OMG Nintendo.com

WiiWare Review: Star Soldier R

May. 22 1:38 AM by Sardius

Warning labels are everywhere in our modern society. The video games we play are no exception, with many titles preceded by screens cautioning against violent content or the fact that playing online will completely ruin your fun. Star Soldier R, though, is the first game I've seen to feature a pre-purchase warning based on predicted personal taste.

Prior to accepting your Wii Points, the Wii Shop Channel warns that Star Soldier R is not a complete shooter experience. Rather, it's a collection of timed challenges. Think of Star Soldier R as a vertically scrolling shooter take on Pac-Man Championship Edition's competitive formula -- gameplay comes in two- or five-minute bursts, and focuses on score and technique, rather than the genre's usual premise of survival against extreme odds. The result, while fun, may not provide the kind of longevity that shooter fans expect.

Shooters, Take 2

Star Soldier R combines many of the best elements of the shooter genre while avoiding its common pitfalls and frustration points, thanks to its reduced difficulty and quick pace. Score is largely based around a DoDonPachi-like chaining system, which requires a constant stream of destruction on the player's part. Though you'll be shooting plenty of enemies, you'll also want to take out as many background objects and structures as possible, since they'll net you additional points and keep your combo alive.

It's all great fun while it lasts. Once your time limit is up, though, the game is over, and you're then sent back to the title screen. The game contains only two playable stages, and you'll be given a maximum of five minutes to play through them both. Though shooter fans will want to replay these two levels to hone their skills, others may be put off by Star Soldier R's seeming lack of variety.

Star Soldier R's price tag of 800 Wii Points ($8) may also be a little hard to swallow, especially considering that two of the series' previous entries -- Super Star Soldier and Soldier Blade -- are available on the Virtual Console for $6 each. Both contain similar timed challenge modes, and most critically, both also feature a multi-stage shooter experience, which Star Soldier R lacks.

Super Short Shoot'Em-Up

Playing for score in Super Star Soldier and Soldier Blade is an empty experience, however, as you're ultimately competing only against yourself. Star Soldier R's Wi-Fi leaderboards provide much greater replay incentive. Though your individual playthroughs may be brief, you'll feel a need to replay Star Soldier R again and again as you make a slow climb up the worldwide score charts. It's satisfying to note your gradual improvement, and even in your weaker score moments, your playtime is so brief that you'll never feel like your efforts were wasted.

As the Wii Shop Channel warns, though, this style of play will not appeal to everyone. Some may not appreciate Star Soldier R's replay-intensive gameplay, and may view the game as something that can be seen in its entirety in less than ten minutes. It's a fun ten minutes, though, and assuming you're willing to accept it for what it is, your Wii Points will be well-spent.

PROS: Quick pace; satisfying, commitment-free gameplay; online leaderboards provide replay value
CONS: Only two stages; may lack long-term appeal; better and cheaper options available on Virtual Console

GRAPHICS: 4.00
SOUND: 3.50
CONTROL: 5.00
FUN FACTOR: 3.50

• << prev
• next >>