Nullstar: Solus

I'm too old for this game. The best thing I can say about this game is it took about 8 seconds for me to determine it was not for me. You've got this droney thing you can steer with the d pad or joystick, and you need to navigate the obstacles to collect the various glowing things. It's easy. Then the game slaps your hand and says you merely achieved the goals, but you didn't do it --- > FAST ! < (KAPOW!) Oh okay, how do we go faster? Well you've got four thrusters on your ship, and if you disable an unused thruster, you can shunt more power to the other thrusters, and you go faster! Awesome! Press ABXY to toggle each of four thrusters. So I try this. I need to go right, so to go fast I need to disable the Y/X/A thrusters, giving the B (right) thruster full power. Right. Then when you need to go up, you need to reenable Y (up) and disable B. Then you want to go left and you want to go fast so you disable Y and enable X (left). Oh nevermind I'm still at the start because I pressed the wrong button, and my drone is lying on the floor like an existentially defeated roomba who feels unworthy to recharge at the dock. That's basically what you're doing, figure out the button presses o…

Its a fun little game, similar in style to flash game like you would have played on newgrounds 20 years ago. You can finish the game relatively quickly, but for a game like this you don't want it to be too long. Its tough, but fair for the most part. The ships can be a little too slippery and finnicky to control at times, sometime that can be frustrating for games like this that require precision. I played through the game and never unlocked a new ship, which is pretty dumb, as it should just be tied to level completions, but even if its not it should be explained. A few later levels are kind of poorly designed, specifically level 5.13. But its a small team and still an enjoyable game overall. Get it on decent sale. 7.5/10

Developed by Smash Attack Aus and published by indie.io, Nullstar: Solus is a fast-paced precision platformer that thrives on fluid movement, technical mastery, and rewarding exploration. Set in a distant future where corporations scour the remnants of extinct civilizations for an immensely powerful energy source known as the Nullstar, the game casts players as a drone pilot sent deep into a colossal abandoned structure. Rather than presenting its narrative through lengthy cutscenes, the game allows its world to speak through its environments and optional discoveries, creating an intriguing science-fiction backdrop that gradually unfolds as players venture deeper into forgotten ruins. Movement is the defining feature of the experience, and Nullstar: Solus excels at making every second of traversal feel engaging. Players control an agile drone capable of thrusting, drifting, braking, and preserving momentum while navigating increasingly elaborate obstacle courses. At first, the controls are easy to understand, but the game steadily introduces more demanding mechanics that encourage experimentation and precision. Learning how to chain movement techniques together becomes incredibly …

a guy left a negative review saying this is like patting your head and rubbing your belly: the game. and he's right. what he's wrong about is that's not a negative, it rules.

sick art direction + general theme and vibe, very well mapped for multiple control types and comfy to play - controller nerds rejoice... banger game

Very addicting. Failing a level only makes you wanna finish it more. I've never played a game like this so it was a bit challenging for me, but it was definitely fun. Well crafted levels, interesting mechanics and satisfying controls. The game also looks great visually. I recommend giving it a go.