Something a bit different review-wise! I usually review full games rather than additional content, but I had the pleasure of receiving a copy to try out for this A Little To The Left: Seeing Stars DLC review. The puzzle game is already stacked with tons of repeatable puzzles that aim to destress you (or make you slightly stressed, in my case – I’m not good with puzzles!).
However, with the addition of DLC packs, you’ve got a whole new realm of levels at your fingertips. Learn more about the Seeing Stars DLC by visiting the Steam page!
Smaller Details
Firstly, I love that the acquired DLC adds a new piece of artwork to the menu. It’s the little details sometimes! You can switch between this and the standard edition art, which I think is a lovely little touch. But who couldn’t resist space cats?
A Little To The Left always has incredible sound design, and the Seeing Stars DLC continues to impress. I often like to turn the music off so I can appreciate the subtle sound effects as I shuffle objects around on the screen. It scratches a part of my brain that I can’t quite describe.
Fresh Stages
The Seeing Stars DLC includes 100 brand-new levels, and I wouldn’t particularly say they’re space-themed. When I first heard the name, I boldly assumed each level would have some semblance of a sci-fi-esque style. But, the stages look normal, which is fine!
To access the DLC levels, you need to select the ‘Seeing Stars’ option on the menu screen, which makes it easy to differentiate between already completed stages and new ones. This means I can switch between the 2 modes as I please. As for how the Seeing Stars DLC plays, it’s basically the base game, but with a ton of fresh puzzles on offer.
Unlike the base game, Seeing Stars doesn’t have chapters. Instead, each stage is part of a selection of 100. You can’t access any of the later levels until you’ve completed the previous ones, adding a linear challenge. It’s the same in the base game too, so this is nothing out of the ordinary.
Are The New Puzzles Tricky?
The puzzles are simple enough in theory, but trying to work out how to get the full amount of stars is the trickiest part. There are various ways to solve some of them, allowing for plenty of extra play-throughs. The Seeing Stars DLC definitely has a spike in difficulty. As I mentioned earlier on in this review, I’m quite bad at puzzles, to no fault of the game. I’ve always been the type of person to end up Googling an answer…
That’s why I’m thankful that the game includes its very own ‘Hint’ option, accessed via the menu by hitting the Escape key on your keyboard. It doesn’t appear straight away, so you need to struggle a few times before the game gives you a nudge in the right direction. I also like that it isn’t just a sentence or small diagram on the screen, as you have to use an eraser to rub out pencil markings on a notepad to reveal the hint. It’s very interactive!
If you like the base game, and you’ve completed all stages, we’d say this DLC is worth your time. You get a bunch of new levels to work through, all of which are just as creative and innovative as the original.
The good
- 100 new levels added to the game
- Great sound design
The bad
- Despite the DLC name, the new levels aren’t themed around space
- New levels aren’t as relaxing as the base game