Review for Steredenn: Binary Star. Game for Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 08/03/2018
Condensing images and animations into a few pixels, without losing the charm or the ability to excite, is undoubtedly an art form. Those who lived the golden age of the 1980s - 90s know what we are talking about: a few pixels, a few colors and a lot of imagination have made characters like Mario icons even today, becoming not only pieces of important videogame history, but a real beacon for future generations.
The guys of Pixelnest Studios they were able to exploit the opportunity by giving life to Steredenn, a shoot'em up with roguelike elements and graphics that seem to come directly from the pixelated years of the dawn of video games. Today finally Steredenn: Binary Star also appears on Nintendo Switch.
First of all it must be said that Steredenn: Binary Star is actually the full and improved version of Steredenn, which was released in its time on Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS and Android: after having enjoyed enormous success thanks to its fast and captivating mechanics and its fascinating graphics, it was normal to expect a version adapted for the console of the moment, Nintendo Switch. It contains new and other improved elements: for example we will find 6 new intermediate bosses, new backgrounds, new weapons and above all new spaceships. Everything was aimed at improving an already complete and captivating gaming experience.
Steredenn: Binary Star it works extremely well despite the practically total absence of any plot: the story is in fact only sketched during the tutorial phase and is reduced to seeing the mother ship explode while on board our shuttle we launch in pursuit of hordes of enemies . Despite this, the fast-paced and colorful gameplay makes up for this shortcoming, resulting in fast and fun sessions like any self-respecting roguelike.
The difficulty level is decidedly set upwards and leaves no room for distractions: in the over 15 hours of gameplay we faced the final boss only once and our battle didn't last long. The only way to survive is to exploit the power ups and the basic features of our spaceship to the fullest, also counting a lot on luck: the avalanche of upgrades available randomly, the hordes of enemies generated procedurally in a almost always different way, the backgrounds interactive games make each run different, making the difficulty level fluctuating too.
If you are lucky, along the way you will find, after taking out the mini-boss on duty, a series of power-ups that, if well combined with each other, will make the difference between life and death; Of course, don't forget the roguelike component of the title that will reset all progress to your every departure, making everything more fun.
The weapons are varied and hilarious, and range from lasers, bullets, self-shooting bots, and even physical weapons such as traps and rotating saws: be careful, however, because the wrong choice can decree defeat. There are only two weapon slots, so be careful what you choose; other power ups will fortify your health, your ability to absorb damage, and who knows what else.
Steredenn: Binary Star also includes some modes not present in the classic version, such as Boss Rush, or coop mode. The first gives us the opportunity to try our hand at the bosses already faced previously, while the second allows us to separate the Joy-Con and face the adventure with a friend by our side. The latter mode makes the game incredibly fun, and combined with the roguelike component makes the replay value practically infinite.
In Steredenn: Binary Star it also finds an online leaderboard for comparison with other friends and a daily challenge. In the latter mode we will find a spaceship that is the same for everyone and a series of power ups all the same that will allow us to confront the world on an equal footing: only our reflexes will make the difference.
Unfortunately, not all that glitters is gold: although, in fact, the game is fun and the replay value is high, one cannot fail to notice a certain repetition that grows with the hours of play. After all, there are only about a hundred background-enemy combinations and the bosses are only about fifteen: this makes the title a bit repetitive, at least alone; feeling that fortunately vanishes in coop.
The graphics and audio are perfectly suited to the context and above all they have been masterfully made. It is not easy to condense animations that vary according to the game into a few pixels and above all it is not easy to make them valid and functional. The spaceships will highlight the damage suffered thanks to smoke trails and colored flames and the fake 3D backdrops are really pleasant to look at and full of quotes that will excite the hearts of nostalgics: try to search around the screen for Dr. Who's Tardis or Captain Harlock's Arcadia.
Steredenn: Binary Star is a small masterpiece that, for the price at which it is proposed, becomes a must have. Although it is designed, like any roguelike, for short and non-demanding sessions, you will find yourself losing track of time by playing one game after another, after another, after another. In co-op with a friend he brings out the best while having fun without reservations. To be picky, we would have expected a greater amount of content from a Nintendo Switch remaster, which, however, cannot be said to come with a new chapter of this hilarious shoot'em up-
► Steredenn: Binary Star is a Roguelike-Shoot'em Up type game developed and published by Pixelnest Studios for Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 08/03/2018
