Cosmic Star Heroine feels like it could be a Phantasy Star game. It is like I’m playing a side story for that series, and it is something that I love! This is an extremely fun game.
This is a turn-based RPG that uses a retro art style. It is set in a Futuristic Dystopian world where a government agency is fighting against a series of terrorist groups. Like many stories that use this setting, we find out that the government is worse than we think.
The game reminds me of Phantasy Star and Appleseed. It is an interesting mix of things that I enjoy quite a bit. The combat system takes some time to get used to, but it is pretty good.
TLDR: A Short RPG with Beautiful Graphics, Engaging Story, and Good Gameplay.
Narrative
The Story starts like many RPGs. Your character works for a government agency fighting a terrorist organization. You meet more characters once this introductory mission is complete.
Your next assignment is to retrieve an artifact from an old factory. This is where you get told about a war long before the game. I like this a lot as it makes the game’s world feel much older.
After retrieving the artifact and returning to base, the main character has a dream of a possible future. You learn about what the government is planning and decide to steal the artifact back and join a rebel group. Some more allies join you as you fight both the government and terrorists.
You eventually meet up with the rebels and learn about a device some wealthy collector has obtained. This is where some interstellar travel takes place. This part reminds me of a Phantasy Star game!
The story leads you to each of the three planets in the solar system. Each has its own society, and I think they each have a separate government. I thought they were in some union at first, but it seems like they’re autonomous.
You eventually find your way to an asteroid and fight who you think is the big bad guy. He is kind of a pushover. Once he is defeated, a member of your party betrays you and activates an alien ship called Eternity.
You then have to fight through the alien ship to get to Eternity. Like many RPGs, the final boss has multiple forms/ The final battle isn’t too hard, but it can be annoying at times. Once you win, Eternity tells you it will be back, and your victory is temporary.
The game’s world is fascinating! It feels like it belongs in the Phantasy Star universe. It is a dystopian world where technology and magic exist. Cybernetic implants seem common, and robots are everywhere. There are also a large number of aliens and mutants.
The game culminates with a battle on an asteroid. There is a big bad guy who takes on a few forms, and there is a bit of a twist ending as you learn how far the bad guy’s influence goes. It is a very fun story, even if it is a short game.
Gameplay
This turn-based RPG reminds me of Phantasy Star IV and Chrono Trigger. It has a futuristic setting, and there are no random encounters. The game occurs on three planets, and the final battle occurs on an asteroid.
I don’t like the combat system. It is interesting and cool that the developers tried something new. However, I would’ve liked it more if they had gone with something more traditional.
Instead of the traditional Attack, Magic, Items, and Defend options, you have eight options. This is a mix of magic, attack, and defense options. Unless otherwise specified, you can only use each option once per turn. You can recharge them by using a specified ability.
While this system is unique, I wouldn’t say I liked it all that much. I found it a little hard to keep track of, especially when your characters gain new abilities. There are many playable characters, and getting them set up with the right attacks can be a little much.
You can swap party members easily. This can be done at any time when outside of a battle. This also goes for saving the game. You don’t need to be on the world map or find a save point.
The battles are fairly easy. I never felt like I was in danger, or like I was going to lose a fight. Even when I was fighting a boss, I wasn’t worried. Every enemy displays their weaknesses and how much health they have left.
Overall, I like the gameplay a lot. The combat system takes some time to get used to. Everything in the game is set up for the player to succeed.
Visuals
This is a gorgeous game! The character sprites look fantastic, the town looks great, and the cut scenes are wonderful! I love everything about the look of this game.
Cosmic Star Heroine has a retro look to its art style. It uses pixel art; the cutscenes use both in-game graphics and almost comic-book cut scenes. There are also three planets that you visit, and each of them has a slightly different environment.
You don’t see much of the three planets. This was a little disappointing at first. Two of the planets look very similar to one another. I don’t think this is a big deal, but I wanted to point it out.
Overall, the game looks beautiful! The graphics are gorgeous, the characters look great, and the cutscenes are terrific. It really feels like I’m playing a lost Phantasy Star game.
8.5/10. I wish there were more to this game. It went by very fast! I was near the end of the game after seven hours. Granted, I didn’t do all the side content, but that is still a short game by RPG standards. It is a very fun game that looks amazing!
Pros
- Beautiful Graphics
- Great Story
- Good Gameplay
Cons
- Short
- Maybe too easy for some
- The Combat System takes some getting used to
Conclusion
Cosmic Star Heroine is a short game by RPG standards. It took me about eight hours to beat without doing any of the side missions. If I had gone back and done all of it, I might have spent another two to four hours on the game. It is also an easy game.
This is essentially a linear experience. It has a good story and setting, and it looks terrific! I thought it was an easy game, but it is also an extremely fun game to play!
A friend told me about this game a while ago. It took a while for me to get around to playing it, and I’m glad I did. Games like this are some of my favorites, as they do something different than those from larger studios or the generic AAA releases. Cosmic Star Heroine is a spectacular game and one of the reasons I love indie games!