Super Stardust HD reviews

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:02 pm

FYI update for EU PS3 Super Stardust fans:

Although not being promoted anywhere it seems, a new revision of Super Stardust HD is now available from the EU Playstation Store.

The new revision features slight graphics tweaks, custom soundtrack support, Dual Shock 3 support, smaller overall filesize, and new online store support in-game for purchasing future expansion packs that will be coming soon.

The thing is, this is not an autoupdate to your old version of Super Stardust. For now, you have to update it manually. If you've already bought Super Stardust before last week, then you won't see the new version of Super Stardust anywhere in the Playstation Store for download -- you will actually have to delete your current copy of Super Stardust from your PS3 and then go to the EU Playstation Store and click on "Download List" to be able to redownload the new revision of Super Stardust at no extra charge, provided you haven't already redownloaded it up to 5 times beforehand.

It's a convoluted upgrade system but the above method works (I just tried it) so heads up to Super Stardust fans in the EU region to go get it.

The confirmation of upcoming expansion packs for this game is also great news.

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:19 am

Thunder Force wrote:FYI update for EU PS3 Super Stardust fans:

Although not being promoted anywhere it seems, a new revision of Super Stardust HD is now available from the EU Playstation Store.
...
The confirmation of upcoming expansion packs for this game is also great news.

Thanks, I totally missed that update-thing when I scavenged through all the PS stores today (and no Dark Mist, it was supposed to be already out in the west). I just got my new Samsung 46" FullHD tv and was amazed at how much a crisper picture helps scoring. I'm SO going to destroy my friends' scores! Also some details like the cool moss-like texture on the second planet are now visible.

I can also confirm that extra planets etc. are coming, after talking to one of the creators recently.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:01 am

So, this is only in the EU??

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:23 am

dave4shmups wrote:So, this is only in the EU??

I'd be amazed if it wasnt other territories too.

Funny that, I only heard that they were doing a sequel but they meant actually an expansion! Perhaps that was easier to explain at the phone..

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:07 am

That's a diabolical update system Sony have there. Not the developers fault of course, but still, if you've experienced the way the 360 does the same thing, the way Sony are doing it seems somewhat antiquated.

320x240 · Post by **320x240** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:53 pm

bcass wrote:Sony seems somewhat antiquated.

Fixed.

Post by **spadgy** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:24 pm

Bit late, but another review here...

http://www.videogamer.com/ps3/super_sta ... eview.html

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:20 pm

I just downloaded this due to the coverage its getting. Very impressed. Its a bit hard for me, I think my top ranking is about 45700th or something like that. Which is just less than 1.5 million on the score table.

I can't imagine how the top score was got, you would have to play for a week to get that score.

Gorecki · Post by **Gorecki** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:54 pm

I have to agree with the few people who have said that this game is too easy. I came back to my parent's place for Christmas and got a chance to play the game last night whilst my brother was out. Within an hour I'd unlocked every planet. I haven't beaten all five in a row yet, but I've beaten all of them individually and managed to get to the boss of planet 3 when playing them in sequence. The enemies are a joke and simply require you to keep moving in one direction whilst firing in your wake. The only tough moments come when a huge amount of asteroids rain down around your ship and you have to weave your way out.

The graphics are lovely, the soundtrack is competent but not nearly as amazing as people are making out. In fact the best tune has been entirely copied from the original Super Stardust, and seems to only play for a few seconds after you beat the last planet.

I had fun playing this game and the way the asteroids break apart under your firepower is really rather beautiful, but it's over way too quickly and unless there are some score mechanics in there that I missed, there isn't a great deal of replayability. As Mulletgeezer said, the original Amiga version is in another league altogether.

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:09 am

Gorecki wrote:I have to agree with the few people who have said that this game is too easy. I came back to my parent's place for Christmas and got a chance to play the game last night whilst my brother was out. Within an hour I'd unlocked every planet. I haven't beaten all five in a row yet, but I've beaten all of them individually and managed to get to the boss of planet 3 when playing them in sequence. The enemies are a joke and simply require you to keep moving in one direction whilst firing in your wake. The only tough moments come when a huge amount of asteroids rain down around your ship and you have to weave your way out.

I had fun playing this game and the way the asteroids break apart under your firepower is really rather beautiful, but it's over way too quickly and unless there are some score mechanics in there that I missed, there isn't a great deal of replayability. As Mulletgeezer said, the original Amiga version is in another league altogether.

I should have replied earlier, but forgot..

When I was playtesting this I too had an issue with difficulty level. Designers explained it as this: Unlike arcade games which are designed to steal coins from the player the point of the game is not to just stay alive, but to make an incredible amount of points. That's the whole point actually. And if you want to make a huge score, you have to play differently, and it will be much tougher.

So you can just waltz through the game and marvel the graphics, if you are not familiar with shmups, and begin to play with score when you get better. Staying alive while collecting big points is not easy.

