Star Overdrive is an action-adventure recreation for the Nintendo Change. We first caught a glimpse of this speedy indie title throughout a Nintendo Companion Showcase in 2024. Now that it’s right here, how does this hoverboarding sci-fi fare? Seems it fares fairly effectively.
You play the position of a younger adventurer touring by means of house. A misery sign compels our hero to land on an alien planet to discover a lacking woman. Wielding a keyboard guitar and a hoverboard, it units the scene for exploration because the participant follows the clues to the woman’s whereabouts.
This sci-fi intro is neat and quick, offering simply sufficient data to information you into the proceedings with out being overbearing. Particulars emerge by way of additional messages found as you progress, unfolding the story piece by piece. It retains the tempo of narrative flowing properly.
Your preliminary purpose is to energy up a number of websites dotted across the map. These create a easy puzzle mechanic as you verify the supply for every cable. As soon as activated, you dive into an underground space that’s strongly paying homage to these quite a few Shrines in Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild. Every presents some easy 3D platforms to navigate, enemies to defeat, and puzzles to resolve.
There are extra Zelda vibes on supply. One of many first powerups found is a magnetic grabber, which feels loads like Ultrahand. It even sports activities the identical eerie inexperienced glow as Hyperlink’s energy. In a method, this makes it simple to make use of because it feels so acquainted. Fortunately, Star Overdrive provides sufficient of its personal in different methods to maintain it feeling contemporary whereas nonetheless paying homage to outings like The Legend of Zelda.
The principle mechanic that units Star Overdrive aside is the hoverboard, acquired early within the recreation. This contraption serves as a enjoyable and quick approach to journey throughout terrain. It appears so apparent, it’s a surprise we haven’t seen one thing like this earlier than. A easy faucet of the R button units you up for browsing the sand dunes of this desolate planet in fashion. It may be cumbersome to regulate at first, however the fluidity and soar methods make it an pleasurable expertise. You’ll be able to soar over cliffs and rotate your board Tony-Hawk-style earlier than you land to achieve a lift. What’s extra, your board is totally customizable because of a sturdy crafting mechanic.
Wherever you go, you’ll discover objects to select up. Amassing these is significant to upgrading your board, carried out at numerous crafting stations. Throw in a mixture of elements and also you’ll improve your board throughout 5 areas: pace, increase, gravity, energy, and bond. You’ll be able to even goal sure bodily elements of your board, just like the engine or wings. Plus, you’ll be able to customise the look to make it really distinctive with colours and prints. These are terrific parts that additional assist carry this recreation to life.
The audio is a deal with, significantly for those who take pleasure in guitars. There’s a rocking soundtrack to accompany your browsing. It’s also possible to uncover cassette tapes (how old style!) and play these everytime you like to change issues up.
The fight is just a little lacklustre. Enemies—even early on—current a troublesome situation. It’s arduous to place a finger on, however preventing typically feels just a little hit or miss. It’s not horrible, it’s simply not Star Overdrive’s energy. When you unlock extra talents, issues do develop into simpler. I’d moderately simply keep away from the enemies, however they preserve at you till you eliminate them. Plus, it’s well worth the dispatch to earn these upgrades.
Graphically, Star Overdrive is spectacular. Given the fast-paced nature of this title, there’s at all times the query of efficiency on the standard Change. Fortunately, issues transfer alongside quickly and easily with no noticeable decelerate or stutter. The atmosphere additionally appears pretty, with glorious use of texturing that creates a easy impact with out shedding an excessive amount of element. General, shade me impressed with this indie dev’s prowess of the Change’s capabilities.
General, Star Overdrive is a enjoyable journey with some cool mechanics. Regardless of some apparent homages to different titles, there’s sufficient on supply right here to make this one stand out. The fast-paced motion and puzzle parts make this an journey value enjoying.
