Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.

What The Game's About
Gyrostarr combines arcade shooter elements from games such as Life Force or R-Type with the half-pipe bonus levels from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Guide your space vessel down the undulating pipe while shooting antsy approaching aliens and harvesting their precious energy. Acquire weapon power-ups to blast the aliens to bits, then collect enough energy before reaching the warp gate at the end of the pipe to blast through to the next of fifty levels. Play alone for high scores or join with up to three friends locally to compete for energy reserves and double-cross one another in the name of progress.



What's Hot
Several control options are available in Gyrostarr. The Wii remote's motion control abilities can be used to steer one's space vessel, but conventional controls work just as well. Connect a nunchuk to fall back to the familiar analog stick. Each control method responds smoothly and efficiently, and my own occasional failure to succeed never felt as if the controls were to blame.

What elevates Gyrostarr above the level of just another shooter is the inclusion of a nifty grappling gun gimmick. Energy units slide towards the space vessels, but careless crossfire or alien involvement can push those units away into the void. Using the arm to reach out and snag energy and weapon power-ups before they're carelessly pushed off into oblivion adds an engaging mechanic to the game, and frankly, without the grappling ability there wouldn't really be much here worth playing.

What's Not
Gyrostarr's bright, vividly sharp backgrounds would look like dynamite on a console capable of HD visuals, but on the Wii the levels all have a washed out, faded appearance. The music suffers from what sounds like the same heavy compression issues that hamper another High Voltage Software WiiWare release, High Voltage Hot Rod Show. I'm left with the conclusion that the developer could do some visually and musically impressive things if not restricted by Nintendo's WiiWare file size limitations. The dip in quality is especially noticeable in Gyrostarr's case.

More damning, however, is that the game just isn't all that much fun. Fifty levels of action sounds like a great deal, but before long the concept just runs out of steam as elements repeat with little to set one level apart from the previous one. Even the bonus levels that can occur between each regular level chug away with the same gameplay elements. Multiplayer competition adds some extra oomph from the package, but there just isn't enough here to recommend for long-term enjoyment.



Final Word
High Voltage Software has combined several beloved elements from disparate classic games, but the end result left me more bemused than amused. A lack of variety really hurts here, while the muddied and muffled picture and sound aren't helping the experience either. Gyrostarr would be great fun as part of a larger, more elaborate arcade-style space shooter set free from WiiWare limitations, but on its own the total package falls short of enjoyment and expectations.