Iwate Mountain Dance
- May 1, 2020
- Kirisame Jump
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamIwate Mountain Dance is a tough-as-nails bullet hell boss fighter. Take on unique multi-stage bosses in a grand dance of handcrafted fights, each with their own attack patterns and intense combos, as you explore the lands of Iwate and learn its history.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features creative and varied boss designs with unique attack patterns, making each encounter engaging.
- The art style, while inconsistent, contributes to a charming aesthetic that many players find appealing.
- The gameplay is accessible for beginners due to its relatively low difficulty, while still providing enjoyable mechanics like auto-aiming and dodging.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in just a few hours, leading to concerns about replay value.
- There are several polish issues, including a lack of options for controller customization and minor bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- The final boss and some mechanics may feel underwhelming or janky, which can detract from the overall experience.
- music13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its ability to create a calming and immersive atmosphere, particularly during boss fights. While some describe it as not particularly memorable or polished, others highlight the soundtrack as amazing and fitting for the game's aesthetic. Overall, the music complements the visuals and gameplay, contributing to a tranquil yet exciting experience.
“Amazing music, every character is individually well created.”
“The background music is generally calm, but sometimes intense and keeps a good mood overall.”
“It has no platform levels, you directly face bosses on the map, the music accompanies very well the relaxing atmosphere it wants to provide, even in the boss fights that are quite exciting, but everything has a very beautiful and relaxing aura of peace.”
“The world, story, music, and art are all pretty barebones but they serve their purpose.”
“No configuration options other than music and SFX volume sliders.”
“The background music is fine.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of simple mechanics and challenging boss encounters, with beautiful bullet patterns and quick character responses. While the non-linear structure and early spell cards introduce main mechanics effectively, some bosses have non-intuitive mechanics that can lead to frustrating experiences. Overall, the gameplay is well-executed but marred by occasional janky mechanics and softlocking issues.
“One more interesting thing is that it features non-linear gameplay.”
“The gameplay is simple but well executed; boss patterns are interesting and deadly, and the character reacts quickly and precisely.”
“+ Early spell cards of each boss introduce you to a 'main mechanic' which will come back later in more difficult variations.”
“There's polish to be had; the music isn't terribly memorable, some fights have really janky mechanics, certain cutscenes softlock you in walls, and so forth.”
“While it's good for some bosses, some of the others (like one of the 'ministers', which are the high-tier bosses) have non-intuitive mechanics which are required to pass them, but you'll have to discover them by luck.”
“The gameplay is simple in itself, but each boss rush is challenging; their bullet patterns are beautiful.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal yet serves its purpose, offering a fairy tale-like quality that complements the action-heavy gameplay. While the narrative is short and somewhat silly, it is enhanced by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack, providing a fulfilling experience for players willing to explore its depths.
“The game progressively gets more and more difficult and teases you with a true ending if you're willing to unfold the story.”
“It also has a story, short, but beautiful.”
“The world, story, music, and art are all pretty barebones, but they serve their purpose.”
“It's light on story, heavy on action.”
“The story is somewhat silly, but it's vain and beautiful like a fairy tale.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style, featuring beautiful animations and pleasant aesthetics. Users appreciate the artistic approach, noting that the visuals, while simple, are striking and complemented by well-painted backgrounds and engaging animations. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“Amazing visuals and animations, great soundtrack, and a decent story to go along with this gruesome yet fulfilling bullet hell boss fighter.”
“The graphics are just made up of dots, but these pixel artworks that make animations move are gorgeous and beautiful.”
“Whenever I think about art not having to be perfect, and it being allowed to be a little messy, I think of this game and its aesthetic.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its short length, leading to mixed opinions on replayability; while some believe it has high potential for replay value, others feel it lacks sufficient content to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“It is a short game; however, I think it has the potential for high replay value.”
“The game is short and lacks significant replay value.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The limited choices and outcomes make replaying feel redundant.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game eliminates traditional grinding and leveling-up systems, focusing instead on the immersive experience within the densely packed Iwate Lands.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a beautiful and relaxing aura, enhanced by well-suited music that complements the gameplay, even during exciting boss fights. The absence of platform levels allows for direct confrontations with bosses, contributing to a unique and tranquil experience.
“The music perfectly complements the relaxing atmosphere, creating a beautiful and peaceful aura, even during the exciting boss fights.”
“The game immerses you in a serene environment, where the ambiance enhances every encounter, making even the most intense moments feel tranquil.”
“The overall atmosphere is captivating, blending stunning visuals with a soothing soundtrack that draws you into its world.”
“It has no platform levels; you directly face bosses on the map. The music complements the relaxing atmosphere it aims to provide, even during the boss fights, which are quite exciting. However, everything has a very beautiful and peaceful aura.”
