Pulstar
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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions
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Pulstar FPS by GPU
Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality
Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions
1080p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 959 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 875 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 973 fps | 790 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 834 fps | 677 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 944 fps | 755 fps | 604 fps | 491 fps |
1440p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 889 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 999 fps | 964 fps | 783 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 938 fps | 762 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 886 fps | 720 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 808 fps | 656 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 999 fps | 912 fps | 729 fps | 593 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 977 fps | 781 fps | 625 fps | 508 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 708 fps | 567 fps | 453 fps | 368 fps |
4K performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 948 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 880 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 973 fps | 790 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 917 fps | 745 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 861 fps | 700 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 851 fps | 681 fps | 553 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 912 fps | 729 fps | 584 fps | 474 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 803 fps | 643 fps | 514 fps | 418 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 781 fps | 625 fps | 500 fps | 406 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 738 fps | 590 fps | 472 fps | 384 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 673 fps | 538 fps | 431 fps | 350 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 608 fps | 486 fps | 389 fps | 316 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 521 fps | 417 fps | 333 fps | 271 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 378 fps | 302 fps | 242 fps | 196 fps |
Where to buy
Pulstar
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Genres
About
Pulstar, released in 1995, is an action-packed indie game that immerses players in a thrilling space combat experience. The primary objective involves navigating through challenging levels while collecting power-ups and defending your spacecraft against enemy forces. Its gameplay bears significant resemblance to iconic titles like R-Type, making it notable for its design and mechanics that appeal to fans of the genre.
In terms of PC performance, Pulstar is quite accessible, catering to a wide range of hardware configurations. With a minimum GPU requirement of an entry-level graphics card scoring around 631, even budget-friendly systems can deliver solid FPS on this title. Players can expect to run the game smoothly on setups equipped with at least 2 GB of RAM, making it ideal for gamers seeking less demanding options while still enjoying an engaging experience.
If you're a fan of retro shooters and enjoy classic action gameplay, you might find Pulstar worth your time despite its modest rating of 66/100. Its nostalgic value and engaging mechanics provide a satisfying experience for players looking to revisit or discover this gem in the indie gaming realm.
Performance profile
Released in January 1995, Pulstar predates modern GPU acceleration as we know it today. It runs effortlessly on virtually any current hardware, including integrated graphics and entry-level laptops — framerate is limited by the engine, not the GPU.
Action titles like Pulstar reward high framerates for visual clarity during combat. A mid-range modern GPU at 1440p 60–120 FPS is the practical sweet spot; VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync) smooths out drops during heavy effects.
Extremely light — Pulstar runs at 60 FPS 1080p on any integrated GPU (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) or a decade-old discrete card like the GTX 1050. A current-gen RTX 4060 pushes 4K Ultra without effort.
Storyline
In the year 2248, the first recorded sign of extraterrestrial life was discovered coming from Mars. The signal emanated from the planet and from it an object travelled through space at light speed out of the Solar System. Earth scientists read the signal, but not knowing the nature of it, warned the world's defenses in case aliens traced the signal and followed it to Earth with the intent to destroy. Eight years later, aliens followed the signal to the Solar System and began attacking the human space craft awaiting them along Neptune’s orbit. The battle between the humans and aliens spread throughout the Solar System; within two years of combat Neptune was disintegrated, Jupiter was turned into a star and more than half of Earth's continents sank from rising ocean levels and the planet's changing axis as a result. Kaoru Yamazaki, lone fighter pilot of the Dino246, is one of the few survivors left of the Pulstar attack force founded to save the Solar System from the alien invaders; it is through her that mankind may have a chance to survive the alien menace.
