Sophstar - Steam / Switch / Xbox / PS4 / PS5

[beer gas canister]

Can confirm it runs and looks great on Switch, not laggy at all

[SPM]

Thanks! Do you know if that bug on Switch was fixed?

a bug on the training mode where when you choose a boss on the hyper mode you fight the normal mode boss instead of the hyper one so there's no way to practice against the hyper bosses

[Sima Tuna]

This game is really fun and plays well on switch, but I am bad at it. I keep accidentally running into or teleporting into bullets. The lack of a true screen clear removes a training wheel other shmups give you.

[Leander]

This game is really fun and plays well on switch, but I am bad at it. I keep accidentally running into or teleporting into bullets. The lack of a true screen clear removes a training wheel other shmups give you.

At least one ship does have a true screen clear - try the Dumont ship.
Personally I found the Arobe-D ship to be the most beginner friendly. Here's my 1cc from last month: https://youtu.be/MzoEpGTDj5E

[Sima Tuna]

This game is really fun and plays well on switch, but I am bad at it. I keep accidentally running into or teleporting into bullets. The lack of a true screen clear removes a training wheel other shmups give you.

At least one ship does have a true screen clear - try the Dumont ship.
Personally I found the Arobe-D ship to be the most beginner friendly. Here's my 1cc from last month: https://youtu.be/MzoEpGTDj5E

Damn, dude, you even commentated it! Big ups for the effort! I will definitely be checking this out to get an idea how the 1cc goes. I was using the "wide" ship mostly.

[ATTRACTS]

Been playing shmups hardcore for the last 35+ years, I have to say I'm really enjoying Sophstar. Wasn't sure what to expect and bought it blindly after taking a few months off of this forum and I played it over the entirety of the Thanksgiving 4 day weekend, really well done. Someone mentioned "loathing" the teleport mechanic but I find myself using it in every run. Selecting the ship that leaves a firing ghost copy and dumping it in front of bosses while I dodge bullets has been a joy. Great mix of challenge, pleasing ships/enemy designs and variety. Well done.

[Shatterhand]

Thanks! Do you know if that bug on Switch was fixed?

a bug on the training mode where when you choose a boss on the hyper mode you fight the normal mode boss instead of the hyper one so there's no way to practice against the hyper bosses

It's right now being worked on by the guys who made the Switch port.

Been playing shmups hardcore for the last 35+ years, I have to say I'm really enjoying Sophstar. Wasn't sure what to expect and bought it blindly after taking a few months off of this forum and I played it over the entirety of the Thanksgiving 4 day weekend, really well done. Someone mentioned "loathing" the teleport mechanic but I find myself using it in every run. Selecting the ship that leaves a firing ghost copy and dumping it in front of bosses while I dodge bullets has been a joy. Great mix of challenge, pleasing ships/enemy designs and variety. Well done.

Really, really glad you enjoyed it

[Nugs]

I love all the extra content as well with the missions and the various time/score attack modes.

[Shatterhand]

Just to let people know, there are new physical copies of the game being sold at the Red Art Games site (Switch and PS5). The Switch has a 30% discount for the next 3 days.

[soupbones]

Shin Sophstar announced!

https://x.com/BananaBytesBr/status/2046 ... 07423?s=20

Not a ton of details yet: Over 25 ships, brand-new switching mechanic, and looks much faster.

[Shatterhand]

Shin Sophstar announced!

https://x.com/BananaBytesBr/status/2046 ... 07423?s=20

Not a ton of details yet: Over 25 ships, brand-new switching mechanic, and looks much faster.

You can wishlist it on Steam, the page has a bit more of info:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2477 ... _Sophstar/

You could always ask whatever you want to know from the source. What I can tell you now, I'll gladly answer

[Jonpachi]

Shin Sophstar announced!

https://x.com/BananaBytesBr/status/2046 ... 07423?s=20

Not a ton of details yet: Over 25 ships, brand-new switching mechanic, and looks much faster.

You can wishlist it on Steam, the page has a bit more of info:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2477 ... _Sophstar/

You could always ask whatever you want to know from the source. What I can tell you now, I'll gladly answer

Switch 2 version planned? Physical Cart (not game card)?

