Inside a Star-Filled Sky: A roguelike SCHMUP without end (made by Jason Rohrer)

joshofalltrades

So, I searched for a while and couldn't find a thread on this. Jason Rohrer, the guy who made Sleep is Death, another "game" that defies pigeonholing and convention, made this game called Inside a Star-Filled Sky.

Trailer

...yeah. It looks odd.

So basically, from what I understand, the game itself is a tactical SCHMUP. There are limitless variations on bullet spread and powerups you can obtain. If you see a powerup you feel like you could improve, you can dive inside the powerup and change it... somehow... by doing something. And while you're inside the powerup, you can dive inside an enemy to steal its attack... and while you're inside the enemy, you can dive inside yourself.

This game probably makes heads explode.

Anyway, I'm going to give it a try. It's currently available on a [strike]"pay what you want"[/strike] $12 price here.

EDIT: Never mind on the pay what you want thing, I guess the site where I discovered this was wrong or outdated or something.

Hahnsoo1

I... don't know what I just saw. It's like a recursive version of Disgaea's Item World concept, as a shoot 'em up? Or something? Ow, my head.

Drake

Nice to see something that looks more like a game than his other stuff. I really dug the idea and approach to Sleep is Death. Too bad the people I wanted to play with just went "meh" over the whole thing.

I'm going to have to check this thing out, especially if impressions are good.

joshofalltrades

Well, IGN gave it a 9.0. Maybe for indie cred?

I can't find any other major site reviews of this thing. I wish Destructoid would do a little preview of it or something.

joshofalltrades

Play This Thing! likes it. 5/5 stars. Once I get ahold of it, I'll post my personal impressions.

Visti

It's pretty good, I guess. I made a thread on it back when it first dropped - I don't know what I was expecting, but I am kinda bummed that it isn't DIY and interactive like Sleep Is Death. SID gave me some of the most amazing experiences I've ever had in a "game" and I guess I'm just sort of disappointed that this is 'just' a dual-stick shooter kinda thing. I respect the man's choice to go in a totally different direction, though. It's just not what I necessarily wanted out of him.

Edit: Wait, it's $12? I'm pretty sure I paid less than 5, when I bought it.

Drake

Maybe you got a break on a pre-release beta/alpha version. That seems to be the model with lots of indie guys. I'm seriously thinking about dropping the cash on this.

And I think it's at least a pretty smart move on his part to put out something that is more conventional in terms of gameplay. I like the guy, and I'd hate to seem him get completely pigeon-holed as "that guy whose games aren't games but art."

joshofalltrades

Yeah, but even still it's a pretty neat concept for a "traditional" game. Apparently you wouldn't reach the end of Rohrer's code unless you played the game for 2000 years.