Cosmic Star Heroine

Cosmic Star Heroine is a science fiction role-playing video game by Zeboyd Games. It was released in April 2017 for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows platforms and for PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Switch at later dates, with ports to other platforms still planned.

Gameplay
The game features 11 playable characters. There are no random battles; combat takes place on the field like in Chrono Trigger. Visible encounters do not respawn, a system for additional battle is present that is similar to the one featured in Cthulhu Saves the World. A unique charge system for abilities replaces traditional MP. There is also a base upgrading system similar to the one from the Suikoden series, where dozens of NPCs can be recruited to offer bonuses and support the player's party in battle.

Premise
The adventure follows Alyssa L’Salle, one of the galactic government's top agents, who after discovering a dark conspiracy is outed as a spy must deal with all manner of fans and villains while trying to save the day.

Development and release
Formerly code-named CSH, Zeboyd Games officially announced their new upcoming title as Cosmic Star Heroine in June 2013. The game was part funded through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, raising $132,689 towards its development in October 2013. Zeboyd credited the crowdfunding success to the timing of the campaign and the careful selection of the backer rewards. The game was inspired by titles such as Final Fantasy VII, Chrono Trigger and Mass Effect among others.

On October 27, 2015 it was announced the game would receive a physical edition for the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation Vita, courtesy of Limited Run Games. To promote the game it was featured at PlayStation Experience 2015, where the PlayStation Vita version was also playable for the first time. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 on April 11, 2017. A Nintendo Switch port was released on August 14, 2018.

Reception
Cosmic Star Heroine received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic, while on Gamerankings it has 77.17%. Critics praised the combat system, retro graphics, and the soundtrack, but found the story rushed, the characters underdeveloped, and the technical issues present frustrating.

The game was nominated for "Game, Original Role Playing" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.