Super Star Path
- June 22, 2015
- DYA Games
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Get on Steam"Super Star Path" is a color match puzzle and space shoot-em-up game with three difficulty modes and randomly generated stages. Players can unlock and upgrade new ships, face intense boss battles, and unlock a boss rush mode. The game features colorful pixel art graphics and an arcade-like FM synth soundtrack.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Super Star Path combines shoot 'em up and puzzle elements in a unique and engaging way, requiring players to think strategically about their shots.
- The game features charming pixel art, a catchy soundtrack, and a nostalgic retro aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a fun challenge with various ships to unlock and upgrade, making it a worthwhile experience for its price.
- The randomly generated levels can sometimes lead to unwinnable situations, causing frustration and reliance on luck rather than skill.
- The lack of an auto-fire option during regular gameplay can make boss fights tedious and physically demanding.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to concerns about replay value and overall content.
- gameplay128 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Super Star Pat" combines classic shoot-'em-up mechanics with a unique match-3 puzzle element, offering a fresh twist on both genres. While the core mechanics are engaging and the graphics and music are praised, players note issues such as short playtime, occasional frustrating RNG elements, and a lack of depth in certain areas. Overall, the game is considered solid and enjoyable, particularly for fans of retro-style arcade games, despite some minor flaws.
“The gameplay is solid, combining classic shoot 'em up and puzzle genres with some bullet hell elements for boss fights.”
“This game is really well designed: the gameplay brings an interesting twist to the genre, the graphics are beautiful, the voice recordings are clear and well acted, and the soundtrack just wraps up the package.”
“An interesting arcade-style shoot-em-up with an unusual game mechanic where shooting a group of colored blocks will destroy all attached blocks of the same color, and turn any blocks of a different color to the left, right, and top of the last block to be cleared into indestructible frozen blocks.”
“While I'm recommending this game, I think it's fair you get a bit of a warning for its non-minor flaws: to start off, the game is very short, I beat every level with all collectibles, upgrades, and boss rush in just over two hours, and I wasn't really trying to beat the clock... the game, while a bit dependent on frustrating RNG mechanics, can still be too easy, and the difficulty settings don't seem to do much either.”
“Let me elaborate on RNG mechanics: the concept of the last alien in a chain freezing other (different type) aliens around it is necessary for how the game constructs its puzzle elements, and the only thing stopping you from mindlessly blasting through everything. However, since those aliens are also arranged in random patterns and there are different indestructible blocks in some levels (like lasers or metal plates), it also means you often get crushed in 'no-win situations' through no predictable fault of your own.”
“The gameplay is just not very deep at all and doing well is mostly a matter of a roll of the dice due to a noticeable lack of polish in that department.”
- music94 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and nostalgic qualities, often reminiscent of 80s and 90s retro games, with many players finding it enjoyable and fitting for the game's vibrant aesthetic. However, some users noted that the repetitive nature of the tracks, especially during challenging gameplay moments, can lead to frustration. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, enhancing the overall experience despite some minor criticisms.
“The music is lovely, especially the main theme.”
“It's a relatively short game, but it's done extremely well - fluid, responsive movement, great pixel art, and awesome music.”
“The pixel art is astonishing, the soundtrack is incredible and the gameplay is smooth.”
“Nothing about the game's sound or music is surprising.”
“The music, like shooting, becomes another layer of frustration over the course of the game though.”
“Players who die frequently will especially come to loathe the beginning of the stage music as the track will reset and play anew with each death.”
- graphics72 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 90s arcade titles, featuring well-executed pixel art and charming visuals that complement the gameplay. Many reviewers appreciate the combination of colorful graphics and engaging soundtracks, although some note that the retro style may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the experience despite some criticisms regarding gameplay frustrations.
“Charming presentation, graphics, and sound.”
“Super star path has all of the aesthetics of a great mid-90's shooter: colorful, vibrant graphics; great music reminiscent of a by-gone era; solid vertical shooting; and a unique implementation of bejeweled style puzzle gameplay.”
“This game is really well designed: the gameplay brings an interesting twist to the genre, the graphics are beautiful, the voice recordings are clear and well acted, and the OST just wraps up the package.”
“There's no surprises with the graphics or trumped up cutscenes of a different style.”
“If the retro art style isn't to your liking, then this game has nothing to offer you at any time.”
“It's abrasive and it clashes terribly with the colorful 16-bit aesthetic it boasts.”
- story32 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as shallow and primarily serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, which some players find acceptable given the arcade-style nature and brevity of the experience. While there are elements of humor and a moral lesson woven into the narrative, it lacks depth and immersion, with most players completing the main story and additional modes in a short time frame. Overall, the simplicity of the story is seen as a non-distracting element that allows for a focus on gameplay.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Beautiful colorful sprites, great soundtrack, tongue-in-cheek story and voice over, but there's just this nagging feeling that the gameplay, even though technically competent, is missing certain polish that would put it in the shelves of amazing timewaster new-retro arcade games like Downwell or Luftraiser.”
“There's a thicker layer of story introduced to you once you start up the game, but it has no real effect on the gameplay as a whole as it serves to be more of a stage setting than a narrative.”
“So yes, the game offers you a basic story just to illustrate what you're doing, but there's not really much immersion, other than hearing the pilot that you control complaining about this and that.”
“The story is rather shallow, to be expected of a more arcade-y title, but I feel that works and is completely fine for a game that is so short and easy to 100%.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting minimal value beyond collecting missed items or achieving the true ending. While a few mention enjoyable mechanics and procedural generation that could enhance replayability, many agree that the short length and limited content significantly reduce the incentive to replay.
“+procedurally generated levels, but fun and consistent mechanics make for great replayability.”
“That super puzzle platformer game I mentioned earlier, for example; it's great and has lots of replay value.”
“Simple, yet solid upgrade system with finding upgrades creating some nice replayability.”
“As for 'replay value', the game has none and you will only ever want to replay a lower campaign level to get the green gems or upgrade points you missed, which doesn't take much time at all.”
“Just take note that it's a very short game without much replayability.”
“Zero replay value.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the pilot's quips genuinely funny and a charming addition to the gameplay, others feel that his repetitive reminders can become grating over time. Overall, the humor is appreciated when it doesn't overwhelm the experience, adding a lighthearted touch to the challenging gameplay.
“Some of the quips of the pilot are actually funny.”
“A great shmup puzzle genre blending game, it's very challenging, combining thoughtful puzzles and good old bullet hell boss fights. It's even got some funny dialogue as well.”
“The speech does not get activated each time, so it is never an annoyance; it is simply a funny touch.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, as it can quickly become fatiguing despite the short boss encounters. While the game requires some grinding to achieve 100%, the inclusion of unlimited lives and the ability to retain earned progress helps balance the experience, making it more manageable. Overall, the grind is seen as a necessary part of gameplay, albeit a bit repetitive.
“Every single shot and the rate of shots is entirely dependent on you and can become tediously fatiguing very quickly despite the very short boss encounters.”
“Not too hard, but not so easy; though 100% can be a little grindy.”
“Let's do some math: on the map's levels one, two, and three, each takes 2 sets of grinding for 2:30 minutes.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express mixed emotions regarding the game's mechanics, particularly feeling discomfort due to the need for constant button pressing to shoot, which detracts from the overall experience. The distinction between safe and hazardous interactions adds a layer of tension, but the repetitive action may lead to frustration rather than engagement.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its excellent execution and artistic style, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some users note that the game's short length detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“Great idea, well executed, with a fantastic art style and atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is immersive and beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The game's atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel significant.”
