Starward Rogue is a bullet-hell Roguelike game in which you play as one of nine mechanoids The game has a tutorial level, which informs you that you have been recruited to rescue a disembodied voice from a prison which is embedded in the side of a sun. Each of the mechs have their own strength and weaknesses, depending on your gameplay style.

Being procedurally generated, every run you do is different

The game is huge, when it comes to content, with over one hundred and fifty enemy types, as well as three hundred and fifty items you can pick up. These range from basic power boosters all the way up to the ability to shoot atom bombs.

The consumables, that litter the floors, can only be used once and you can only carry one at a time. This is important as the floors have barriers which must be destroyed. Some can be destroyed by your bullets, but other need missiles to breach. There are also keys to pick up which open loot boxes.

The game is procedurally generated, which means that every run you do will be different. The rooms not only contain enemies, but also traps and turrets to contend with. This help to make each run feel different, removing much of the repetition of these types of games. The bosses and mini bosses all have their own look and fighting style with different attack patterns weapons and speed.

Graphically this is more akin to a hand-held game, pleasant but somewhat basic. The backgrounds are not overly ornate, but then when you have bullets, fire and bombs going off, you probably don’t want the distraction of a complicated background. This isn’t going to stretch the PS5 at all.

There are over 150 enemy types, as well as 350 items

Like other rogue like games, you can level up between runs as well as acquire better equipment. This is going to be necessary as in your first runs you’re going to die a lot. The upgrade system makes each run a little better than the last. If this is too much for you at the beginning the game does come with five different difficulty settings, ranging from easy to the almost impossible "Misery".

Musically the bass heavy techno music compliments the game perfectly and the controls are easy to learn.

Overall, the game is difficult, fast paced and an assault on the senses. You will die multiple times, but the procedurally generated room makes you want to go back for more.

8

Charles Packer