Tombstar Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · August 25, 2022

For this Tombstar Review, we take on the Grimheart Gang as you shoot, dodge, cloak, and explode your way across TombStar in this Space Western rogue-like shooter. Grab your guns, buckle your spurs and take back the planet – for justice, for revenge, and for the galaxy.

Tombstar Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
Download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Graphics settings – quality preset, resolution, v-sync, anti-aliasing, fullscreen, shadows, and ambient occlusion.
Controller settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders along with the ability to rebound.
Play tutorials on start option.
Top-down shooter gameplay.
Twin stick controls.
The environment can be interacted with like flipping tables for cover.
Dodge move that uses stamina.
Fast pace to it all.
Fog will obscure a room and then disappear as you enter.
Weapons can be picked up and swapped between with a button or you can bring up a weapon wheel.
Clear the room for a reward.
Levels randomize every run.
You can see the enemy’s health.
End of run breakdown.
Earn EXP and level up to unlock new weapon and item drops in future runs.
Three characters but only one is available at first.
Teleport points can be found and used to fast travel around.
Cool slow Mo death sequence.
Environmental hazards like poisonous gas or exploding barrels
Perks can be found in a run and these vary from things like faster movement to better accuracy and so much more.
A fun world to explore.
Kooky characters and enemies.
Has a one more go feel to it all.
Gets very addictive.
Game runs are a good length.
It’s so effortless to just jump straight back in.
Big boss battles.
Discoveries is a menu that shows any encountered enemies and weapons and perks you find.

Tombstar Review Cons:

Slow starter in terms of getting good unlocks.
The tutorial isn’t that in-depth.
Shame you only get the one character initially.
Takes some getting used to the shooting.
Cannot rebind controls to have the right stick aim and shoot like traditional twin stick shooters.
Rooms can feel claustrophobic at times.
Dodging bullets is hard!
At times the room can be so cluttered it’s hard to pick out particular bits.

Tombstar:

Official website.

Developer: Andy Sum, Marcus Grambau

Publisher: No More Robots

Store Links –

Steam

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.2/10

Summary

Tombstar is a balls-to-wall twin-stick shooter full of charm and addiction! We have had many top-down shooters recently but what sets Tombstar apart is its charm, its world they have created full of whacky enemies and characters, and the undeniably awesome part… No matter how bad you suck at the game you will always make progress! Sounds stupid but it’s this little perk that keeps the players coming back. A bad run or a bad roll of the dice can be frustrating but having it still mean something positive does wonder. The gameplay itself is run-based and you go from room to room and clear it out for rewards, you flip tables for cover, blow up rocks for distraction or use the old faithful explosive barrel. Tombstar is a game you will keep coming back to as it has so much to find and discover. I came away from Tombstar really impressed with its depth and crazy addiction levels.