Strania: The Stella Machina

About

Strania: The Stella Machina is a challenging side-scrolling shooter game with a sci-fi theme. Players control mecha units and must navigate through levels filled with enemies and bosses. The game features a unique bullet-weaving mechanic, customizable mecha loadouts, and a range of difficulty levels to cater to different skill levels. Cooperative multiplayer mode is available for up to two players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a great variety of weapons that can be upgraded and switched out, enhancing gameplay and strategy.
Strania offers two distinct campaigns with different enemies, bosses, and music, providing significant replayability.
The graphics and gameplay are well-crafted, with smooth controls and a satisfying scoring system that rewards experimentation.

Many players have reported issues with sound not working, with no effective fix or workaround available.
The game lacks online co-op functionality, which was present in the original Xbox 360 version.
Some users experienced screen tearing and limited graphics options, which detracted from the overall visual experience.

gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The gameplay is highly praised for its fluid mechanics, engaging weapon system, and impressive graphics, making it a standout shmup experience. Players can utilize up to three weapons simultaneously, adding a strategic layer to combat, while the scoring system caters to more serious gamers. Despite the absence of online co-op in the Steam version, the overall gameplay remains smooth and enjoyable, reminiscent of classic titles like Einhander.
- “Amazing 3D futuristic graphics, super fun gameplay, great music. I'm really looking forward to more shmups from this team.”
- “The shooting and moving mechanics are fluid, and the game is challenging without being Touhou levels of difficult.”
- “Unusual gameplay (you can loot up to 3 weapons, then you use 2 of them simultaneously, and you have to learn when to pick which weapon), good graphics, good OST.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the mechanics feel similar to Einhander in a sense, where you can switch weapons (up to 3) for the right situations. However, there can be times where you might end up in the wrong situation if you pick the wrong weapons. There are a total of 9 different weapons you can use in the entire game to suit your preferences, and you can also level them up if you pick the same weapon again, though the colors will vary by the sides which weapons you can only upgrade to level 2.”
- “The gameplay video on Steam pretty much says it all, and it plays just as good as it looks.”
- “Unusual gameplay (you can loot up to 3 weapons, then you use 2 of them simultaneously, and you have to learn when to pick which weapon).”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
13%
The music in the game has received high praise for its catchy and fitting electro synth fusion soundtrack, particularly composed by Keishi Yonao, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers appreciate the distinct musical themes across the two campaigns, noting that the techno elements complement the game's futuristic aesthetic. However, some players expressed disappointment with the lack of ambient music in the main menu, which detracted from the initial experience.
- “Add on top of that, the catchy, shmup-appropriate electro synth fusion soundtrack of Keishi Yonao, and you have a very well-crafted game.”
- “Strania, I have been fantasizing about playing this game ever since I discovered its amazing soundtrack by Keishi Yonao on YouTube.”
- “However, instead of being the recycled affair you would likely expect from something like this, the stage design, bosses, music, and progression is distinct enough to make it feel like an entirely different game.”
- “Regarding some of my expectations, I hoped there were some dialogues involved (even textual), but apart from the music and sound effects, it's pretty much silent regarding voices. The subtle female robot voice when you pick up weapons is nice; I wish there was a bit more of it or maybe slightly less subtle.”
- “It actually comes with two campaigns with totally different enemies, bosses, and music that are built around one another in a clever way.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning 3D visuals and overall optimization for PC, resulting in smooth gameplay without significant glitches. However, some players noted issues such as screen tearing and a lack of graphical options, leading to visuals that may not fully utilize the potential of 1080p resolution. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, there are areas for improvement, particularly in customization and sharpness.
- “Amazing 3D futuristic graphics, super fun gameplay, great music. I'm really looking forward to more shmups from this team.”
- “Rev, featuring spectacular graphics and great gameplay.”
- “The graphics are a good compromise between awesomeness and visibility.”
- “I noticed some screen tearing while playing with native resolution (1920x1080) and there are no graphics options besides changing resolution and playing windowed/fullscreen.”
- “The visuals don't look as sharp as they should for 1080p.”
- “Fun mecha multi-scrolling game, the good thing about this game aside from the gameplay is that it isn't as graphically demanding compared to most other PC games.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
71%
21%
The story in Strania is engaging for its genre, featuring dual campaigns that provide distinct perspectives from both the protagonist and antagonist, enhancing character depth without heavy reliance on narrative complexity. The integrated DLC adds significant content, effectively creating a two-in-one experience that keeps players entertained while offering a fun, albeit not profound, storyline. Overall, the game successfully balances gameplay and storytelling, making it a noteworthy experience.
- “+ The extra 'Side Vower' content gives the game both sides of the story.”
- “Given the genre, the storyline present is a little more catchy than usual, I'd say, not Shakespeare but fun.”
- “Rev put in both campaigns to differentiate the Stranian and Vower sides, and give them personality without even having to rely on story composition.”
- “Yes, there is a story on both sides if you check the 'how-to-play' section after you see the mechanics of the game.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly without graphical glitches or slowdowns, even on older hardware. While it is well-optimized for PC, the graphical options are limited. Overall, it performs reliably at 1920x1080 @60 FPS on a variety of systems.
- “Runs great, 1920x1080 @60, on a 7 year old GTX 260 with a quad-core CPU, so this is no hardware-consuming monster and thus should run quite well on most modern rigs.”
- “For a first effort, it's fine; the game runs great but the graphical options are barebones.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers significant replayability through its dual paths and multiple difficulty options, allowing players to experience encounters from both sides. This variety enhances the fun and encourages repeated play, setting it apart from others in the genre.
- “This pumps up replayability quite a lot; it is great fun to play encounters from both sides.”
- “Two paths with multiple difficulty options will mean more replayability than other games in the genre.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization on PC, running smoothly without any graphical glitches or slowdowns.
- “All ready to go without graphical glitches and slowdowns, fully optimized for the PC.”