El Tango de la Muerte
- April 24, 2018
- Hernán Smicht
"El Tango de la Muerte" is a rhythm game where players step into the shoes of a Grim Reaper, tasked with guiding souls to the afterlife through dance. Set in a stylized, hand-drawn world, players must master various dance moves and timing to the rhythm of Latin-inspired melodies. The game features escalating challenges across multiple levels, testing the player's rhythm and coordination skills.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and charming art style that combines collage elements with a 1920s aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience.
- The soundtrack is fantastic, blending classic tango with modern beats, making it enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with tango music.
- The gameplay is simple yet engaging, with customizable difficulty options and a variety of mechanics that keep the experience fresh and fun.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of about 1-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- There are issues with rhythm synchronization and control responsiveness, making it challenging to predict the timing of certain gameplay elements.
- Some players found the additional mechanics to be distracting rather than enhancing, leading to confusion during gameplay.
- music71 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and how well it complements the gameplay, with many players enjoying the blend of traditional tango and modern beats. While some minor sync issues and lag during complex songs were noted, the overall soundtrack is described as sensational and engaging, encouraging players to revisit the game for the music alone. The combination of charming art, enjoyable gameplay, and a diverse selection of tracks creates a compelling musical experience that resonates with both tango enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
“A fun little game with amazing art style and music, thank you Hernán <3”
“The story, gameplay, and music are all lovely.”
“The art style, the music, the gameplay, and the story all come together to make for an extremely enjoyable musical experience.”
“It's not really a problem for most of them, but there's one song about 3/4ths through the game which is so dense with effects near the end that the game lagged out for about a half a second, and by the time it came back I'd completely missed the pattern.”
“The screen was stuck, but the music kept on going --- pretty unforgivable for a rhythm game.”
“The gameplay constantly changes the music track it is following (the bass track, the accordion track, the guitar track, etc.) with no warning whatsoever and no period of habituation; worse, some of the instrumental ornaments go off the established rhythm - this is good for the music, but not for the gameplay.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "El Tango de la Muerte" is characterized by its rhythmic mechanics and charming integration of story elements, though it faces criticism for unresponsive controls and a steep learning curve due to the frequent introduction of new mechanics. While many players appreciate the fun and original approach to rhythm gaming, some find the gameplay can become confusing and distracting, particularly with the constant changes in music tracks and mechanics. Overall, the game offers an enjoyable experience, but improvements in gameplay clarity and content depth could enhance its appeal.
“It is a heartwarming love story, the animations make it a little bit light and humorous, and the mechanics you're introduced to fold into the story.”
“The gameplay involves moving across the dancefloor to the rhythm, which you can follow by tiles that light up at the right moment.”
“The art style, the music, the gameplay, the story all come together to make for an extremely enjoyable musical experience.”
“I appreciate the unique style and humor, but the gameplay just isn't good enough to keep me playing till the end.”
“The major downside of this game is that the extra mechanics, while flashy, are not really adding anything new to the game and can get quite distracting.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay isn't quite up to par.”
- story33 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in "El Tango de la Muerte" is a charming and heartwarming love tale centered around an Argentinian man learning tango to win over his childhood sweetheart, infused with humor and melodrama. While the narrative is simple and brief, it effectively engages players with memorable characters and a unique storytelling approach that complements the rhythm-based gameplay. Overall, the combination of a well-crafted storyline, delightful animations, and a fitting soundtrack creates an enjoyable experience that resonates with players.
“It is a heartwarming love story; the animations make it a little bit light and humorous, and the mechanics you're introduced to fold into the story.”
“The storyline is like a soap opera gangster story, and it's surprisingly well-written with some memorable characters and fun over-the-top melodrama.”
“El tango de la muerte is a rhythm game where you play the story of Luciano, an Argentinian man who learns the tango to impress his childhood sweetheart, but things don’t go as planned.”
“In terms of design, it is my considered opinion that El Tango de la Muerte presents certain issues that detract from the seamless immersion in its storyline.”
“I did think that the storyline was perhaps a bit too heavy, especially for this genre of game.”
“Not a long or very complex game or story, but that also means it won't outlast its welcome.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and engaging art style, described as a blend of 1920s collage and playful influences reminiscent of Monty Python and South Park. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail and the overall aesthetic, which complements the enjoyable gameplay and soundtrack, although some note the game's brevity and limited options.
“A fun little game with amazing art style and music, thank you Hernán <3”
“The art style is beyond interesting and has such an attention to detail.”
“What a great rhythm game with 1920’s collage style of artwork!”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a unique and lighthearted style, with a funny story mode that complements its heartwarming narrative. While some players appreciate the genuine and culturally specific comedic elements, others feel that the gameplay may not be engaging enough to sustain interest throughout. Overall, the humor adds a charming touch, though it may not be enough to compensate for gameplay shortcomings.
“It is a heartwarming love story; the animations make it a little bit light and humorous, and the mechanics you're introduced to fold into the story.”
“Simple controls (only arrow keys), easy to learn, a funny story mode.”
“It's funny and doesn't take itself seriously, but it seems very genuine and Argentinian to me.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a heartwarming love story enriched by light and humorous animations, seamlessly integrated gameplay mechanics, and a compelling narrative inspired by 1920s noir, featuring dramatic twists and heartfelt expressions.
“It is a heartwarming love story; the animations make it a little bit light and humorous, and the mechanics you're introduced to fold into the story.”
“Tango is a complicated piece of music, a convoluted dance, a heartfelt expression unique in the world.”
“The central narrative hook of a pulpy 1920's noir soap opera set in Argentina was executed perfectly, with a lot of wonderfully cliched twists and pleasantly overblown emotional outbursts.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short duration of about an hour; however, additional difficulty settings and a challenge mode provide some incentive for players to revisit it.
“It's rather short and can be beaten in about an hour, but there are extra difficulty settings and a challenge mode that provide significant replay value.”
“The game offers multiple endings and various character choices, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With its randomized levels and unlockable content, I find myself coming back for more every time I finish a run.”
“It's rather short and can be beaten in about an hour, but there are extra difficulty settings and a challenge mode that provide some replay value.”
“Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to play again since the experience doesn't change much.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making multiple playthroughs feel repetitive and uninteresting.”