Rhythm Sprout: Sick Beats & Bad Sweets
- February 1, 2023
- SURT
- 4h median play time
"Rhythm Sprout: Sick Beats & Bad Sweets" is a rhythm-based dungeon crawler game where players control a vegetable hero defeating candy monsters with the power of music. Navigate procedurally generated levels, battling enemies in rhythm-based combat, and gather ingredients to craft powerful weapons and items. The game features a catchy original soundtrack and challenging gameplay for rhythm game enthusiasts.
Reviews
- The game features an excellent soundtrack with catchy and varied music that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The art style and humor are charming, creating an enjoyable atmosphere that keeps players engaged.
- The gameplay is simple to learn but offers a challenging experience, making it accessible for beginners while still providing depth for experienced players.
- The difficulty spikes significantly after the initial levels, which can be frustrating for players not accustomed to rhythm games.
- There are issues with control customization and input latency, making it less enjoyable for those who prefer using controllers.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it lacks content and replayability beyond the main story.
- music159 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, diverse, and well-composed tracks that enhance the overall experience, with many players noting its ability to get stuck in their heads. While some reviewers mention that the rhythm-focused gameplay can lead to repetitive song sections, the soundtrack's quality and variety are often highlighted as standout features. Overall, the music is considered a major strength of the game, contributing to its charm and replayability.
“You know a game is good when your neck and foot have semi-permanent tendinitis by bopping along with the best soundtrack I have ever heard.”
“The music is out of this world and in of itself worth the buy, and the graphics, gameplay, is in my opinion astounding!”
“The soundtrack is obviously great; it's a rhythm game, so of course it will have some great music, and I found every track to be incredibly memorable and fun.”
“An interesting concept for a rhythm game: more focus on rhythm than the music itself.”
“Which is certainly an interesting way to make a rhythm game, but not a way I'd recommend, as you end up having dozens of very same-y songs that aren't memorable.”
“The transitions between portions of the songs become increasingly lazy, and the difficulty leap from the last story level to the first bonus level is impossible.”
- story101 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Rhythm Sprout" is characterized by its humorous and quirky narrative, featuring a young onion knight on a quest to save a princess, which many players found charming and entertaining. While the main story is relatively short, lasting around 2-4 hours, it is filled with silly jokes and colorful characters that enhance the overall experience, though some players noted that the story can feel rushed or basic at times. Overall, the lighthearted and comedic elements of the story contribute positively to the game's appeal, making it a fun addition to the rhythm game genre.
“With the addition of a humorous story, a beginner mode, and a cast of colorful characters in a world full of veggies, fruits, and candy, Rhythm Sprout makes for an enjoyable time.”
“One of the funniest games I've ever played; I went in for the rhythm game mechanics but stayed for the story, which made me laugh out loud many times.”
“The game has a lovely charm to it, and I absolutely adore the characters and the humor throughout the story.”
“It was a big disappointment to me when I realized I had no desire whatsoever to keep playing after I beat the main story (and the prequel up to the final boss).”
“The only real negatives about the game are that while this game's plot/story is fairly basic, they really try to make the whole thing a bunch of jokes.”
“Since this game does have a story and prequel to it, I will just say it's not interesting one bit.”
- humor56 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Rhythm Sprout" is widely praised for its charming and silly storytelling, featuring colorful characters and lighthearted dialogue that often elicits laughter. While many players find the comedic elements engaging and enjoyable, some note that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with occasional cringe moments. Overall, the game's blend of fun, goofy humor and catchy music contributes to a delightful rhythm game experience.
“Rhythm Sprout is a surprisingly hilarious rhythm game with some very challenging late levels and a cute art style and overall fun gameplay loop.”
“One of the funniest games I've ever played. I went in for the rhythm game mechanics (that are simple but very well executed) but stayed for the story (that may seem silly at first, but made me laugh out loud a lot of times).”
“The game has a lovely charm to it and I absolutely adore the characters and the humor throughout the story.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this rhythm game is characterized by its simple three-button mechanics, which are well-executed and accessible for beginners, yet offer a challenging experience as players progress. While the rhythm mechanics may not be groundbreaking, they are satisfying and complemented by an impressive soundtrack and humorous dialogue. However, some players have noted issues with certain mechanics, such as clunky controls and a lack of practice tools, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“Rhythm Sprout is a surprisingly hilarious rhythm game with some very challenging late levels and a cute art style and overall fun gameplay loop.”
