- May 5, 2023
- Besto Game Team
- 6h median play time
Idol Showdown
Platforms
About
Idol Showdown is the definitive fan-made hololive fighting game experience, powered by rollback netcode. Engage in exciting duels as your favorite H=hololive talent and prove once and for all who the strongest idol is using the game’s easy-to-learn controls. Pick up on this game’s easy-to-learn control scheme in no time to get straight into playing. Even hololive fans who are inexperienced with t…
- Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
- 2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
- Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
- Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
- PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
- Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate
- gameplay239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative38%59%3%
The gameplay of this fighting game has been widely praised for its intuitive controls, deep mechanics, and engaging single-player content, making it accessible for both newcomers and veterans. While many players appreciate the unique character abilities and combo systems, some have noted issues with certain mechanics, such as dodging and blocking, which could benefit from improvement. Overall, the game is considered a solid and enjoyable experience, especially given its free-to-play model and high production quality.
“A masterpiece of fighting game design with intuitive controls, deep gameplay, and more single-player content than most AAA releases!”
“No real complaints as they did a stellar job with the gameplay and even added in a really in-depth single player mode that is friendly to fighting game newbies and veterans alike.”
“The gameplay is solid, fun single player mode, and the multiplayer netcode is surprisingly amazing, feels real solid with no noticeable delay.”
“Has some jank in the menus and overall controls that could be significantly improved and has little to do with the actual combat/gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels very clunky and certain inputs have weird buffer windows on keyboard; if you had a problem with BBCF's input buffer system, this will likely be similar.”
“Gameplay-wise is barely decent.”
- music74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative61%35%4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, featuring well-crafted remixes of popular Hololive songs that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the sound design, with many noting the charming integration of character themes and sound clips that resonate with fans. Overall, the music is described as a standout element that contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it enjoyable for both Hololive enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
“The soundtrack is fantastic, and it's pretty easy to figure out even as someone who doesn't know squat about fighting games!”
“The music is fantastic, and I sat in practice mode and the character select screen longer than I want to admit just to listen to the jams.”
“From the distinctive fighting styles of each idol to the vibrant visuals and energetic soundtrack, every aspect of the game feels crafted with care and reverence for its source material.”
“And also, sometimes, music is glitching out to play the menu theme or turns off completely.”
“It didn't deserve having Guilty Gear Strive-tier music; later I've seen it's deserved.”
“If this game will be updated in the future (please let this be the case), it will need more stages, more songs for the soundtrack, and more playable characters.”
- humor68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its clever references, funny character designs, and amusing gameplay mechanics that contribute to a lighthearted experience. Many reviews mention the enjoyment of playing with friends, as the game's comedic elements often lead to laughter and memorable moments. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant strength, enhancing the game's charm and appeal.
“Surprisingly good for a fan game with nice humor and rather developed fighting game mechanics.”
“There are some genuinely funny and clever things thrown into the game that show this is clearly a project of love made by passionate people who know what they're doing.”
“Each character is relatively unique with some references and funny moves but without making the game ridiculous, and the 4 locked characters & frequent updates gives me hope it'll be supported for the foreseeable future.”
- graphics58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative47%48%5%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising the charming pixel art style, vibrant visuals, and smooth animations that reflect a strong attention to detail and nostalgia for classic fighting games. While some users noted issues with optimization and a desire for lower graphic settings, the overall aesthetic and design have been highlighted as a significant strength, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience. Despite some criticisms regarding specific visual elements and minor bugs, the game's art style and graphics are often described as impressive, especially for a free fan-made title.
“From the distinctive fighting styles of each idol to the vibrant visuals and energetic soundtrack, every aspect of the game feels crafted with care and reverence for its source material.”
“The graphics are fantastic, all the characters are great, the music is also spot on.”
“The art style is really charming and cute, the music is beautiful, the stages are wonderful, and the animation and movements are brilliant.”
