RPGs are one of the premiere genres of gaming, and many indie developers have tried their best to match the classics of the past. Many have come close, and some have created truly amazing experiences, but from what I have seen, Cosmic Star Heroine doesn’t just do that, it elevates the style in a way that RPGs could only have attempted before.
ZeBoyd has made RPGs before, such as the acclaimed. Cthulhu Saves The World, so they definitely knew what they were doing here. from the moment the game begins, you feel drawn in and attuned to the action of the game. Almost everything is perfect here, from the combat to the general gameplay, and if not for a few moments here and there where I feel the narrative drags, and some pacing issues at the middle and end, I would say this is the perfect RPG. An indie game should not seek to replicate the games of the past but build on them and Cosmic Star Heroine does just that.
With an innovative combat style, and a neat approach to storytelling, I never felt disappointed in the mechanics of the game. Visually, it is stunning and the art style chosen for the game really does make it stand out much more. This isn’t even mentioning the excellent music, which is a must have for an RPG. Now granted, the music isn’t always the best and some parts were not at all to my linking, but considering how amazing the rest of the soundtrack is, I can look past that.
Cosmic Star Heroine is the game that looks to 16 bit RPGs and says ” I wanna do that but better”. Many others have done that but Cosmic Star Heroine actually succeeds in this venture. I truly enjoyed my time with the game, and feel this is one that more people should try. You do yourself a disservice not to play this game!