Publisher: HouseMarque / Sony Online Entertainment
Cert: 3+
Platform: PS Vita
Genre: Shoot 'Em Up

Do you like competing for the highest score and live to be number 1? If you answered yes, stop reading this review right now and go download this game. If you answered no, you should probably keep reading but, fair warnings, I am still going to suggest you get this game.
Stardust is a completely unrepentant shoot em up with no plot (or at least if there was one I found little need to pay attention to it). With the standard control layout, you control a space ship with the left stick and can shoot 360 degrees with the right. Other attacks and camera movements can be controlled using the shoulder buttons, touch screen and motion controls. The world you orbit is bombarded with large asteroids and enemy vessels and by blasting the asteroids you create a number of smaller potential hazards but release power ups that are vital for survival. While there are points in this game where you get a moment's break, it won't be too long before you're once again fending off waves of enemy attacks whilst traversing an asteroid field you helped create. In each mission, you must get through at least four stages before fighting a final boss. Run out of lives at any point and it is back to the start.

If you are a fan of check points, this may not be the game for you. It can be incredibly frustrating to play spectacularly through the first three fifths of the stage only to make a couple of stupid mistakes just before getting to the final battle and only having one life left. This is, however, a game designed for those who seek to hone their skills to perfection. If, like myself, you are not all that competitive, Stardust, however, will become tiring in the long run as even taking into account of all the mini-games and the extra content available for purchase, it wasn't long before I realised I was just playing the same levels over and over again. This point is probably mute for those competing on the online leader board.
To me it did not have all that much replay value but for what it delivered, and particularly at its very reasonable price, it is enough for me to recommend this game to anyone. If you like old school competitive arcade shooters, however, consider this recommendation doubled.

Rent or Buy: Download only
Graphics: 3/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Replay: 3/5

Overall: 4/5

Reviewed by: JP Gallagher