Stars Die
- December 4, 2020
- Eric Juvi
Get on Steam"Stars Die" is a nonlinear sci-fi mystery game set on a dying world with a giant cathedral of flesh in the ocean. The game features five parallel storylines, branching dialogues, and a real-time element where characters act with or without the player. The choices presented are ideological rather than moral, with a focus on the player's personal perspective. The 1.2 update includes a Steam key and expanded content.
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique and intriguing cosmic horror story that encourages exploration and multiple playthroughs to uncover different endings.
- Visually, the game is impressive with a nostalgic PS1 aesthetic that enhances the eerie atmosphere, complemented by a fitting soundtrack.
- The writing is generally strong, with deep dialogues that provoke thought and allow players to piece together the narrative in a non-linear fashion.
- Gameplay can feel tedious due to the need to repeat large portions of the game to experience all endings, with little variation in dialogue choices affecting the outcome.
- The story can be overly vague and cryptic, leaving players with more questions than answers, which may frustrate those seeking a more straightforward narrative.
- Some players may find the pacing rushed, especially with the time-dependent mechanics that can detract from the exploration experience.
- story82 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Stars Die" is a compelling yet cryptic cosmic horror narrative that unfolds through multiple endings, allowing players to explore different perspectives and outcomes based on their choices. While the world-building and atmosphere are praised for their uniqueness, some players find the execution of the story to be vague and at times tedious, requiring multiple playthroughs to fully grasp the plot. Overall, the game offers an intriguing experience for those who appreciate atmospheric storytelling, though it may not satisfy players seeking a more linear or detailed narrative.
“The story is interesting, though getting to each ending requires repeating the first 75% of the game where nothing new happens.”
“The story unfolds as you unlock the different endings, including well-done and intelligent metaphors of death and suicide.”
“Each ending you complete grants you insight into what exactly this island is, who these scientists are, what might come of the world, what exactly the hole is, and who you are in this story.”
“I really wanted to like this, but the game isn't really interested in telling a story; instead, the writing is more geared toward obliquely hinting that a story may exist but you're only going to get a few scraps of it.”
“The real problem that I have with Stars Die, though, is that the dialogue and story are told so vaguely or guardedly by the characters that the game doesn't want you to understand the world it's creating.”
“It feels like a 3-hour story that was crammed into a 30-minute game; I wish you dedicated more time to develop characters because they make very wild opinions.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic PS1/N64 retro style, which has garnered praise for its unique aesthetic and atmospheric qualities. Many players appreciate the art direction, which combines surreal elements with a Lovecraftian vibe, creating an eerie yet captivating environment that enhances the storytelling experience. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's cosmic horror theme.
“Superb art direction all around, from the early PlayStation surrealist grit to surprisingly beautiful character portraits evoking semi-realistic manga aesthetics, an exceptionally fitting match.”
“A Lovecraftian style horror game in PS1 style graphics; besides the simple controls and satisfying gameplay, it's beautiful to just observe the eerie environment and listen to the ominous breezes of wind.”
“The graphics and pixelated/low-poly art style fit the game so well, as does the music.”
“Graphically, it's the PS1/N64 retro style graphics that have been pretty popular the last few years.”
“Although it is not worth its asking price (get it on sale for 2-3$ at most), it is a great little atmospheric/philosophical game about the last days of planet Earth, with really trippy visuals that remind me a bit of Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne.”
“With PS1 style graphic horror, it is also like... either it's very bad, or it's very good.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive cosmic horror elements, enhanced by a nostalgic PS1 aesthetic and a compelling soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the cryptic dialogue and surreal visuals, which contribute to a deeply unsettling and engaging experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay and story execution. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a must-try for fans of atmospheric, narrative-driven horror.
“The atmosphere in this game is impeccable; the writing can be very cryptic, but it only adds to the appeal of the game for me.”
“Visuals and atmosphere are absolutely on point, with an interesting story and good old cosmic horror!”
“The world, scenario design, sound design/music, and atmosphere are excellent, and what I appreciated the most about the game.”
