Starstruck: Hands of Time

About

"Starstruck: Hands of Time" is a unique game that combines rhythm gameplay with an interactive rock opera, featuring a catchy soundtrack and live instruments by Elsie Lovelock. In the game, you'll play guitar in musical story segments and also control a giant human hand to demolish houses and solve puzzles in a strange miniature world. With the "Autoplay" option, you can enjoy the music and story even without the rhythm gameplay. Explore three interconnected adventures and uncover the mystery of how the little lives in the world are connected to the end of mankind.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 142 reviews

story28 positive mentions

Starstruck: Hands of Time features a unique and charming art style that combines various mediums, creating a visually captivating experience.
The game offers a compelling mix of rhythm gameplay and narrative, with excellent writing, humor, and endearing characters that resonate with players.
It successfully tackles deeper themes related to creativity and identity, making it a thought-provoking experience that players will remember long after finishing.

The narrative can feel unfocused and convoluted at times, especially in the latter half, leaving players unsure about the overall message.
Some rhythm game mechanics may be unintuitive, particularly for those using guitar controllers, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and a more fleshed-out story.

story
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The story of the game is described as a unique blend of charm and depth, exploring themes of creativity, identity, and the nature of art through a quirky narrative that combines rhythm gameplay with engaging visuals. While the first half is praised for its nostalgic and sweet storytelling, the latter half is critiqued for becoming overly abstract and convoluted, leaving some plot threads unresolved. Overall, the game is recommended for its imaginative storytelling and emotional resonance, despite some accessibility and pacing issues.
- “The story definitely goes places I didn't expect it to; it was really interesting.”
- “A really charming rhythm game with great visuals, soundtrack, and characters combined with a unique story.”
- “I was initially drawn to the strong visual style and killer soundtrack, but the story of Starstruck is also wonderfully told and tackles some surprisingly deep themes.”
- “If the story stuck the landing here, I would have given this game a perfect score, because for 5 of the 6 hours, I was prepared to have my mind blown and cry myself to sleep.”
- “I don’t think the game is quite successful at delivering a quirky story with symbolisms to complement and enhance its plot and characters.”
- “The story really pulled me in but like a few other reviews have mentioned, the last act of the game takes a lot of turns which left me perplexed on how I ultimately feel about the game.”
music
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its originality and infectious quality, with many tracks described as "bangers" that enhance the overall experience. While some players found certain songs less memorable or amateurish, the diverse soundtrack and rhythm gameplay are considered integral to the game's charm and creativity. Overall, the combination of engaging music, beautiful visuals, and a compelling narrative creates a unique and enjoyable atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The soundtrack is all original and absolutely kicks ass.”
- “The game's visuals are stunning, and the music is infectious.”
- “This game just oozes creativity, with great music and a compelling story although it can be a bit complicated at times towards the end.”
- “Now the songs in this, I wasn't super into all of them.”
- “For a title emphasizing music, many of the songs you play during the rhythm minigames sound too amateurish.”
- “Experienced guitar hero players should note that, even though it supports guitar controllers and works great, there are some frustrating bits about the rhythm minigame: there's no real on-screen indicator for where the beat falls, which makes the charts nearly impossible to sightread.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, which blends various aesthetics such as claymation, cartoonish elements, and real-world objects, creating a visually stunning experience that complements the game's themes. Reviewers highlight the vibrant visuals and dynamic animations, noting that they enhance the overall gameplay and storytelling, making it a standout feature of the game. The combination of impressive graphics, infectious music, and creative design contributes to a refreshing and memorable gaming experience.
- “I've never seen another game with an art style like this one - and then on top of it, they tie it directly to the game's themes.”
- “The game's visuals are stunning, and the music is infectious.”
- “Now that the full game is finally here, I can happily say the striking clay art style, wonderful music, the charming characters, the intriguing plot, and the overall inspired presentation that hooked me those years ago are all still here, and then some.”
- “The quirky indie game aesthetic, while thematically appropriate, almost does this game a disservice.”
- “Extremely unique art style that makes me remember some 'plastic' cartoons of the 90s, and the gameplay is divided between Guitar Hero and chaotic mayhem in the city.”
- “While it's easy to compare games to their inspirations, the visuals can still make my jaw hit the ground after hours with the game.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The gameplay is a unique blend of rhythm mechanics, exploration, and narrative-driven segments, creating a captivating experience that combines guitar-based challenges with adventure elements. While the rhythm sequences are enjoyable and engaging, some players note inconsistencies in the charting and balance of gameplay styles. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals, fun mechanics, and the ability to evoke emotional responses through its story and themes.
- “Its harmonious blend of rhythm, adventure, and time travel mechanics creates a truly unique and captivating experience.”
- “The gameplay changes along with the narrative and perspective, but the rhythm is the main part that unites everything; the mechanics of hitting the notes can take some getting used to, given how it is displayed, but very satisfying to get the hang of it.”
- “A truly amazing game and unique experience; all three gameplay types showcased work to perfection, complemented by multiple art styles and music that gets stuck in your head, absolutely one of the best releases of 2024.”
- “Unfortunately, the core gameplay has taken the worst aspects of 'Um Jammer Lammy' like the nonsense note charting and atonal songs.”
- “The rhythm game mechanics are fine in and of themselves, but they're weirdly unevenly spread across the game's runtime, and the charting makes really poor use of the mechanics and the controller.”
- “There are several different gameplay styles that all work on their own, but I wish these elements were balanced a bit better.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by excellent writing, absurdity, and endearing characters, creating a charming and funny experience that evolves into deeper philosophical themes. Players appreciate the blend of humor with creative visuals and unexpected narrative twists, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, the humor is described as imaginative, consistently surprising, and integral to the game's unique charm.
- “Excellent writing paired with absurd humor and endearing characters.”
- “Very charming and funny to start but becomes genuinely philosophical and thoughtful later on.”
- “It's funny, imaginative, and kept me guessing all the way through to the end.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of humor, heartache, and unsettling moments, creating a complex emotional experience. While it effectively captures themes of belonging and individuality, some players feel that the resolution of character arcs lacks depth and fulfillment. Overall, it offers a unique emotional journey that resonates with many players.
- “Starstruck perfectly captures three emotionally-dense themes underneath its dream logic.”
- “It's wholesome when it needs to be, and quite unsettling when it needs to be unsettling, too.”
- “Starstruck is a heartfelt game about the struggle of fitting in and standing out.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the character designs are vibrant and engaging, contributing to a lively and appealing aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- “The character designs are fun and full of life.”
- “Appealing character designs.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a relaxing claymation style complemented by soothing ambient music, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the likable characters and the surprisingly deep plot, which enhances the overall ambiance.
- “The overall atmosphere is very relaxing with the claymation style and ambient background music.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing, the characters are likable, and the plot itself is far deeper than it needs to be.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight that the game offers good content with significant replay value, making the price feel justified.
- “The game offers a wealth of content that makes it worth revisiting, ensuring great replay value.”
- “There's so much to explore and different choices to make, which keeps the experience fresh every time I play.”
- “With multiple endings and varied gameplay paths, this game invites you to come back for more.”