Natsuki Chronicles

About

Natsuki Chronicles is a single player arcade shooter game with anime and science fiction themes. It was developed by Qute and was released on December 24, 2019. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Natsuki Chronicles is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game with a good plot, pretty visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack. The game offers a story mode that follows protagonist Natsuki's past and present over 10+ stages, and an arcade mode for quick action with online leaderboards. It also includes customization watch three weapon types, a wide variety of equipment, and a 'Bullet Trajectory Display' function for added strategy."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews

story15 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Natsuki Chronicles offers a rich blend of storytelling and intense gameplay, with a well-developed protagonist and engaging narrative structure.
The game features extensive customization options for weapons and ship upgrades, enhancing replayability and allowing players to tailor their experience.
The graphics are vibrant and polished, complemented by a dynamic soundtrack that elevates the overall atmosphere of the game.

Some stages lack memorability and variety, making them feel generic compared to the more unique designs in previous titles like Ginga Force.
The game suffers from difficulty spikes and inconsistent hitbox visibility, which can frustrate players, especially those new to the genre.
The grinding required for unlocking weapons and upgrades can feel excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment, making progression feel tedious.

story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
77%
4%
The story in "Natsuki Chronicles" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its depth and character development through a dual-timeline structure, while others criticize it as underwhelming and poorly executed. The game features a story mode that allows for customization and progression, but many find the narrative lacking in excitement and coherence, often overshadowed by the gameplay. Overall, while the story attempts to enhance the shmup experience, it struggles to engage players fully, leading to a divide in opinions on its effectiveness.
- “Natsuki Chronicles, developed by Qute Corporation and published by Rising Star Games, is a standout entry in the horizontal shoot 'em up genre that offers a rich blend of storytelling and intense gameplay.”
- “The story is woven through a unique structure that alternates between past and present, adding layers to the character development while keeping gameplay varied and engaging.”
- “Story mode offers a more in-depth experience, spanning over ten stages filled with a range of challenges that evolve as you progress through Natsuki's timeline.”
- “This game continues Qute's attempts at storytelling in a shmup, and frankly, it has failed at it again.”
- “If you are going to put a whole lot of resources and time into creating a fully voice-acted story mode, at least don't give the main character's superior a Gundam villain look, and don't write the story in a way so it's clear that we are working with the bad guys from the get-go.”
- “The overall storyline is a type of shonen anime plot that’s trying too hard at best and incomplete at worst.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
9%
The gameplay of Natsuki Chronicles is generally praised for its solid mechanics, engaging story integration, and varied stage design, offering both a story mode and a traditional arcade mode. While some players appreciate the frantic and challenging nature of the gameplay, others criticize certain mechanics, such as the rear shot system and the punishing power-down feature, which may deter casual players. Overall, the game successfully combines narrative depth with exciting gameplay, though some feel improvements in presentation could enhance the experience further.
- “Good music, crisp visuals, precise gameplay, and varied stages will motivate you to keep playing and improving.”
- “Natsuki Chronicles, developed by Qute Corporation and published by Rising Star Games, is a standout entry in the horizontal shoot ’em up genre that offers a rich blend of storytelling and intense gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is frantic, yet satisfyingly challenging, has a great leveling system and controls, a difficulty curve that’s mostly correct, and a good number of options to choose from.”
- “Next, the rear shot mechanic feels poorly thought out.”
- “This mode features an exclusive game mechanic that I deeply despise: powering down your equipment in a way that jeopardizes progress.”
- “The grind caused by disconnected level-up systems, underutilization of gameplay features, and difficulty issues make for a mediocre game at best.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and dynamic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. Composed by Yosuke Yasui, the soundtrack is described as a collection of "bangers" that complements the visuals and gameplay, making it a standout feature. Overall, the music is considered a high point of the game, contributing significantly to its appeal and atmosphere.
- “Complementing the visuals is a dynamic soundtrack that underscores the action with energy and mood, enhancing the overall atmosphere without ever becoming overwhelming or repetitive.”
