The Karaoke

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 246 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
The Karaoke Game Cover
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"The Karaoke" is a Japanese horror game set in a high school girl's karaoke experience. The game features an immersived horror environment with a VHS film aesthetic and is designed to have a psychological impact on the player. There are multiple endings and autosaves at each checkpoint. The game is inspired by Japanese horror films and offers a unique and unsettling experience.

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Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 246 reviews
story11 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling narrative that effectively tackles serious themes, creating a haunting atmosphere that resonates with players.
  • The graphics and overall presentation are significantly improved compared to previous titles, enhancing the immersive experience.
  • The inclusion of multiple endings adds replayability and depth, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.
  • The game suffers from optimization issues, causing performance problems on various systems, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • Many players found the karaoke mini-game frustrating and poorly executed, leading to a lack of enjoyment during key gameplay moments.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it doesn't justify its price, especially when compared to other titles in the Chilla's Art catalog.
  • story55 mentions

    The game's story is a dark and emotionally charged narrative centered around themes of abuse and trauma, featuring a unique rhythm-based karaoke mechanic that some players feel detracts from the gravity of the subject matter. While the story is engaging and offers six different endings that encourage replayability, many reviewers noted inconsistencies in character responses and a lack of depth in certain plot elements. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its tension and thought-provoking nature, though the handling of sensitive topics has raised concerns about its execution.

    • “Excellent story, very emotionally heavy.”
    • “The story is engaging, and you keep wondering what will happen next.”
    • “This is by far one of my favorite games by Chilla's Art so far; the story that goes into these games is phenomenal, and I highly recommend getting all of the endings. You won't regret it; the lore and small details in this game are amazing.”
    • “It just doesn't make any sense, and it diminishes what is a genuinely chilling story of abuse by removing all player agency to react as a normal person would.”
    • “There was an uncomfortable amount of naivety in the storytelling and I get the feeling that they did not really consult many victims of the subject matter before they got writing.”
    • “The only thing that didn't really sit well with me was the theme — some others have mentioned it in their reviews, but I think it would be good to have a trigger/content warning added to the game, as the story revolves around sexual assault of high school girls.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its creepiness and tension, effectively utilizing sound design and visual elements to create an oppressive and unsettling environment. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to maintain a foreboding ambiance throughout, with some noting that it successfully evokes a sense of dread even in the absence of direct threats. However, a few critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, certain aspects could benefit from deeper exploration or polish.

    • “From the beginning to end, the atmosphere did not stop, and it was so creepy not knowing when the stalker would attack you, even in parts where he doesn't appear.”
    • “As always, Chilla's Art is good at creating a creepy atmosphere without putting jump scares behind every corner.”
    • “The visuals and atmosphere were incredible, just as in nearly all of Chilla's Art releases.”
    • “Lacks a truly creepy atmosphere and any meaningful horror gameplay.”
    • “Sadly, unlike the closing shift, the bathhouse, and the convenience store, the 'task' game part just doesn't really build the atmosphere like those other games' tasks do.”
    • “I didn't get a sense of creepy atmosphere here; only frustration and confusion.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, with a strong emphasis on karaoke mechanics that some players find overwhelming, while others appreciate the engaging story and customization options. Many reviews note the simplicity of the gameplay, likening it to a walking simulator with a focus on item collection and a few new mechanics, though some criticize the precision required for certain actions and the overall brevity of the experience. Improvements in graphics and voice acting are acknowledged, but the gameplay is often described as janky and lacking depth compared to previous titles in the series.

    • “Beautiful story with fun gameplay and anxiety-increasing events throughout the entirety of the game.”
    • “The gameplay loop felt a lot more engaging than the closing shift, with plenty of customization options.”
    • “It was very exciting to see the improvements made, such as the driving mechanic being easier to control, improved graphics, more voice acting, etc. I enjoyed getting the various endings, and it was a pleasant surprise to see that there were quite a few of them.”
    • “Gameplay railroads you into prioritizing karaoke above everything else.”
    • “Too short, there are two mechanics: karaoke and run away from the rapist.”
    • “The stealth mechanic in the endings that require it is... finicky.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game has received positive feedback for its catchy tracks, particularly the j-pop selections, and the engaging karaoke mini-game that adds to the overall experience. However, some players expressed frustration with the forced progression through songs and issues with song synchronization, which can detract from replayability. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its atmosphere and addictive quality, though some technical glitches have been reported.

