Hiragana Pixel Party
- March 18, 2016
- Springloaded
Get on Steam"Hiragana Pixel Party" is a rhythm-action game that teaches players how to read Japanese Hiragana and Katakana characters through chiptune music and various gameplay types. With 20 worlds, 208 characters, and 192 missions, players progress by recognizing and tapping to the symbols' shapes and sounds. Recent updates include new graphics, levels, and localization for multiple languages .
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great tool for memorizing Hiragana and Katakana, especially for those with some prior knowledge.
- Decent graphics and chiptune music enhance the learning experience.
- The game's difficulty encourages repeated play, which can help reinforce character recognition.
- The game is excessively difficult for beginners, making it frustrating rather than educational.
- Frequent bugs and glitches disrupt gameplay, leading to a negative experience.
- The randomization of key mappings makes it hard to learn characters effectively, turning it into a speed-reading challenge.
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is primarily chiptune, which many players find enjoyable and integral to the gaming and learning experience, especially for those who appreciate pixel art and retro sounds. However, some users note that while the soundtrack is decent, the sound effects can become irritating over extended play sessions, and certain songs may be too fast-paced for effective gameplay. Overall, the music enhances the experience but may not appeal to everyone.
“The music is awesome and it is also a big part of the learning/gaming experience.”
“Great chiptune music (if you're into that).”
“It's got enjoyable enough gameplay to make it not boring, and somewhat decent music if you like chiptunes (I do).”
“Well...the memory mission is kind of hard and sometimes the song is too fast to find and push the button.”
“The soundtrack is okay, but the sound effects are not great, feeling like they will get on your nerves after a couple of hours of play.”
“I still think that there are a lot of things that could improve the game itself and believe that the game isn't for everyone, as it is more like flashcard memorization with music than a game that will teach you the Japanese alphabets.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and enjoyable, providing a decent challenge, although some players feel it complicates the memory test more than necessary. Additionally, the chiptune music adds a pleasant auditory experience for those who appreciate that style. Overall, it strikes a balance between fun and difficulty, particularly for those familiar with the game's language elements.
“It's got enjoyable enough gameplay to make it not boring, and somewhat decent music if you like chiptunes (I do).”
“The gameplay made the memory test harder than it should be.”
“As someone who already knows both hiragana and katakana, here are my thoughts on the gameplay itself:”
- graphics4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally considered decent, particularly appealing to fans of pixel art and chiptune music. However, some users noted that certain elements, like dakuten, can be obscured by other graphics.
“The graphics and sounds are decent for what it is, so if you like pixel art and chiptune music, you will love it.”
“Dakuten sometimes covered by other graphics.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is frequently criticized due to persistent glitches and noticeable in-game lag, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The game is plagued by glitches and frequent lag.”
“There are constant glitches that disrupt gameplay and cause significant lag.”
“I experience persistent glitches and lag that make the game nearly unplayable.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is noted to be challenging, particularly during the memory missions, where players find the pace of the accompanying music too fast to keep up with the required actions.
