Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies

About

"Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies" is a rhythm game where players tap buttons in time with traditional Chinese music. The game features a variety of songs and difficulty levels, as well as a unique storyline and character progression system. Players must master the beats and rhythms to complete each song and unlock new challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 64 reviews

story34 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The story is beautifully written and tackles difficult existential subjects, providing a heartwarming experience that resonates with players.
The art style and music are praised for their quality, creating a pleasant and immersive atmosphere throughout the game.
Voice acting is generally well-received, adding depth to the characters and enhancing the overall experience.

The pacing of the story is slow, which may deter players looking for a more engaging or fast-paced experience.
The English translation has issues with typos and awkward phrasing, making it sometimes difficult to follow the narrative.
There are very few choices available in the game, making it feel more like a kinetic novel than a traditional visual novel.

story
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
72%
3%
The story is a heartfelt exploration of friendship and love, centered around a boy's relationship with a terminally ill girl, which evokes a range of emotions from joy to sadness. While some find the pacing slow and the choices limited, many appreciate the beautiful writing, art, and music that enhance the overall experience. Overall, it is described as touching and memorable, with a focus on the deeper meanings behind the characters' interactions.
- “The story is involving; I keep humming melodies from the OST throughout the day. One feels the leisure, carefree happiness the characters are experiencing, and I'm eager for more.”
- “It is a very touching story with beautiful music and nice illustrations.”
- “Very beautiful story; you can't let it go until you find out what really happened, and even if you found out what happened and let it go, you'll want to return to this story again and again… because good stories must never end.”
- “I found myself wondering if the story would finally finish only for a new chapter to appear, and I will admit to skimming sometimes.”
- “The story is spread fairly thin like most slice of life, and your principal engagement will be seeing the sweet interactions among characters as they grow on you.”
- “It is a very slow simmer of a story.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
38%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional resonance and ability to enhance the storytelling, with many players finding themselves humming the melodies long after playing. Composed by Gustav Yu, the original soundtrack is noted for its variety and suitability to the game's scenarios, contributing to a pleasant overall experience. While some reviewers felt it didn't quite match the emotional depth of its predecessor, the soundtrack remains enjoyable and worth purchasing alongside the game.
- “The music fits every scenario that this game entails.”
- “The songs suit the whole game from the beautiful scenery it presents to the emotion conveyed by the story.”
- “Gustav Yu, the composer of the OST, did well on this part of the game and should be praised because of his dedication to this game.”
- “To my sadness and disappointment, I found that the soundtrack in this game doesn't reach the same level of feeling its predecessor had. The simple tunes of a piano that I was looking for are not present, and the performance of a different kind acts as a subtle invitation to begin the story.”
- “The music played by Jiayun's concertina also fits her role in the story, but it feels like it lacks the emotional depth I was hoping for.”
- “While the music fits every scenario that this game entails, it ultimately feels underwhelming compared to what I expected from the series.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and distinctive art style, reminiscent of watercolor paintings, which beautifully captures the setting of Nanjing, China. While the character designs and overall artwork are appreciated, some reviewers noted that there is room for improvement in character art. The combination of graphics and music creates a pleasant experience, enhancing the heartwarming story and adorable characters.
- “Graphics and music are great and are well put together, creating a very pleasant experience.”
- “One of the first art pieces that greet the reader after starting the game is the main menu's familiar style reminiscent of watercolor paintings, which Shan Gui's graphics feature as well, beautifully illustrating many of the sights found in the story as it slowly unfolds before us.”
- “From what I've gathered, the location selected was Nanjing, China, which looks beautiful now that I've compared the real-life Nanjing to the art style of Bai Qu.”
- “The character art style can be improved.”
- “Art style could have been a bit better; voice acting for the important characters is good, sometimes excellent.”
- “Since it's meant more for the special events, one will also see photographic-looking backgrounds on quite a few occasions that fit in pretty well, not unlike other doujin novels with similar looks.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its heartwarming and emotionally resonant story, featuring adorable characters and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the experience. Many players found the narrative to be both touching and bittersweet, often evoking strong feelings and even tears. The distinctive art style and strong emotional depth of the characters further contribute to its impactful storytelling.
- “Very heartwarming story that was too beautiful and at the end made me cry for the first time.”
- “It is a very touching story with beautiful music and nice illustrations.”
- “If someone asks me to be precise, the best I could do would be: heart-breaking, heart-warming, and a somber celebration of life, and all the whimsical and magical wonder it can bestow upon one whose light and beauty was cut short much too soon.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The atmosphere is described as soothing, mystical, and vibrant, effectively drawing players into an enchanting experience reminiscent of a world rarely seen today. While the sound effects and music enhance this lively ambiance, there are moments where the atmosphere can be disrupted by narrative elements. Overall, it evokes a strong desire to explore the depicted settings, particularly China.
- “This creates a soothing and oftentimes mystical atmosphere that draws in everyone who sees it with a charm not found anymore in the world, inviting us there for a short time that is sure to create a great experience.”
- “It always felt really lively and vibrant, with an incredible atmosphere that will make you want to book plane tickets to see China in person.”
- “Soon the atmosphere was ruined by a friend of hers and misjudged Qiuwu as a bad guy.”
- “The sound effects, though, are very well done and add a lot to the atmosphere.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring endearing and funny moments that enhance the overall experience. Players enjoy the comedic interactions, particularly with characters like qiuwu's parents, and appreciate the fun times shared with friends throughout the gameplay. Overall, it delivers a lighthearted and memorable narrative filled with laughter.
- “It is packed with comedy, fun times spent playing and laughing with friends, and wonderful memories and experiences.”
- “There is not much I can say without spoilers, but from what I've seen so far (I have finished one route as of writing this review), it is a really endearing story, with some adorable, as well as funny moments.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is noted for its uniqueness, with each character possessing distinct traits; however, the male characters are perceived as less impressive compared to their female counterparts.
- “The character design is unique; each character has their own distinct traits that make them stand out.”
- “The character design is unique; each character has its own distinct traits, but the male characters feel underdeveloped.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting no crashes or glitches during gameplay.
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is characterized by its engaging mechanics and fluid controls, providing players with a satisfying and immersive experience. Many users appreciate the balance between challenge and accessibility, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and seasoned players. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its depth and variety, keeping players invested over time.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game's soundtrack has been met with disappointment, as many users feel it lacks the emotional depth and simplicity of its predecessor, particularly missing the iconic piano tunes that set the tone for the story.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple storylines and choice-driven endings, encouraging players to engage in several playthroughs to fully experience the different outcomes. This contrasts with the previous installment, which featured a linear narrative.
- “Unlike the previous installment, this one isn't a kinetic novel with only one storyline but has several points where the choices made will influence how it ends, providing not just a measure of replayability, but a lot more that can only be seen by engaging in several playthroughs.”