Tina of the Stars [Review by Dante][Also 900th post]

[Radiant Arin 412]

Game Title: Tina of the Stars

Developer: @Ratty524

Game Engine: RMXP

URL: http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/topic/14717-tina-of-the-stars/

Download URL: http://www.mediafire.com/?7oz0csgahecbifv

 

 

POSITIVE POINTS: An arcade style game that is challenging and funny. It has a lot of redeeming qualities, has good art in the opening cinematic, a somewhat submersible (though it isn't explored until much later after I stopped playing) plot, and a rather funny tutorial.

 

NEGATIVE POINTS: Being able to not save after every Level is kind of annoying and some cutscenes are quite long (the desert cutscene in between Level 3 and 4) and are unskippable.

 

STORY:

 

 

 

Amongst the farthest reaches of the universe, there is a starry galaxy known as the FaefyiGalaxy. Amongst this galaxy is a lush, beautiful little planet called Pix. This planet is inhabited by the galaxy's most respected magical beings, the fairies, and on their home planet they flutter about with their wings and enjoy a peace and tranquility... Untill now.


One day, everything on planet pix seemed to be like any other day, blissful and quiet. Suddenly, a dark haze envelopes the entire planet, blocking out the sun and covers the land with darkness. Several comets suddenly drop from this haze, and what comes out when they crash onto the ground? Beasts, and other bizarre creatures that one can only imagine existing. They attack the citizens and wreak havoc whevever they go, sending this once-peaceful world into a panic. Up in the dark sky, a cloaked figure gazes upon the mayhem and laughs. The Space Demon, Lord Grimm of Darkness, has arrived to conquer planet Pix.


Among the violence caused by the monsters, a small, green-haired fairy rushes to a shrine. She bows down and makes a wish to the stars, her message became a star and flew off into space. Somewhere among the Fairy Galaxy, a space ship hovers slowly, carrying a sleeping, white-haired fairy wearing pink boxing gloves and a star-stubbed sports top. Suddenly, the ship sounds an alarm, awaking the fairy abruptly. The alarm has detected a wish to a Galaxy Warrior, and a planet is in deep trouble. This young warrior's name is Tina, and she sets her ship to warp speed to travel to the planet Pix. While this little fairy doesn't really know what she has to do yet, she has a feeling that she is about to embark on a quest that is larger than her small size.

 

 

Remember what I said about the game having likable art? This is why.

 

But really, the story has your usual generic arcade type of plot: set out to save the world in some weird fashion by killing all the monsters in your way. Sounds like every other game ever made.

 

In the beginning portion of the game, or at least until the point when I stopped playing due to frustration and lack of lives, the plot isn't explored, but once you get up to Level 5, the audience is given hints to who the bad guy is, and what their ulterior motive is for taking over this poor little planet of Pix. It is said that he would "get his revenge on [the MC]", meaning that there may be more plot development in store for the audience.

 

AUDIO/GRAPHICS: I don't know/remember what the XP RTP consists of, but the maps seem far too realistic to be part of the RTP. The music, however, after some investigation, comes from a few artists on Newgroundz (eww) and from the Bomberman series. I REALLY LOVE THE DESERT THEME IT IS SO ADDICTING (even though it's a Newgroundz title). I'm even listening to it right now as I type up this review, so it's definitely a winner in my book.

 

The monster sprites are all unique and fit in quite well with the look and feel of the game; overzealously drawn and disproportionate to regular standards.

 

GAMEPLAY: This is probably where you'll be spending most of your time. If you're not a big fan of Pac-Man style games, this isn't the game for you. The objective of the game is to go through various levels, collecting small stars scattered around the map. The only problem is, monsters will be impeding your progress, and you must navigate the level cautiously and flexibly if you wish to collect all the stars. Once you do, you go HADOUKEN on the monsters' asses and beat them into gold coins. Once you defeat all the monsters in the level in this stage, you proceed to the next one. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

 

THE SKULLS ARE F***ING ANNOYING.

 

While I did have fun progressing through the game, the lack of saving after every level felt a bit too unforgiving, as not only do you have to restart from where you last saved (which is at every odd level, so Level 1, 3, and 5), but there are several long cutscenes in which you cannot skip.

 

While I did manage to get up to Level 6, I imagine the Level after that would have been the last level, or if not, the third-to-last level, so it was good to enjoy it while I did. The game is very very short, and it will only take you about thirty minutes to an hour to beat. There is of course, a lot of replayability value involved with it as well, so if you want to shoot for gold, this is a perfect chance for you to do so.

 

There's a point where Tina walks through a cactus in the cutscene in between Level 3 and Level 4. Other than that, there are no noticeable bugs.

 

OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Fun. A bit too unforgiving. But what would really be unforgiving would be to insert a Nickel each time you had to load up the game. :|

 

RATING: 3.5/5.

Edited June 16, 2013 by Arin the Illustrious

[+ Dark Influence 251]

THE SKULLS ARE F***ING ANNOYING.

 

Deathspark, that is all.

 

Good to see you back in action again Arin - Someone's got to review the games around here, I can't because the Battle Systems won't let me.

 

Congratulations on 900 posts for whatever it's worth.

[Ratty524 15]

This seems to be about in line with about 3 other reviews for this game, all gaining around a 3-3.5 in score.

 

Either way nice review. Once I my beta testers get back to me I'm going to release a patch to alleviate some of the main issues of this game.

[Deathspark 14]

 

THE SKULLS ARE F***ING ANNOYING.

 

Deathspark, that is all.

 

Good to see you back in action again Arin - Someone's got to review the games around here, I can't because the Battle Systems won't let me.

 

Congratulations on 900 posts for whatever it's worth.

You felt my pain bro XDXDXD