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I’ve always adored arcade shmups. These simple but addictive games draw you in, chew you up, and spit you out. Furthermore, the pixelated graphics, rudimentary designs, and absurd plots are always enjoyable to experience. Consequently, when Sophstar landed on my desk, it filled me with a giddy sense of nostalgia.
Developed by Banana Bytes and published by RED ART GAMES, this is a vertical shmup title. Furthermore, it is jam-packed with game modes, has a distinctly retro look, and is addictive, straightforward, and damn good fun to play. Accordingly, this basic game can be enjoyed by veterans and newcomers alike.
Sophstar has an unconvincing plot.
You control Sub-Lieutenant Soph in what can only be described as an unconvincing story. She is military through and through and has lived in Galanian her whole life. However, somehow, this well-trained individual has a massive gap in their memory. Subsequently, she doesn’t know when her existence started or how she learned to teleport. Yet, this matters not, as she is valuable to her bosses. During her latest recon mission, she encounters cruel aliens and discovers more about herself than she ever wanted to.
This silly story makes little sense, but it strangely works with the hectic action that unfolds. Taking inspiration from major 90s titles, Sophstar comprises some familiar shmup tropes. As such, you’ll need to avoid a continuous flurry of projectiles as you collect power-ups, kill never-ending aliens, and destroy gargantuan bosses. Furthermore, each level has a unique look and there is a fleet of ships with unique strengths and weaknesses.
Choose your game mode, pick your ship, and pray that luck is on your side.
Where Sophstar excels is its volume of game modes and an incredible choice of spaceships. With 9 vehicles to choose from, you can select the perfect ship for your game style. What’s more, each one has a unique range of weapons, sub-weapons, and differing abilities. Consequently, one may be extremely agile, but weak. Whereas another could be slow but armoured to the teeth. No matter which one you pick, each adds a special touch to every playthrough.
Alongside this, there are 6 difficulty settings and 6 different game modes. You can take on the arcade mode, cadet school, score attack, timed challenge, endless mode, or tutorial. On top of this, there are local and online leaderboards to enhance the competitive nature of the gameplay. During each mode, you are expected to kill wave after wave of alien vessels while collecting tokens to increase your score or your timer. Alongside this, you’ll power your secondary weapon by killing your foes and avoiding damage. If you can successfully avoid being hit, you’ll increase your multiplier and you’ll improve your score considerably.
Sophstar looks wonderfully dated.
Thanks to its 240×320 resolution, Sophstar looks wonderfully dated. What’s more, its pixelated look and grubby colour palette are amazingly old-school. On top of this, the simple sprites and rudimentary animation are incredible. I adored the fast-paced nature of the action and the basic imagery and simple stage design. Consequently, older gamers will love the trip down memory lane. Whereas younger players will enjoy every element of 90s gaming.
This is complemented by the shrill audio. The banging tunes and loud sound effects are fantastic. Accordingly, it is a little uncomfortable to listen to. However, this isn’t a problem, as the bitesize stages allow you some respite between the ear-splitting sounds.
Simple controls.
Arcade gaming is renowned for its simple controls. Fortunately, Sophstar is no different. With a few buttons to focus on and an excellent tutorial, you’ll master this immediately. Alongside this, I enjoyed the accurate movement, the ability to teleport, and the use of a primary and secondary weapon.
Like its peers, Sophstar is uncomfortably addictive. Not only will you want to beat each game mode, but you’ll need to top each leaderboard. As such, you won’t be able to put down this simple but stupidly moreish title.
Sophstar is a great casual experience.
What makes this title particularly great is its casual approach. Consequently, it is easy to play between more in-depth games. Moreover, it takes little practice to get back into the swing of things. Therefore, it’s the perfect option if you want some downtime from COD, FIFA, or Elden Ring. Unsurprisingly, I loved it and I recommend you buy it here! Your memory may be poor, but your skills are anything but. As such, choose a ship, study the loadout, and destroy every alien you encounter.
