Phase Shift

About

Phase Shift is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game. It was developed by DWSK Ltd and was released on April 25, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Phase Shift" is a musical rhythm game that allows for local and online multiplayer, supporting 2 players in co-op and PvP modes. It features a range of game modes, including single-player, vs multiplayer, and party modes such as last man standing and weakest link. The game offers compatibility with a variety of MIDI and USB instruments, including drum kits, guitars, and keyboards, with different levels of complexity.

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71%

Audience ScoreBased on 186 reviews

music12 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Phase Shift offers extensive support for various instruments, including MIDI controllers, making it a versatile choice for rhythm game enthusiasts.
The game allows for customization with themes and the ability to import songs from older games, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
Multiplayer functionality is well-implemented, allowing players to enjoy the game with friends online, which enhances the overall experience.

The game has not received updates in a long time, leading to concerns about developer abandonment and lack of communication with the community.
There is no support for .chart files, which limits the availability of songs and makes it difficult for players to find compatible content for online play.
The hit detection and overall performance can be inconsistent, leading to frustration for players who expect a more polished experience.

music
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
88%
4%
The music aspect of the game is highly praised for its extensive customization options, allowing players to import a vast array of songs from older rhythm games and the internet, which significantly enhances the gameplay experience. However, the default soundtrack is considered lackluster, and users face challenges with song organization and visibility during selection, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the community is active in creating and sharing content, the lack of support for certain file types and the difficulty in accessing songs online are notable drawbacks.
- “What can you say about Phase Shift? For all the independent rhythm games out there after Guitar Hero, Rock Band, etc., this is the most fun and promising rhythm game to play. You can download custom songs and easily add them; custom themes are also available at the Phase Shift forum, and you will just have a very good time with it.”
- “The community for this game is extremely active, and I have installed well over 1,000 songs now from previous Rock Band and Guitar Hero games onto it, ready for full band play.”
- “The song selection is nice and diverse, with very talented artists creating a wide range of songs.”
- “I only wish it were easier to access songs for it.”
- “The song sorting is a mess.”
- “Mp3 files aren't supported, making importing songs a big pain for users.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The graphics of the game feature custom theme support, allowing for varied visuals, though many users consider this a novelty. Performance is generally solid, with smooth visuals and no significant issues even on lower-end hardware, but some users report lag during specific moments and a lack of polish in the user interface. Overall, the graphics are rated around 7/10, with critiques highlighting a rough UI and limited personality.
- “The game runs at a solid 60 fps with basically all graphics settings turned off (minus v-sync) and a resolution of 1366x768.”
- “Visuals are smooth, no performance issues, works with content I already had from other Phase Shift versions.”
- “Graphics - 7/10 - as many people pointed out over the years (especially from outside the PS community), the UI is very rough and lacking in personality.”
- “The game lags out while displaying the new graphic in the OSD after you get a star, which is quite frustrating.”
- “Both the GH:WOR and GH3 themes that I have don't have anything for the 'recovery' after you lose a heart, meaning a dummy graphic loads instead, and it's very annoying.”
- “There's custom theme support, but I think it's really only a novelty at best.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The gameplay is highly praised for its effective keyboard mechanics, making it a valuable tool for players transitioning from guitar. It supports various features like tap notes and chord hopos, although some mechanics differ from other games in the genre. Overall, it receives a strong rating of 9/10, though communication between players is not possible during gameplay.
- “Gameplay - 9/10 - of course, the main focus of the game.”
- “Support for multiple gameplay features such as tap notes, chord hopos, and even lanes (though don't expect chord hopos to work like in CH or lanes to work like in RB3).”
- “Players cannot communicate during gameplay.”
- “A great tool for getting used to a keyboard and its mechanics (I'm a guitar player, so keys are something I'm not fully used to yet).”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The optimization of the game is inconsistent, with some users experiencing poor performance and unresponsive note registration, while others report smooth visuals and no performance issues, particularly with previously used content from earlier versions.
- “Visuals are smooth, with no performance issues, and it works seamlessly with content I already had from other Phase Shift versions.”
- “The notes don't register when I hit them, and the overall performance is poor.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently report that the game runs smoothly without any issues, indicating a high level of stability.
- “It runs great.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the game is criticized for lacking engaging elements such as live bands and lighting effects, which are often present in similar titles. While players can add music or custom videos, this feature does not compensate for the overall lack of immersive atmosphere.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently highlight the humor in the game, emphasizing its comedic elements and overall funniness.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a significant cash grab, leading users to advise potential players to avoid it unless they are specifically interested in drumming. There is a hope that the developers will utilize the revenue effectively.
- “Unless you want to play drums, don't bother with this game as it seems like a pretty big cash grab right now. I hope the people behind Phase Shift put all that money to good use.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly in online multiplayer, where the experience is hindered by the skill disparity among participants. Despite being one of the few guitar hero-style games that includes drums and online support, the enjoyment is diminished by the repetitive nature of gameplay.