Caster Review

If you're looking for a game that's a little faster-paced than most, then Caster will speak to you. Flashy gunfights? Check. Super fast speeds and crazy jumps? Check. Frenzied combat with nasty enemies? Check. A main character with blue hair? Check (of course). It's the makings of a wonderfully put-together action game.

Caster follows the main character (who you name) and his mission to destroy the evil Flanx: aliens/bad guys that are plaguing the game's world. And that's about all there is to the story; Caster isn't about delivering a gripping narrative.

The high-speed battles are excellent. You move with WASD and shoot and aim with the mouse. You can upgrade your weapons and attributes after each level, and you obtain new weapons as the game progresses. The weapons are a nice variety: homing, stun, and charge lasers, along with two lasers that create chasms and mountains in the environment. The last two are personal favorites of mine (screwing with the terrain is great fun).

Fighting is sweet, sweet pandemonium, but it can be slightly overwhelming at first. By the second or third level, though, you'll be blasting the baddies like a pro. The graphics are 3d, but they aren't very sophisticated. They get the job done, but it would have been nicer if there was some more detail.

Caster is a great game for those seeking a thrill. It's a shame it's so short (around 2 hours), but there's a nice little bonus for buyers: anyone who buys Caster will get the next chapters for free. Now, excuse me while I blast some more aliens into oblivion, and enjoy the carpal tunnel afterwards.

Graphics:
The 3d graphics are nothing special. However, the modifiable terrain is wonderful, and the sprites are nice, too.

Sound/Music:
Laser shots, explosions, the obnoxious scuttling of those little crab enemies all sounds pretty good. And the music sounds like it came straight out of a rave, which only makes me love Caster more.

Gameplay:
Caster plays beautifully, with smooth controls and tight action. Every weapon is useful, and it's not so hard that it's frustrating.

Concept:
Third-person shooters aren't overly common, but they all seem to have the same kind of approach: screw the story and get to the frenzied action. Not a bad thing for this kind of game, but not a new one either.

Value:
While the game is short (about 2 or 3 hours, max) it is only 4.99, and it's got a perk for buyers: the next chapters will be free.

Fun:
Sometimes, it's nice to just forget about strategy and shoot EVERYTHING. Caster does that, with some style thrown in.

Overall:
The game has some small rough spots, but I'm willing to overlook them because Caster is just that much fun. It's got enough character that I'm willing to endorse it, even if it's not as pretty and polished as some of its peers.