    • “The music is great, the story is great, it had me replaying to see if I could get the best ending and I wasn't disappointed.”
    • “There are some catchy J-pop songs to enjoy, and the mini-game of 'singing' the songs properly is clever.”
    • “Great song selection to sing to, lots of different endings, very atmospheric.”
    • “That being said... prepare to be frustrated if you plan on completing the songs 100%, because they are poorly synced.”
    • “It was way too short; in the other games before, there was a lot more to do. In this game, you actually have nothing much to do, except play a music rhythm game which is way too loud.”
    • “I also had a bug that I couldn't fix where I didn't even get any karaoke music.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the atmospheric and aesthetic qualities that enhance the dark Japanese environment, while others criticize the overall quality, likening it to outdated models and expressing frustration over performance issues. Improvements in character facial animations and details are noted, but many players feel that the graphics still fall short compared to modern standards, particularly when considering the capabilities of newer engines like Unreal Engine 5. Overall, while the visuals contribute to the game's oppressive atmosphere, they are not universally impressive.

    • “It's also graphically the best game of the Chilla's Art series; the shadows and clean textures are very reminiscent of games like F.E.A.R.”
    • “In the same vein as past Chilla's Art games, the graphics work well for creating an oppressive, dark atmosphere and uncanny valley feeling, as does the sound design.”
    • “As always with Chilla's games, the aesthetic is phenomenal.”
    • “When entering the karaoke, it uses 90%+ of my GPU at the lowest graphics and resolution, making it completely unplayable.”
    • “Great idea and atmosphere, but the trashy graphics this game has really detract from the experience.”
    • “In 2023, it's disappointing that the developers resort to graphics that remind me of T-pose models from 3D Studio Max 1999. Seriously, have you heard about Unreal Engine 5?”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Chillas' games are known for their charm and atmosphere, but they often suffer from poor optimization issues, leading to high resource usage and performance hitches. While the latest title shows some improvement in optimization compared to previous games, it still experiences occasional performance problems, with some players noting significant GPU strain. Overall, it is considered the most optimized game from Chillas' Art to date, yet still falls short of ideal performance.

    • “The game is better optimized than their usual, but still has hitches occasionally.”
    • “Fully voiced dialogue, pretty good optimization (compared to past games), and larger map sizes are a few of the big changes I'd point out about the karaoke.”
    • “I've played every Chilla's Art game and this is their most optimized yet.”
    • “Chillas games have a reputation for being incredibly charming, atmospheric, and truly frightening, but also very poorly optimized and janky.”
    • “I really enjoy these games and look forward to playing, but I think there is an optimization issue where this game taxes my GPU to the point of overheating.”
    • “Optimization is terrible; it ran fine on my computer, but I noticed it was still taking way too many resources for a game looking like this.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, with standout elements like the amusing karaoke monkey and the absurdity of the coach's abrupt animations eliciting laughter. While some players find the janky aspects of the game entertaining, others feel that the overall experience lacks engaging humor, leading to a more boring gameplay experience.

    • “I love the funny karaoke monkey.”
    • “But when the coach catches you and tackles you, not only is there the issue that the animation plays in the same hallway no matter where you are in the building, but the animation of the coach attacking you is so abrupt, jittery, silly looking and sounding that I actually found myself laughing at the absurdity of the whole cutscene.”
    • “Sometimes there were some funny moments, but I think they were not intentional.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability with six different endings to explore, providing solid value for players seeking to unlock all achievements. However, some users feel that the limited content outside of the endings, such as karaoke mode, diminishes overall replay value, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, while there are multiple endings to discover, the lack of engaging content may deter some players from replaying.

    • “With 6 endings available, replayability is through the roof in this one.”
    • “This game offers a ton of different endings to discover, which adds a healthy dose of replayability.”
    • “Not really a replayable game as there isn't too much to do unless you want to play the karaoke mode.”
    • “I don't exactly recommend this due to the lack of replayability, the alarmingly avoidant main character, and the general cycle of repeating the same scenes over and over again just to get a slightly different ending that doesn't even take much effort to achieve.”
    • “It gives the game solid replay value, although some of the endings aren't exactly ones you want to get unless you want all the achievements.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Users find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than engaging or challenging, particularly noting that it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It wasn't scary, it was just tedious.”
    • “Rhythm game is very tedious.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent storytelling, which delivers a deeply emotional experience that resonates with players.

    • “Excellent story, very emotionally heavy.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly with random freezes occurring during karaoke segments, which necessitate reloading and replaying chapters. This detracts from the overall experience and frustrates players.

    • “The game freezes randomly during the karaoke segments, forcing you to reload and replay the chapter.”
    • “I experienced frequent crashes that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
    • “The stability issues are frustrating, as the game often lags and becomes unresponsive.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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