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STARWHAL

Starwhal: Just the Tip offers up some fantastic multiplayer action for those not looking for a serious endeavor. If you can't get four players together though it loses most of its luster.
83%Game Brain Score
gameplay, humor
story, grinding
90% User Score Based on 1,278 reviews
Critic Score 76%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxWii UWii UPlaystation 3Playstation 3Playstation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OSXbox OneXbox OneWiiWiiPhonePhoneTabletTablet
Buy Nowfrom $3.74
Buy NowGet on Steam$11.99

About

"STARWHAL is a local multi-player fighting game that pits up to 4 players against each other as narwhals in space, offering 25 arenas, 4 game modes, and 90+ costumes. The game also includes 32 single-player challenges with leaderboards, ghost replays, and achievements. Inspired by classic couch-gaming, STARWHAL is known for its humor, awesome gameplay, good graphics, and exceptional soundtrack."

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
STARWHAL screenshot
+13

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,287 reviews
gameplay32 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • Starwhal is a hilarious and chaotic local multiplayer game that guarantees laughter and fun with friends.
  • The game features charming graphics and a variety of customization options for the narwhals, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Simple controls make it easy for anyone to pick up and play, making it a great choice for parties and gatherings.
  • The game lacks online multiplayer, which limits its replayability and enjoyment for those without local friends to play with.
  • Controls can be frustratingly imprecise, leading to chaotic gameplay that may not appeal to everyone.
  • Content is limited, with only a few game modes and challenges, which can lead to a lack of depth and engagement over time.
  • gameplay
    118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and chaotic fun, making it suitable for casual couch co-op sessions, though it suffers from underdeveloped mechanics and limited modes that can quickly feel repetitive. While some players appreciate the quirky and humorous aspects, others criticize the imprecise controls and lack of depth, leading to a mixed reception regarding its long-term appeal. Overall, it offers a light-hearted experience that may entertain in short bursts, particularly in a party setting, but lacks the complexity to engage players for extended periods.

    • “The gameplay is simple, it's goofy, it's competitive, and it's freaking great.”
    • “This game has simple controls, great music, beautiful levels, and fun gameplay that is perfect for a couch co-op party game.”
    • “Ultimately, Starwhal is meant to be enjoyed on the couch with three of your friends, with only one shared screen to worry about, simple controls that are easy to pick up, and fast, frenetic gameplay that can be enjoyed over and over.”
    • “No matter what activity one takes part in, the weak gameplay becomes flat and unexciting very quickly.”
    • “None of the gameplay modes feel especially 'complete', with gameplay limitations and balance issues existing across every mode.”
    • “The controls are annoyingly imprecise, the gameplay modes are very limited, and it doesn't have much staying power.”
  • humor
    79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game is a standout feature, characterized by its absurd and derpy charm, which leads to plenty of laughter during local multiplayer sessions. Players enjoy customizing their characters with silly hats and accessories, adding to the hilarity of the chaotic gameplay, although the intentionally awkward controls can be both funny and frustrating. While the game excels as a lighthearted party experience, it lacks online multiplayer options, which may limit its replayability.

    • “If you're looking for a party game to get folks laughing, you'll find it here.”
    • “With its weird physics, Starwhal is a hilarious good time to sit down and play with a bunch of friends.”
    • “The controls are purposefully wonky, and that makes the game hilarious while retaining balance between experienced and new players.”
  • music
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its vibrant and catchy soundtrack, often compared to 80s synth and neo-noir influences, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players note that the music can become repetitive over time, with a few considering it the weakest aspect of the game. Overall, while the soundtrack is celebrated, there are calls for more variety and customization options.

    • “Nearly every song in the soundtrack is excellent, and most of them have very suggestive titles.”
    • “Starwhal is a zany, neon-soaked, 80s-tinged local multiplayer combat game with silly physics and a killer synth pumping soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics are visually appealing, and the soundtrack is fantastic.”
    • “The music though is repetitive; it's fun for the first but gets way too repetitive after that.”
    • “Also, the music is probably the weakest part of the title.”
    • “Music is okay, and I wish there were more customization of the game, but it's good as is.”
  • graphics
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many praising the vibrant colors and retro aesthetic reminiscent of the 80s, while others find the minimalistic style and occasional glitches off-putting. Overall, the visuals are described as visually appealing and fun, though some players express concerns about performance on lower-end systems. The game's art style, characterized by psychedelic elements and neon backgrounds, adds to its charm, making it a delightful experience for those who appreciate its unique design.

    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
    • “The graphics are visually appealing, and the soundtrack is fantastic.”
    • “Along with the vibrant and poppy graphics and fab soundtrack, even at the moment this game is well worth the asking price.”
    • “For a game of such low graphical fidelity, a higher frame rate should be the standard.”
    • “The graphics are ultra minimal, which doesn't help either.”
    • “That being said, I must admit that graphics have distanced me as a player.”
  • story
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a profound love story centered on grief and loss, with the main character's emotional journey serving as the core motivation. However, it lacks a detailed backstory regarding the circumstances of the loss, leaving players to interpret the narrative's depth. While some appreciate the character development and metaphorical elements, others note that the game can be enjoyed casually without a strong emphasis on story.

    • “This game is a very in-depth love story about one's grieving after losing the one they love most.”
    • “I love the character development and the deep, rich storyline.”
    • “Anyways, back to the deep and metaphorical story of this game.”
    • “There is no backstory to this game, so we do not know how this loved one was lost, whether it be by cheating, death, or any other situation, but the loss of the one they love is clearly the motive for the main character.”
    • “This game has no story, but it's good to play with friends or alone if you just want to relax.”
    • “End of story.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally adequate, providing a smooth experience with frame rates fluctuating between 90 and 120 FPS. However, some users report issues with fullscreen mode and performance on older systems, indicating that certain indie titles may not be well-optimized for all hardware configurations.

    • “Technical performance is adequate, with the frame rate frequently oscillating from around 90 to about 120, creating a smooth experience without any noticeable drops.”
    • “Some indie games are not well optimized, making it harder to run, especially on older systems.”
    • “Although it still runs smoothly on 1.3 GHz, I cannot open the game in fullscreen as it will get stuck on the loading screen.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the versus mode, which requires significant time investment to achieve certain goals. While singleplayer mode can be enjoyable with bots, it also risks becoming monotonous over extended play sessions. Overall, the grinding elements contribute to a sense of frustration in the gaming experience.

    • “Granted, this only takes about five seconds to pass, but it adds to the all-around tediousness of the entire experience.”
    • “If you are somehow finished with the challenge mode, then comes the really most grinding part: the versus mode.”
    • “But in reality, it demands too much time for grinding some achievements.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, running well on most systems, particularly Windows. However, users have reported occasional glitches and some troubleshooting issues on Mac devices.

    • “However, this game pretty much runs great on every system.”
    • “For now, it is a game mainly for Windows as I am experiencing some troubleshooting on my MacBook Air.”
    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game features a variety of maps, many users feel that it lacks sufficient replayability, with the main attraction being the heart attack mechanic not enough to keep players engaged long-term.

    • “Heart attack is the main attraction, though the large amount of maps doesn't really solve the replayability-sized hole in it.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the poignant journey of four space-faring narwhals, who face profound challenges that test their inner strength and resilience. Players are drawn into a heart-wrenching narrative that explores themes of survival and companionship.

    • “Four space-faring narwhals embark on a heart-wrenching journey to discover who among them holds the inner fortitude to survive alone.”

76%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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