Super Stardust HD
Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Twin-stick shooter
Release: 6/28/07 (PS3), 12/8/08 (PSP)
Platforms: PS3, PSP
Modes: Single-player, Co-operative Multi-player
Availability: PlayStation Network Store
Disclaimer:
-I'm not that great at arcade shooters.
-I only played on easy mode, which
was hard enough for me.
- Completed arcade mode, but still
have two planets to go on planetary conquest mode.
-I don't have a second controller so I couldn't play co-op.
-I didn't purchase the dlc for the game,
though they are variations of arcade mode.
Graphics:
Super Stardust HD is visual treat with plenty of shiny and glowing
effects that give it a visual vibrancy that most games don't have.
The style of vibrant lighting helps with the alien sci-fi visual
theme. Texture wise, they are simple and nothing to write home about,
but the intense visual effects compensate for it.
Game-play:
Super Stardust HD is a twin stick arcade shooter where you guide a
small ship around a 3 dimensional sphere and destroy as many enemies
and rocks as possible in each wave. Each wave has a certain amount of
rocks and enemies that need to be destroyed before you can advance,
but new ones will drop in on you as you play. Surviving 4 waves on a
planet will trigger the boss fight that can only be hurt from his
weak point. Once you beat a planet, you will unlock it in it's
respective mode and will have to beat 4 more planets.
As it is an arcade shooter, there are plenty of power-ups to
utilize in your survival. There are extra lives, shields that let you
take a free hit, points, and ammo powers. You have access to three
weapons for the three types of rocks you encounter. It is possible to
destroy rocks with other weapons, but they are not as effective as
their color coded counterpart. The green rock cutter, the red gold
cutter, and the blue ice cutter. The rock cutter shoots thin beams
that go fast but has a moderate effective range. Gold cutter is like
a flamethrower that has shorter range, but can lock onto multiple
enemies without aiming. Ice beam shoots thicker projectiles that
travel far, but are slower then the other two. Bombs are limited, but
can destroy everything on screen. Enemies don't have any weapons they
are weak to so you are free to use any beam that is strong enough and
effective.
