Josh Bidleman's review of Flutter: Starlight

Date last edited: 11-22-2024 at 04:44PM

   
Rating: Everyone

Review:
App: Flutter Starlight
Developer: Runaway Play
Genre: Casual simulation
My rating: 4/5 stars
Intended audience: Children & critter enthusiasts
Version: 2.222
Platform: iOS & Android
Price: Free to play
Year of Release: June 2016

Due to this week's assignments being twofold, I have opted to wrap them both up in a nice package and do my research into a mobile game. Now, mobile games have a reputation for being of particularly low quality, but there is something about Starlight that feels like it was made with a degree of love absent and Skill above most others. Produced by a relatively small studio, it is the second game in their Flutter series and fourth game of its particular style they have published. The gameplay loop is quite simple, composed of: 1) attracting a new moth egg 2) hatching it and waiting for it to grow 3) feed the adult moth pollen, which will allow the player to collect coins from it and expand the sanctuary for more moths. It’s fairly simple, but in my own time I have enjoyed hours upon hours of managing my little moths. The art direction is stylized and cute, which is helpful for those who are squeamish around insects. The general feeling of it is cozy and gentle, aided by the rainforest at night aesthetic it has perpetually. There are a few things detracting from my opinion of it, such as the ridiculously long wait times for things to happen, especially with more valuable moths. Though this could be a result of myself, wanting instant gratification, and playing a game you’re intended to pop into twice a day to do a few things for a few minutes.

Like all mobile games, it does contain ads, but they are not forced upon the player in any way. They are instead offered with a small reward as an incentive to watch it, and if the player does not want/cannot watch it immediately, the icon to bring up the offer remains for a little while. In this way, and the intended play method of logging on only once or twice per day, players experience a good Balance of gameplay and thought of the real world. Another show of Balance is in the variety of little creatures to collect, as they make a point of having at least four moths in each collection, which hail from regions all over the globe.

I, personally, am terrified of bugs, can’t stand them. They’re horrifying and fly about erratically making awful noises in your ears. The softer, stylized moths presented by Starlight are very nice, however. Their round eyes and little pill-shaped bodies are adorable, which makes my Experience with them much more pleasant than if the goal was realism. It is also very clear that the creators care deeply about the subject matter, having put in much research to ensure each moth in each collection is accurate to their real-life locale and patterning. The work they put into this game is very Inspiring, both to prospective game developers and would-be insect enthusiasts. Truth abounds in this game, and its sister game as well, the daytime-oriented Butterfly Sanctuary. At certain points, an in-game event will occur, in which a small ant comes along to grow a mushroom garden. This is in reference to certain species of leafcutter (and various other) ants, which harvest leaves so they can cultivate fungi on them for food. The attention to detail is very deep, and their Skill does pay off well.

Where does the Human Person fit into a game in which no human ever appears on-screen? A simple answer for a simple question. It is to be understood that the player is not an active participant in the abundant nature before them, but a quiet observer, studying the life cycles of moths and other rainforest critters. This relates to real life, in which researchers will keep a safe distance from their subjects in order not to interrupt their lives. The Attitude Awareness present is in the setting: a rainforest. The issue of deforestation is an issue that was once quite hot, but has since cooled quite a bit. This does not mean it has gone away, however. Corporations still remove large swaths of rainforest in the Amazon, ignoring the needs of the near countless unique species already living there.

Flutter: Starlight is a very nice little game, with very little in the way of obtrusive and obnoxious intrusions most other mobile games are guilty of. The game can be played in its entirety without spending a single cent, though the player may still be willing to do so in return for a particular little critter they enjoy. It is intended to be thoroughly enjoyed not only by children, who will find the moths adorable, but also by adults, whether they be parents, full-time workers, or simply moth enthusiasts. The commitment is very low, but the level of involvement the player can have is rather high for such a simple premise. Ultimately, I would definitely recommend Flutter: Starlight to anyone who is looking for a relaxing, slow-paced exploration of colorful creatures with real-world applications.


Seven Keys:
Balanced:
Attitude:
Personal:
Truth-filled:
Inspired:
Skillfully Made:
Experienced:

Overall Rating: 32/35

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