“Gameplay is a bit weaker than I expected, but the atmosphere is solid.”
“One complaint is that aside from the secret endings, all endings are unlocked at the same time (they are literally just a dialogue choice), so it was really lame the developer decided to delete your save game upon completing it, forcing you to repeat the entire thing just to get back to the ending choice... so only people who truly love the atmosphere will ever get to see all the endings.”
“It's a real shame this game has gone so far under the radar as it's definitely one of the better cosmic horror games on Steam and is certainly worth buying to experience the atmosphere and story.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with a focus on narrative and exploration, featuring simple mechanics and limited interactivity, which some players find tedious, especially during repeated playthroughs. While the unique world-building and intriguing story can captivate players, the lack of depth in gameplay and minimal impact of dialogue choices may deter others. Overall, the experience is more about the atmospheric storytelling than engaging gameplay, making it a mixed bag for potential players.
“Because each character is hellbent on their own belief, this paves the way for a time-dependent mechanic in the game where characters will progress without you, regardless of what dialogue choices you've made - that is if you choose to do so.”
“A Lovecraftian-style horror game in PS1-style graphics, besides the simple controls and satisfying gameplay, it's beautiful to just observe the eerie environment and listen to the ominous breezes of wind.”
“Gameplay is narrative and exploration-driven.”
“The actual gameplay side is tedious at best after the first time and only gets worse with subsequent playthroughs.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's pretty much a walking simulator.”
“However, there is no gameplay to speak of and there's ~2 responses to most dialogue trees depending on whether you are rude.”
- music18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the atmosphere, particularly in relation to its cosmic horror themes, with many reviewers noting its effectiveness in complementing the visuals and overall aesthetic. While some find the soundtrack to be decent yet forgettable, others highlight its ability to evoke nostalgia reminiscent of early 2000s games and its impactful use during key moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong asset that contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“The environment is unique and the soundtrack works well.”
“Really good nonlinear investigative cosmic horror game with lots of player freedom and an amazing soundtrack to accompany the heavily atmospheric world design.”
“The visuals and music really sell the weirdness of the setting.”
“Music is pretty decent though largely forgettable.”
“The somber music definitely helps in this regard.”
“Jounalists and youtubers picking more and more flamboyant phrases to justifiably praise the fine ratios between the horror and the calm or the objective and the surreal, the daunting aesthetic, the exploration, the conciseness, the worldbuilding without exposition, the music, the pacing, the tone and the relevance of the final choice that humanity is not unlikely to face in some real future in one form or another.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when replaying for different endings, as choices often lack meaningful impact on the story. While the unique world-building and intriguing narrative can be engaging, the repetitive gameplay diminishes enjoyment over time, leading to a mixed overall experience.
“What's unfortunate is that none of your actions before choosing the ending matter, and you don't really unlock that much new information by choosing different dialogue options, so replaying the game a bunch of times to see all endings was tedious.”
“The actual gameplay side is tedious at best after the first time and only gets worse with subsequent playthroughs.”
“After that, it gets too tedious.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching endings, which resonate deeply with players. However, some users feel that the inclusion of philosophical elements detracts from the overall impact, suggesting that a more straightforward approach would have been more effective.
“The game features touching endings that resonate deeply with players.”
“Lovecraft would shed a tear if he saw this.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighting the comedic appeal of the protagonist's name, Dybowski, which adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“I bought the game because the protagonist is a girl named Dybowski, which I found hilarious.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development in the game, noting that despite its short length, the character design is impressive and well-executed, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“The character design is impressive, especially for a short game.”
“The depth of character development really enhances the overall experience.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how much the characters evolved throughout the game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its open-ended design, which significantly enhances its replayability, allowing players to enjoy varied experiences with each playthrough.
“The game is open-ended and highly replayable, offering countless ways to approach each challenge.”
“Every playthrough feels fresh due to the dynamic choices and outcomes available.”
“With multiple paths and endings, I find myself coming back to explore new strategies and experiences.”
