KAMITSUBAKI CITY ENSEMBLE
- August 28, 2024
- KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO
Get on Steam"KAMITSUBAKI CITY ENSEMBLE" is a rhythm game featuring over 48 songs from Kamitsubaki Studio and Musical Isotope series. The game includes five AI girls and five Witchlings to provide an immersive and engaging experience. Players can purchase the Season Pass for access to over 100 songs, with additional packs added monthly.
Reviews
- Great song selection featuring popular tracks from V.W.P and KAFU, making it enjoyable for fans.
- The dynamic lane switching mechanic (4k to 7k) adds a unique challenge and keeps gameplay interesting.
- Cute character designs and engaging story elements enhance the overall experience for players.
- The UI is poorly designed, with bright colors and a mobile-centric layout that can be visually straining and confusing on PC.
- Gameplay can be disorienting due to the frequent lane changes and similar note colors, making it hard to read notes during intense sections.
- Lack of customization options and features like audio delay adjustments detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
- music104 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and variety, particularly appealing to fans of CeVIO and vocaloid genres, with a solid selection of around 40-50 songs available in the base game for a low price. However, many players express disappointment over the additional paid content, feeling that the DLC offerings are limited and not worth the cost unless they are already fans of the specific artists featured. Overall, while the music enhances the gameplay experience, the pricing structure for additional songs has drawn mixed reactions.
“The music is transcendent, which elevates it quite a lot in my book.”
“The songs are great, and that is really all that matters for a rhythm game that checks the basic requirements for being a rhythm game.”
“For $3, you get a good base game of around 40-50 songs, which makes this a no-brainer for rhythm game fans.”
“I was a bit disappointed that they had so many songs behind another paywall.”
“The music selection in the base game is pretty good for CeVIO, but the songs available for the virtual singers leave something to be desired; the lack of any guest songs for Kafu, even with DLC, is particularly disappointing.”
“For the price (~$3), it was given for the vanilla game alone (no season pass, DLC), it already includes 48 songs from each virtual singer.”
- story53 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally viewed as charming and interesting, with many players appreciating its connection to the Kamitsubaki City lore, though some find it simplistic and lacking in depth. While the narrative is often described as cheesy and presented with limited resources, it offers a pleasant backdrop to the rhythm gameplay, allowing players to engage with the story at their own pace. Overall, the story is seen as a bonus feature that enhances the experience, even if it may not be the primary draw for all players.
“I'm really enjoying this story and like that playing the rhythm game unlocks it.”
“This rhythm game stands out unexpectedly—by incorporating a compelling story that deeply connects the player, elevating the experience beyond what is typical in the genre.”
“The game does have a story, and while I don't play these types of games for a story, I do find this one endearing so far.”
“The forced story is frustrating after completing songs.”
“However, as mentioned earlier, the plot feels incomplete, as if it is only a prologue to future projects, and this prologue is much longer than it really should be because of this whole rhythm game thing.”
“Story is also really boring without any voice acting, making it hard to immerse myself and enjoy it.”
- gameplay45 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique lane-switching mechanic that ranges from 4 to 7 lanes, providing a challenging experience for rhythm game enthusiasts, though it may not appeal to all players. While the core mechanics are engaging and the music selection is praised, some users noted issues with input recognition and UI design, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as fun and innovative, particularly for those willing to adapt to its complexities, but it may feel incomplete or frustrating for others.
“The introduction of a seven-button mechanic was initially surprising, but as someone who enjoys a challenge, I found it to be an incredible addition that pushes the skill ceiling higher than most rhythm games.”
“It allows players to immerse themselves in the music they love while engaging in gameplay that is both challenging and rewarding. Can't wait to clear every level!”
“Definitely worth the money, the gameplay puts a really nice spin on the normal beatmania style rhythm games and it warns you before the lane changing mechanic takes place.”
“The one glaring issue I have with the gameplay is that there's no 'practice mode' or anything that I've found so far.”
“The gameplay feels so bad, seriously doubt if the developers even played their own game.”
“While the key-changing gameplay might be innovative on mobile, the experience on PC is very poor.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming character art and strong aesthetic style, contributing to an overall visually appealing experience. While the UI is generally considered fine, some users suggest it could benefit from more dimmed colors and gradation. Overall, the visuals and aesthetic elements enhance the game's charm and storytelling.
“The visuals are great, characters are lovable, and the songs are fantastic.”
“I really like the aesthetic of the game and its user interface.”
“The character art is really charming and matches the overall aesthetic of the game.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Users express concerns about performance issues and the need for better optimization, particularly for the large file size of the game. They suggest implementing quality of life features, bug fixes, and more customization options for non-mobile platforms to enhance gameplay experience.
“- Quality of life features as well as bug fixes and optimization.”
“Either way, I think it should be optimized or have the players be able to choose what they want to download first because a 20GB rhythm game is quite large.”
“- QOL features as well as bug fixes and optimization.”
“I just sort of wished the PC version, and probably other devices that aren't mobile, had more customization regarding the lane angle optimizations. It feels awkward to read pattern A and pattern B on PC, in my opinion.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's stability is compromised by a strange and buggy user interface, leading to a less than optimal experience.
“The UI feels really strange and buggy.”
“I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
“The game often freezes, making it frustrating to play.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is generally well-received, with players finding it funny and engaging, especially when expectations are kept in check. Many agree that it offers good value for its price.
“If you don't have very high expectations, the game is quite funny and interesting to play, totally worth it for its price.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is well-crafted, seamlessly transitioning between lighthearted, comedic moments and more serious, profound themes, creating a balanced and engaging experience for players.
“The writing is pretty decent; it shifts between a light, comedic mood and heavy atmospheres with deep topics without feeling too forced.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its engaging story and appealing character designs, though specific details about character growth are not extensively discussed. Overall, the characters contribute positively to the game's narrative experience.
“The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully throughout the game.”
“I love how the characters evolve based on the choices I make, making every decision feel impactful and personal.”
“The depth of the characters is impressive; their growth and relationships are woven seamlessly into the narrative.”