“The gameplay is simple with only 3 buttons, but it's really fun, and the difficulty scaling as you progress is done well.”
“Tight gameplay, fantastic OST, super visually pleasing levels/characters, unlockables, fun modifiers for lots of replay value... can't really ask for more.”
“What really drags this game down for me are the innate mechanics.”
“It's a shame, because the music, animations, and simple gameplay concept actually have a lot of merits, but it's nearly impossible to enjoy actually playing the game when the controls are so janky and uncomfortable in unique ways depending on the control scheme you choose.”
“The bomb mechanic is incredibly clunky at times and the song length, in addition to the fact that there's no practice tool or replay function, makes getting a full combo on certain levels a hellish nightmare.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of Rhythm Sprout are widely praised for their cute and polished aesthetic, reminiscent of classic PS1 titles and blending elements from games like Animal Crossing and Katamari Damacy. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals that complement the catchy soundtrack and humorous dialogue, although some feel the art style could benefit from more depth. Overall, the game's charming graphics enhance the fun and addictive gameplay experience.
“Rhythm Sprout has excellent visuals, humor, and music.”
“The music is catchy, the dialogue is goofy, and the visuals are delightful!”
“The tracks are awesome, coupled with the great graphics and scenery that makes each of the 30 levels unique.”
“Fun take on a rhythm game, but be wary, despite Rhythm Sprout's graphics, it gets really difficult pretty quickly into the story.”
“The visuals are cute, but feel like it's lacking.”
“Don't be scared off by its cartoonish art style; there is some serious love and attention here.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability through various features such as score and combo targets, unlockable skins and weapons, and level modifiers like turbo mode and randomization. While the total number of levels is limited, completionists will find ample motivation to replay for achievements and perfect scores. Overall, the combination of unlockables and gameplay challenges ensures that players can enjoy the game beyond their initial playthrough.
“Each level has score and combo targets, awarding you a special CD that unlocks skins and weapons if you achieve both.”
“The game itself is pretty short if you're an experienced rhythm game player, but it has good replayability, especially if you want to unlock all the outfits, weapons, and bonus levels.”
“Level modifiers are available upon repeat plays of a level to give you an added challenge and a bit of replayability (turbo, randomizer, etc.).”
“I also don't see myself revisiting this if I get a perfect on every stage, but that in and of itself is enough replayability to justify a purchase at some point.”
“Took me 4 hours to get all achievements in the game and the modifiers give the game some replayability.”
“While my playtime is short at the time of review, it does have the replayability of upping your scores as well as some extra content/levels to check out.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's emotional depth, highlighted by its varied and wholesome music that evokes nostalgia for the PS1 era. The intricate compositions reflect a rich emotional expression, drawing on historical musical forms and the romantic era's focus on individualism and cultural connection. Overall, the game successfully fosters an emotional connection through its aesthetic and sound design.
“The music was cool, varied, and wholesome, and the game had a weird aesthetic that reminded me of the PS1 era with games like Rescue Shot.”
“It has served as a means of cultural expression, religious devotion, entertainment, and emotional connection.”
“The romantic era, characterized by intense emotional expression and individualism, spanned the 19th century.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers an enjoyable experience, but players report significant issues with control optimization, particularly with the left-hand controls and multiple dodge buttons, which can lead to discomfort during extended play. Additionally, the controller inputs are criticized for their poor responsiveness, hindering overall gameplay.
“The game is fun, but it needs some control optimization. You can't accurately play more than two songs without straining the muscles in your forearm. The left-hand controls are difficult to acclimate to, as it has two dodge buttons in the middle instead of one, and controller inputs are in just as bad of a state.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its charming and enjoyable atmosphere, contributing to an overall positive experience for players.
“Very cute and enjoyable game, great atmosphere.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, although users recommend lowering the graphics settings to medium to extend battery life.
“Runs great on Steam Deck, but I turned down the graphics to medium to prolong battery life.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”