Sin & Punishment: Star Successor Review for Nintendo Wii

Sin & Punishment: Star Successor box art

System: Wii	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Treasure	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Nintendo	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: June 30, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The shooting itself was also disappointing in some respects. Though the original Sin & Punishment was innovative 10 years ago, Star Successor’s formula feels a bit dated. The shooting-gallery feeling is very prominent throughout the game, which makes the experience feel less like an actual adventure than a points contest. Considering the fact you’re given the opportunity to upload your score at the end of each level, it’s obvious high scores were a major part of Treasure’s philosophy for the game. It’s still a fun approach, though it’s a tough sell for a full-priced retail product.

Sin & Punishment: Star Successor screenshot

The simple, retro style isn’t the only problem I had with the game, either. The level design, too, feels somewhat dated. Being forced to rip through blocks in order to keep from getting buried alive isn’t the most imaginative device in this day and age, and even with all the crazy action onscreen at a given time, there are still blind spots where your character can take a free ride out of harm’s way.

In spite of my criticisms, I had fun with the game – playing as both characters. Once you complete a chapter, it’s unlocked for free play, and you can keep going back in hopes of upping your high score. The game’s pretty brutal, though. Even in the Normal mode, the average player will die a few times during each level. The game’s fair but frustrating. Though there are obvious patterns to learn for bosses and such, they’re not always the most enjoyable way to take on the challenge.

Star Successor does offer a cooperative multiplayer option, but it’s a novelty that is sure to grow old quick for Player 2. Rather than allow both players to control one of the two main characters from the story, the second player has only an onscreen reticule to shoot enemies with; it makes levels easier for Player 1, but the appeal is fleeting.

Visually, Star Successor is an odd beast. There are elements of the game that look truly next-gen. One or two of the game’s bosses exhibit texture effects I’ve never seen in a Wii game, yet explosions are about on par with something you might see on Nintendo DS. The lighting is very impressive, yet most everything else in the game stacks up to meet the standards of a really attractive PS2 title. With all that being said, I never once experienced an issue with the framerate. Star Successor offers a constant flurry of visual stimulus, and the game’s less-than-stellar graphical elements get lost in a sea of excitement.

The audio also helps make the ends meet nicely, though the soundtrack is an acquired taste. Here, too, the game has a lot in common with Nanostray and other games of its kind. The gameplay stands upon a foundation of other-worldly techno tunes that do little to create thematic tension, yet the music still manages to greatly enhance the shooting experience. The sound effects are equally pleasing, though certain attacks and explosions lack the impact I would have liked.

Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is a fun shooter, but it’s not quite a grand adventure. Nintendo deprived their fans of the first game for so long, and now they answer the cry with something that feels a bit outdated. It’s also a fairly anemic package in light of the asking price. Make no mistake, as a fan of old-school shoot’em-ups, I had a good time with the game. As a fan of value, innovation, and “the next, best thing,” Star Successor left me feeling a tad disappointed. If you loved the first game and simply want more of the same, definitely check this one out. The controls are a vast improvement over the first Sin & Punishment, even if the gameplay itself has aged a bit.

By Tony Capri
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.2

Graphics
The game runs the gamut of cutting edge, to archaic, and back. Regardless, Treasure offers a strange and strangely appealing space-fantasy world here.

4.4

Control
Pointer functionality for this game is excellent, and the button mapping is sensible and fun. Melee combat is a nice addition, though it’s emphasized far too much.

4.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The soundtrack likely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, with music that often lacks crescendo and cadence. No matter your taste, the quality is topnotch, and the driving beats and sound effects do a great job of supporting the gameplay.

3.6

Play Value
It’s a fun shooter, but it lacks innovation and polish – two things we generally expect from Treasure. Diehard fans will enjoy besting their top scores, while casual fans will likely run through the game once before moving on.

3.9

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

The precision pointing abilities of the Wii Remote controller make targeting enemies a snap. Players have the option of controlling their characters using the Wii Remote-Nunchuk combination, the Classic Controller, the Classic Controller Pro, Nintendo Gamecube controller or the Wii Zapper.

Choose from two playable characters with unique combat abilities.

It’s all about the score multiplier. The better a player’s skills, the more multiplier points are earned, and the higher the overall score. Players will want to play the game again and again to beat their personal best on each level.