Years ago, back before time existed, I declared Housemarque’s Super Stardust HD as one of my very favourite games on Sony’s PlayStation Network. Based on the company’s earlier Amiga shooter, Stardust, it’s an arcade twin-stick shooter that beautifully melds together the core ideas of both Asteroids and Geometry Wars – and it does so with aplomb. It’s back, this time on the PlayStation 4, rebranded as Super Stardust Ultra.

It’s Asteroids

Super Stardust Ultra (1)

The core game is exactly the same as it ever was – which is fine, because that core game is great. It’s relatively simple stuff: you’ve got a ship which you control with both of your analogue sticks. One controls the direction your ship moves around the spheroid you’re moving around, while the other controls the direction of your weapon. You’ll have to move around each planetoid, clearing the rocks that are stuck in its atmosphere and continue to bombard its outer surface. So very much Asteroids with a facelift or two.

Here’s where it starts getting different. You can toggle between three different weapons, each adept at destroying a particular type of rock; you’ve got your green pew pew pew laser that’s great at getting rid of regular rocks, a fiery beam that’s perfect for melting down gold and another cannon that breaks down chunks of ice. Cemented within some of the rocks you continue to decimate are green bits of what looks like kryptonite. Shoot them up, and you’re rewarded with upgrades to your guns, shields or bonus points. Your goal then, is to destroy the rocks in waves upon each of the succeeding planets. Choosing the right tool for the job is key, and you want to clear each wave as quickly as possible to rack up those points. Simple enough.

It’s Geometry Wars

Super Stardust Ultra (2)And then, enemies start appearing, and it starts becoming quite a bit more like Geometry wars, with explosions of particle effects; the screen nearly perpetually filled with a neon cavalcade, squadrons of enemy spacecraft of all shapes and sizes all aimed directly at you. And there’s a boss at the end of each level. Getting to the end of each is a challenge in itself, but as is usual for games of this ilk, chasing scores is where the heart of it lies.

The core game is exactly the same as it’s ever been – but there are a few new additions and modes that make it worthwhile even if you already own Super Stardust HD. My favourite of the new additions is Blockade, which turns the thing in to a high-tech game of snake. Your ship continually leaves a trial of mines behind it, and you’re tasked with having to stay alive for as long as possible – all while being attacked by enemies and having rocks falling your head.

Super Stardust Ultra (3)

It’s also got split screen and same screen co-op, and an adversarial mode for up to four players, rounding out the package nicely. Plus, there’s a feature from another Housemarqe remaster, Dead Nation, that adds an interactive streaming element; players watching your stream on Twitch can alter the way the game plays out by sending you extra enemies or giving you a much needed break if they’re not jerks. Of course, without being able to stream thanks to our internet infrastructure, this feature is useless for a majority of South Africans.

It’s got an extra dimension

Super Stardust Ultra (6)

Like Super Stardust HD on the PlayStation 3, Ultra is one of the few games that actually supports stereoscopic 3D. The difference here is that because of the increased horsepower, the game still runs at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second even in 3D – and it’s incredible. The first game on the PS3 did 3D right, but it’s infinitely better now. I spent far too much time dying on purpose (Yeah…I totally meant to do that, I swear) just to have the death explosion fly right in to my eyeballs. If you’re one of the three people left on this planet who care about stereoscopic 3D gaming, this is one of those showcase games.

If you’re new to PlayStation and loved the hell out of the system’s very best launch title, Resogun, you should grab it. It’s one of the best twin-stick shooters ever made, and a crowning jewel in the PS3’s digital library. It’s now been given new life on the PlayStation 4, and is still worth your time.

That said, it’s hard not to find it a little disappointing.  It’s worth noting that there’s no cross-buy on this game – so even if you’ve bought it twice on the PS3 or the Vita as Super Stardust Delta – you’ll have to buy it again. The game was also billed as a new entry in the Stardust series, so to find that it’s really just a rerelease with a few stapled on extra modes is disheartening stuff for older fans.

