StarLightRiders: HyperJump is a new budget shooter from developer LunarCitySeven and retro publishers EastAsiaSoft. It’s out now on PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, priced at $4.99. Since StarLightRiders: HyperJump‘s release, we’ve had a chance to play it through and bring you our thoughts in this review of the Switch port. The game is a straight-up arcade-style shooter that pays homage to the glory days of the arcades with colorful pixel art and a foot-tapping chiptune soundtrack.
The action takes place across five levels, all of which are available to play from the start. As with many other titles in this genre, the goal is to survive as long as you can before facing off against an end-of-level boss. Finishing a level will bring you to the end-of-level score screen before zooming off onto the next one. StarLightRiders: HyperJump isn’t going to win any awards for originality and certainly doesn’t bring anything new to the table. However, as a budget retro title, it does exactly what it needs to.
StarLightRiders: HyperJump‘s mechanics are quite straightforward and will be familiar to anyone who has played an arcade shooter. You move your craft around using the analogue stick and have a few weapons to fire. The basic spread shot is the most useful against standard enemies and can be upgraded with a bit more punch by collecting items. There is a concentrated beam that is great for taking down bosses. And finally, there is a screen-clearing bomb that can be used to get yourself out of a tight spot, usually when there are lots of bullets on screen. The only other feature is the HyperJump warp mechanic that can be used to jolt across the screen.
Apart from those listed above, StarLightRiders: HyperJump doesn’t have anything else in the gameplay department. It’s worth noting that this is a bullet hell shooter, which means there is always a barrage of bullets filling the screen, and part of the fun is using your arcade skills to zip in and out as well as firing at enemies. This also makes it quite a hard game, as the hit box for your craft is quite tight. There were times during our playthrough that the amount of bullets felt quite overwhelming, and it will take a lot of practice to make a perfect run. Starting from the first level, our best run saw us get to level three.
StarLightRiders: HyperJump has great controls and feels tight when zipping in and out of the bullets. Once you start getting used to the different shots and abilities, this feels very fluid and rewarding when you finish a level. The only criticism we have is that, although the hitbox on your craft is purposefully tight, there was the occasional inconsistency, which made some deaths feel unfair. That said, most of this will be alleviated through practice and learning how close you can get to bullets, so it’s a minor gripe.
The game really comes alive when you start to master bullet dodging and collecting the items. Suddenly, your shots are more powerful, and you’ll start blasting enemies quickly, which leads to fewer bullets forming in the first place. And this is where we felt StarLightRiders: HyperJump really came into its own. Once we honed in and hit that zen state of dodging, collecting, and clearing enemies quickly, there was a real satisfaction and buzz about winning. The pixel art and sound are also fine at this price point, the enemies look great, and there is a real 8-bit aracde feel. There are times when the bullets blend a little with other objects, but nothing that spoils the gameplay.
Overall, StarLightRiders: HyperJump is a great budget shooter that will take some time to master. It’s perfect for a quick blast, and although it’s quite basic, there is a lot of fun to be had. This isn’t a game for those looking for a deeper experience, but anyone wanting an arcade blaster to fill a weekend will find this one fits the bill. It’s also worth mentioning that there is a two-player option, and although we didn’t try it for our review, we can imagine that this would be a great experience to share with an arcade buddy.
