''Starsweep'' is a
puzzle game by Japanese developer
Axela, released in 1997 in Japanese arcades and for the
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
, and in 1998 for the
Game Boy
The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same ...
.
The gameplay is similar to that of the
Puzzle League series, but with a more traditional ''
Tetris''-like gameplay where pieces fall from the top of the screen.
Pieces come in three colors: red, yellow, and blue. Pieces commonly have a star on one end, or occasionally, a star on two ends. The aim of the game is to clear blocks from the playing field, by matching stars from same-coloured blocks. Players are rewarded for creating combos (which are called 'links') of piece clearances. The game ends when someone's piece level reaches the top of the playfield and is not cleared after three seconds.
The one player 'story' mode revolves around moving around an island and playing against opponents who gradually become harder, and consists of playing against 9 opponents (although this can be adjusted). There are also activities that involve the player concentrating on a specific task within a time limit. These include getting a high score, a high number of links, surviving for as long as possible, and clearing a field in a short time.
Reception
In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Starsweep'' on their November 1, 1997 issue as being the twenty-second most-successful arcade game of the month.
Writing in ''
Official PlayStation Magazine'' Andy Lowe awarded the title a score of 7/10, describing it as "an extra-psychedelic ''
Tetris''" and "surprisingly addictive, with plenty of game modes and some inventive mini-challenges".
References
External links
Starsweep reviews at GameFAQsStarsweep review at Video ChumsStarsweep at the Killer List Of Videogames
1997 video games
A1 Games games
Arcade video games
Game Boy games
Midas Interactive Entertainment games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
PlayStation (console) games
Puzzle video games
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