[Shatterhand]

Shin Sophstar announced!

https://x.com/BananaBytesBr/status/2046 ... 07423?s=20

Not a ton of details yet: Over 25 ships, brand-new switching mechanic, and looks much faster.

You can wishlist it on Steam, the page has a bit more of info:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2477 ... _Sophstar/

You could always ask whatever you want to know from the source. What I can tell you now, I'll gladly answer

Switch 2 version planned? Physical Cart (not game card)?

Now this is a little early to discuss, hehe. I plan to have both, but can't say for sure right now it will happen.

[Daytime Waitress]

This thread getting a bump for a new version was what made me finally pull the trigger on the OG (after having had it on/off the wishlist for quite some time) - and I feel like a putz for not getting around to it earlier.
It's just packed with so many little neat details that you can tell how much passion was sunk into it: the variety for the three secrets on each stage; the stupid amount of silly little unlockables tucked away (like filters); the call-backs to patterns or formations from other games that use those ideas in new ways, in concert with each other (very much leaning towards homage than derivative); the consistently unique (sub-)bosses/phases (the plunger lane was one heck of a surprise); the sheer amount of difference in each player craft...

I can see that the teleport mechanic definitely wouldn't be to everyone's tastes, so I'm glad that it's effectively optional; but I also like how it's not restricted to just one or two ship types. Having it be part of the game's DNA and yet not binding players to it feels... smart? I dunno. I do know that using it to evade a pattern or sneak around a mechanic to target a weakpoint hits a heck of a lot different than just straight up bombing things: "No, I'm not going to wait out your animation for an opening, I'm going to teleport directly into your face and point blank you".

Which leads me to something that didn't really get a lot of coverage in this thread, but what I thought was probably the game's coolest aspect: you can body the living fuck out of practically everything in this and it feels amazing. Proper physical brutality - careening across the screen and ramming motherfuckers before they can get a shot off, and backing through formations like you're reversing a tank through a crowded supermarket carpark. Visceral.

Whilst I've barely even scratched the surface of what this outing has to offer, I'm looking forward to the new rev and its

mid-run switching

We really are getting a completely unexpected Sophstar update before Senjin Aleste gets a home port, huh?

[Shatterhand]

This thread getting a bump for a new version was what made me finally pull the trigger on the OG (after having had it on/off the wishlist for quite some time) - and I feel like a putz for not getting around to it earlier.
It's just packed with so many little neat details that you can tell how much passion was sunk into it: the variety for the three secrets on each stage; the stupid amount of silly little unlockables tucked away (like filters); the call-backs to patterns or formations from other games that use those ideas in new ways, in concert with each other (very much leaning towards homage than derivative); the consistently unique (sub-)bosses/phases (the plunger lane was one heck of a surprise); the sheer amount of difference in each player craft...

I can see that the teleport mechanic definitely wouldn't be to everyone's tastes, so I'm glad that it's effectively optional; but I also like how it's not restricted to just one or two ship types. Having it be part of the game's DNA and yet not binding players to it feels... smart? I dunno. I do know that using it to evade a pattern or sneak around a mechanic to target a weakpoint hits a heck of a lot different than just straight up bombing things: "No, I'm not going to wait out your animation for an opening, I'm going to teleport directly into your face and point blank you".

Which leads me to something that didn't really get a lot of coverage in this thread, but what I thought was probably the game's coolest aspect: you can body the living fuck out of practically everything in this and it feels amazing. Proper physical brutality - careening across the screen and ramming motherfuckers before they can get a shot off, and backing through formations like you're reversing a tank through a crowded supermarket carpark. Visceral.

Whilst I've barely even scratched the surface of what this outing has to offer, I'm looking forward to the new rev and its

mid-run switching

We really are getting a completely unexpected Sophstar update before Senjin Aleste gets a home port, huh?

Thank you, this was one of the coolest things I ever saw someone saying about the game. For real, thank you.

[Faith]

Over 25 ships

Is it even possible... to make each ship unique enough to really think that yes, game 100% totally need 25 ship?!?!?