Cosmic Star Heroine

 PC
Cosmic Star Heroine Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 27 Ratings

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  • Summary: 3 exotic planets to explore. Aliens. Robots. Magic. Forbidden technology. Ruined Worlds. Ghosts. Long-lost secrets. Conspiracies. A galactic threat. And one brave heroine to make things right.

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Cosmic Star Heroine - Announcement Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. High-Def Digest
    Apr 17, 2017
    90
    Cosmic Star Heroine does for the 16-bit JRPG what Shovel Knight did for 8-bit platformers. It takes everything that worked about them to remind you of why those games are classics, but builds upon that foundation with a modern-day sensibility by eliminating filler. Everything you do serves a greater purpose, and the game never feels like it’s wasting your time. Combat is a dream, with a brisk pace to battles ensuring that you never have a dull moment. Cosmic Star Heroine is a must-own for anyone who loves or has ever loved JRPGs. Lapsed fans of the genre will be reminded of just how great things can be with that framework, and anyone who never had a chance to experience them will be able to see what made them work.
  2. Vandal
    Apr 22, 2017
    84
    This is probably the best JRPG ever made in the West, aimed at players who miss the 16-bit aesthetic and enjoy a good story.
  3. RPG Site
    Jun 5, 2017
    80
    When Zeboyd Games initially took the idea of Cosmic Star Heroine to kickstarter, they knew they were in it for the long haul. About 4 years have passed since then and a lot about the games industry has changed. Retro throwbacks are even less novel now than they were in 2013, but all the same, I think the studio has succeeded in all that they set out to do. The game has a fantastic combat system, feels distinct from its peers, and never leans on nostalgia too much. If you’re looking for a fun space adventure that’ll remind you of the JRPGs of the 16-bit era, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more fitting experience than Cosmic Star Heroine.
  4. Destructoid
    Apr 24, 2017
    75
    Playing through took me about 12 hours, though it might take more or less time if you bump up the difficulty or stick to the critical path. None of the problems I had with this game are insurmountable, and I'm hoping that Zeboyd will be able to fix them with an update.
  5. DualShockers
    May 1, 2017
    75
    Cosmic Star Heroine is the perfect example of a crowdfunded indie game that might have been held back by budget and time. I enjoyed everything the game had to offer, but I was was left wanting more than a short RPG experience with an overused premise.
  6. Game Informer
    Apr 24, 2017
    75
    Cosmic Star Heroine has a lot of great ideas, but they never develop into anything that leaves you fully satisfied. The game is still fun and worth playing, though; as someone who grew up with Phantasy Star, Suikoden, and Chrono Trigger, seeing some of their elements collected and compiled is charming. I just wish Cosmic Star Heroine was better-rounded and the rest of the game had as much depth as its battle system.
  7. RPGamer
    May 26, 2017
    70
    So, in the final analysis, we have a game that works hard to be more than the sum of its parts, which is especially important when one of those parts isn't up to par with the industry of today. The result is a package that would have wowed audiences twenty-five years ago, and which holds up decently (but not spectacularly) today. Since Zeboyd Games has shown itself capable of learning and growing from every experience in game design, its next game will hopefully be twice the level of awesome.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. EUPOLEMOS
    Nov 21, 2019
    10
    This game surprised me in a good day. As a fellow JRPG developer I have played and tested hundreds of JRPGs. The quality of Cosmic StarThis game surprised me in a good day. As a fellow JRPG developer I have played and tested hundreds of JRPGs. The quality of Cosmic Star Heroine is above the charts. I didn't encounter any bug from start to finish. I guess it was an early release problem. The graphics give the nostalgic feeling of the gold era of SNES, the combat system is unique and interesting and the music is really nice! Also the level design is superb and I like that there are no random encounters in the game. Certainly a project of love and hard work Cosmic Star Heroine deserves a spot at the pantheon of all time great JRPGs!… Expand
  2. Dokiir
    Apr 17, 2017
    10
    It seems to me that the other people who "reviewed" this game, are the same two that have been badgering other forum members on the gamesIt seems to me that the other people who "reviewed" this game, are the same two that have been badgering other forum members on the games steam forum, and verbally abusing the developers since day one. I'm going to counter some of the blatantly abusive and out-on-some-vendetta "reviews" from these other users, since it's not fair really, and they don't seem to care if they damage a small two-man teams reputation or not, as long as they can swing their angry stick around for a bit.

    The game has bugs, and glitches, yes, it's also not polished, least not as much as it should be. That said, it's not a cash-in, it's a heartfelt, and well thought out game, that harks back to an era that makes my nostalgic muscles twitch to no end. Phantasy Star, Lunar, Chrono Trigger, Suikoden. I could keep listing, if you've been around for long enough, or haven't but still loved these games, this game is for you, no question about it. The battle system is excellent; interesting to work with, at Heroine difficulty (the 3rd of the 4, which I recommend playing it on) - it really pushes you to think a few moves ahead with each character, and as a whole team, to ultimately get extremely satisfying results once you figure out that tactic for each fight. It's not just the boss fights that are interesting, every fight is, and as you progress, level up, get more gear and get wiser, you enjoy it more, you're rewarded for being a good player and a tactician in the field of battle. I love it.