“The 8-bit art style landed so badly it'll make your eyes bleed.”
“I can run BlazBlue and other games with better graphics than this game just fine.”
“The absolute lowest the game can go to in the graphics department is 1280 x 720, and I can't help but feel like it's poorly optimized in that department as well.”
- story33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative24%67%9%
The game's story mode, referred to as "Virtual Frontier," is generally well-received, offering a unique roguelike experience that combines elements of visual novels and branching paths. However, some players feel it lacks depth and could benefit from additional content and improvements, such as a more fleshed-out narrative and a gallery mode for artwork. Overall, while the story mode is appreciated for its creativity and integration of beloved characters, there is a desire for further development and enhancements.
“Not gonna lie, this game eclipses so many other fighters not only in simple execution but in the massive amount of story mode content so often ignored by other fighting games. Feels great to play 10/10.”
“I hope that the developers will make a couple of DLCs to support their creativity and maybe later in the future we will all see and get not only a fighting game in Hololive style, but a whole plot and story about our favorite idols.”
“There is also a single-player roguelike story mode that allows you to take branching paths and attempt to get as far in as possible on one health pool across back-to-back fights, all the while unlocking items to power you up and running across multiple choice pitfalls, buffs, and double-edged swords.”
“I just wish the story mode was a bit more played out.”
“Lacks more stuff to do like a story mode of some sorts.”
“Story seemed okay too; I just couldn't get into it.”
- stability20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative10%90%
The game's stability has improved since its initial launch, with many users noting that frequent patches have addressed numerous bugs. However, players still report ongoing issues, particularly with online play and matchmaking, which can be quite buggy and unresponsive. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and shows promise, it remains plagued by glitches that can detract from the experience.
“It runs great; now it's the best game ever.”
“The game runs great. It has really fun characters to play, but there are really few. Somehow, it has more single-player content than SFV at launch and a better netcode. Plus, it's also free.”
“The matchmaking is rudimentary, the input reader is horrendously coded, and the game was/is terribly buggy (though patches have been frequent).”
“Idol Showdown is one of the best anime fighters that has come out in a while, but it also has some glaring problems; the online for starters is pretty buggy, and sometimes downright unplayable, like not being able to connect to a player or the game just crashing on you for trying to rematch someone.”
“This has to be the most unresponsive and buggy fighting game I've ever had the misfortune of playing.”
- optimization19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative16%63%21%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players reporting severe performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and crashes, even on systems that meet or exceed the requirements. While some updates have improved performance, many users still experience problems with resolution settings and overall gameplay smoothness, indicating that further optimization is necessary for a better experience. Despite these issues, the game is praised for its charm and fun gameplay, particularly for fans of the franchise.
“I changed my review, as my only complaint being the performance was fixed in the latest update. The game is probably one of the best Hololive fangames, with great animations, great music, full of charm and references. The gameplay is pretty good; for a Hololive fan, it's a great time, and for non-fans, it could be a great starting point, as on its own, it's a great game.”
“Really well designed and very fun. Matchmaking can be optimized, but it does say it's in beta.”
“My only issue with it is that my potato PC can't keep up, and some players have complaints about optimization in some stages. I suspect it has something to do with the match going on since I noticed that when I start a stage, it's smooth, then gradually slows down to a slog.”
“Can't customize keybinds, no system settings, and the game is terribly optimized: despite the system requirements being lower than my PC's settings, the game is slow as hell.”
“The game is poorly optimized and has a balancing issue with the AI.”
“Poorly optimized game, stuttering constantly, crashing consistently, and feels rough honestly.”
- replayability10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative20%50%30%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it features an engaging gameplay loop and modes like virtual frontier that enhance replay value, players express frustration over the lack of options to restart matches and a limited character roster. Suggestions for improvement include adding more playable characters, an overhaul of arcade mode with randomized rosters, and additional content updates to keep the experience fresh. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, but it hinges on future updates and enhancements.
