Tanuki Sunset
- December 3, 2020
- Rewind Games
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam"Tanuki Sunset" is a downhill skateboarding game featuring a raccoon protagonist called Tanuki. Cruise down winding roads, avoid obstacles, and do skateboard tricks to earn points and bonuses. Collect icons such as phones, baby raccoons, and tapes, while enjoying the excellent soundtrack and colorful visuals. Your goal is to ride into the sunset, performing as many tricks as possible for max points.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Web Browser
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a charming aesthetic with vibrant visuals and a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Gameplay is fun and engaging, allowing players to perform tricks and collect items while navigating through various levels.
- The concept of playing as a raccoon on a skateboard is unique and adds a humorous touch to the game.
- Many players have reported bugs, particularly with achievements that are currently unobtainable, which can be frustrating for completionists.
- The controls can feel unresponsive or overly sensitive at times, making it difficult to navigate levels smoothly.
- Checkpoints are sparse, leading to frustration when players have to repeat long sections of the game after a single mistake.
- music143 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its variety and quality, featuring genres like synthwave, lo-fi, and bossa nova that enhance the vibrant visuals and overall atmosphere. While many players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay, some express a desire for a larger selection of tracks to prevent repetition. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a relaxing and immersive experience.
“There's something about playing as a raccoon, vibing to some synthwave music, and skating in a retro world that makes it so enjoyable and calming to play.”
“The soundtrack and visuals are both an absolute joy, and make for an atmosphere that would feel right at home in a rhythm game but fits equally well here.”
“The vaporwave aesthetic somehow fits so perfectly, the music on this soundtrack is superb, the controls harken back to the PS2 era, and it all comes together for a fantastic experience.”
“I'm also a little disappointed by the music selection (both in terms of genre and quantity), but the option to disable the in-game music and play your own is always there.”
“My only complaint in the audio department would be that there aren't really that many songs in the game and a larger tracklist would have been nice.”
“The music is absolutely an uninspired mess; I didn't enjoy a single track and none of them made the background dance in sync (which is what I expected from the sun constantly doing beats).”
- graphics61 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Tanuki Sunset" are widely praised for their vibrant, vaporwave-inspired aesthetic, which effectively captures a nostalgic 80s and 90s vibe. Players appreciate the stylish, simplified 3D visuals that complement the game's chill atmosphere and engaging soundtrack, creating an enjoyable and immersive experience. However, some users noted that while the aesthetics are appealing, they can feel superficial compared to the gameplay mechanics.
“The visuals of Tanuki Sunset are a gorgeous depiction of the 80's synthwave style with dancing suns and buildings, creating an overall vibrant and un-photorealistic style throughout the game and its menus.”
“I loved the vaporwave/synthwave aesthetic of this game.”
“The graphics are simple yet beautiful.”
“It was more aesthetically pleasing, I'll give it that, but that is quite literally it.”
“I mean the description of the aesthetics and the premise are winners, but that's just the paint on the surface, not the actual game.”
“Trying to mitigate crab grabs while aiming to beat a track record where getting knocked off your board is almost a certain fail and you honestly can’t tell how much they hurt your time because you don’t know your own time...and it can get a little too hectic for a game that’s so aesthetically low-vibe.”
- gameplay50 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and a charming aesthetic, with players enjoying the smooth controls and risk/reward elements. However, some find the gameplay repetitive and frustrating due to long checkpoints and a lack of variety, leading to a tedious experience at times. Overall, while the game offers a fun and polished experience, it may not appeal to everyone due to its challenging mechanics and limited depth.
“The core of the gameplay works pretty well and the visuals along with the music really nail the vibe the game is aiming for.”
“The gameplay is smooth and very satisfying; it can also be chill or exciting with just enough challenge that naturally makes you want to keep playing to complete all the sticker challenges for each level.”
“The combination of engaging gameplay, the retro styling, and the super cute protagonist make this a joy to play and easy to recommend to fans of the genre and newcomers alike.”
“The gameplay is... I guess tedious would be the best word to describe it.”
“The mechanics can only be described as more slippery than the IRS when it owes you money.”
“The trailer with the cute raccoon sold the game for me, but the gameplay and audio killed it.”
- story36 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as minimal and serves primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay, with many players noting that it feels more like a tutorial than a central narrative. While the story is short—typically taking around 3 to 10 hours to complete—it is described as charming and well-conceived, particularly in its moral conclusion. Overall, players appreciate the light narrative but emphasize that the gameplay and challenges are the main attractions, with hopes for future expansions to the story content.