    The characters are charming, with a zany sense of humor that is reminiscent of that in the Lunar series. Zeboyd know how to handle subtle references, and they know how to handle humor, so there are a few good times I've both smiled and laughed out loud. There's a wealth of NPCs with funny tidbits here and there to share, as well as being useful for tips on battle, items, techniques, and quest clues. It's all in the world around you, you just need to look.

    The resolution at 1920x1080 is NOT blurry - i'm playing on a 43" TV at 1080 and it looks terrific, so I can wholeheartedly say that's not true at all. I've not had any stages where my game save has become corrupt, nearly 16 hours in now and I've not encountered any bugs, actually. That said, they're there, I've spoken to others, and I've seen them. However the developers have patched since these other rancid reviews were posted, and are working to another patch extremely soon. Rather than slate the developers in to the ground, these users could have reported the bugs, yes stil be annoyed because a buggy game is an annoying game, but at the very least communicate that frustration to the developers. They're not trying to get away with anything, they're 4 years in on a labor of love and they could have used more time, yes, but they didn't have it, so whatever small bugs are being encountered, and big ones, they've tackled most of them already and are weeding out the remainders.

    The story is good, characters are charming, the artwork is fantastic and the overall aesthetic will pull you in if you've a nostalgic bone in your body. At an estimated 15-20 hours gameplay, for the price of $14.99 (currently $11.99 for another 24 hours I think) you cannot ask for better value for money. People raging on this game at the loud minority, and I only wish people who have played and enjoyed the game thoroughly would speak up for their experiences, both good and bad, but at some way to support the vision of CSH and the development team, tiny a team as it is.

    If you're not sure, watch some playthrough of it on youtube, but if you are liking it, stop watching, and go grab it, to avoid spoilers.    … Expand
  4. Nhale
    Jan 15, 2018
    9
    Seeing so few reviews about this game is really sad! I must say, it's not the best game possible, it has some nasty bugs and twice it crashedSeeing so few reviews about this game is really sad! I must say, it's not the best game possible, it has some nasty bugs and twice it crashed when i played it, but I truly think this is a wonderful game, it has likable characters, with different and unique playstyles. The soundtrack is amazing, really immersive. The art is retro and really when done. The battle system goes by turns , has its own gimmicks and is enjoyable, but can became quite repetitive as you play, also, it can become really easy as you learn how to do better combos with your pc. As for the game story, i must say it's not a strong point in the game, but it's pretty solid and not bad at all.
    I think i spent about 60hrs on this game and it was a very good work!    … Expand
  5. trygamersreview
    Apr 22, 2017
    7
    Cosmic Star Heroine suffers from repetitive combat. On the good side, Cosmic Star Heroine is a well crafted classic 16bit game with a solidCosmic Star Heroine suffers from repetitive combat. On the good side, Cosmic Star Heroine is a well crafted classic 16bit game with a solid storyline.

    - TryGamers    … Expand
  6. EvgeniLinuxUser
    Jun 21, 2020
    6
    Simple and perky non-Japanese JRPG. Space opera from 70th. Do not dig for a deep meanings here — just relax. There is an unoffocial betaSimple and perky non-Japanese JRPG. Space opera from 70th. Do not dig for a deep meanings here — just relax. There is an unoffocial beta GNU/Linux port. The program crashes during resolution changing but after the next run works fine. Linux port does not support cloud saves. Works fine on Ubuntu 16.04 (Intel® HD Graphics 4400) in a window mode.… Expand
  7. somedude14
    Apr 14, 2017
    2
    Rushed, buggy and untested. Should be marked as an early access title, but for some reason, isn't. Some features (like achievements) won'tRushed, buggy and untested. Should be marked as an early access title, but for some reason, isn't. Some features (like achievements) won't be worked in until a later date. And this is considered a gold release?

    What I heard of the soundtrack was good, hence the two, but even the art gets blurry at 1920x1080, a modern HD resolution, because the pixels weren't even drawn for such a high resolution (keep in mind this has been a standard resolution for almost a full decade now). If you're running a 4k monitor, expect this to look even worse.

    This is just a terrible attempt at a cash-in. Newsflash: You can't get away with that when you're still this small!    … Expand
  8. SquishyAstronau
    Apr 15, 2017
    1
    "A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad."

    This game screams "Our bank account is running low, release the game    "A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad."

    This game screams "Our bank account is running low, release the game now!" Blatant bugs, missing features, constant crashes and an overall terrible user experience. I mean, the game 'closes' when you change the display resolution. Apparently that is intended behaviour, but the developer could not be bothered to even give you a confirmation screen asking for confirmation and informing the player of what is going on.

    Further, after playing four hours, my save file became corrupted and failed to load. And since I'm past the two hour refund window on Steam, that's cold hard cash burnt in the firepit. I don't want to replay the buggy mess again, despite the gameplay being favourable and fun.

    Zeboyd Games should have delayed this release and dealt with these blatant issues. This mediocrity should not be tolerated from an established developer, regardless if they have a handful of staff or a full team.    … Expand

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