me laugh, Starbo is well worth the try.”
“The initial video shows your character as having absolutely hilariously massive hands; not sure why that happened.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is considered low due to its short story format, which limits the incentive for players to revisit it.
“As it's a short story, the replay value is not too good, either.”