“The story itself is simple and charming but not the main focus.”
“Although the story/campaign is short, it's very sweet, and I've had a lot of fun so far zooming through the abstract retrowave-backgrounded streets of the three zones this game has to offer.”
“The main story mode is majestic with its long flowing courses, cool cast of characters you meet along the journey.”
“To be honest, I didn't know that the game has a story.”
“The story felt like a long tutorial for the endless and trial modes.”
“The game is surprisingly hard to get to grips with, but my only gripe with it is that the 'story' is too short for my liking; it only took me a little over 3 hours to beat.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the amusing antics of the raccoon character and the overall lighthearted tone. The dialogue and gameplay mechanics contribute to a fun and engaging experience, making it a joy to play and evoking laughter throughout. Overall, the game's humor is a standout feature that enhances its charm and enjoyment.
“The dialogue is funny, the new mechanics and gimmicks keep coming, and there's a decent amount of fun stuff happening at any given time.”
“I haven't played something that made me laugh and smile as much as this did in a long time.”
“This is a short, funny, emotional, and sensorial game that is very easy to enjoy and to vibe to.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, often requiring tens of hours to achieve milestones in a game that is relatively short overall. Many express frustration with the long grind for achievements, which detracts from the enjoyment of the gameplay, making it feel more like a chore than fun. The combination of distant checkpoints and challenging gameplay further contributes to the sense of tedium associated with grinding.
“That's insane, and requires tens of hours of grinding in a game that is 2-8 hours long when completing everything there is to do.”
“The later levels get a bit long, which can make grinding those last few milestones quite tiresome, especially when crabs are thrown into the mix.”
“Genuinely wish I could get the twenty hours or so of grinding achievements back, to be honest.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its excellent music, stunning visuals, and immersive aesthetic, creating an engaging experience that enhances the overall enjoyment. However, some players find the gameplay itself to be lacking, which detracts from the otherwise captivating atmosphere.
“Excellent music, atmosphere, and aesthetic.”
“The soundtrack and visuals are both an absolute joy, and make for an atmosphere that would feel right at home in a rhythm game but fits equally well here.”
“Great atmosphere and music.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, while the game offers enjoyable gameplay and the option to replay levels and challenges, many users feel that it lacks depth, leading to limited long-term replayability. Despite the fun factor, the general consensus is that players may not find themselves returning frequently after initial playthroughs.
“There isn't very much depth to it; it's just extremely replayable because of the fun gameplay.”
“Even including the general replayability of doing levels again and finishing all the trial/challenge levels, there's only so much time you can realistically spend on it.”
“But my only gripe is that there isn't much replay value in this.”
“Overall fun, but it made me a little upset when it comes to replayability.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a refreshing and enjoyable emotional experience, highlighting its ability to engage them even after breaks. Many describe it as a fun, funny, and sensory journey that resonates deeply, with some considering it their favorite game due to its emotional impact.
“It was an amazing, fun, emotional experience and is now my favorite game ever.”
“This is a short, funny, emotional, and sensorial game that is very easy to enjoy and to vibe to.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is hindered by distant checkpoints that require flawless runs for progression, compounded by randomly generated levels that prevent players from learning from their mistakes. Additionally, while the soundtrack could benefit from more variety, there are minor performance issues in certain areas.
“Could use a few more tracks as you'll hear the same songs, and there are some performance issues in certain parts, but nothing crazy.”
“Checkpoints are far too distant, meaning the player has to have a perfect run in order to advance. The levels are randomly regenerated upon failure, which prevents the player from learning from their mistakes and improving performance on specific combinations of obstacles.”
“Could use a few more tracks, as you'll hear the same songs repeatedly. There are some performance issues in certain parts, but nothing too severe.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development of the tanuki is praised for its thoughtful execution, enhancing the overall appeal of the game. Players are particularly drawn in by the charming character designs and the vibrant vaporwave aesthetic, which contribute to a captivating experience.
“The character development of Tanuki is well thought out and executed perfectly.”
“I was given this game as a Christmas present and didn't think much of it at first, but I was drawn in because of the incredibly cute character designs and I love the vaporwave colors and music.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization model is well-received, featuring no microtransactions; players earn 'bits' to purchase cool cosmetics and accessories for their tanuki and skateboards, enhancing the overall experience without additional costs.
“Cool cosmetics, too! There are no microtransactions; instead, you gather 'bits' to buy new accessories for your tanuki to wear, as well as new skateboard items.”