When you have cleared all the planets and destroyed Schaumund, hard difficulty level will be available in options menu. Housemarque wanted it available as a default, but Sony resisted. But it can be unlocked, and playing with higher difficulty should give you better score.

But since you find the game too easy, you are probably 1st in the highscoretables anyway and wont need this info

Post by **spadgy** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:36 pm

It does get quite hard, but I think it just takes too long to get there. There's just loads of easy to medium play before you reach the hard stuff..

neorichieb1971 wrote:I just downloaded this due to the coverage its getting. Very impressed. Its a bit hard for me, I think my top ranking is about 45700th or something like that. Which is just less than 1.5 million on the score table.

I can't imagine how the top score was got, you would have to play for a week to get that score.

Download these games nice and early. Then you get a brief ego boost while you near the top of the leaderboard! Or at least that worked for me!

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:56 pm

spadgy wrote:It does get quite hard, but I think it just takes too long to get there. There's just loads of easy to medium play before you reach the hard stuff..

neorichieb1971 wrote:I just downloaded this due to the coverage its getting. Very impressed. Its a bit hard for me, I think my top ranking is about 45700th or something like that. Which is just less than 1.5 million on the score table.

I can't imagine how the top score was got, you would have to play for a week to get that score.
Download these games nice and early. Then you get a brief ego boost while you near the top of the leaderboard! Or at least that worked for me!

Question of taste, but funnily I think I can agree with you there, I too like quick games

However Stardust has always been one of the long games. But in amiga version that was solved nicely using the password system.. Now since I only played couple of games (remember I tested for FREE) I dont remember seeing such in HD.. that's too bad!

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:57 pm

spadgy wrote:It does get quite hard, but I think it just takes too long to get there. There's just loads of easy to medium play before you reach the hard stuff..

Exactly! I haven't been able to play lately because Sony is requiring that I download an update for this game, but there's an error every time I try. I'll probably get it sorted out soon.

Post by **spadgy** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:02 pm

Oh the Amiga version! What happy memories of carefree youth. Through rose-tinted memories, I remember the game looking just as good as it does now! Of course it didn't, but at the time it really was quite staggering to look at...

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:26 am

spadgy wrote:Oh the Amiga version! What happy memories of carefree youth. Through rose-tinted memories, I remember the game looking just as good as it does now! Of course it didn't, but at the time it really was quite staggering to look at...

You might like to know that lemon amiga forummight be having a super stardust tournament soon.. but it needs votes!

I wasn't involved in it in any way, so I'll be able to enjoy it too

Post by **spadgy** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:13 pm

MJR wrote:
spadgy wrote:Oh the Amiga version! What happy memories of carefree youth. Through rose-tinted memories, I remember the game looking just as good as it does now! Of course it didn't, but at the time it really was quite staggering to look at...
You might like to know that lemon amiga forummight be having a super stardust tournament soon.. but it needs votes!

I wasn't involved in it in any way, so I'll be able to enjoy it too

I'll have a look. Thanks for the heads up...

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:04 am

I had a go tonight for the new, soon-to-be-released 1.3(?) update of super stardust HD.

Despite having quite a few beers, I'll try to remember and crack down what was new about it:

-Multiplayer mode
Split-screen multiplayer mode had two options; king of the hill and deatchmatch. In king of the hill, you capture the flag and then flew away in a maze where other player tries to kill you, get the flag, etc.. seemed pretty fun

-Time attack
-Twin cannons mode
I had no time to check these two. I'm sorry!

-Endless mode
In this game kept throwing random enemies at you, and it kept quickly getting harder and harder.

-Survival mode
Here planet was filled with indestructible bots, which retreated a bit when shot. Enemies started to chime in. There was no points, instead you just try to stay alive as long as possible. I got 2 minutes.. the Stardust leaderboard champion was in the office too, he got 11 minutes!!

-Bomber mode
My favourite! Here you CAN'T SHOOT, and can not use the boost either. Instead you get 10 bombs, and the enemies just keep chiming in! To survive, you gotta think VERY carefully when to place your bombs.. my record was something like 795.000

My gut feeling was that these game modes were developer's reaction to people who complained about the easy difficulty and long games (I forwarded your comments to the lead designer you know!); they pretty much gave you quick and challenging games.

I should note that some of the negative comments made here did not, however, make these guys lose much sleep, though they surely would like everyone to be pleased. Why? Well, it's the old truth: no matter what you do, there's always SOMEONE who does not like it.

But even so, they also hope that these new modes should satisfy the hardcore.

I had, myself, not much to complain, though I was frustrated that you could not destroy some enemies in survival mode. But I did NOT see this as a major setback.

Oh yes! The music from original amiga stardust made a comeback! you can select it from audio options, it's the 'retro'. At least in this version.

I don't know when this update is available. I did not ask but I heard it will probably cost 4 euros.

That's all I can remember!

