Sigma Star Saga DX
Developer: WayForward
Publisher: WayForward
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Switch (Reviewed)
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Price: $19.99 USD – Available Here
Overview
When you are a developer known for your quality for decades, people take notice. WayForward‘s track record for greatness goes back a long way, and we are now being treated to a port of a classic for modern consoles. Sigma Star Saga DX is ready for another swing at success, bringing with it a blend of genres with a deep narrative. Does this classic still have legs, or is this one that misses the mark? Let’s find out.
Story
If there is anything that stands out the most for Sigma Star Saga, it’s the story within. Players take the role as Ian Recker as he finds himself in a sci-fi plot to save the universe from an alien species known as The Krill, who are out to develop a weapon that challenges the safety of all living things. Along with Team Sigma, Recker must save the world while travelling to worlds far and wide as the narrative opens up in pretty awesome ways, with each choice possibly leading to a different outcome.
In a way, it’s Mass Effect before Mass Effect. There are females to impress, matter to find, and powers that have to be stopped from getting into the wrong hands. It’s surprising that this ambition was used on the Game Boy Advance, but like years prior, WayForward were known for pushing the limits at the end of a platform’s life, and this title is no exception. Sure, the story can feel a bit oddly paced and even has some generic tropes running through it, but I really respect the energy of this plot and how hard it tries to captivate the player, even if the delivery isn’t always so smooth.
Gameplay
Blending genres is always a risk, and I can’t say it pays off a lot for this title as a whole. By no means is the gameplay not smooth and what we would expect from WayForward, but the execution here leaves a bit to be desired. Players start off right in a hectic side-scrolling space shooter which, while difficult, is a very exciting way to start the experience. Everything in these portions is fairly standard fare. You have your standard weapons, bombs, power-ups, and simply scroll along until the end, attempting to survive onslaughts of bullets that rain down. While that is fine, there is repetition to these stages, and they can get a bit tiring as you try to progress. There are some quality-of-life upgrades added in the DX version, but they do little to really change the formula of the original product.
On foot portions of the game play out as an action-RPG with a top-down perspective. You explore and find items that progress the gameplay and story in these parts, fighting enemies with decent combat mechanics in tow. It’s weird that two portions of the game that feel so fluid don’t seem to feel interconnected, but that is kind of how Sigma Star Saga is. The progression system is fine, and even jumping back and forth between gameplay elements works, but rehashing the same areas gets old quickly, and this game feels padded and quickly gets tedious due to the nature of moving forward.
The game is still solid and really picks up with challenge, but having to have one great moment of satisfaction by beating an area, only to have to do it over and over again, is where the rust starts. By the end of the game, I was left with a feeling of simply wanting to stay on the ground and out of the skies, and simply finish it to get that last bit of story. The high points are great, but the journey between those points comes at a bit of a cost. WayForward did a lot to polish the experience for this version, and it shows, but the pacing is still a little bit of a headache overall.
Audio
I mean, the soundtrack is outstanding here. I think that is to be expected, but nevertheless, these tunes are great and still hold up well. There is a lot of thought put into each area’s score, and it shows most during story segments, where the game successfully makes small moments feel more important due to the music within. The sound effects are also solid, giving players a nice balance of that retro “pew-pew”, with great destruction and fight noises throughout.
Visuals
It is so odd how this game looks this good for the Game Boy Advance era, but alas, this is another winner. Full of colour, crisp sprites, and massive detail, these worlds are a joy to see and explore. Maybe that is why it is kind of frustrating for the pacing. With all of the beautiful world designs, it would be nice to get more variation when having to re-do areas, as some fall flat the second time around due to feeling more of the same.
Overall
I remember this title when it came out, as it was always kind of a bargain bin game. That isn’t any strike against Sigma Star Saga, as most late titles that were not Mario were knocked down quickly for the GBA, but this one was one I remember snagging due to its low cost and being impressed with during the original run, but kind of forgot about due to the massive DS landslide that would come shortly after. Sigma Star Saga DX is a welcome reminder of that era and that kind of release. Sure, it’s not perfect, but it does pack a punch, delivering a space epic in small scope and high ambition.
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