Last Updated: February 12, 2015

Super Stardust Ultra
For long time fans of Super Stardust, this is probably a disappointment. There's not much that's new, save for a new mode or two. If you've never played the game before though, this is as complete a package as you'll get.
8.0
Super Stardust Ultra was reviewed on PlayStation 4
74 / 100

22 Comments

  1. Kieran Luke Druzynski

    February 12, 2015 at 15:39

    Did Super Stardust Ultra seriously score higher than Evolve?

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      February 12, 2015 at 15:40

      Yes, in the same way that a beer can score higher than a fruitcake, but you can;t compare them directly.

      Reply

      • Ghost In The Rift

        February 12, 2015 at 15:42

        Yeah, its like comparing the Blue Bulls to the Stormers, wait that’s kind of insulting to the Blue Bulls isn’t it??..*runs past Habana*

        Reply

        • So Hard (Umar)

          February 12, 2015 at 15:43

          What’s Habana? Sounds yummy. Where can I buy this, Habana and does it come different flavors?

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 12, 2015 at 15:57

            It sounds like a chili-flavoured steri stumpie

          • Ghost In The Rift

            February 12, 2015 at 15:59

            LOL, No that is “the milk is hot-hot-hot-hot”

          • Ghost In The Rift

            February 12, 2015 at 15:58

            Indeed it does, in a lovely Cape Point Snook Stew..XD

          • HvR

            February 12, 2015 at 16:01

            Fuck Chrome is broken, it is redirecting Lazygamer to Sports24

          • ultraviolet

            February 13, 2015 at 09:53

            is that chrome, or google search?

      • Hammersteyn

        February 12, 2015 at 16:00

        But better than 7.5? 😛

        Reply

        • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

          February 12, 2015 at 16:02

          Let’s put it this way. A guy doing Tae Kwon Do in the olympics might get a 7. A synchronised swimmer might get a 10. Doesn’t mean the underwater dancer is gonna moer the oke with the black belt.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 12, 2015 at 16:05

            LOL no, I Should have mentioned how you apparently stick to 7.5 as a safety precaution according to other people.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 12, 2015 at 16:05

            I still don’t understand, I don’t follow esports.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 12, 2015 at 16:05

            bwahahahaha!

    • So Hard (Umar)

      February 12, 2015 at 15:42

      It’s all about relativity. Each game is its own, there is no reason why this can’t score higher than Evolve.

      Reply

    • slartibartfast the second

      February 14, 2015 at 05:03

      Ahh, the old…but evolve is bigger and more hyped, how can what i believe to be a little small game be better than a huge game? . Well lets put this into movies shall we. Lets say super stardust is a small indie film, done to a budget, but the style, technical perfection and directorial knowhow is genius, so it wins big at the baftas and oscars. Now lets take evolve… And lets call it transformers the movie, for all of its flashy graphics, hundreds millions of pounds spent to make it and incredible hype through millions of pounds advertising it, lame acting, and zero storyline…its a bit shit really….

      But there will be 14 yr olds everywhere that think transformers is the greatest movie ever……

      Super stardust is steeped in history, and has a core audience, and as far as twin stick shooters go, in this genre its second only to robotron and smash tv. Also, as a side note. The man who made robotron? The legend game? .. Well he just signed with housemarque to make a new game. Wow.

      And i really dont want to say anything, but four players taking down monsters? ….. Hmmmn monster hunter anyone?

      Reply

    • ultraviolet

      February 14, 2015 at 11:40

      yeah it sure did, you want to know why?

      its better.

      🙂

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    February 12, 2015 at 16:03

    😀

    Reply

  3. Skyblue

    February 12, 2015 at 17:12

    I missed Super Stardust HD when it was released so this is firmly on my radar. To purchase or to wait-and-see if PS+ will make it available sooner rather than later due to the lack of titles…

    Reply

  4. ultraviolet

    February 13, 2015 at 09:55

    such a great game, and, a good review

    Reply

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