KAMITSUBAKI CITY ENSEMBLE

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 266 reviews

music82 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features a great selection of songs, especially for fans of Kamitsubaki Studio and V.W.P, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate their music.
The unique gameplay mechanic of switching between 4K and 7K lanes adds an interesting challenge and keeps the gameplay fresh.
The art style and character designs are cute, and the story elements provide an engaging backdrop for the rhythm gameplay.

The UI is poorly designed for PC, feeling more suited for mobile devices, which can lead to confusion and visual strain during gameplay.
The dynamic lane switching can be disorienting, especially for players not accustomed to rhythm games, making it difficult to keep up with the notes.
There are significant quality of life issues, such as a lack of audio delay options and loading screens between menu transitions, which detract from the overall experience.

music
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
66%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with players praising its diverse selection, particularly for fans of Kamitsubaki and CeVIO songs. The unique gameplay mechanics, such as the disappearing lanes, add an engaging twist to the rhythm experience, while the emotional integration of music into the story enhances overall enjoyment. However, some users expressed disappointment over the limited free song offerings and the additional costs for DLC, suggesting that while the base game provides good value, the future song updates are crucial for maintaining interest.
- “Overall, I loved the songs and different playstyle that Kamitsubaki offers compared to other piano-rhythm based games.”
- “The music is transcendent, which elevates it quite a lot in my book. It's used in some really cool ways to match the mood of the song - having a full field drop down to four keys for a tense, note-dense segment is always super hype.”
- “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.”
- “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).”
- “P and Koko songs in a rhythm game, but the UI is really bad and the timing feels extremely off no matter how much I adjust it.”
story
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
6%
The game's story is generally viewed as cute and engaging, 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 a bonus to the rhythm gameplay, it has potential for improvement, particularly in presentation and writing quality. Overall, it offers a charming experience for fans of the genre, especially those familiar with the franchise, but may not captivate those primarily focused on gameplay.
- “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.”
- “Edit after 100%: this is such a simple but incredibly emotional and moving storyline, and I'm happy with the game design for progression.”
- “The story also gives an incentive to continue playing, and if you're a hardcore Kamitsubaki fan like me who's invested into the lore, you'll find this a great motivator.”
- “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.”
- “The story is also really boring without any voice acting, making it hard to immerse myself and enjoy it.”
gameplay
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the innovative lane-switching mechanic that allows for a dynamic rhythm experience, while others find it frustrating and poorly executed, particularly on PC. Many users noted that the game is simple to understand but can be challenging due to the varying lane counts and input recognition issues. Overall, while the core gameplay and music selection are praised, the lack of a practice mode and some UI/UX shortcomings detract from the experience for many players.
- “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.”
- “Sadly, didn't really like the overall gameplay, the mechanics are just... meh...”
- “The gameplay feels so bad, seriously doubt if the developers even played their own game.”
- “The one glaring issue I have with the gameplay is that there's no 'practice mode' or anything that I've found so far.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming character art and strong aesthetic style, which many players find appealing. While the visuals and UI are generally well-received, some users suggest that the UI could benefit from more dimmed colors and gradation. Overall, the game's visuals contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “I really like the aesthetic of the game and its UI.”
- “The character art is really charming and matches the aesthetic of the game.”
- “The game itself has a strong aesthetic style.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
Overall, users express concerns about the game's optimization, highlighting performance issues and the need for quality-of-life features, such as customizable download options. Additionally, players desire more customization for lane angles on PC to improve gameplay experience, as the current setup feels awkward for reading patterns.
- “I just sort of wished the PC version and probably other devices that aren't mobile have more customization regarding the lane angle optimizations; it feels awkward to read pattern A and pattern B on PC, in my opinion.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “-QOL features as well as bug fixes and optimization.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a simple yet profoundly emotional storyline that resonates with players, enhanced by impactful music that deepens the experience. While the narrative is described as wholesome and cute, some reviewers feel it could benefit from further development to enhance its overall intrigue.
- “This is such a simple but incredibly emotional and moving storyline, and I'm happy with the game design for progression.”
- “The music incorporated into the story also hits hard emotionally.”
- “So far while I played, it's very wholesome and cute, though I wouldn't say it's very interesting.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game's stability is compromised by a strange and buggy user interface, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “On top of that, the UI just feels really strange and buggy.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players recognize that grinding in the game serves as a valuable learning experience, allowing them to develop skills and strategies over time. While it presents a steep learning curve, many appreciate the depth it adds to gameplay.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is well-crafted, seamlessly transitioning between lighthearted, comedic moments and more profound, heavy 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 development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is noted for its engaging and interesting story, complemented by cute character designs. However, specific details on character growth or depth are not highlighted in the reviews.