LBR received a Nintendo Switch review code from Flynn’s Arcade to review 8-Colors Star Guardians +. This review does not cover the Steam edition.
8-Colors Star Guardians + is an RPG with turn-based combat from indie developer and publisher Andrea Demetrio. The core game features a series of boss fights, with some narrative in-between. There are also additional modes, such as Arcade mode.
In 8-Colors Star Guardians +, players defend Earth from alien monsters in turn-based battles. You must learn the monsters’ unique weaknesses, as well as your heroes’ special abilities, to win. You’ll also play out a story that explains the heroes’ backstories and relationships.
8-Colors Star Guardians + first launched onto Steam in September 2023. It releases onto the Nintendo Switch next week on January 11th, 2024. Here’s some gameplay from the official Steam launch trailer:
8-Colors Star Guardians + is full of sincerity as it pays homage to retro gaming, Power Rangers, and similar IP.
The art design still results in some creative creatures though. The environments are delightfully retro, and the music is an absolute blast.
I also appreciate the inclusive representation in this game, which features LGBTQ+ support and an entire team of women.
However, this is a considerably short game. So, you don’t get the best opportunity to know the characters. And although the monsters each have their own mechanics, the gameplay is very thin.
This is partly due to the dialogue, which spells out precisely how to overcome each new enemy.
As a result, you likely won’t need to strategize much between battles. I would have enjoyed discovering the appropriate team comps on my own.
I did have fun with the final boss fight, where you need to juggle all of the heroes’ abilities at once. There was a better flow in timing your heals, SP restoration, and weakness conditions.
The dialogue is full of banter, which will be amusing for some and frustrating for others. It does improve as you progress, and the game is proudly tongue-in-cheek to begin with.
But the banter can come off amateurish, and I personally cringed more than I chuckled. It might be an acquired taste, and I just couldn’t connect.
I’ll note that having grown up in the 90’s, I am accustomed to Star Guardians’ influences and can enjoy their style.
The story itself had some bits of compelling lore. I wish there were actual worlds to explore in Star Guardians’ universe.
The straightforward and easygoing combat is a natural pairing for mobile Switch gameplay.
I must add that chapter one concludes with end credits and returns to the main screen. So, progressing to chapter two is not clear or intuitive.
Final Thoughts
8-Colors Star Guardians + offers genuine love for its inspirations, and nostalgic fans will surely appreciate that. I can tell that hard work went into this. However, the gameplay and tactics are thin, and the story is unexpectedly short. The dialogue may also feel equally distracting or charming.
Score: 6/10
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