Astra Superstars - Worth It?

[h8b1llg8ts]

I see this game is one of the most expensive fighters for the Saturn. I've seen the youtube gameplay and it looks great. But it's kind of expensive and I wanted to really hear it from others that this is a must have.

It will also be one of the most expensive games in my library too ...

[IcKy99]

download the rom and try it with mame!!! i would
im sure the arcade is up to par or if not better than the saturn's

[Original_Name]

My assumption is that such exuberant funds could be better spent elsewhere, on a game with more backbone to it than a fighting game. Don't get me wrong, I love fighters, shmups, racers, and brawlers as much as the next guy (well, maybe not around here... you guys sure do love your fighters and shmups around here), but it just seems like spending $150 is far too much to pay for an arcade conversion of any game - if I'm spending $150 on an arcade game, I'd better be getting the original arcade cabinet with it. I mean, for $150 you could be picking up the likes Panzer Dragoon Saga, y'know? I'm sure Astra Superstars is a fantastic game, I just don't know if it's $150 fantastic.

[GagaMan]

download the rom and try it with mame!!! i would
im sure the arcade is up to par or if not better than the saturn's

I believe this was an ST-V board game, so the Saturn and Arcade releases should be identical.

I've always wanted to play this, but yeah $150 is ridiculous for any game for me.

[Bootaaay]

Astra Superstars is a very unique fast paced fighter - the action takes place with the characters hovering in mid-air. The default position is the middle of the screen, but you can also shift your characters to the top or bottom to evade attacks, plus you can perform aerial rave-like moves to knock your opponent up or down, follow them and extend the combo. The character designs are all pretty unique and there's a good balance between the fighters who all have a V-ism like special and two powerful standard specials.

Overall, i'd say if you are a big fan of the Capcom vs series or Darkstalkers style of gameplay, then Astra Superstars will probably be worth it to you - especially if you've got a bunch of people to play it with. The game is certainly unique enough to stand on it's own, and in part this is why it commands such a high price, it's also because it's a damn good fighter but unless you are a serious fan of fighters you might get bored of it quickly and regret spending so much.

A good alternative would be Waku Waku 7 (also by SunSoft), while the gameplay isn't as fun imo, the graphics not as sharp and the animations not as fluid, Waku Waku 7 still contains some of the crazy anime charm present in Astra Superstars, plus it's a damn sight cheaper.

[h8b1llg8ts]

Astra Superstars is a very unique fast paced fighter - the action takes place with the characters hovering in mid-air. The default position is the middle of the screen, but you can also shift your characters to the top or bottom to evade attacks, plus you can perform aerial rave-like moves to knock your opponent up or down, follow them and extend the combo. The character designs are all pretty unique and there's a good balance between the fighters who all have a V-ism like special and two powerful standard specials.

Overall, i'd say if you are a big fan of the Capcom vs series or Darkstalkers style of gameplay, then Astra Superstars will probably be worth it to you - especially if you've got a bunch of people to play it with. The game is certainly unique enough to stand on it's own, and in part this is why it commands such a high price, it's also because it's a damn good fighter but unless you are a serious fan of fighters you might get bored of it quickly and regret spending so much.

A good alternative would be Waku Waku 7 (also by SunSoft), while the gameplay isn't as fun imo, the graphics not as sharp and the animations not as fluid, Waku Waku 7 still contains some of the crazy anime charm present in Astra Superstars, plus it's a damn sight cheaper.

Been collecting all the great JPN Saturn fighters and have Waku, Cyberbots, Asuka, Groove, ect. But Astra would be the most expensive game I would ever buy. EVER. And just can't get myself thinking that over $100 is worth ANY GAME! I've kind of gone down the way of this might be a Tomba. And by Tomba, I mean one of these days I'll come across Tomba for under $20 at some flee market or thrift store.