Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo

 Xbox One
Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo Image
Metascore
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8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

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  • Summary: A modern take on the retro arcade shooter. Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo is a fast-paced frantic blast of a shoot 'em up (shmup) with loads to unlock and leaderboards to climb.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Video Chums
    Feb 15, 2020
    80
    Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo contains an impressive variety of modes and each one poses an enjoyable level of challenge.
  2. TheXboxHub
    Feb 13, 2020
    60
    Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo on Xbox One does a lot of things well, especially given the price point, but ultimately those great things are sullied by strange design choices and weak design.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. GamerGuysNGals
    Feb 17, 2020
    10
    "Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo Review"
    By Johnny Mero
    Developed by Bare Knuckle Entertainment Available on Xbox One, PlayStation    "Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo Review"
    By Johnny Mero
    Developed by Bare Knuckle Entertainment
    Available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam
    Release Date: 2/12/2020
    Price 4.99

    With a name like Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo, I really wanted to use this opportunity to advert this game as heavy metal as possible but I suck at editing and I don’t have a metal voice so you’ll have to selling for my usual fun normal voice. SMSBST is a modern take on the retro arcade shooter that used to litter arcades many years ago with that same addicting fast paced gameplay that many of you all know and love. It’s got enough story like the older titles so you have an excuse to be in space and shoot a bunch of Alien Ships and Meteors. What’s really important about this game is the gameplay. The game itself contains 5 different game modes with 2 Turbo Edition modes. I was only able to play 3 of them due to being only one person sadly. There is your standard survival mode in which you must survive as long as you can, gathering power to keep your ship working without stopping, Protect Mother in which you must protect the mothership as long as possible without you or the mothership dying, save the colony in which you must collect survivors of a destroyed ship to a warp engine, One Shot which is a 2 player dog fight starting with one shot each, and To The Death which is a competitive take of Save the Mothership. The controls feel quite well while you play these modes as well which means you can’t blame the game if you suck. There had been multiple times I had gotten myself killed because I accidentally turned into a meteor fragment or into the barrier itself as tend to lose exact track of where I am and go by approximates. This is why I tend to suck a lot bullet hell shmups like this. But there are ways to help better yourself through getting more ships that each have their own attributes and extra functions. For instance the ships: Lunavi and Cherub, have rotating turrets so you can turn this game into a twin stick shooter. Otherwise, it plays more like you’re dogfighting in space. The only thing that bugs me about the rotating turret is you still have to maneuver the same as before and there are no ships that truly make it feel like a twin stick shooter like geometry wars for example but more like a hybrid of the two. Achievement wise, this may take you a bit but you can easily get lost in the game if you let yourself. It’s definitely one of those games you can play passively if you wanted to. I couldn’t say How long it would take for you to get 100% though.

    Pros:
    fine tuned controls
    good music and sound effects
    fun gameplay that isn’t annoyingly repetitive

    Cons:
    the twin stick shooting doesn’t feel Like true twin stick shooting but this is more a minor issue.

    Overall, this game is perfect example of bringing an old formula back into a new audience. It’s very fun and addicting. You all should definitely pick this up if you want to add a quick arcade style title to your collection. This game is a worthy 10/10.    … Expand
  2. BrainyGamer
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    I love retro shooters, Geometry Wars and older are my gig. This game really does give you a retro vibe, It has a lot too it and adds new stuffI love retro shooters, Geometry Wars and older are my gig. This game really does give you a retro vibe, It has a lot too it and adds new stuff to the retro shooter genre. It starts off really hard and forces you to learn through challenges and just playing. Every mode is fun and the game is an absolute bargain for the price.

    Based on PS4 game play through    … Expand
  4. DogDogCat
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    After enjoying the original Space Blaster I thought I'd pick up the Turbo game and I'm very glad that I did. The game improves on the originalAfter enjoying the original Space Blaster I thought I'd pick up the Turbo game and I'm very glad that I did. The game improves on the original in all areas. It has more game modes, more ships, more music, and loads more challenges. To top it all off it's now on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam.

    The game is really addictive, it sucks you in like good old retro games did. Playing co-op doubles the fun and the new Colony mode is probably the best mode in the game. I this mode you have to blow-up loads of alien space ships and rescue astronauts at the same time. The mode has a boss and is a real challenge to complete. The graphics are the same hand-drawn style as the first game, they look nice and have some detail but are nothing mind blowing. The music and sound is absolutely amazing, Depeche Mode style synth tracks blast out and cute hi-pitched cries of help can be heard from the floating astronauts.

    Over all the game is amazing especially for such a low price, at $4.99 the game is an absolute steal, go grab a copy now and start blasting those spaceships.

    **Switch digital version reviewed**    … Expand
  5. GamesNStuff
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo is one of the best retro shmups I've played and at under 5 bucks you're going to be hard pressed toSuper Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo is one of the best retro shmups I've played and at under 5 bucks you're going to be hard pressed to find a better arena shooter. There are 5 modes each with their own mechanics. My favorite was Save the Colony, a mode in which you have to rescue astronauts and fight of the alien space scum. This miode is a little easier than the others as you don't die on contact with the edge of the screen. Another mode is survival mode where you must make sure you don't run out of ammo and fuel while fight your way to the boss. This mode is challenging but a lot of fun too. The other mode is a mode where you must protect your mother-ship. You get rewarded for combos and again it's quite hard because of the insta-death screen edges. All these modes can be played in 2-player local coop which is loads of fun. There are 2 more local multiplayer modes which are fun but feel a little tagged on.

