Windows

DemonStar

All the emphasis in DemonStar is on great gameplay rather than on extraneous fluff. So there are no full-motion videos to interrupt the action, no "stores" where you can upgrade your ship, and no bars or command centers where you can talk over progress with comrades or superiors. But that is what I like so much about DemonStar -- it has a single-minded fixation with adrenaline-pumping shooting action at the expense of anything else. While I cannot imagine a better game of this type ever being released, I worry that this may be the last of a dying breed. For those who want a "blast from the past" that will truly rip you away from the glitzy but often unexciting releases these days, give DemonStar a try -- you may become permanently hooked as I have.

Demonstar does nearly everything right. The sound, music, and blisteringly hot action combine to create terrific gameplay. A few missteps along the way, including dull boss ships and slightly disappointing graphics, detract slightly from the experience, but the overall effect remains stunning. You will not find a better scrolling shooter on the PC unless you go back a few years and download the original Raptor.

Maybe the reason I'm so disappointed with this title is that I set my sights way too high based on what Raptor offered in the past, but I tend to think that isn't the case. I can't manage to shake the feeling that I actually would have more fun by playing Raptor instead of Demonstar even though it's close to four years old by now. Unless you're looking to see a dreary clone that should have been called Raiden III, there's no need to play Demonstar.