Gyrostarr

Since the Conduit is just around the corner I figured I would review one of High Voltage Software’s previous games. Gyrostarr is a wiiware title released for download on June 23 2008. It was developed by High Voltage Software, and published by you guessed it high Voltage Software.

Gyrostarr is a tube shooter; players take control or a spaceship in a futuristic environment. Basically your objective in the game is to collect enough power to open a gate or portal to the next level. If you do not collect enough power before you reach the gate, your ship will be destroyed. This is basically an arcade shooter so there is basically isn’t much to it. During game play there are numerous weapon upgrades and speed boosts to collect also enemies to fight against. Your enemies in the game are really basic and easy to defeat, but they are numerous in number. You can shoot back (you always have to watch were you shoot because if you shoot power it can also be destroyed) but if you don’t watch your health you will get destroyed. Fortunately when you die 65% of the power you’ve already collected respawns back with you. This can be a real bummer if you get destroyed at close to the end of a level, because if you cannot get enough power you will not be able to open the gate, thus being destroyed when you get to it. Making the game more difficult is how the levels are designed. The levels in the game are designed like a roller coaster, there are large twists and turns every couple of seconds during the game, there are also various different intervals in a level where you automatically get a speed boost. Unfortunately these boosts are not optional and you can’t get rid of them, once you speed up the first time it just gets faster and faster. The good thing about the game is if a level is a little to hard to get through, three friend’s cn joi in and help you. (Gyrostarr has four person Co-op)

The graphics in Gyrostarr weren’t stunning but they were pretty good for a wiiware game, they are actually kind of close but not as good as the graphics in The Conduit. The game play is your typical tube shooter, “shoot to survive” nothing really special here. The controls were simple and easy to learn, the wiimote is held in the side ways configuration, 2 is to shoot and the directional buttons are for moving from side to side.

Overall gyrostarr is a pretty descent ok game. The graphics were actually very good for a wiiware game, the game play was YAWN!!! but the multiplayer actually a lot of fun. Unfortunately the game a bore to play by yourself, and the way the levels are designed can sometimes be a real pain in the rear end. Gyrostarr gets a 5.8 out of 10.