    In all the modes there are loads of power-up weapons to collect each of which can be upgraded in the shop. My favourites are the laser which is like a light-saber and the homing missiles. There are loads of ships to choose from once unlocked each with different handling and stats. There is a warp-engine that can be unlocked in the shop for 50 credits which removes the screen-edge walls of death and makes the game a lot easier. Ships and upgrades are unlocked via credit which you collect from destroyed enemies and from completing challenges. These challeges add real longevity to the game and give you a sense of purpose. Challenges like surviving for 3 minutes without shooting or destroying 100 nemies while stationary are really fun to complete.

    The soundtrack by Electric Fan Death is awesome, the style reminds me of Depeche Mode and goes way beyond the usual chip-tunes heard in many smallish shmup. The hand-drawn graphics do the trick and have a hidden layer of detail that can be hard to see at first. This game is difficult like retro games were, but if you put in a little time you will find an amzing game that is a lot of fun and provides hours of entertainment.

    Summary: Great retro space shooter. Lots of fun modes and coop fun with a friend. Like the variety of ships and weapons. Really challenging gameplay but so much fun, you just have to put in the time initially to learn how to play. Cool retro soundtrack too. (PS4 & Xbox One versions played)    … Expand
  6. GamingDavester
    Feb 12, 2020
    8
    A space shooter with a very long name to live up to. Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo has some big words in its title but can it provideA space shooter with a very long name to live up to. Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo has some big words in its title but can it provide the substance to go with them? The answer is quite simple yes! yes! and yes again! The game brings back the true retro feelings that I had as a kid when playing games on a console with my friends. Including local cooperative modes at this low price point is great and makes the game a true retro treat.

    The controls are perfect, initially I wanted to shoot with the 'A' button but as soon as I bought a ship with a turret cannon, I was happy aiming with the right stick and shooting with 'RB'. The game definitely requires some learning, and this is unusual for a shooter at this price. Each mode has unique rules like the screen edge destroys you in 2 modes, you have to rescue space-people in another, you must protect a massive space ship in another, and you have limited ammo and fuel in another mode aptly named 'survival'. If you attempt to just pick-up and play you'll be dead within seconds. You have to put time in and the game provides loads of challenges to keep you interested as you learn. Some of the challenges are quite difficult and you are reward for completing them with coins which you can spend on upgrades and new ships.

    The graphics and music suit the game well for a retro style space shooter. There are online leaderboards and Xbox Live Achievements (1000 gamerscore) to add further life to the game. The game quickly becomes addictive, me and my friend kept saying 'another turn', 'another turn', even though we kept intending to play something else. I haven't got all the achievements but I have completed most of the challenges, beat the boss on survival mode, and saved 30 something space people on Colony mode. This has taken me nearly 5 hours, 2 of which I played in cooperative mode. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Space Blaster (add all the adjectives) on Xbox One, perhaps because of my addiction, look forward to getting the rest of the achievements.

    Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of the game from the developer.    … Expand
  7. Xbox_Alive
    Feb 12, 2020
    8
    Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo is a 2D Single Screen Shmup by Bare Knuckle Development. The Earth is a polluted Wasteland and MankindSuper Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo is a 2D Single Screen Shmup by Bare Knuckle Development. The Earth is a polluted Wasteland and Mankind has looked at the stars for a new home. One of the massive drones known as a mother, has found an inhabitable planet and has come under attack from its inhabitants. Armed with remote drones called Space Blasters, this is where you come in. You are tasked with remotely controlling one of these drones, to protect the Mother. This sounds like a challenge! And it is. Super Mega Frustration Blaster Special Turbo Rage is what the title should be. Off the break, the controls are unintuitive. It doesn't feel like a conventional controller was in mind when the button layout was designed. Once you get used to the crazy button layout you're ready for battle. You're tasked with destroying everything on screen to prevent damage to the Mother. Debris has drifts randomly, and most of the time towards the edge of the screen, where your penalized for letting things "escape". The Edge of the screen is deadly to your ship. Some shops have a turret and you can turn it with the right thumbstick... but this just seems to further the inability to get the bullets where you want them fast enough. Your ammo is limited, but everything you destroy drops a bullet, sometimes more. The art definitely feels hand drawn, and the music satisfies for the retro stylings within. Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo at times in certain modes can be frustrating. Fanatic Shmup players may fond this title to their liking, but being a casual shmup player I found all the game modes to be difficult but retro hand drawn art is inspiring in its own retro way, so if you're looking for a real challenge with a magnificent retro feel and difficulty curve For the price, it’s a no-brainer if you’re up for a classic shooter in the modern mould of an Asteroids styled game. There aren’t any gimmicks here, just quality gameplay mechanics that will have you coming back for repeat plays on your Xbox One for about the cost of a small lunch. Do yourself a favor and head on over to the Xbox store and add it to your library.… Expand