Stratogun is a compelling game for a niche audience

Stratogun is a fascinating contradiction that I appreciate more than I enjoy. It's a mix of Asteroids, Geometry Wars, and Super Stardust HD. For those of us who grew up with arcade cabinets at every corner, it will feel like a nostalgic bolt of lightning. It's also a product of pure vision, and that comes at a cost.

Gameplay

Stratogun plays like its inspirations. At times, the similarities are so close I couldn't help but wonder where the overlap between honoring something and straight up lifting from it happens.

There isn't really a plot here. Instead, Stratogun takes the "pick up and play" mentality to heart. You pick a spaceship, select perks and special weapons, and set off against torrents of rogue asteroids and increasingly complex boss battles. In between missions, you power up one of three areas of the ship. When you die, and you will do so often, points rack up permanent power ups that help future runs.

It's a simple but immensely captivating gameplay loop. A pure arcade joy that reminds us how a simple mechanic, when done right, is all you need for a good time.

To differentiate from the crowd, Stratogun introduces strategic elements (hence the name) into the mix. Your weapon overheats easily, and you always have to be one or two steps ahead of the erratic asteroids and unexpected threats on the map. As you turn, the planet twirls around you, and in boss battles the askew angle will either help or hinder you.

The power ups between deaths give the game a rogue-lite element, which in turn feeds into the addictiveness of the gameplay loop. If you're the kind of gamer who enjoys the thrill of overcoming frustration, Stratogun will be right up your alley.

For me, I found the overheating mechanic a hindrance that ate into the fun of the core gameplay. Past titles in the genre have built upon the foundation that movement and a steady serving of whoop-ass is what gets you through even the toughest scrapes. In Stratogun, you're constantly on the defense, which rarely gives you a chance to turn tables on the galactic threat.

Like breaking weapons in action games, the overheating mechanic is an acquired taste, and for me, that mouth feel is just off.

Accessibility

Stratogun is the work of an extremely small team, which tempers expectations in this regard. That said, I had a hard time playing Stratogun on a purely physical level. At worst, I couldn't make out the ship from the background, and the influx of particles and fast moving effects made my head hurt.

Previous games in the genre, like the aforementioned Super Stardust HD, have balanced these issues with accessibility options like color adjustments and gameplay speed. Neither are available here. You can turn off some of the visual effects, but I found that only helped very little. It doesn't change the foundation, and one could argue that maybe it shouldn't.

After all, Stratogun is a product of wild inspiration and ambition. It's a pure throwback, and those come with compromises. When you seek out a title like this, especially in this niche and price range, you accept certain limitations.

Does that mean I will play Stratogun in the future? No, it doesn't. I physically can't. It makes me nauseous and irritated. It is a part of my autism paired with other disabilities. If you have color blindness of any variety, you won't be able to enjoy this game, either.

Who's It For?

Stratogun raises an interesting philosophical dilemma. If a game has a singular vision and it executes it precisely as designed, does that make it a good or bad product when it alienates some in the process?

I don't think Stratogun is a bad game, though I disagree with its idea of introducing an overheating mechanic into a bullet hell shooter. I'm also not convinced it needs to be for everyone. I think it's a shame that I won't be able to enjoy it in the present state, and it's equally frustrating that others will miss out due to similar impairments.

But would they seek out Stratogun in the first place? Is there really such a demand for this particular type of bullet hell shooter that the market demands it to include an accessibility overhaul? I doubt it. Would it be nice? Yes, but it would also be nice to win the lottery. If wishes were horses we'd all have steak.

Stratogun is a niche title for a niche audience, and it's perfectly content to be just that. It doesn't do anything revolutionary, nor is it the finest example of its genre. But it is a solid, well-designed example of passion. For the initiated, that's enough.