September 29, 2014
Breakfall

STARWHAL

If you have some friends or kids to play Starwhal with, pick up some controllers and lose yourself in its ridiculous antics.

90%Game Brain Score

gameplay, humor

story, grinding

90% User Score Based on 641 reviews

Platforms

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About STARWHAL

STARWHAL is a single player and multiplayer casual sport game. It was developed by Breakfall and was released on September 29, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

The local multi-player space narwhal fighting game that has rocked the internet is finally ready for its big debut in a fully loaded release! Flop it out with 1-4 players in a retro, epic narwhal battle in space! The heart-piercing action is furious and unrelenting. STARWHAL will change your life.

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Reviews

90%Audience ScoreBased on 641 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Starwhal is a hilarious and chaotic local multiplayer game that guarantees laughter and fun with friends.
The game features simple controls that are easy to learn, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.
Customization options for the narwhals add a fun and personal touch to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.

The game lacks online multiplayer, limiting its replayability for those without local friends to play with.
Controls can feel imprecise and frustrating, which may detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.
The content is somewhat limited, with only a few game modes and stages, leading to potential repetitiveness.

gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29% positive mentions, 66% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and humor, making it suitable for casual party settings, though many players find it lacks depth and variety, leading to a quick loss of interest. While the controls are easy to learn and the mechanics can be entertaining in short bursts, they are often criticized for being imprecise and underdeveloped, resulting in gameplay that feels incomplete and unbalanced. Overall, it offers a fun, chaotic experience for groups, but may not satisfy those seeking more complex or competitive gameplay.
- “Its humorous style and fast-paced gameplay make it perfect for party fun and competitive matches.”
- “The gameplay is simple, it's goofy, it's competitive, and it's freaking great.”
- “The gameplay is like a rainbow that has been crushed into crystalline form and mainlined through your eyeballs; it is fast-paced and frantic couch co-op in its purest sense.”
- “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
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in this game is a standout feature, characterized by its absurd and whimsical style that encourages laughter during chaotic multiplayer sessions. Players enjoy the ridiculous customization options, such as silly hats for their characters, and the intentionally clunky controls that lead to hilariously unpredictable gameplay. While the game excels in providing a fun, party atmosphere, some reviewers noted that it could benefit from online multiplayer to enhance the experience.
- “If you're looking for a party game to get folks laughing, you'll find it here.”
- “The humor in this title is its own special kind of derpy.”
- “With its weird physics, Starwhal is a hilarious good time to sit down and play with a bunch of friends.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59% positive mentions, 30% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its vibrant and engaging soundtrack, often compared to the synth-heavy styles of the 80s and reminiscent of titles like Hotline Miami. While many players find the music enjoyable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, particularly in a multiplayer setting, despite some calls for more variety and customization.
- “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 few plays 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
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35% positive mentions, 53% neutral mentions, 12% negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many players appreciating the vibrant colors and retro aesthetic reminiscent of the 80s, while others find the minimalistic design and occasional glitches detracting from the experience. Overall, the visuals are described as visually appealing and colorful, though some users express concerns about performance on lower-end systems. Despite mixed feelings, the game's art style and attention to detail have garnered positive remarks, contributing to its charm.
- “The graphics are visually appealing, and the soundtrack is fantastic.”
- “The game's graphics is a love or hate concept; if you have any love for the 80's art and look style, you will absolutely love the graphics. It is vibrant and brimming with color, and a lot of attention to detail was invested here, which paid off well.”
- “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 the graphics have distanced me as a player.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33% positive mentions, 17% neutral mentions, 50% negative mentions
The game's story centers on a profound love narrative focused on grief and loss, though it lacks specific backstory details regarding the loved one's fate. While some players appreciate the deep character development and metaphorical elements, others note that the game may not have a traditional story, making it more suitable for casual play.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Anyways, back to the deep and metaphorical story of this game.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75% positive mentions, 25% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally adequate, providing a smooth experience with frame rates fluctuating between 90 and 120. However, some users report issues with older systems, including difficulties running the game in fullscreen mode, which can lead to loading screen freezes.
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
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 with bots can be enjoyable, 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
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, -67% neutral mentions, 67% negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability on most systems, particularly Windows, with only minor glitches reported. However, users have noted some troubleshooting issues on Mac devices, suggesting a need for further optimization on that platform.
- “This game runs smoothly on every system.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs, which is impressive.”
- “The stability of the game allows for an uninterrupted gaming experience.”
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- “For now, it is a game mainly for Windows as I am experiencing some troubleshooting on my MacBook Air.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
While the variety of maps in the game offers some diversity, many users feel that the core gameplay lacks sufficient depth to enhance replayability, making it a less compelling experience over time.
- “Heart attack is the main attraction, though the large amount of maps doesn't really solve the replayability issue.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game centers on a poignant narrative where four space-faring narwhals navigate a profound journey of self-discovery and resilience, exploring themes of survival and inner strength amidst their bonds and challenges.
- “Four space-faring narwhals embark on a heart-wrenching journey to discover who among them holds the inner fortitude to survive alone.”