A review of SIGMA STAR SAGA DX
Steam, PS5, Switch
$19.99
Release: 4/7/2026
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: Limited Run
Sigma Star Saga is an RPG/shmup hybrid that was first released on the GBA in 2005. I read about the game in Nintendo Power when I was a kid, so when I saw it on Steam I felt nostalgic in spite of never having played it. WayForward is the developer behind Shantae, DuckTales, and Mighty Switch Force. As far as I'm aware, Sigma Star Saga is their only foray into the shmup genre, though they did go on to make run 'n gun games, including the excellent Contra 4 and the not-so-excellent Contra: Operation Galuga.
Gameplay
Now, shmups have tried and failed to implement RPG elements for a long time, but this game is a full-blown RPG, complete with a story, characters, and top-down maps. You play as Recker, a human pilot who infiltrates an evil alien empire as a spy. You do missions for your alien overlords and meet some waifus along the way. The story isn't bad, and the writing is amusing, but the fast pace doesn't leave much room for character development.
Gameplay-wise, we've got a mix of an RPG overworld and shmup random encounters. The RPG side of the game is simple, but serviceable. You roam around completing the usual RPG busywork, and you can find secret Gun parts strewn about to upgrade your ship. Don't expect too much; this is more Pokemon than Final Fantasy.
Occasionally, the game will spirit you away to a random shmup-encounter, where you're tasked with destroying a set number of enemies. Sadly, this is where the game falls flat on its face. The shmup gameplay is mediocre at best, and way too easy. You can tank a ton of hits, and the fact that you recover your entire lifebar every time you level up means that there isn't even a semblance of balance. This is what we'd call a "Euroshmup"--lifebar, meta-progression, fat hurtbox, random enemy placement, etc.
The random encounters start to get very annoying later on, not because they're difficult, but because they're so boring. There are encounters where you have to destroy as many as 99 enemies!
Presentation
It's a good-looking game. WayForward always does a good job with sprite animations, especially on characters. The music is alright, if a bit generic, though the GBA soundchip can be a bit tinny.
What's new?
As far as the remake goes, you should be aware that this game is emulated. Even so, they've changed a few things. I never played the original, so I can't comment on the improvements outside of what I've read online: the random encounter rate has been toned down, your character runs faster, and there are more save points. There are also some changes to the dialogue. Annoyingly, they didn't bother to add custom controls, so if you play on keyboard, you have to put up with the idiotic mapping of L and R to Q and E.
Conclusion
It's a shame, because WayForward has an interesting concept here. If the shmup gameplay were deeper, the random encounter rate were tweeked, and the story fleshed out a bit, this could've been a real hidden gem. Ultimately, Sigma Star Saga is better suited for fans of light RPGs than for shmup enthusiasts.
6/10 - Unique concept, nice presentation, but the shmup gameplay is underbaked