Strania: The Stella Machina

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 33 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Strania: The Stella Machina Game Cover
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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.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews
gameplay8 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features a fun and engaging weapon system that allows players to switch between multiple weapons, enhancing gameplay variety and strategy.
  • Strania offers two distinct campaigns with different enemies, bosses, and music, providing a rich and replayable experience.
  • The graphics are visually appealing and the game runs smoothly at 1080p 60 FPS, making it accessible for a wide range of PC setups.
  • There are significant issues with sound, as many players report that the game lacks sound effects and there are no effective fixes available.
  • Some bosses can become frustrating, as they can linger at the bottom of the screen or move into the background, making them difficult to hit while they can still damage the player.
  • The game lacks online co-op support, which was available in the original Xbox 360 version, limiting multiplayer options.
  • gameplay14 mentions

    The gameplay is widely praised for its fluid mechanics, engaging weapon system, and impressive graphics, making it a standout shmup experience. Players appreciate the ability to switch between multiple weapons strategically, enhancing the challenge and depth of gameplay. While the game offers a solid single-player experience, some users noted the absence of online co-op, which was available in previous versions.

    • “All in all, fantastic gameplay and graphics, as well as a nice scoring system for more serious players.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Yes, there is a story on both sides if you check the 'how-to-play' section after you see the mechanics of the game.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally well-received, praised for their optimization and futuristic design, with many noting a good balance between visual appeal and gameplay performance. However, some players have reported issues such as screen tearing and a lack of graphical options, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are considered a solid effort, especially for a first release.

    • “All in all fantastic gameplay and graphics, as well as a nice scoring system for more serious players.”
    • “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.”
    • “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, but the graphics are not as demanding compared to most other PC games.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and fitting techno and electro synth fusion soundtrack by Keishi Yonao, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. The diverse musical themes across the two campaigns contribute to the game's clever design, while some players noted a lack of ambient music in the main menu. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and mechanics effectively.

    • “It actually comes with two campaigns with totally different enemies, bosses, and music that are built around one another in a clever way.”
    • “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, but I wish there was a bit more of it or maybe slightly less subtle.”
  • story7 mentions

    The story in Strania is engaging and offers a unique dual perspective, allowing players to experience both the protagonist and antagonist's sides through separate campaigns. While not deeply complex, the narrative is entertaining and enhanced by integrated DLC that effectively expands the gameplay experience. Overall, the storyline adds personality to the characters and keeps players invested in the action.

    • “Rev put in both campaigns to differentiate the Stranian and Vower sides, giving them personality without even having to rely on story composition.”
    • “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. It's not Shakespeare, but it's 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.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly without graphical glitches or slowdowns, even on older hardware. While it is well-optimized for PC, some users noted that the graphical options are limited.

    • “Runs great at 1920x1080 @60 on a 7-year-old GTX 260 with a quad-core CPU, so this is no hardware-consuming monster and 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.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its dual-path system and multiple difficulty options, allowing players to experience encounters from both sides. This variety enhances the fun and encourages repeated playthroughs compared to other titles in the genre.

    • “This significantly boosts replayability; it's great fun to play encounters from both sides.”
    • “Two paths with multiple difficulty options will provide more replayability than other games in the genre.”
    • “The game offers only a couple of paths, which limits its replayability compared to other titles in the genre.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play through it again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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