“Fighting game with an easy to learn, but fun gameplay loop; pretty good replayability even if you like PvE instead of PvP.”
“The virtual frontier mode, which is basically Slay the Spire but a fighting game instead of a card game, makes it replayable for people who don't just want to spend hours in the lab.”
“The fact that you can't even restart the match or have a faster continue option makes replay value more annoying.”
“I feel like arcade mode could benefit from an overhaul or rework, like a randomized character roster for each fight instead of a preset, and a difficulty option to make the arcade mode fresh and replayable, instead of opting out for the story mode which takes a long time to finish and introduces power-up mechanics that some players might not prefer.”
“If this game will be updated in the future (please let this be the case), it will need more stages, more songs for the soundtrack, and more playable characters.”
- monetization7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative29%28%43%
The monetization model of the game is praised for being straightforward and free of microtransactions, as it is a fan-made project that does not allow developers to profit. Players appreciate the absence of a battle pass or additional costs, indicating a focus on delivering a genuine gaming experience rather than a cash grab. Future content is also expected to remain free, aligning with the game's commitment to accessibility.
“No BS monetization.”
“Future content in development (also without microtransactions); no season pass required.”
“Not free with microtransactions.”
“It's free and has no microtransactions (because the devs are not allowed to earn money from fan-made games).”
“Future content in development (also without microtransactions) no season pass required.”
- character development7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative43%14%43%
Character development in the game is marked by unique and fun character designs that draw inspiration from early 2000s fighting games, offering a nostalgic aesthetic. While some players appreciate the creativity and accessibility of the character archetypes, others criticize the designs and themes as lacking depth or appeal, particularly for those unfamiliar with the vtuber culture. Overall, the game balances engaging combat mechanics with a distinctive visual style, though opinions on the character presentation vary widely.
“Fun game with great character designs and combat skills.”
“Along with the usual archetypes of brawler, shoto-like, grappler, and zoner, Idol Showdown brings to the table unique character designs that are easily accessible due to the simplistic controls of the game.”
“Good online, fun character design, and a lot to explore.”
“All of the character designs and voices are stupid as they come.”
“From the point of presentation, the game stays close to early 2000s fighting games such as King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match with the 16-bit character design, which is rather simple compared to other modern fighting game titles.”
“Better than a lot of high-budget fighting games if you can get past the character designs and the theme.”
- grinding6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative33%67%
Players generally enjoy the grinding aspect of the game, finding it engaging and fun, particularly in modes like the virtual frontier. However, some users feel that the amount of grinding required can be excessive, suggesting it may demand more time than they can realistically commit.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“And even grinding.”
“Good game, spent 27 hours this weekend just grinding it.”
- emotional3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from playful teasing to warmth and connection among players. Users appreciate the charming references to the hololive universe and the wholesome interactions that foster a sense of community, particularly among fans of the fighting game community (fgc). Overall, the game successfully blends humor and emotional support, creating a delightful experience for players.
“With unique items proper to this mode (emotional support plastic ball my go-to), adorable references to the whole Hololive roster and world.”
“Seeing the FGC get into it has been wonderful, and even seeing a few of them fall into the Hololive rabbit hole has been both hilarious and wholesome.”
- atmosphere3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative100%33%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning art and animations that effectively convey character personalities, complemented by a beautifully crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While the character portraits fit the fighting game theme, some players suggest incorporating multiple artists for more diverse representation of their favorite characters.
“Aside from the gameplay, the art is absolutely amazing. The animations do a fantastic job of capturing the girls' personalities and are just lovely to watch. The music and sounds add to the already fun atmosphere; it's just a well-made game by all accounts.”
“Beautifully written soundtrack that allows you to feel the Hololive atmosphere ♡”
“The portraits represent the characters in a fighting game atmosphere well.”
“The portraits represent the characters in a fighting game atmosphere well, but I feel there should be multiple artists brought in so that players can choose alternate portraits to represent their favorite characters.”
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