The Stargazers
- November 4, 2016
- Lupiesoft
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"The Stargazers" is a self-contained sci-fi game featuring giant robots, starships, and a close-knit squadron of three girls. Inspired by 50s and 80s sci-fi, pulp fiction, and mecha anime, the game explores the relationships between the girls in a yuri-themed setting. Players can expect self-contained adventures with the Stargazers Squadron, with no current plans for future installments.
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Reviews
- The art style is unique and beautifully drawn, with great sceneries and character designs.
- The ability to switch perspectives between characters adds an interesting dynamic to the storytelling.
- The characters are fascinating and the premise of the story is intriguing, leaving players wanting more.
- The game feels unfinished, with a lack of resolution and an abrupt ending that leaves many questions unanswered.
- There are technical issues, including bugs and missing assets, which detract from the overall experience.
- The story lacks depth and substance, making it difficult for players to connect with the characters or become fully engaged.
- story50 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it interesting and appreciating the ability to switch perspectives, while others criticize it for being incomplete and lacking resolution, especially given the author's absence since 2021. Many feel that the narrative feels like just the beginning of a larger tale, leaving them wanting more and unable to recommend the game due to its unfinished state. Overall, while the art is praised, the story's execution and abrupt ending have left a negative impression on many players.
“The story itself was interesting and it was a great thing to be able to switch characters between chapters.”
“Intriguingly, the story allows you to switch perspectives at certain points.”
“The premise is neat sounding - it's supposed to be a self-contained story in a retro-kitsch future with a pulp feel to it.”
“I cannot recommend this visual novel because it is short, lackluster, and has no prospects of ever being improved or having the story expanded.”
“While I enjoyed the character interactions overall, the way some scenes ended abruptly, and the way the story itself ended without resolution, are just too much of a negative.”
“There is the hint of interesting things developing, both in terms of the setting and in terms of the relationships the game is supposed to be about, but whether you wanted the story to feel like a somewhat real presentation of a relationship or something really gratuitous and thrilling, you won't find it here.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their impressive art style and stunning scenery, with many users expressing satisfaction and no complaints regarding the visual presentation. Overall, the beautiful art style enhances the gaming experience.
“I liked the art style, and there were some great-looking sceneries.”
“The art style surely is great; no complaints here.”
“At least you can enjoy the beautiful art style.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a functioning perspective mechanic that allows for character switching, though many players tend to stick with one character for most of the experience. This mechanic contributes to a narrative that feels fragmented, akin to navigating through an incomplete story, which can detract from immersion. Overall, while the mechanics are solid, they may limit engagement with the broader narrative.
“The game ends up feeling like playing through the first act of the story, except that random paragraphs on each page disappear and reappear because of the perspective mechanic.”
“The perspective mechanic works correctly; however, I found myself sticking mostly with one character, with a few scattered switch-ups.”
“And now that I've dealt with the mechanics, I can really get into the story.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its catchy title menu theme, which players find addictive; however, there is a significant lack of overall music and sound effects throughout the gameplay, leading to a less engaging experience. Many users express a desire for a more comprehensive soundtrack to enhance the game's atmosphere.
“The song that plays in the title menu is really addicting!”
“I wish this game had a soundtrack available.”
“My playtime is inflated because I privately streamed it to a handful of friends and insisted on voice acting every role (in part because of an uncomfortable lack of music and sound effects), but even if it had taken less time, there's just not enough interesting going on.”
“I kinda wish that this game had a soundtrack available.”
“The lack of music and sound effects makes the experience feel empty and unengaging.”
- character development4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development in the series is minimal, with characters often portrayed as archetypes rather than evolving through the narrative. There are mentions of deleted content that could have enhanced character arcs, but ultimately, the episodes function more as standalone stories without significant growth for the characters.
“The problem here is that TOS episodes were still full stories in and of themselves, and also had a lack of actual major character development as a feature - TOS characters were archetypal.”
“Either there was no character development made through any kind of deleted content, which utterly squanders many opportunities, or there was character development which was removed.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game offers significant replayability by allowing players to experience different story outcomes and providing flexibility in narrative choices. This encourages multiple playthroughs to explore various paths and endings.
“This adds replayability to the game, as well as providing flexibility in how the story is told.”
