Star Hunter DX | Nintendo Switch Review
Updated: Nov 19, 2021
Developed by 1CC Games and published by Chorus Worldwide, Star Hunder DX is an old-school shoot ‘em up with a modern edge. You start the game as bounty hunter Luna Starr, former leader of the Vipers as she embarks on a mission of revenge after being betrayed by her former crew. You will travel to five different planets to track down your ex ship mates, facing them in battle in the hope to attain payback for their betrayal. Star Hunter DX is available on Windows PC, PlayStation, XBox and Nintendo Switch. For the purposes of my review I was playing on the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode.
As you take control of your ship in Star Hunter DX, you will find you have access to three different weapons. One is a wide spread shot that deals the least damage, another weapon is a more focused machine gun type which has less hit area but deals more damage and the third is a bomb attack which can get you out of some desperate situations. The game also boasts a bullet time mechanic which is the first I have come across in this type of shooter and I must say it is a very welcome addition and really sets this game apart from others in the field.
Visually, Star Hunter DX looks like it came straight out of an 80s arcade which is fantastic and adds a real “retro” feel to the game. The character designs are wonderful and would be right at home inside any 80s sci-fi cartoon. The level backgrounds are pretty basic in design but they do suit the game perfectly. These wonderful visuals coupled together with an 80s synth filled soundtrack really makes this a joy for the senses.
I do feel however, that Star Hunter DX does suffer from a lack of playable modes with only story and practice available. There are three characters to choose from, each with different weapon styles; however two of these characters must be unlocked at certain points in the game by playing with Luna Starr. I found this a little bit odd as out of the 3 characters, Luna is aimed at the intermediate player while CAT-99 is aimed at beginners and Edgar is aimed at the more experienced player. Generally you would like the beginner character to be available at the beginning of the game. It is also disappointing that the leaderboards are only local. There are three difficulty modes to choose from however, even in the easiest mode this game pulls no punches and is extremely difficult. Personally, I would have liked to see online leaderboards as well as just the local ones. This would have added that extra competitive edge in trying to beat other players from around the globe.
Star Hunter DX is not really a story driven game at all but there is enough here to keep you interested while not getting in the way of the gameplay. The developers seem to have the balance just right here. Overall this is a difficult but very addictive and well presented game which would be a welcome addition to any shoot ‘em up fans collection.
PaultheBrave09’s Rating: 3.5 mutinous crew mates out of 5.
For more information on Star Hunter DX please use the following links...
1CC Games - Developer | Twitter | Website
Chorus Worldwide - Publisher | Facebook | Twitter | Website
Many thanks to Player Two PR for the Review Key.
Star Hunter DX | Steam Store | PlayStation Store | XBox Live | Nintendo eShop
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