Starcatcher: Gameplay and Review
A gameplay overview and review for the itch.io game Starcatcher. Available to play at https://escada-games.itch.io/starcatcher.
Gameplay Summary and Video:
Starcatcher is a challenging and enjoyable submission for the One Button Jam 2022. As is in the name of the Jam title, Starcatcher is a platformer that uses a single button for all of the controls. Time your jumps and use the direction-relative gravity to make your way between platforms and catch the stars.
Below is a gameplay video for Starcatcher. For those who would like to experience it for themselves, it is free to play in-browser at: https://escada-games.itch.io/starcatcher
Review:
Art and Sound Style: . The way that Starcatcher looks and sounds is a great place to start, The game has a simple pixel art style but still looks very polished and pretty. The color dynamics and shapes allow the game to be easily readable and understood. The character is cute and the animations are simple but effective. The sound design matches the gameplay and art flawlessly with a chill soundtrack that enhances the feeling of being in space as this little character who is trying to collect all the stars. The sound effects also mesh well with the music and give good auditory feedback to enhance the gameplay experience.
Length and Replay-ability (and potential length): Starcatcher runs for about 15-20 minutes overall and can run shorter or longer based on the skill of the player. This is a bit above the average length for jam games and it is a good amount of time to allow for a quick but rewarding platformer playthrough. The game also has some replay-ability as some levels have multiple ways to solve and with the precision needed it can pull players back in to try and beat the levels in the quickest amount of time and for them to attempt the levels with minimal fails. Starcatcher is a good game to pick up every now and then for a challenging and fun playthrough.
Difficulty: When it comes to controls, Starcatcher is the simplest as you can get but also deceivingly difficult. There is only one button that is used to play Starcatcher but that one button has multiple functions. The difficulty in the game arises in the challenges of timing and strategy. While some levels are definitely more difficult than others the game boils down to precision and timing the press and release of the single button. The level progression is overall steady with the later levels requiring near impeccable timing and placement. Starcatcher is a great game for anyone to try out but also allows for a challenge for the gamers who really want to test there precision and reaction timing.
Overall Gameplay and Final Score: Starcatcher takes the premise of the game jam it was created for and shines. The game is visually and audibly pleasing with challenging gameplay that truly tests the player at times. Starcatcher is a great premise that could be expanded on but also holds up well with how it is currently packaged. For those looking for a challenge but also looking for something with its own identity platforming space go check out Starcatcher on itch.io. leave a comment below with what you thought of the game, what you thought of the review, or maybe a cool space/gravity fact that comes to mind.
9/10
Find this game and more on https://ml-publishing.itch.io/