Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews

While it’s probably said often, Star Ghost is a great fit for the Switch. Its pick up and play sensibilities and arcade roots fit perfectly on a system you can dip into at a moment’s notice. It has a learning curve that makes for a satisfying experience, where only having one control to deal with makes it feel as if you have all the control in the world. It is a bit one note, but what it lacks in variety it makes up in giving you a game you can sink all your efforts into; you only have to focus on the what’s in front of you. Not having an online or shared leaderboards is a miss for a title like this, but it doesn’t take away from the experience as a whole. Star Ghost is one of the most enjoyable - and turbulent - trips you can take through the stars.

In true arcade fashion, the game is unforgiving: deplete your shields and your craft will blow up as a giant Game Over page appears. If you’ve saved up enough credits (quarters, anyone?) you can buy a new life, otherwise it’s all the way back to the first region. The only thing this game is seriously lacking is an online leaderboard so you can compare scores with your friends. Currently there is only the option to rank yourself against other users on the same Switch. Otherwise this is a gem of a game, perfect to play for a few minutes, but easy to play for longer as you try to get through as many levels as you possibly can.

Star Ghost is a game that I started to appreciate over time. During the first two hours, I became aggravated with the game’s on-rails approach, excruciating difficulty, and lack of checkpoints. All of that changed after its addictive nature made itself visible to me. 11 hours later and I’ve finding Star Ghost difficult to put down. The gameplay is engaging, the visuals are appealing, and just when I think that I’ve figured out the keys to success, the game throws me for a loop. I’m not sure how long it will take me to finally clear all 12 galaxies, but I know that I’ll be playing Star Ghost on my Switch for a long time. It’s an indie treat that will not only please fans of old-school video games, but also those who want a rewarding challenge.

Star Ghost is a simple shoot'em up with a twist that brings a high quality soundtrack and some very polished elements to the Nintendo Switch catalogue. While it would be good to have online leaderboards, Star Ghost will satisfy the fans of the shoot'em up genre.

For the low cost of £7.99, this is a decent little addition to any Nintendo Switch owner's indie library, and perfect for a quick bash here and there. It captures the same simplistic addictiveness as Flappy Bird, but has the same flaws. It's repetitive and gets boring very quickly, so it's a real shame this new Nintendo Switch version of Star Ghost couldn't offer up new features.

Star Ghost is a great example of a simple idea executed well. It’s very easy to pick up and play and does feel very rewarding. As a portable-only game, you can probably add a little onto the score, but as a console experience, it just doesn’t have enough to keep you occupied for too long. It’s a good game, it’s just not anything you absolutely have to own.