CHAOS CODE -NEW SIGN OF CATASTROPHE-
- March 15, 2017
- FK Digital
It is a very easy to pick up fighting game with a high skill ceiling and lots of replay value. For a 20€ package it has everything a fighting game needs to have. The Anime aesthetic might be right up your alley or not, that is for you to decide.
Get on Steam"Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe" is a 2D fighting game featuring fast-paced combat and a diverse roster of characters. Players can utilize unique moves and combos to defeat their opponents in various game modes, including arcade, story, and multiplayer. The game also includes new features such as improved game balance and additional characters compared to its predecessor.
Reviews
- Chaos Code offers a fun and unique fighting experience with a diverse cast of characters and customizable moves, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced players.
- The game features a solid amount of single-player content, including various modes and unlockable content, which adds to its replayability.
- Many players appreciate the game's humor, charming character designs, and engaging gameplay mechanics that blend elements from classic fighting games.
- The online multiplayer experience suffers from delay-based netcode and a small player base, making it difficult to find matches without friends.
- The game has some technical issues, including crashes, input problems, and a lack of a tutorial mode, which can hinder the learning experience for new players.
- Graphics and presentation are considered outdated, with some players noting poor translations and a lack of polish in the overall design.
- gameplay38 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun mechanics, tight controls, and a blend of traditional fighting game elements reminiscent of King of Fighters and anime fighters like Guilty Gear. While the game features a rich array of systems and character customization, it lacks a tutorial mode and rollback netcode, which may hinder accessibility for new players. Overall, the gameplay is described as fluid and engaging, with a good balance of offensive and defensive mechanics, though some players note the need for external resources to fully grasp its complexities.
“Amazing and super fun gameplay.”
“Tight controls, excellent mechanics, amazing soundtrack, nice visuals, and the characters don't play like normal fighting game archetypes.”
“Gameplay-wise, it plays like a mix of King of Fighters and anime air-dashers like Guilty Gear/BlazBlue, while also adding some of its own mechanics.”
“The downsides of this, however, are the lack of rollback netcode and the command list not including a list of universal mechanics, forcing players to research on the Mizuumi wiki or other services.”
“It's a shame that the game doesn't have a tutorial mode, but the mechanics can be easily found online.”
“As much as I love the concept of Chaos Code, the way the game is presented is simply poor from both the visual and audio aspects; plus the underlying mechanics are not up to the usual standard of quality you expect from the genre these days.”
- story16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story in the game is largely considered an afterthought, featuring goofy characters and a clichéd plot that lacks depth and seriousness, though it embraces its absurdity. While some players find humor in the ridiculousness of the narrative and its endings, the overall execution is seen as mediocre, with unskippable content and a lack of coherent character arcs. Despite these shortcomings, the game offers a variety of single-player modes and a robust cast, contributing to its fun gameplay experience.
“It doesn't take its story seriously at all and it's aware of that, which I enjoy a lot, even though I do appreciate a nice serious story.”
“That said, it has a robust story mode, a diverse cast, nice music, and voice acting.”
“The story is ridiculous, and I wouldn't call it compelling, though the endings can be funny.”
“The overall story and all that 'chaos code' mcguffin is cliché and cringy to the limits, as are many character lines (especially Kudlak's).”
“I have no idea which characters have a story with who, and the arcade playthrough for a story... it felt like the ending I witnessed was written by a 10 year old.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its variety and quality, featuring an eclectic mix of genres that enhances the overall experience, with standout tracks like Cthylla's theme and "Cerberus Theme - Chaos Code." While some players find the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, others feel that certain tracks lack lasting impact. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, complementing its vibrant visuals and unique characters.
“It has a surprisingly good soundtrack that is varied across genres, which I really like - a special mention here is Cthylla's theme.”
“The OST is brilliant, going from jazz funk 'No Forgiveness' by Mint Jam, classic music like 'Sonata for Celia' by Kou, the more techno-ish funk 'Rumble' by Nekono, and the full-blown techno 'Cut n' Run' by -45.”
“Game feels really smooth, has some nice animations, and has a fantastic soundtrack that I've been listening to for years now.”
“The music is hit and miss with some very fitting tunes but none are especially memorable.”
“Sound and music: the game's OST is well made, but isn't really memorable.”
“Sound and music: the game's OST is well made, but isn't really memorable.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a nostalgic, old-school aesthetic with hand-drawn anime and pixel art styles, reminiscent of classic titles like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. While some players note that the visuals can appear blurry at higher resolutions, many appreciate the unique character designs, detailed sprite graphics, and beautiful backgrounds. Overall, the graphics are considered charming and polished, complementing the game's engaging mechanics and soundtrack.
