Cosmic Star Heroine

Only took around 7 years for me to crack this gem open. It screams and ooze's Chrono Trigger with a splash of Suikoden. I love the look and feel of the game. The soundtrack is absolutely brilliant! Had a ton of fun playing this throwback. Highly recommend!

When you combine the charms of the SNES RPG with some banger sound tracks, creative combat mechanics and a fun story with some excellent pacing. That's this game in a nutshell! Visuals and style is very reminiscent of the the Chrono Trigger era of JRPG games, its super easy to pick up and play, the story kicks into high gear and before you know it you see the credits roll.
I highly recommend this game!

I'll start this off by saying Cosmic Star Heroine is a rough gem, and in my opinion, very much worth its asking price.
I'll start with the good. In terms of mechanics for turn-based RPGs, this game feels fresh. Status effects are based on an "HP" system, rather than chance-based. This makes them largely predictable, and very useful. I love this. Characters dedicated to status ailments can be a part of your primary crew, even against bosses. On the matter of mainstays, any and every playable character serves a purpose, and they're all equally viable in your crew. Alyssa, your ever-present protag, can be flexible in how she works, so you can bend your crew to just about any combination you want.
The soundtrack is smooth and an absolute pleasure on the ears. The art is also quite nice, from enemies to character portraits. And in terms of content, the game isn't lacking. Superbosses, side quests, optional dungeons, extra gear, it's all there and none of it felt awful to engage with (though I was definitely taking on one quest earlier than I should have with how difficult it was).
Now for the not so good. In a game with a plethora of status effects, buffs, and ailments, the game does a very poor job of conveying what they all mean and when they're active. The UI won't give you any information about buffs and debuffs, and you'll have to look at an enemy/ally's icon above their head to know what's afflicting them, IF that affliction has an icon, which many don't. This is kind of a big deal, as entire strategies can depend on status effects that you may not fully understand.
The story is nothing particularly interesting, and I'm sad to say, neither are the characters. They're really just cliches that give you some dialogue in between you jumping to the next plot point. It's odd that the story feels like it's SPRINTING from beat to beat, despite this being a fairly lengthy game. Now I want to clarify, I don't think the story is awful, nor is the dialogue anything particularly wince-worthy, but if you're looking for depth of narrative or character, it isn't here.
All in all, I still had a very good time with with Cosmic Star Heroine. If you're looking for a fun RPG you can experiment with status effects and party comp in, this game is for you.

honestly just a refreshing take on JRPG’s as a whole
it’s got the feeling of Chrono Trigger whilst still implementing it’s own very unique combat system.
i enjoyed pretty much every second of the game, probably one of the best “inspired by chrono trigger” -type of games.
the game just overall has a really nice level of polish that’s kinda hard to explain, like fights existing in vacuums (no need to heal between fights), not having a traditional MP system, and being able to adjust your difficulty at any time.
this just genuinely feels like a passion project from people who love this genre and they did a great job minimizing all forms of frustration/tedium that JRPG’s usually end up suffering from.
it can be picked up for like 3 bucks on sale but i feel like the full price is still very worth it, it also plays like a dream on the SteamDeck
this game was amazing and i’m now really interested in any and all future projects from this studio

Cosmic Star Heroine is a solid JRPG game which goes for that Chrono Trigger feel.
Unfortunately story and the characters do not have the depth they wish they had.
Still a very well done indie game with well paced combat.
6/10

Cosmic Star Heroines initially bursts onto the scene with a vibrant energy, promising a thrilling ride through a galaxy teeming with intrigue and adventure. The sheer variety of party members, each with their unique skills and personalities, is a definite highlight. I loved experimenting with different team compositions and tailoring their abilities to my playstyle. The recruitment mechanic adds a layer of depth, with choices that subtly influence the world around you. And the ability to further customize characters through armor and ability selection adds a welcome layer of personalization.
However, this initial burst of excitement soon fizzles out as the game's pacing becomes its biggest downfall. Everything is thrown at you at warp speed, leaving little time to breathe and appreciate the nuances of the world or the characters. This breakneck pace is further exacerbated by the stagnant difficulty curve. Whether I was facing a random encounter or a major boss, the challenge felt remarkably similar. This made grinding an absolute chore, especially since most battles are unavoidable.
Overall: Cosmic Star Heroines tantalizes with its potential, offering a rich roster of characters and customization options. However, the relentless pacing and monotonous difficulty ultimately hold it back from reaching its full potential. If you're looking for a fast-paced RPG with plenty of character options, this might be worth a look. But be prepared for a somewhat uneven and occasionally frustrating experience.

Incredible game so far, perfect balance of story, character and gameplay