Slay
28-06-2007, 23:15
Super Stardust HD
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust1.jpg
Platform: PS3 (Games for Playstation Network)
Release: Out now in NA
Price: $7.99
Players: 1-2 player local co-op, online leaderboards
Here's my interview with Harri Tikkanen, of Housemarque, on SSHD:
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/794/794165p1.html
And the reviews so far:
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/797/797927p1.html
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/797/797913p1.html
Here's some footage done by TTP showing off some gameplay from the retail code:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MOM03B7H
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3GDKPJG0
So yeah, so far this game is pretty incredible. Read the interview on some of the tech at work here...especially the way the asteroids crumble as you shoot them.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/starzoom.jpg
There's a closeup on the destruction...it's pretty awesome when you've got a ton of debris running at 60fps with tons of enemies flying down to kill you. Strike that, it's incredibly awesome.
If you own a PS3, you absolutely must buy this game.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust2.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust3.jpg
What sets it apart from the rest?
There are several things, though the easiest to name off the bat are graphics (pretty damn slick and easily the best looking twin-stick shooter on any platform) and the progression system (five unlockable planets, each with a unique set of enemies and challenges).
There are three weapons you can choose from on the fly: the Rock Crusher (dot-shot rounds that are the norm for this kind of game, such as Blast Factor), the Ice Splitter (a laser-like shot that tears apart enemies rather nicely) and the Gold Melter (think a laser-lasso that's magnetic to anything around it...really, really great.)
Each weapon has it's advantages and strengths...for instance, if you're surrounded by glaciers you'd obviously choose the Ice Splitter. But then when some enemies land on the planet that are immune to this weapon, you have to decide...should I run away and get rid of all the debris first, or take on the enemy with another weapon while dodging the rocks?
You can also upgrade your weapons throughout the game. You start at a base of 8% on each weapon...as you collect powerups specific to your weapon, you get an increased percentage till you hit 100% (it increases the number of rounds shot at a time, the speed of the weapon, etc.)
But back to the Gold Melter...this weapon is really awesome.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardustlasso.jpg
Once you get it long enough, you can move the thumbstick clockwise as fast as possible to create a lasso-like hula hoop of death that kills anything in it's path. Well, except for enemies that aren't much bothered by the Gold Melter, but honestly it's one of the coolest weapons I've seen in a twin-stick shooter.
The other maneuvers are the bomb (blast anything in the screen with a big explosion...nothing new here) and the boost. The boost is really awesome...you turn your ship into a speeding bullet, destroying anything in it's path and getting yourself out of an insane situation. Sometimes instead of shooting a rock, I just boost right into it. Be sure there's not too much debris on the other side though...or you could land right on top of something. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/images/smilies/laugh.gif
I'm going to try some co-op tonight, but so far I have no problem in saying this is the best shooter available on next-gen consoles so far (and yes, I've logged in many hours of GW). It pounds Blast Factor into the dirt, that's for sure.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust4.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust5.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust6.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust7.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust1.jpg
Platform: PS3 (Games for Playstation Network)
Release: Out now in NA
Price: $7.99
Players: 1-2 player local co-op, online leaderboards
Here's my interview with Harri Tikkanen, of Housemarque, on SSHD:
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/794/794165p1.html
And the reviews so far:
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/797/797927p1.html
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/797/797913p1.html
Here's some footage done by TTP showing off some gameplay from the retail code:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MOM03B7H
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3GDKPJG0
So yeah, so far this game is pretty incredible. Read the interview on some of the tech at work here...especially the way the asteroids crumble as you shoot them.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/starzoom.jpg
There's a closeup on the destruction...it's pretty awesome when you've got a ton of debris running at 60fps with tons of enemies flying down to kill you. Strike that, it's incredibly awesome.
If you own a PS3, you absolutely must buy this game.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust2.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust3.jpg
What sets it apart from the rest?
There are several things, though the easiest to name off the bat are graphics (pretty damn slick and easily the best looking twin-stick shooter on any platform) and the progression system (five unlockable planets, each with a unique set of enemies and challenges).
There are three weapons you can choose from on the fly: the Rock Crusher (dot-shot rounds that are the norm for this kind of game, such as Blast Factor), the Ice Splitter (a laser-like shot that tears apart enemies rather nicely) and the Gold Melter (think a laser-lasso that's magnetic to anything around it...really, really great.)
Each weapon has it's advantages and strengths...for instance, if you're surrounded by glaciers you'd obviously choose the Ice Splitter. But then when some enemies land on the planet that are immune to this weapon, you have to decide...should I run away and get rid of all the debris first, or take on the enemy with another weapon while dodging the rocks?
You can also upgrade your weapons throughout the game. You start at a base of 8% on each weapon...as you collect powerups specific to your weapon, you get an increased percentage till you hit 100% (it increases the number of rounds shot at a time, the speed of the weapon, etc.)
But back to the Gold Melter...this weapon is really awesome.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardustlasso.jpg
Once you get it long enough, you can move the thumbstick clockwise as fast as possible to create a lasso-like hula hoop of death that kills anything in it's path. Well, except for enemies that aren't much bothered by the Gold Melter, but honestly it's one of the coolest weapons I've seen in a twin-stick shooter.
The other maneuvers are the bomb (blast anything in the screen with a big explosion...nothing new here) and the boost. The boost is really awesome...you turn your ship into a speeding bullet, destroying anything in it's path and getting yourself out of an insane situation. Sometimes instead of shooting a rock, I just boost right into it. Be sure there's not too much debris on the other side though...or you could land right on top of something. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/images/smilies/laugh.gif
I'm going to try some co-op tonight, but so far I have no problem in saying this is the best shooter available on next-gen consoles so far (and yes, I've logged in many hours of GW). It pounds Blast Factor into the dirt, that's for sure.
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust4.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust5.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust6.jpg
http://www.vertigogaming.net/PSP/stardust7.jpg