Steredenn

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"Steredenn: Binary Stars is an award-winning shmup-roguelike game with exceptional mechanics, stellar graphics, and fabulous music. Fight off space scourges in intense, infinite arcade sessions, with practically random level generation and upgrades to enhance your ship. Play solo or in local co-op with 5 playable ships and special abilities."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 364 reviews

music88 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Fast-paced gameplay with a satisfying learning curve that rewards skill and practice.
Beautiful pixel art and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
Variety of weapons and upgrades keeps each run fresh and engaging.

The game can feel overly punishing due to its reliance on RNG for weapon drops and upgrades.
Some boss patterns can be frustratingly difficult to learn, leading to cheap deaths.
Limited health and the need to restart from the beginning after dying can be discouraging.

music
138 mentions
64 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and fitting heavy metal soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as catchy, adrenaline-pumping, and perfectly complements the fast-paced action, contributing significantly to the game's overall appeal. While some players noted a preference for different musical styles, the majority found the music to be a standout feature that keeps them engaged and motivated to play.
- “The music is amazing, the retro art style is super clean and flashy, and the gameplay is smooth and easy to get into.”
- “The soundtrack fits the game to perfection.”
- “The heavy metal soundtrack isn't my thing either, but its tempo certainly fits the frenetic action on screen.”
- “First of all, the music and sound effects are just awful for this game.”
- “I'm not much of a rock fan, so I'm not too big on the soundtrack.”
- “A few of the cons include some weapons that feel weak, along with music glitches and a few scattered bugs, but these can be easily fixed when the release date rolls around.”
graphics
72 mentions
53 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, consistent aesthetic, and retro charm, reminiscent of classic 16-bit titles. Many reviewers highlight the clarity and detail of the visuals, which enhance the gameplay experience, while the accompanying audio design is also noted as exceptional. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its appeal, making it visually engaging and enjoyable to play.
- “A delightful time, easy to pick up and enjoy, satisfying difficulty curve, lovely graphics.”
- “Steredenn is a fun roguelike shmup with beautiful pixel graphics.”
- “The graphics have a great retro feel, while still being better than any 16-bit computer/console could have ever produced.”
- “The graphics don't help at all.”
- “I also really just don't like the feel or look of the weapons, and the game has kind of a bland aesthetic in general.”
- “Despite its charming visuals (which remind me of Hydorah), I can't really recommend Steredenn right now, which is a shame because I feel like there is potential in this game.”
gameplay
72 mentions
46 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Steredenn is characterized by its blend of shoot 'em up mechanics and roguelike elements, offering a mix of simplicity and depth that many players find engaging. While some appreciate the smooth controls, replayability, and variety of weapons and ships, others criticize the random weapon/pickup system and lack of enemy diversity, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is praised for its aesthetic and soundtrack, but opinions vary on the satisfaction and depth of the gameplay itself.
- “A good mix between shoot 'em up gameplay and the randomness of a roguelike.”
- “With a variety of ships each with a distinct feel and just enough weapons/upgrades to create meaningful gameplay variety, choices, and synergies, Steredenn absolutely nails the perfect balance between simplicity and depth.”
- “Dynamic and challenging gameplay, great soundtrack, high-quality pixel-art textures and backgrounds, and all of it combined with randomly generated levels.”
- “The weakness mechanic is useless.”
- “After several hours of gameplay, I felt I progressed very little and became bored with the game.”
- “Overall, Steredenn feels like a game that fills in gameplay niches that have already been filled by other games which executed them better.”
replayability
23 mentions
48 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability due to its procedural generation of levels, enemy ships, and upgrades, which keeps each playthrough fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of weapons, daily runs, and the roguelike elements that enhance the experience, making it highly addictive for both short and extended sessions. While some suggest the addition of more permanent unlockables could further enhance replay value, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich and rewarding experience that encourages repeated play.
- “The levels, enemy ships, and upgrades are all random, making it very replayable.”
- “Oh man, this game is a brilliant procedural shooter with amazing replayability that has a high challenge level and requires quite a lot of skill to be appreciated.”
- “The replay value is what puts this game in the highest ranks for me, with daily runs to see how you fare against other players. You can boot this game up just a few minutes a day and easily see your playtime become worth the price of admission.”
