Star Thief Review

Melvin the moon’s buddy Sammy has disappeared! Sammy just so happens to be a star, which is where the game Star Thief gets its name! Combining a little piece of Fruit Ninja with a sidescrolling platform game, Star Thief keeps things simple while providing a lot of excitement. It’s one of those games you just won’t be able to put down.

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Star-swiping your way to success.

Melvin the moon’s buddy Sammy has disappeared! Sammy just so happens to be a star, which is where the game Star Thief gets its name! Combining a little piece of Fruit Ninja with a sidescrolling platform game, Star Thief keeps things simple while providing a lot of excitement. It’s one of those games you just won’t be able to put down.

Each level presents a short scrolling scene filled with stars, platforms, breakable blocks, tossable stones and other objects. It looks like your standard platform game, but instead of running and jumping, you’re star swiping! Stars are arranged in all sorts of places in each level. Your goal is to collect as many as you can before reaching the end. Think that sounds easy? You’ve got a thing or two to learn about saving stars.

Most of the time stars are simply sitting on the screen waiting for you to tap/swipe them. But then there are stars locked in cages, ordered stars, split level stars, stars that phase in and out, and so on. Each one requires a little extra work in order to collect them. For locked stars you’ll have to find a way to break open the cage, usually by tossing a rock or removing a supporting block. Ordered stars must be tapped according to the numbers on their faces. Split stars are groups of stars that force you to break out a second finger to trace simultaneous paths across the screen. That’s right, you’ll need some dexterity! There are plenty more tricks designed to trip you up, but half the fun of Star Thief is discovering new obstacles and finding ways to overcome them within a fraction of a second.

Star Thief wins major points for its creativity. It’s based on a simple concept, making it extremely easy to get into. Once you’re cruising along, collecting stars and feeling like a champ, the game really sinks its hooks in you. Each level is filled with surprises, from speedy scrolls to locked chests and so on. There are even interactive environmental touches that let you play with the stage, such as clouds you can swipe away or grass to cut: just in case you find yourself with a spare nanosecond between grabbing stars. All of this adds up to a lively experience that keeps you thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.

Star Thief

Failure in Star Thief isn’t much of a concern. You can miss as many as seven stars in a level and still continue to the next stage. Even if you do fall a bit short, all you have to do is retry the level, which will take all of 20 seconds. Frustration never sets in, especially since the visuals and music are always upbeat and cheery.

Star Thief is one of those mobile games that are so simple they just work. The swiping/tapping mechanism will be familiar to everyone, even kids, and the bright colors and easy-to-see stars make it a very accessible game. Star Thief also has a lot of replay value, a good variety of environments, and straightforward gameplay that doesn’t punish you if you’re not an iOS virtuoso. Extraordinarily enjoyable on every level!

The good

    The bad

      100 out of 100