Sound Shift
- August 26, 2015
- Matthew Brown
Get on SteamSound Shift is a unique game that combines a VJ style music visualizer with a simple arcade shooter. Players shoot targets to earn credits for unlocking new videos and FX, with music streamed from any source on their computer. The game offers an engaging and immersive experience that synchronizes with the rhythm and melody of the chosen music.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game allows players to use any music from their system, providing a lot of freedom and flexibility.
- The visuals are engaging and can be enhanced with unlockable effects, making it a pretty experience.
- It's a lightweight game that can be relaxing and fun in short bursts, especially when paired with the right music.
- The gameplay is very simple and lacks depth, leading to a lack of replay value and engagement.
- The automatic firing and movement controls feel clunky and can detract from the overall experience.
- There are concerns about the intense flashing lights, which may pose risks for players with epilepsy, and the game lacks a public warning.
- music56 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is primarily a visualizer that responds to the player's own music, allowing for a personalized experience. While it effectively syncs with fast-paced tracks, it struggles with slower tempos, leading to a disconnect between the visuals and the music. Overall, players appreciate the freedom to use their own songs, but the game lacks depth and rhythm-based gameplay compared to similar titles.
“The speed of the blocks traveling towards you is also in sync with the speedy beat of the particular music you are listening to.”
“Players with the right music at hand and in the mood to get lost in a tunnel vision can use those effects to enhance the sensation.”
“The backgrounds all look beautiful and match up with the music perfectly, dimming when the music gets quieter and slowing down.”
“Basically just a free visualizer to go with your own music.”
“The problem is that other than blocks that move back and forth, the backgrounds aren't really in sync or dependent on your music at all. While they fit a frantic techno beat, they seem really out of place when it comes to easy listening music or songs like 'Wheels on the Bus'.”
“It doesn't have an in-built music player; I played it by putting on some music using iTunes in the background, then starting up the game.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sound Shift" is characterized by its simplicity and lack of depth, offering only two game modes and minimal variation, which can lead to a dull experience. While it features decent visuals and can be enjoyable in short bursts, the absence of competitive elements like leaderboards and a shallow mechanics system detracts from its long-term appeal. Overall, it may serve as a casual introduction to rhythm games, but many players find it forgettable compared to more engaging alternatives.
“Rhythm has a vanishingly low effect on gameplay, which doesn't necessarily diminish the enjoyment.”
“An unusual platform that shares only with games such as Audiosurf and Sentris, the base game is very well constructed; however, an improved tutorial and more gameplay mechanics could be possible future additions to prevent users from stumbling upon 'What do I do now?' or 'Why am I doing this?' thoughts.”
“Ultimately, I can't recommend Sound Shift due to how bland the gameplay feels; there's simply much better rhythm-based games out there. Still, it might be a decent purchase (especially at its $1 sale price) for players looking for a simple game to play during a break or for people wanting a very easy game to try and get into the genre.”
“While sporting decent visuals and being fun in quick bursts, its gameplay is sadly too shallow to have any kind of staying power, making Sound Shift a pretty bland and forgettable experience.”
“Very simple gameplay with little variation and basically no way to fail; it can get dull fast.”
“Ultimately, I can't recommend Sound Shift due to how bland the gameplay feels. There are simply much better rhythm-based games out there.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in Sound Shift are highly praised, with users giving them scores as high as 11/10, highlighting the engaging visuals that dynamically respond to the music. However, while the visuals are impressive, the overall gameplay lacks depth and variety, leading to a repetitive experience over time.
“All the time, your music generates visuals on screen.”
“10/10 cat approved visuals~”
“Sound shift isn't a horrible game at all, it's pretty decent actually and the first few songs'll be fun as you slowly gain points and unlock new visuals.”
“Sound Shift isn't a horrible game at all, it's pretty decent actually and the first few songs will be fun as you slowly gain points and unlock new visuals: but after an hour you'll realize there's basically no variance in what you're playing as there's just one flat path and only a few types of blocks coming your way.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be enjoyable and often enhanced by the ability to incorporate various background sounds, which adds a funny and relaxing element to the experience. Overall, the game's concept is appreciated for its lightheartedness and comedic potential.
“Fun game! I love the idea of it; it literally will play any background sound you have going. It can be pretty funny and also very relaxing.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to the presence of only two game modes, which many users feel does not provide enough variety to encourage repeated play.
“With only 2 game modes, there isn't any replay value.”
