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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 264 reviews

story54 positive mentions

Starstruck: Hands of Time features a unique blend of gameplay styles, combining rhythm game mechanics with an engaging narrative and charming visuals that evoke nostalgia for classic titles like Earthbound and Katamari.
The game is filled with creativity and passion, showcasing a vibrant art style and a memorable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it a delightful journey for players.
Despite its short length, the game offers a thought-provoking exploration of themes related to creativity and identity, leaving a lasting impression on players and encouraging reflection long after the game is completed.

The rhythm game mechanics can feel uneven and unintuitive at times, with some players finding the note charting awkward and difficult to follow, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
The narrative, while ambitious, can become convoluted and heavy-handed, especially in the latter half of the game, leading to a lack of clarity in its themes and character arcs.
Some players have reported technical issues, such as awkward camera angles and a frustrating menu UI, which can hinder the overall experience and accessibility of the game.

story
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The story of the game is a blend of whimsical charm and deep themes, exploring concepts of identity, creativity, and the nature of art through a quirky narrative. While the initial segments are engaging and nostalgic, many players feel the latter half becomes convoluted and overly symbolic, leaving some plot threads unresolved. Despite its narrative complexities, the game is praised for its unique storytelling approach, captivating visuals, and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate innovative narratives in gaming.
- “It kept surprising me in lots of different ways: its humor, its creative visuals, its overall weirdness, and its increasingly deep story.”
- “The soundtrack is magnificent, the graphics are amazingly cute, and the story blew me out of the water.”
- “I'm intrigued with where the story is going to go with the idea that scorned artists can sometimes turn on the world they once tried to captivate with art, and the early rejection that Edwin feels is very relatable.”
- “The story starts off very sweet and nostalgic (the charming demo is why I had to buy it) but the last half of the game abandons its characters in favor of the deep, profound message.”
- “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 game's ending also creeps up on you at a point where it feels like there should be another hour of the story to explain everything.”
music
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its infectious soundtrack and unique charm, while others find some tracks to be amateurish or less memorable. Players appreciate the ability to use guitar controllers, though the rhythm mechanics can be unintuitive and challenging. Overall, the music significantly enhances the game's atmosphere and storytelling, making it a vital component of the experience.
- “Even after finishing the game, the songs have stayed stuck in my head.”
- “The soundtrack is magnificent, the graphics amazingly cute and the story blew me out of the water.”
- “This game just oozes creativity, with great music and a compelling story although it can be a bit complicated at times towards the end.”
- “For a title emphasizing music, many of the songs you play during the rhythm minigames sound too amateurish.”
- “It's cool that I'm able to use my rock band guitar, but the no-strum fret tapping and the high-medium-low charting makes no sense musically and is especially awkward on a gamepad even on medium.”
- “I think the devs want you to focus on what's happening in the background during the songs, but this isn't Rhythm Heaven... you need to focus on the timing and placement of the unintuitive notes; otherwise, the song will sound bad.”
graphics
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming aesthetic, blending various styles such as clay art, cartoonish elements, and real-world objects, which contribute to its quirky personality. Reviewers highlight the stunning visuals and creative designs that enhance the overall experience, making it a standout feature alongside the engaging story and infectious music. The game's art style not only captivates players but also aligns seamlessly with its themes, resulting in a visually impressive and memorable experience.
- “The game's visuals are stunning, and the music is infectious.”
- “The passion of its creators shines through in this game, with various art styles: realism, hand-made sculpture, cartoonish styles mixed with historical documents.”
- “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 'hand' mayhem doing a mess in the city.”
- “While it's easy to compare games to their inspirations, the game is filled to the brim with its own unique charm, from its music to its characters, to the visuals that after hours with the game can still make my jaw hit the ground.”
gameplay
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay is a unique blend of rhythm mechanics, adventure elements, and time travel, offering a captivating experience that combines guitar-based gameplay with exploration and narrative. While the core rhythm mechanics are generally responsive and enjoyable, some players feel that the note charting is uneven and could benefit from better balance across different gameplay styles. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals, engaging story, and the satisfying challenge of mastering its mechanics, making it a standout title in its genre.
- “This game is a wild ride that combines the thrill of guitar-based gameplay with the mind-bending concept of time travel.”
- “Its harmonious blend of rhythm, adventure, and time travel mechanics creates a truly unique and captivating experience.”
- “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.”
- “I don't think the developers know how much fun hand mode is, considering how little there is of it compared to the rest of the gameplay.”
- “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.”
humor
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is consistently praised for its creativity and charm, blending absurdity with heartfelt moments and philosophical undertones. Players appreciate the witty writing, imaginative visuals, and the ability to surprise with both funny and creepy elements, making it a unique and engaging experience. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay, contributing to a delightful rhythm game that keeps players entertained and guessing throughout.
- “Humorous, heart-wrenching, and even horrifying at times, all with a pretty intuitive and fun rhythm game packed in, and that's only a part of the game!”
- “The first good chunk of the game captures those emotions through its humorous writing and creative visuals.”
- “An insanely charming rhythm game with consistently cool surprises in its narrative gameplay and a really funny vibe.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a complex blend of humor, heartache, and horror, creating an engaging experience that resonates with players. While it effectively explores themes of belonging and individuality, some reviewers felt that the resolution of character arcs lacked emotional depth, feeling rushed and unfulfilling. Overall, the game is seen as a worthwhile emotional journey that captures a range of feelings, from wholesome to unsettling.
- “Starstruck perfectly captures three emotionally-dense themes underneath its dream logic.”
- “It's an emotional ride that I think a lot of people should experience.”
- “Starstruck is a heartfelt game about the struggle of fitting in and standing out.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the character designs are vibrant and engaging, contributing to a lively and appealing aesthetic. However, there is no mention of deeper character development or growth within the narrative.
- “The character designs are fun and full of life.”
- “Appealing character designs”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its relaxing qualities, enhanced by a charming claymation style and soothing ambient music. Reviewers highlight the likable characters and a surprisingly deep plot, contributing to an overall immersive experience.
- “The atmosphere is amazing, the characters are likable, and the plot itself is far deeper than it needs to be.”
- “Overall atmosphere is very relaxing with the claymation style and ambient background music.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users consistently highlight that the game offers good content with significant replay value, making the price feel justified.
- “The game offers great content with high replay value, making the price feel fair.”
- “The replayability factor is impressive, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
- “With multiple paths and choices, the game encourages you to replay it to experience everything it has to offer.”