Star Overdrive

Prepare to be disappointed. An idea of racing around on an alien planet with a hoverboard sounds cool, and at times it is, but theres about all there is positive to this game. The story is pretty meh, you're trying to rescue your GF, and its mostly just finding videos of her talking for a bit and thats the entire story. Theres 4 boss fights, 3 of which are super gimmicky and dumb, the final is decent. Combat is pretty janky and meh, you unlock a bunch of abilities but most are just used for puzzling and are too situational. Some enemies can just randomly grab you with a magnetic lock on field that is impossible to get out of and you just die. The shield system makes no sense, as I don't know any way to recharge it and exactly how much is left. Many of the games systems are too opaque or just make no sense. The crafting system is the worst I've ever seen. You put a bunch of small mats into a pot and it gives you some random stats, you then need to use currency to buy. You then need to pick a specific part to make that may or may not completely change the stats that the game was telling you to use. You can't edit or upgrade old parts, just craft brand new ones. And sometimes you can add another part that gives you the ability to glide on surfaces. Randomly you will just be level gated based on not having enough speed for races or a boss until you find out too late, then back to crafting and mat grinding, but again you still don't fully understand how it works. The board is cool, but even that is flawed. Theres no way to activate a speed boost or speed up while driving straight. If you find hills you can land tricks to speed up for a bit, but if you land a single trick it does nothing for no reason, you have to land two in a row, but again if you're driving flat you only have time to land one and you need the speed boost more. Sometimes when you land as you're doing a trick and lie you'll wipe out and others it will just complete the trick for you. Some surfaces in the game its not explained how to climb so I just had to cheese switching between flying up and switching to temporary hoverboard and back, but I don't know if that's how you're supposed to do it. Basic things like leveling up are made too annoying. You barely level up playing the game, you basically need to grind random puzzle dungeons around to get new abilities. By the time I beat the game I was maybe 10% through the skill tree which is never good, although its basically all just shield/damage/energy upgrades so its boring. Fast travel is handled awful and you only can teleport to a single home base in the center of the map. The map is empty and pretty boring, just with busy work things to do. Certain objectives spread out objects too much or make you do too many, like one that required 7 different things to activate. This is all done just to waste time and stretch out the game. Even basic things like towers to clear the map need some confusing puzzle to get so you mostly just skip them too. Overall the game is just a bit of a dud. Bad combat, empty map with bad fast travel, awful crafting system, gimmicky boss fights, time wasting objectives, and a lackluster board movement system all culminate in a cool idea, but flawed execution. 5.5/10.

This game is rad as heck. I genuinely like this more than Breath of the Wild or Tear of the Kingdom. The hover board fixes alot of the open world problems by just letting you do cool tricks, jump high and far of ramps and dunes, and go absurdly fast. The puzzles are overall very good, and make use of the abilities they give you. Speaking of which, the abilities you get are all really good, and they all have uses not just in puzzles, but also on hoverboard, and even in combat. The combat itself is pretty mid, just one button auto combos with charge variations, but you can use the abilities they give you to make it much more enjoyable. Honestly the abilities are almost too good because they can even allow you to actually skip over puzzles or shut down enemies entirely, but I personally consider that a good thing, I like when a game lets me think outside the box. The game isn't perfect, like I said the combat is lack luster, and the open world is somewhat barren. However designing it more or less like one massive skatepark with obstacles makes it pretty enjoyable, also there's a tons of optional collectibles and challenges to keep you engaged. The soundtrack is pretty good too, unlike some other open world games its not just ambiance and occasional music notes, there's actual music, and even songs with vocals you can listen to whenever you want if you find them in the world. The story is decent, nothing amazing, but it gets the job done and is fairly interesting overall. I will say one of the things I didn't like was the crafting system, it felt kind of unnecessary and not very intuitive, but ultimately it didn't detract too much. All in all I definitely recommend this game to anyone that enjoys open world adventure games and hoverboarding.

Too slow. Underwhelming combat.

The kinetic switches require way too much perfect line up when you get to them. Found myself stuck for over 20 minutes (and still am stuck) because I cant line up one sling shot perfectly. The game is awesome otherwise. But im honestly locked out of progressing further.

