The graphics are decent enough, you can tell things apart. The controls take a minute to master, but once you do than you are ready to play. This game has a lot of untapped potential, but there have been no updates in years.
Author Comments
WASD to move, HOLD down left mouse button to shoot where you point.
What is Starfire: Asteroids of the Swarm you ask?
Starfire: Asteroids of the Swarm is an asteroids like twin stick shmup arcade game, but with a unique rpg-like level and equipment progression.
You, a terran fleet commodore and pilot, command the Starfire, the Terran space fleet's flagship. Asteroids infested by the swarm are heading for your Homeworld, so it is your honor and duty to defend your homeworld from the incoming invasion.
The Swarm is an artificial intelligence singularity bent on conquering the entire universe, in an endless search for a greater supply of energy and information. So it has set one of its eyes on your homeworld. You are to take Starfire on a solo mission inside the incoming asteroids, and eliminate them before they awaken start a full scale invasion of the homeworld.
Since, even in the future, faster than light engines are still the stuff of science fiction, the swarm uses asteroids to spread itself across the galaxy. Asteroids are resource rich and provide shelter from the harshness of deep space. So the swarm redirects the asteroids towards the star systems they want to invade, then mine them and take shelter in them, lying dormant inside the asteroids until they reach other civilizations' homeworlds. They are not expecting you to intercept them with Starfire and foil their plans.
Starfire is a special, high maneuverability spaceship, capable of navigating the intricate caverns inside the asteroids and fight the swarm of enemies within the tight spaces there.
Swarms of enemies await you inside asteroids of varying sizes, and Starfire, even though the strongest spaceship in the fleet, will still need upgrades to survive.
Destroy swarm ships to gain minerals, and use the minerals to upgrade Starfire.
Pilot and upgrade Starfire, navigate the incoming asteroids, save your Homeworld, put an end to the swarm invasion.
The game is in active development. There are only 5 levels currently, but more levels are added every week.
HOW TO PLAY:
use the on-screen twin stick controls to navigate and shoot
shoot your way to the end of the level to progress to the next level
use the in-game store to upgrade your spaceship, Starfire, with the minerals you find
FEATURES:
twin stick shoot em up controls
an original equipment system where you can equip and upgrade up to 8 shields/armors and weapons separately on Starfire
(beta) a few levels, more to come
an in-game store where you can upgrade your spaceship with minerals you find while playing
HELP:
starfire.asteroids.of.the.swarm@ludicmind.com and we'll gladly answer any of your questions.
So I am playing this a year later then the release and there still seems to be only 7 levels. It seems author has failed the promised 1 new level per week. Seems that author has abandoned the development.
It's a shame because the mechanics of this game are good. Upgrades were fun and smart and with introduction of higher tiers of upgrades and higher tiers of enemies the game could be made very long and fun.
very nice. By the way, are you planning to have higher power armor, weapons and shields? it seems like there is room for many different weapons.
I have only this: I'm picturing DC Comics CEO Geoff Johns seeing this title and something tells me he will sue you for copyright infringement because the title of your game has the same name as a DC Comics character name.
LudicMind responds:
Hello, thank you for the reply. DC does not have any character named "starfire: asteroids of the swarm". If you are referring to the single word "starfire", it is a common word, that furthermore has been used in the past for other products (games too), some of which decades older than what you are referring to. Please refer to this list:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfire
All the best
Pretty unsatisfying as it stands. Suggestions for improvement:
- The weapons upgrade is nearly useless, because the extra shot is almost always wasted.
- The shield idea is sort of interesting, but disappointing for the price.
- What's needed more than anything is a speed upgrade. The ship really crawls.
- When moving upward, you have very little visibility.
LudicMind responds:
Hey, thank you for the detailed review, valid points.
Regarding the shield, would making the shield wider help? Or did you expect a shorter regen time? Or taking more hits?
Regarding the weapon, you mean wasted because it's not pointing at an enemy?
Thank you again for the feedback, very helpful
Credits & Info
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Frontpaged March 9, 2018