Stellar Initiative
- May 27, 2024
- Five Head Games
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam"Stellar Initiative" is a roguelike tower defense game where you land on planets and use your orbit ship to deliver buildings and support attacks. Choose missions, order buildings, and manage resources while unlocking upgrades and discovering unique artifacts. With 138 artifacts, 25 buildings, 139 upgrades, 12 missions, and 5 difficulties, each game is a new experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a good balance of challenge and strategy, making it engaging for players who enjoy tower defense mechanics.
- There is a variety of buildings and artifacts that allow for creative combinations and strategies, enhancing replayability.
- The game has a charming art style and is simple to learn, making it accessible for both casual and hardcore players.
- The difficulty curve can be punishing, especially in the early stages, leading to frustration for players who struggle to establish defenses quickly.
- Progression can feel slow and grindy, with many players expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of meta progression and content variety.
- Some players have reported bugs and issues with game mechanics, such as the timing of enemy waves and the effectiveness of certain upgrades.
- story63 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 90 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its absence, with players noting that it lacks any narrative depth or engaging plot elements, reducing the campaign to a repetitive cycle of missions culminating in boss fights. Many reviewers express disappointment over the minimal storytelling, suggesting that even a basic narrative framework would have enhanced the experience. Overall, the focus is primarily on gameplay mechanics rather than a compelling story, leading to a sense of monotony in mission progression.
“There are a variety of mission types, which I found quite creative for a game like this and adds some much-needed variety for how simple the main gameplay loop is.”
“The upgrade paths are simple but good, artifacts are unique, replayability exists with trying to get all the artifacts and playing with the different factions, different mission types mix things up, mission modifiers add some extra challenge in the mid-game, and the bosses are acceptable.”
“Some missions might seem harder, but the more you learn about the game mechanics and artifacts, the more it makes sense why they're designed the way they are.”
“- zero story, not even a shabby one but zero.”
“- the campaign is literally play a few missions, defeat midboss, play a few missions, defeat endboss.”
“No story is available and I think that even a barebones one would have been nice, moving on.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally seen as a mixed bag, offering a variety of mechanics and mission types that can be engaging, but often feels limited by randomness and a lack of strategic depth. While some players appreciate the fresh take on classic mechanics and the roguelike elements, others criticize the timewasting aspects and the reliance on a single optimal strategy, which can detract from the overall fun. Despite these issues, many find the gameplay satisfying and rewarding, especially as they become more familiar with the mechanics and build options.
“Collect different power-ups that change your build with every round, which keeps gameplay somewhat fresh while also satisfying the collector's itch.”
“Very satisfying gameplay loop.”
“Extremely interesting mechanics that I kept exploring more and more, even finding out that relics and upgrades that seemed bad were actually good in different situations, creating entirely different builds.”
“Unfortunately, despite the game being built around artifact comboing, there's no mechanics to help gain these combos; it's all random.”
“There's clearly been some thought put into the mechanics and items, as none of it feels slapdash, but it simply isn't good, or fun, or even interesting.”
“The game is basically more of a puzzle game than a roguelike, with maybe one or two 'correct' builds, and the entire gameplay loop is just figuring out how to get there, using the same limited options every round.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that appeals to players, with many praising its retro aesthetic and vibrant colors. While the visuals and user interface are generally well-received, some players find the minimalistic approach less enjoyable, particularly when combined with gameplay mechanics that can be frustrating. Overall, the art style is a highlight for many, contributing positively to the game's appeal.
“A surprisingly fun tower defense game that hides the actual depth behind a simple pixel art style.”
“The visuals are nice; the color and art were what drew me into the game.”
“I think my favorite part of this game is the art style.”
“This would have been well-regarded in 2014 due to a slick retro aesthetic and fewer better options.”
“I love the concept and the minimal art style but... it's not fun.”
“A surprisingly fun TD game that hides the actual depth behind a simple pixel art style.”
- music9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely criticized for its lack of variety and energy, with players noting that it features only a single repetitive track that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many reviewers expressed disappointment, stating that the absence of a diverse soundtrack made the gameplay experience less engaging. While some appreciated the clean and polished presentation, the overwhelming sentiment is that the music significantly undermines the game's appeal.
“The art and music are clean and polished.”
“It's got a good idea, I like the music, but this is strictly a 'one and done' where you don't accrue anything for subsequent runs.”
“Honestly, I cannot think of a single game that I have played with just one song besides this one.”
“This game could have easily had 5 songs (menu, mission, ship, boss 1, boss 2) and I probably still would have griped, but this is a low I have not seen before.”
“The song is not even that good either; it lacks any sort of energy that makes me want to keep playing, and not only is it the only song, but the song itself is repetitive.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the diverse builds, unique artifacts, and mission modifiers that enhance replay value, others feel that the content is limited and lacks depth. Suggestions for improvement include adding more game modes, customization options, and persistent elements to encourage repeated playthroughs. Despite these critiques, many find the game enjoyable and fun enough to warrant multiple runs.
“Easy to learn, fun, and replayable.”
“It's hugely replayable, and has an incredibly diverse variety of builds and strategies to attempt.”
“The upgrade paths are simple but good, artifacts are unique, replayability exists with trying to get all the artifacts and playing with the different factions, different mission types mix things up, mission modifiers add some extra challenge in the mid-game, and the bosses are acceptable.”
“Too little content for the price and not enough replay value.”
“The game is really good, it lacks a bit of depth to improve replayability, but the general concept is nice.”
“What I wished for were some more in-depth systems that increased replayability, like customization of loadouts, stuff I can take from a previous run to the next one to tackle higher difficulties, some more modes, like endless mode (if there is one, I haven't seen it due to short playtime), maybe even finding persistent artifacts I can use to customize my run with (maybe with downsides too).”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the game enjoyable overall, though achieving 100% completion can feel grindy. However, with effective strategies and knowledge of the game mechanics, the grinding experience can be fun and rewarding.
“The game is enjoyable, but the grinding required to achieve 100% completion feels excessive and can become tedious over time.”
“While I had fun playing, the grind to level up and unlock everything is a major drawback that detracts from the overall experience.”
“The gameplay is solid, but the constant grinding for resources and upgrades makes it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