Star Overdrive is an ambitious sci-fi action-adventure that places freedom of movement at the center of its identity, building an experience that feels driven by speed, momentum, and atmosphere rather than constant combat or dense storytelling. From the outset, the game establishes a sense of mystery as the protagonist is drawn to an unfamiliar alien world in search of a missing partner, only to find himself stranded on a vast and often lonely planet. Rather than overwhelming the player with exposition, the game allows its world to speak for itself, using environment, scale, and silence to set the tone. This design choice immediately frames Star Overdrive as a journey defined by exploration and personal discovery rather than linear objectives. At the core of Star Overdrive is its standout traversal system, centered around a hoverboard that transforms movement into the game’s most compelling mechanic. Traversing the planet is not simply about reaching destinations but about how you get there, as momentum, terrain, and timing all play crucial roles. Gliding across sweeping dunes, launching off natural ramps, and chaining boosts together creates a strong sense of flow that makes travel feel exhilarating rather than routine. The world is clearly designed with this movement system in mind, encouraging experimentation and rewarding players who take the time to master speed and control. Few games make simple traversal this engaging, and it is here that Star Overdrive truly shines. Exploration is tightly linked to this sense of motion, with the open world inviting players to roam freely and uncover secrets scattered across its biomes. Ancient ruins, mysterious structures, and environmental puzzles are spread throughout the landscape, offering moments of discovery that break up long stretches of high-speed travel. While the planet is visually striking and often evocative, it can also feel sparse, with large areas offering limited interaction beyond traversal itself. This emptiness can work in the game’s favor by reinforcing isolation, but at times it risks diminishing the sense of purpose, especially for players expecting a more densely populated open world. Combat and puzzle elements are present to provide variety, but they are noticeably less refined than the movement mechanics. Encounters tend to be straightforward, relying on simple patterns and limited enemy variety that rarely demand deep tactical thinking. While combat serves its role as an obstacle to overcome, it lacks the same fluidity and excitement found in hoverboard traversal, occasionally feeling like a pause rather than a highlight. Similarly, environmental puzzles range from mildly engaging to somewhat clumsy, with certain sections emphasizing precision or timing in ways that can feel at odds with the otherwise smooth flow of movement. Progression in Star Overdrive revolves around unlocking abilities and upgrades that expand both traversal and combat options. Improving the hoverboard enhances speed, control, and maneuverability, reinforcing the game’s strongest system and giving a tangible sense of growth. Narrative progression, by contrast, unfolds more subtly, delivered through scattered story elements rather than dramatic set pieces. This understated approach suits the game’s tone, but it may leave players wanting a stronger emotional payoff, as character motivations and relationships are only lightly explored. The story functions more as a guiding thread than a driving force, providing context without dominating the experience. Audiovisually, the game maintains a cohesive and appealing aesthetic. The alien landscapes are stylized rather than hyper-realistic, giving the world a distinct personality that complements its sci-fi themes. Music plays an important role, particularly as new tracks are unlocked, adding rhythm and mood to exploration and reinforcing the sense of movement. Sound design supports immersion effectively, from the hum of the hoverboard to the ambient noises of the environment, helping the world feel alive even during its quieter moments. Star Overdrive ultimately feels like a game defined by contrast. Its traversal system is confident, polished, and genuinely fun, while its combat, puzzles, and narrative elements feel more tentative and underdeveloped. This imbalance prevents the game from fully realizing its ambitions, yet it does not erase the joy found in simply moving through its world. For players who value freedom, speed, and atmosphere over constant action or heavy storytelling, the experience can be deeply satisfying. It is a title that may not appeal to everyone, but for those drawn to its strengths, Star Overdrive offers a memorable journey powered by momentum, exploration, and a clear passion for inventive movement design. Rating: 8/10

Its fun going around on the hoverboard. That's the main hook with most of it's design being lifted from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. So you will know what you are getting into.

Star Overdrive is a really cool and original sci-fi adventure that stands out thanks to its atmosphere, emotional story, and strong creative identity. It clearly knows what it wants to be and sticks to it from start to finish. I had a great time. From the beginning, the world feels unique and well put together. It’s not just background scenery, it actually supports the feeling of exploring something lonely and unknown. The game does a great job of building a mood, and it keeps that feeling all the way through. NOUS is probably one of the most memorable parts of the game. She really feels like the emotional center of the whole experience. The way the story uses memories, messages, and fragments of connection makes the relationship feel meaningful and surprisingly personal. The hoverboard gameplay is another big highlight. Once you get into the flow, it feels fast, smooth, and really satisfying. Movement has a lot of personality, and the game really shines when it focuses on speed and momentum. The races and bigger set-pieces add nice variety, and the soundtrack makes those moments hit even harder. The structure of the game also it varies pace a lot, mixing traversal, challenges, and more dungeon-like areas keeps things from feeling repetitive and adds different rhythms to the experience. Some sections push you to slow down and actually pay attention, which feels rewarding if you engage with it, some are very fast and requires instant reactions and mastery of what you learned during the game. Crafting and progression are also handled in a way that encourages experimentation. The game doesn’t over-explain everything, treating me as an adult and not a dund child, so you end up learning by doing. Upgrades feel more like real discoveries instead of just menu optimization. The final act lands really well thematically. It sticks to the game’s core ideas about connection, change, and sacrifice, and doesn’t go for a simple or clean ending. It is mature, original and intense. Iit leans into the emotional weight of the journey and leaves some things open to interpretation, which makes it stick with you. Overall, Star Overdrive feels like a game with a strong voice and a lot of atmosphere. The best moments are genuinely great, it's full of ideas and it is something that I expect from an indie developer, since AAA is dead to me.