- “First and foremost, the soundtrack is a complete banger and really carries the game.”
- “The music is phenomenal, I'm a huge fan of Yousuke Yasui's tracks.”
- “The soundtrack is okay, but you may want to roll your own.”
- “The music was the only high point of this game for me--very Mega Man X.”
- “The OST is fine though.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
41%
11%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their sharpness, vibrancy, and modern polish, effectively blending retro aesthetics with contemporary design. Players appreciate the unique environments and visual clarity, which enhance the overall experience, although some find the art style somewhat generic. Overall, the visuals are complemented by a dynamic soundtrack, contributing to a memorable and engaging atmosphere.
- “The aesthetic strikes a perfect harmony between retro nostalgia and modern polish, with each level showcasing unique environments that keep the game visually stimulating.”
- “The presentation has seen an upgrade from 2013's Ginga Force, as this new game was developed and released around 2020, taking advantage of the latest technology to output the best graphics they could possibly craft.”
- “The game looks stunning and is likely the single most beautiful shoot 'em up I have seen, especially with 3D graphics.”
- “Grindy, aesthetically unappealing, not casual friendly.”
- “Way too grindy, boring and aesthetically unappealing.”
- “Only downside is that the art style feels a bit generic.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the grinding mechanics in the game have improved in terms of polish, they remain tedious and unappealing, often leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Players express that the grind for equipment and achievements feels excessive and lacks meaningful rewards, making the experience feel more like a chore than a source of pride. Some appreciate the leveling aspect for easing new players into the genre, but overall, the grinding is viewed as a significant drawback.
- “It's better than what we had before, yet does nothing to fix the grinding.”
- “So what's the point of grinding for equipment other than a sense of pride and accomplishment?”
- “The grind for all achievements (includes buying every weapon) is just beyond absurd because there are just so many levels for each weapon, and the money awards (outside of grinding the ending boss on hard or extreme) is pitiful.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game offers strong replayability through its robust equipment system, diverse weapon options, and extensive leveling and upgrade mechanics, particularly in extreme difficulty modes. While some players feel there are other shmups with even greater replay value, the overall consensus is that it provides a fun and engaging experience worth revisiting.
- “Beyond just weapons, the game includes a robust equipment system where a multitude of items can be collected and mixed, enhancing the replayability significantly.”
- “A very good side-scrolling shmup, lots of replay value.”
- “It is good enough to recommend and it looks nice and runs smoothly, though I think there are probably shoot 'em ups that have more replay value.”
- “Plenty of replay value with the leveling up, a lot of upgrades, and a crazy challenge in the extreme difficulty mode.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users find the game's stability commendable, noting that it runs smoothly at higher framerates, with visuals that, while simple, are effective and easily readable.
- “The visuals are a little simple, but they work for me; everything is readable and runs great at higher framerates.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, providing a stable experience throughout.”
- “I appreciate how consistent the performance is, even during intense gameplay moments.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is enhanced by a unique narrative structure that alternates between past and present, providing depth to the characters and maintaining engaging gameplay.
- “The story is woven through a unique structure that alternates between past and present, adding layers to the character development while keeping gameplay varied and engaging.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its shifting perspective, which intertwines past experiences with current challenges, enhancing the storytelling and imbuing the action with a sense of purpose and emotional depth.
- “The shifting perspective between her past experiences and current battles enriches the storytelling, making the action feel purposeful and emotionally charged.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is enhanced by a dynamic soundtrack that complements the visuals, adding energy and mood without being overwhelming or repetitive, creating an immersive experience for players.
- “Complementing the visuals is a dynamic soundtrack that underscores the action with energy and mood, enhancing the overall atmosphere without ever becoming overwhelming or repetitive.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with players noting that it runs smoothly and has an appealing visual presentation. However, some feel that it may lack the replay value found in other similar titles.
- “It is good enough to recommend, and it looks nice and runs smoothly.”