Post by **spadgy** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:42 am

All sounds pretty good! I can't wait. Especially the return of the Amiga music. Really nice to hear the developers might be listening seriously to the players.

You know somebody on the development team then MJR? Or you work as a tester maybe?

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:30 am

They are my old workmates. I worked in terramarque 1994-95; then in housemarque 1995-96 and 1999-2004.
Now I freelance for them for other projects. They invited me to test this because they always knew I play lot of shmups. They never asked me to work on this and I think that's for best; I wouldn't want to interfere too much because I got actually pretty strong opinions on my own :S

slateman · Post by **slateman** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:20 pm

I just got an effin' sweet 40" LCD (Sony Bravia) for my Birthday (this and every one from here on out, thanks to my wife!!!)(+ it's a write-off in 2008!)

ANYWAYS, I wanted to check this out in HD, rather than my 25" that I had been running. It downloaded an update (2.02 or something?) It weighed in at 111Mb or so.

However, I couldn't see any differences! There was an Online Store in there (I guess in preparation for the update you mentioned), but didn't notice one difference otherwise. Anyone know?

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:44 am

slateman wrote: ANYWAYS, I wanted to check this out in HD, rather than my 25" that I had been running. It downloaded an update (2.02 or something?) It weighed in at 111Mb or so.

However, I couldn't see any differences! There was an Online Store in there (I guess in preparation for the update you mentioned), but didn't notice one difference otherwise. Anyone know?

Hey, you're the guy who wrote that R-type final FAQ!
Since I unlocked all the ships with your faq, I considered that I owned you a one, so I asked a coder of this about this.

The update you downloaded has following changes:

-color of your ship is slightly more yellow, it stands out more.
-enemy bullets have been finetuned (their speed I think if I heard it right)
-much less slowdown (code has been tuned)
-option to change into custom and (possibly also?) retro sountracks..however not sure if THIS one was in this or the next update

slateman · Post by **slateman** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:09 am

Hey there, thanks! That's why I write FAQs, so someone feels like they owe me when I need something.

Custom soundtracks are in. I noticed that in the menu, but didn't know if it had been there before. The other tweaks weren't noticeable by me, but I haven't played it in a while.

Game is utterly gorgeous in high-def.

Thanks for the details MJR!

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:19 am

MJR wrote:-Endless mode
In this game kept throwing random enemies at you, and it kept quickly getting harder and harder.

Good stuff, I'll definitely be buying this upgrade pack. Hopefully this mode will be balanced for short 5-15 minute play sessions.

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:06 am

Update: The above described expansion pack for Super Stardust HD is reportedly available for download today from the Playstation Network.

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:38 am

It's ironic enough that I still don't have PS3 myself.

But this is coming for PSP on playstation store, and should be good as the original team will make the conversion. Yay!

Don't know when, though..

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:06 am

MJR wrote:this is coming for PSP on playstation store, and should be good as the original team will make the conversion. Yay!

Don't know when, though..

I'm thrilled to hear that news. I would love to add Super Stardust HD to my PSP game collection. Although I wonder how a dual-analog shooter like this could be controlled on a PSP, if they can somehow cram even half the goodness of PS3 SS into portable form... it will be impressive indeed!

MJR · Post by **MJR** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:11 am

Thunder Force wrote:
MJR wrote:this is coming for PSP on playstation store, and should be good as the original team will make the conversion. Yay!

Don't know when, though..
I'm thrilled to hear that news. I would love to add Super Stardust HD to my PSP game collection. Although I wonder how a dual-analog shooter like this could be controlled on a PSP, if they can somehow cram even half the goodness of PS3 SS into portable form... it will be impressive indeed!

I heard that shooting will be done from buttons, thrust from shoulder pads, control from analogue.
You can also play it upside down, so you can control the ship with right hand if you prefer... but thats all I know!

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:55 am

Just bought the new Solo add-on and tried it out. 'Endless Mode' is exceptional, even better than the main game in some ways. Housemarque really have a winner here. With this addition, imo, the quality of the overall SSHD package has now definitely reached the very heights of the best western developed shmups I've ever seen.

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:51 pm

Thunder Force wrote:Just bought the new Solo add-on and tried it out. 'Endless Mode' is exceptional, even better than the main game in some ways. Housemarque really have a winner here. With this addition, imo, the quality of the overall SSHD package has now definitely reached the very heights of the best western developed shmups I've ever seen.

This man speaks the truth.

The guys at Housemarque seem to understand that there are people who just don't have time for endless menus and cut scenes and tutorials. People, who want to launch the game and be immediately immersed in action. This is it. Pure action. The new modes are supremely addictive, my favorites are 'Survival' and 'Bomber'.

Now, if they only would change the miserable high score font I would declare this game perfect...

Post by **spadgy** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:56 pm

Old thread time! I'm in Finland on a press trip right now, and visiting Housemarque tomorrow (Tuesday) - am I right that somebody who posts here works for them, or am I just getting muddled up - did you test for them MJR?