Fastar – Review

Our rating:

By: Cat in a Box Games

Version #: 1.0.1

Date Released: 2010-09-06

Developer:

Price: 1.99

User Rating:

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Right off the bat this game tries to dodge labels. You move around and kill things; it must be an action game. You collect money and use it to level up; it must be an RPG. You are trying to do all this as fast as possible; it must be a racing game. Your enemies consist of different colored squares; this must be commentary on the stating of gaming. Personally, I think it is all of the above.

Cat in a Box Games has done what seems like the impossible and packaged all these various game types into a quick and dirty causal game that can be picked up and played for a couple minutes at a time. The simplicity of this game is evident in the hand drawn graphic style, but don’t let this fool you, Fastar has much to offer.

Each level is a side scrolling slug fest where you battle with colored squares. Towns are found at intervals where you can heal and upgrade your attack and defence. While most of your damage is inflicted with melee attacks, you also have a choice of nine different spells, both offensive and defensive, to help you along the way. The squares start off small, but quickly grow in size and will even begin casting their own spells. If you run into enemies you can not defeat you can run back to the previous town to heal up.

The basic game is simply a speed run through a series of increasingly difficult squares. Fastar also offers a while range of game types that offer something for everyone. There are the usual unlimited levels and ones where the goal is the gold instead of time. There are also levels of just certain color squares so you can become acquainted with each color’s fighting style. Each game type has a global score list as well as local scores. Each score shows that players attack and defense as well as the spell they chose which helps you determine what might be the best set up for each level.

That said, RPG element is more of a dressing over an action game. Your ability to negotiate each enemy will have more to do with your success than how you allocate your funds into attack and defense. Each game is designed to last 5-20 mins with the exception of the longer marathons style games which could last hours.

Fastar is one of those hybrid games that takes from so many genres that it’s hard to really figure out who would like this game. The gameplay is fun and there is plenty of content to keep you busy. If you are a fan of quirky games and want to give a new contender a chance I don’t think you could go wrong with Fastar.