- “The replay value is what puts this game in the highest of ranks for me, with daily runs to see how much you fare against other players. You can boot this game up just a few minutes a day and you will easily see your playtime become worth the price of admission.”
- “Additionally, the game's aforementioned scoring system feels pointless, because since the game is procedural, your score is also going to be randomized regardless of how good you are, so it does little to increase the replay value.”
- “Overall, I would recommend this game as it's got replayability, variety, and the potential to be much bigger.”
story
13 mentions
15 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it only consists of an introductory segment without further development. While some enjoy the gameplay and music, the absence of a compelling narrative and diverse enemy encounters detracts from the overall experience. Overall, players express a desire for a more substantial story or a larger game that could enhance the narrative aspect.
- “The plot is quite straightforward too and there are a number of subplots with enjoyable archetypes to be discovered.”
- “Amazing OST and gameplay, just a lack of enemy diversity (they are all gray and do pretty much the same except some of them) and story, but really enjoyable.”
- “The game has no real story outside of the tutorial level.”
- “Putting a massive roadblock in the story just pulls me right out of the immersion and destroys the whole thing.”
- “I kind of wish it had a story or that there was a larger game with the same graphics and mechanics, like an open world space thing.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be time-consuming and often tedious, requiring significant effort to improve skills. While the random wave spawns can add some variety during grinding sessions, the repetitive nature of encountering similar enemies and patterns can lead to frustration, diminishing the overall enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The random wave spawns during the stage portions of the game make them less tedious when you're grinding, but after a while, this becomes irrelevant when you see most of the possible waves or learn what enemies do.”
- “This isn't the only occurrence, but pulling that every other boss makes the game more tedious than it needs to be.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through witty subtitles and a lighthearted tone that complements its challenging gameplay. Players appreciate the amusing tutorials and the comedic elements woven into various scenarios and weapon combinations, enhancing the overall fun experience.
- “Plus, the pixel art is lovely, the music is fantastic (and catchy!), and a bit of humor pervades the whole package, adding a lighthearted air to counterbalance the brutal difficulty and pounding pace.”
- “Funny new tutorial”
- “There are lots of variations, lots of fun weapon combinations, upgrades, scenario variations (meteor showers, asteroid/battle fields, laser rain), and it's funny to boot.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by an intense and immersive experience, enhanced by a punchy remastered soundtrack and heavy metal elements. Users appreciate the severe screenshake and overall user-friendly design that contribute to a more atmospheric gameplay experience.
- “Also features heavy metal and pretty severe screenshake if you like that kind of intense atmosphere.”
- “If anything, it has become more user-friendly and even more atmospheric.”
- “Very punchy, very atmospheric remastered soundtrack.”
- “The atmosphere feels overly chaotic, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “While the heavy metal soundtrack is intense, it often overshadows the game's intended mood.”
- “The severe screenshake detracts from the experience, leaving me feeling disoriented rather than engaged.”
stability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, particularly on Linux systems, with seamless controller recognition and good performance on both older and newer hardware. However, users have noted minor issues such as music glitches and scattered bugs, which are expected to be addressed in future updates.
- “I appreciate the Linux support; the game runs great on my Ubuntu machine and recognizes my Logitech controller flawlessly.”
- “It runs great on any old laptop and especially the newer ones.”
- “A few of the cons include some weapons that feel weak, along with music glitches and a few scattered bugs, but these can be easily fixed when the release date rolls around.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, with users reporting zero performance issues or bugs.
- “Zero performance issues or bugs.”
- “The game runs smoothly on all settings, showcasing excellent optimization.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game utilizes system resources, providing a seamless experience.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users report experiencing a "pac-man emotional effect," indicating that the game evokes strong feelings that resonate deeply, potentially leading to a sense of nostalgia or a rollercoaster of emotions throughout gameplay. This suggests that the emotional engagement is significant and impactful.
- “Now I'm experiencing a 'Pac-Man emotional effect'.”
- “The game truly captures the essence of human emotions.”
- “I felt a deep connection to the characters and their struggles.”