Score
Gameplay:	8
Graphics:	8
Sound:	6
FunFactor:	8
PlasmaFactor:	9
Overall:	7.8

Star Soldier R Review
May 19, 2008 by Peter Skerritt

Star Soldier R, the first WiiWare release from Hudson Entertainment, is an old-school vertical shooter that is more about scoring points than it is about “beating” the game. It hearkens back to the days when gamers played games as more of a test of skill, when getting your name on the Top 10 list meant something. Thanks to Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection, that high score list is now thousands of players deep and it beckons players to strive to have their names etched for all to see. It’s not a game that you’ll spend lengthy blocks of time playing, but it’s the perfect time to boot up when you’ve got a short time to kill and you want to get your adrenaline pumping. 

Stay On Target! 

Star Soldier R comes from a long line of Hudson shooters that bear the Soldier name. Virtual Console aficionados have likely at least seen some of these in the Wii Shop, if not bought and played them. The basic idea here is to pilot a lone ship through waves of enemies, avoiding enemy fire, dispatching enemies along the way and grabbing whatever powerups you find until you meet up with one final, large-sized enemy. It’s the same formula that you’ve seen in shooters of this ilk for years, and it still works well.  

The big difference between Star Soldier R and its previous console counterparts is that there are only two stages to complete. The emphasis here is more on scoring as many points as possible in the time allotted instead of just surviving. There are two main modes of play; a 2-minute mode and a 5-minute mode. The 2-minute mode consists of only one stage to try and complete, while the 5-minute mode adds a second level to get through. You have unlimited lives at your disposal, but losing a life is a severe detriment to your scoring potential as you lose all of your powerups and also lose valuable seconds off the clock.  

There are several different items to collect along the way. Powerup items include red capsules which power your lasers, and blue capsules which build up your force—which are floating satellites which you can command to either assist your attack or defend you against incoming enemies. There are also yellow capsules, which serve as bonus points and are vital collectibles in your assault on the online leaderboards. The powerup system is not convoluted at all; just collect anything and everything.  

Scoring bonuses are seemingly everywhere. You get bonuses for collecting extra blue and red powerups once your ship is at maximum power. There are combo bonuses for dispatching certain enemies at the same time. There are hidden items to collect for points. There’s even a special 80,000 point bonus towards the end of each stage that can be achieved under the right conditions. If you manage to complete each mode before the time elapses, you’re also given bonuses for clearing the stage and for any additional time remaining, as well as a combo bonus. A combo meter is displayed and racks up a count of the objects destroyed in a chain before the timer runs dry. It’s possible to rack up combos of almost 900!  

Three different control options are available for Star Soldier R, including using just the Wiimote, adding and using the Nunchuk accessory, or using the Classic Controller for that old-school feel. The play controls are as classic as the gameplay is, and as responsive as they should be. Rapid fire can be turned on or off, and there are three different speed settings for your ship, should you feel that it’s too fast or slow for the conditions on the screen.  

Shooting Smooth And Pretty  

The visuals in Star Soldier R are pretty impressive for a downloadable title. There are some interesting and varied enemy designs, along with plenty of explosions and pretty backgrounds. The frame rate is a smooth 60 frames per second and never wavers, which is a strong asset to any game in this genre. If you were to show this game off to friends, it’d be easy for them to think that you paid $30 for this game, based on its looks. Granted, the game isn’t a long one at all, but what is here is very, very good. There are a couple of nicely rendered cutscenes which show off your ship, as well.  

In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream… 

Star Soldier R’s audio is punctuated by laser fire, explosions, and synthesizer-powered music to shoot by. There is no voice work in the game, which is fine; however, it might have been a nice touch for the simulated computer messages which are displayed after each game in order to build on that atmosphere. The music isn’t as memorable as in other games in the genre, but it’s far from annoying. All in all, the sound is the game’s weakest link… and it’s just average, at that.  

PlasmaFactor 9, Helmsman! 

The fact that there are only two stages may turn a lot of prospective Star Soldier R buyers sour, but there is a lot of replay value to be had here. It’s like a skateboard run; you have a certain amount of time to score as much as possible, and you can always try again to perfect your skills and improve on your best efforts. The game can be very addictive and players can be meticulous; if you lose a life in the 2-minute mode or miss a couple of power-ups down the line, you’re going to want to play again and correct those mistakes in the next run. Star Soldier R, despite its relative brevity, feels more like an arcade game than most other Wii titles to date… and that is a definite asset for fans.  

You’re All Clear, Kid! 

Star Soldier R is a solid example of the vertical shooter done well and is easily one of the best WiiWare offerings so far. It’s challenging, fun to play, easy to control, and has a deceptively large amount of replay value. It’s the only arcade-style experience that you’ll find on WiiWare to date and sets the benchmark high for Hudson’s next release. Star Soldier R may not be for everyone, but old-school fans that are looking for challenge in quick doses and plenty of online competition to knock down the leaderboard should spend the 800 Wii Points and give this game a shot.