“Fighting game anime style graphics.”
“Unique characters, spectacularly detailed sprite graphics, beautiful backgrounds, great music.”
“Graphics: this game uses hand-drawn anime graphics with some pixel style art.”
“The game has graphics and a screen like old style (4:3 and quality not so high).”
“We're talking about graphics that are only a shade better than something like Marvel vs. Capcom 2.”
“Once you get past the slightly dated graphics and anime aesthetic, there is some real polish and intrigue here.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a mix of quirky and humorous characters, particularly Catherine, whose absurdity adds to the comedic elements of the story. While some moments and character interactions are genuinely funny, the humor is inconsistent throughout, leaving players uncertain about the developers' overall intent with the game's tone. Overall, the humor is a notable aspect, though it may not resonate uniformly with all players.
“It's hilarious that there are 2 separate missions where you have to fight all female and male cast respectively, and Catherine appears in both!”
“The story is ridiculous, and I wouldn't call it compelling, though the endings can be funny.”
“On the plus side, the game has a wonderful sense of humor with many characters, although this is not consistent across all, so it's hard to really say if the developers were trying to be light-hearted with the tone of the game or not.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in "Chaos Code" is characterized by a mix of traditional and anime fighter styles, with a diverse range of character designs that, while initially appearing uninspired, reveal unique personalities through their combat animations. Players appreciate the creativity behind the characters, which include whimsical and exaggerated designs, though some female characters are noted for their overtly sexualized appearances. Overall, the game offers a fun and varied cast that enhances the fighting experience.
“Character designs may seem uninspiring on the surface, but when you play as them, they actually have a lot of personality in their attacks, like most anime fighters. There's something for everyone.”
“I really like the character designs and animations.”
“Fun character designs with Cthulhu magical girls, muscly grappler chefs, edgelords, and of course, my big boy Ray.”
“Character designs may seem uninspiring on the surface, but when you play as them, they actually have a lot of personality in their attacks, similar to most anime fighters. There's something for everyone.”
“Even for a Japanese fighting game, most of the female character designs are pretty shameless in their obvious intent.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have noted that the game suffers from poor optimization, particularly in terms of loading times, which can detract from the overall experience.
“Either that or it's poorly optimized for loading times.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often involving straightforward but repetitive tasks. While some challenges can be overcome with cheats, the overall experience is marred by the excessive difficulty of certain encounters, likened to facing a nearly unbeatable boss.
“Most have a simple solution (2a -> 2b -> 2d) and are not hard, just tedious and frustrating, especially with cheats reaching Shao Kahn level or more. Stuff like invincible supers on 1 frame on wakeup with infinite meter or that ridiculous Kudlak zoning that not even Satan could approve of.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for being enjoyable and engaging, complemented by appealing characters that enhance the overall experience.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world with stunning visuals and sound design.”
“Every location feels alive, with a rich ambiance that enhances the storytelling and keeps you engaged.”
“The combination of music, environmental sounds, and visual aesthetics creates a captivating atmosphere that makes exploration a joy.”
Critic Reviews
CHAOS CODE -NEW SIGN OF CATASTROPHE- Review
Despite its age, obvious budget limitations, and, yeah, lack of popularity, CHAOS CODE -NEW SIGN OF CATASTROPHE- is a surprisingly fun fighter, with a pretty varied (albeit typical) roster of characters that will cater to everyone needs. Content, as well as mechanics-wise, it's nothing special… but that's not the issue here. The biggest flaw of this port is, without any doubt, the lack of an online mode. Hard to understand why this wasn't included, as it's the one thing that the vast majority of genre aficionados can't live without…
70%Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe Review
With every passing month, the library of 2D fighters on Steam grows exponentially. It's a wonder how anyone can keep up with this veritable flood. Nevertheless, an unfortunate number of games slip through the cracks, never receiving the love and tenderness that they need. It's too soon to say whether Chaos Code - New Sign of Catastrophe - will keep players coming back, but by every metric, it deserves a lot of attention. The roster is filled with brilliant characters, both in terms of design and fighting style. The mechanics and various sub-systems are superbly executed. The learning curve is gradual, so newcomers don't feel like they're in over their head. Conversely, experts have a great many techniques to work their magic with. Altogether, this is one fighting game that shouldn't be missed.
80%Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe Review
Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe takes the best elements of other fighters, and brings them together to create something great. It might not be the most original fighter around, but those looking to test their might will find a lot to like here.
70%
