[b]My Playtime:[/b] 4.1h (100% achievement, finished the game 3x and boss rush until lv 18)
[list][*][i]First Playthrough[/i]: 49 minutes
[*][i]Second Playthrough[/i]: 75 minutes
[*][i]Third Playthrough[/i]: 3h[/list]
[b]Grindy Achievement(s):[/b] No.
[b]Optional Achievement(s):[/b] Yes (7 achievements).
[b]Difficult Achievement(s):[/b] No.
[h1]Intro[/h1]
[i]Project Starship[/i] is a bullet hell game with randomization elements. Levels and bosses are randomized in every playthrough except for the last few ones, adding to the replayability.
[b]Pros:[/b]
- Random levels, events, and bosses
- Multiple powerups
- 2 difficulties
[b]Cons:[/b]
- No explanation of the control scheme
- Sometimes it's hard to see where the bullets are
- Game slows down if you play boss rush for too long
[b]Specs[/b]
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 16GB RAM, AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
[h1]Should you buy this game?[/h1]
[i]It's a fun bullet hell game that caters to different gamers. The easy difficulty isn't a walk in the park either, so you'll still be able to enjoy it.[/i]
[hr][/hr]
[h1]In-Depth Review[/h1]
[h3]The Game[/h3]
After starting the game, you'll be able to choose to play as a man or a woman. I don't know what the differences are, except for visual purposes, but you'll start the game without any tutorials right away. I didn't know what to do during my first playthrough and had to die just because I couldn't figure out how to shoot; I ended up having to check a guide just to see the control scheme.
Being a bullet hell game, you play in a spaceship, shooting enemies that are coming from the top. Enemies will come from time to time until you eventually reach the boss. Do it four times to find the final boss and end the game. Unlike other bullet hell games, this game won't overwhelm you with bullets during non-boss fights as long as you are careful. Enemies can be killed right after they show up, provided that you have enough upgrades.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=755321450
The game is full of randomization. Each run will be different, whether it's the enemies, the upgrades, or the boss—only the final boss is the same. There is also a random event that will give you some upgrades, which require you to do whatever the event wants you to do—it's usually dodging enemies with several rules. That being said, it's easy to figure out since it's quite intuitive.
There is a contrast in the difficulty. I was getting bored at the beginning during the non-boss runs since enemies kept on dying easily, but the final boss can be challenging. It can deplete my health right away due to the number of bullets—the term bullet hell really applies here, and the boss can kill you if you are not careful. That being said, I like how the game gives you an extra chance if you have progressed far enough after dying, reviving you with one health.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=764234864
Replayability is the main meat of the game. In fact, you'll see that the game gets harder when you play it after beating it. The true final boss will only appear once you beat the game three times, with the game giving a different final boss in the first three playthroughs. I like how the game tries to encourage replaying the game by doing this.
You need to learn a lot, though. There are just so many things that can cause you to take damage without realizing it. Heck, there are even some regions that will damage you if you enter them, despite the game not making it clear that you are not supposed to touch them. Moreover, enemy bullets can be hard to see due to the colors being similar to your bullets' color, making it even harder to dodge.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=764235257
Bosses are plenty. You might not even encounter all the bosses that the game has to offer after finishing the game three times. You'll only fight three of them each run, after all. They have different difficulties, with some being easier than others. Heck, there is even a "boss fight" that just requires you to walk through a narrow path.
Some bosses will give attack patterns that make it hard to dodge unless you have a good eye; it can be hard to dodge the projectiles when the boss just spams the whole screen with them. There is always a way to dodge them without taking damage, but some of them will be harder than others, especially since you only have a little room for error.
[b]Length and Difficulty[/b]
Each run can take around 30 minutes to one hour, depending on your skill. I finished the game for the third time, beating the true final boss, at 3.1h, and spent the rest of my playtime obtaining the leftover achievements, including the boss rush mode. The game has two difficulties, and despite only playing on easy, it's still challenging to finish the game. Note that I'm bad at bullet hell games, so it might contribute to the difficulty somehow.
[h1]Conclusion[/h1]
[i]Project Starship[/i] is a game that I didn't think I would enjoy. I'm still having the adrenaline rush for a while after beating the game. It was fun and was designed to be replayed several times. The numerous bullets might be difficult to dodge for non-skilled gamers, but some upgrades can help to mitigate the difficulty to some extent. If you want to play a challenging and short bullet hell game, this is the game for you.
