Chiptune Champion
- January 7, 2016
- Blake Garner
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on Steam"Chiptune Champion" is a rhythm game that challenges you to play along to catchy chiptune melodies using your keyboard. With two game modes, three difficulty levels, and a variety of official songs to choose from, you can test your skills and rise to the top of the weekly and all-time leaderboards. You can also track and share your own custom songs via the Steam Workshop, and earn achievements as you progress. Customize your keys for a personalized experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a great selection of chiptune music that is enjoyable to play along with.
- It has a user-friendly track editor and Steam Workshop support, allowing players to create and share custom songs.
- The gameplay is challenging and can be fun, especially for fans of rhythm games like Guitar Hero.
- The timing for hitting notes is often too strict, leading to frustration for players, especially beginners.
- There is no native controller support, making it difficult to play comfortably without a keyboard or third-party software.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks a diverse range of songs, which may lead to boredom over time.
- music205 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is predominantly chiptune, which many players find enjoyable and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic 8-bit games. While the original soundtrack is praised for its catchiness, some users feel that the novelty wears off quickly and that the game lacks a diverse selection of songs. The inclusion of a song editor and Steam Workshop support allows for custom tracks, but the process can be cumbersome, and the overall song quality varies, leading to mixed feelings about the game's musical experience.
“The music is absolutely great - a wonderful selection of chiptunes you'll be walking around humming for days.”
“The music makes me feel like I've been cast into an 8-bit film.”
“The original songs are very good and catchy, the gameplay is responsive, and most of the workshop tracks are well made.”
“The keyboard causes a huge disconnect between myself and the music, personally.”
“These guys actually found a way to make listening to music into a terrible experience.”
“Even on sale it's tough to recommend since the songs are boring and the controls feel unresponsive.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a rhythm-based experience reminiscent of classic guitar games like Guitar Hero, featuring responsive mechanics and a variety of modes, including strum and tap options. While many players appreciate the catchy original songs and smooth performance, some find the gameplay challenging and occasionally frustrating, particularly with the strumming mechanics. Overall, the game offers a solid rhythm experience, though opinions vary on its execution and accessibility.
“The original songs are very good and catchy, the gameplay is responsive, and most of the workshop tracks are well made.”
“Chiptune Champion creates such an interactive situation for itself where players can play along to 8-bit tracks designed for the game, giving a gameplay experience that can leave players joyful, energetic, and humored.”
“I have played quite a bit of it and I absolutely love the music and clean gameplay.”
“Then throw in some chiptunes and terrible rhythm gameplay.”
“A bad 80's lookalike game with poor gameplay and interface.”
“4 - barebones gameplay.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their quality and synchronization with the audio, providing a visually appealing experience. While some users note that the visuals are not as flashy as those in other rhythm games, they still contribute positively to the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The visuals are great, and the music is fantastic!”
“Nice songs, audio and visuals are pretty well synced.”
“Also, the graphics aren't flashy like the beatmania arcade games.”
“The graphics aren't flashy like the beatmania arcade games.”
“Remove the gimmicky peripherals, the wide catalogue of rock music, the multiplayer elements, the band graphics, the achievements, the well-designed track/song mappings... in fact, remove almost everything fun about Guitar Hero.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is noted as lacking, with some users expressing a desire for a more developed narrative or campaign mode. However, this absence does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment, particularly for those focused on the rhythm gameplay.
“This doesn't bother me so much because it's a rhythm game, but there is no story mode or campaign, so if that's what you're looking for, it's not here.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and boring, particularly criticizing the process of placing beats on music as unengaging. Additionally, expanding the song library through the workshop is seen as a laborious task, further detracting from the overall experience.
“If I wasn't misled about the customization in the game, I'd still hate it because placing beats on top of music isn't fun; it's tedious and boring.”
“If you are looking to increase the low number of songs in this game with the workshop, good luck; you have some tedious work ahead of you.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for being poor, with unresponsive controls and a lack of engaging content, aside from the customizable song feature. Beginners may struggle due to the fast-paced songs, although user-created content offers some relief with slower, more accessible options.
“The workshop offers songs that are optimized for rookie players, featuring a slower speed that makes it easier to keep up with the fast-paced gameplay.”
“I appreciate how the game provides options for optimizing the controls, making it more accessible for beginners who may struggle with responsiveness.”
“The optimization of certain songs for different skill levels really enhances the experience, allowing players to gradually improve without feeling overwhelmed.”
“Poorly optimized, boring, and the music is generic. Literally the only redeemable feature is the 'make your own song' feature; aside from that, it doesn't really do much.”
“It was very hard to get used to the controls, which sometimes weren't very responsive. By the time I'm writing this review, I was still doing really bad in this game, especially because the songs are very fast. There isn't enough time to press every button correctly if you're a beginner, which is a thumbs up for the workshop; songs that were optimized for the rookie level had a slower speed.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is noted to be present and impactful, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Players appreciate how it enhances immersion and complements the gameplay.
“The atmosphere feels completely lacking and uninspired.”
“There is no sense of immersion; the atmosphere is flat and unengaging.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving it feeling empty.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Chiptune Champion is derived from its interactive gameplay, where players engage with lively 8-bit tracks that foster a joyful and energetic atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience with a lighthearted touch.
“Chiptune Champion creates such an interactive situation for itself where players can play along to 8-bit tracks designed for the game. It provides a gameplay experience that can leave players joyful, energetic, and amused.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as intriguing, with potential for deeper engagement, but it currently lacks refinement to fully resonate with players.
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its extensive music selection, the option to create custom tracks using the track editor, and the ability to download additional tracks from the Steam Workshop.
“There's a wide selection of music to choose from at the outset, and the ability to create your own tracks in the track editor or download tracks from the Steam Workshop gives this game huge potential for massive replayability.”
