Voice acting in video games is still relatively new, and even moreso vocal tracks in video games. Starlight Re:Volver is a game I have known about for more than half a year, since I constantly saw/heard its English theme song Caramel sung by Lily Ki–also known as LilyPichu–more often than not before watching any gaming videos on YouTube. I even had a full week where I had Caramel on repeat because it’s such an excellent song.
I was extremely familiar with Ki’s work over the years in streaming alongside voice acting talent, especially with AFK’s Journey’s Princess Yolena for the game’s Chains of Eternity season–a winter wonderland with snowball fights, building snow sculptures, a ball to attend, a chilling mystery, and much more. These were all more than enough reasons to play Starlight Re:Volver, but the more I played, the more I saw the game’s cracks.
Starlight Re:Volver’s Strengths, Flaws, and What Comes Next
The game oozes gorgeous, colourful characters and rapid combat, and is strongly recommended for online play. There are 4 playable characters: Kira, Effy, Ren, and Vivi. Each has their own motivations for exploring their world. Kira was who I played the most due to her motivations about being eclipsed by her sister in talent and prowess. It was compelling to me, and I learned more while playing the game.
Each run, you will be choosing a character, fighting enemies in each stage, choosing different upgrades, and getting as far as you can in a run. An action roguelike, since each run will have different options of upgrades/passives/skills, which do not carry over or progress for the most part. You can get accessories or trinkets to equip, but the abilities you choose are always reset for each run. You and three other players aim to reach the boss at the end of each run in bouts that become tougher in each stage, while upgrading and choosing different abilities. I say, hopefully, three other players, since even at the game’s launch, finding others to play with was an extremely tough endeavour.
Kira was the starter character to get a handle on the game, and her playstyle is a gunwielding popstar. Dodging enemies, keeping a safe distance, and unleashing glitter shots with fireworks abound with different skills. When I was able to find even one other player online, I had a great time being able to combo my ranged skills with a player, Effy, who was a melee attacker to soak damage, while I, as Kira, was able to stay away from head-on battles. Unfortunately, each day of the game’s launch week became harder to find players.
Style, Music, and Potential Buried Under Early Access Trouble
I continued to keep tabs on the game over the past few months in its Early Access period because games are always excruciatingly difficult to make, release, and market, especially ones with an online component that is heavily skewed upon. The game had a price update, refunds to players, and a major rework that added a now-viable way to play solo, which is refreshing to me because it was the sole way I could play runs a lot of the time.
The latest developer information is that the game is in a dire place, and solo offline will be the only mode starting this month due to online servers requiring far too many funds/resources to keep them up. February will ideally be the next time players will hear more about Starlight Re:Volver’s news and further updates.
It is saddening because there are so many aspects of the game I love, such as the vibrant characters, the music, the voice acting, filling up the codex, learning more about the characters, and the available fishing minigame. When the combat is flowing, it is sharp, and being able to weave in and out of enemy attacks, backstab to inflict more damage, or use skills to push them into walls keeps me going. However, its gameplay still stutters sometimes, which hampers the game’s main focus: combat.
I have sunk hundreds of hours into games that are no longer playable over the years, and I believe there is always something salvageable in any game. If Starlight Re:Volver goes the way of many of the games I loved over the years to fade out of actually playing the game, then at least I will still have an ace soundtrack to listen to on repeat.
Starlight Re:Volver is available to purchase on Steam.
