Review of Starlight Legacy for PlayStation 5

Sure thing, here it is:

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You ever just get lost in something that’s supposed to be simple and end up somewhere wild? That’s kind of what happened when I poked at this game “Starlight Legacy” from Decafesoft and eastasiasoft. Honestly, it threw me back to those days you’d blow on a cartridge and hope for the best. Maybe it’s just me, but the SNES vibe is all over this. The pixel font alone had me feeling nostalgic. Anyway — no — where was I? Oh, right. It’s like a warm little love note to all those 16-bit treasures we played.

Right out the gate, you’re in this kingdom, Evaria. Sounds post-medieval, which makes it seem serious, but it’s colorful and sprinkled with 2D art charm. Someone clearly dug deep into the genre classics for inspo here. Like, isn’t it odd how certain music or visuals just teleport you back? I digress. So, the game’s setup involves some big old mess between King Lennox and rebels. People are mad — trees are getting blown up or whatever. Your job? Gathering some mystical relics to save the day, as usual.

What’s kind of fun, but also mildly confusing, is how you can explore this world in any which way. Like, “Oh, should I tackle this area first? Meh, let’s see what happens.” That sort of freedom made me feel like I was in those pixelated villages of yore, except I can’t blow on these pixels to see clearer buildings or characters. Wait — I hope I’m making sense here.

Speaking of the game, those retro JRPG vibes hug you in the battle system, too. Basic turn-based thing. But oh man, the random encounters just get a little too random. Seriously, like every few steps someone pops out. And, you miss stuff sometimes, like special skills assigned to random D-pad buttons. Why hide it there? Wild choice.

So you’re fighting these creatures and after a while, it’s kinda like you’re just hitting the same notes in a song. Sure, the battles are quick, but variety? Not so much. There’s nothing spicing up the encounter dance, really. No epic boss music to get your heart racing either. Visuals are alright. Have you ever seen pixely stuff look decent on a giant screen? Probably an acquired taste.

But hey, they sorted out some modern tweaks like nixing enemy encounters from the menu. Thank goodness for that. Also, the shops — why do all the stores sell the same stuff? Something about that seems anti-adventure? And there’s this weird anti-aliasing issue. Pixel purists might hate it, but maybe I’m just being picky.

Even with all its quirks, the game taps into that 16-bit charm pretty well. Soundtrack’s hit or miss, though. Some tracks are sweet ear candy, others… well, they sound more like MIDI got stuck in a tunnel.

If you’re into trophies, most of them just happen as you go about your pixelated escapade. Nothing too wild to chase. Get your bronze, silvers, and golds — hey, go for that shiny Platinum if you’re into it.

Overall, “Starlight Legacy” is like hanging out with an old friend — familiar, maybe a bit rough around the edges. Simple trophy hunt and accessible gameplay, even if battles loop the same. Feelings about nostalgia are mixed, but if pixel art and retro games are your jam, dive in. Plus, you can grab it for both PS4 and PS5 without shelling out extra cash. Handy, right?

Anyway, that’s my two cents. What do you think? Dive back to those SNES days, or give it a pass?