vivid/stasis

About

A hybrid rhythm-mystery game about uncovering the dark truth about a mysterious organization.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,314 reviews

story252 positive mentions

grinding19 negative mentions

Incredible and diverse song selection featuring well-known artists and original tracks.
Engaging and emotional story that keeps players invested, with relatable characters.
Unique gameplay mechanics with bumper notes that add depth and challenge to the rhythm experience.

Initial user experience is confusing, with a lack of clear tutorials and a PDF manual that is not integrated into the game.
Some charts can feel cluttered and difficult to read due to the bumper notes, which may frustrate players.
Progression can be grindy, requiring players to replay songs multiple times to unlock new content.

story
673 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The story of this rhythm game has garnered significant praise for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging characters, often described as a standout feature that elevates the overall experience. Players appreciate the innovative integration of narrative elements with gameplay, although some find the pacing and complexity of the story, particularly in the early chapters, to be a bit challenging. Accessibility options are noted as helpful for those who want to enjoy the story without the pressure of mastering the rhythm mechanics, making it appealing to a broader audience.
- “I can easily say this game is my favorite story, my favorite fictional world and likely will be for a long time!”
- “The story is really well done, the characters are well written and is the only story I've been really invested in in memory.”
- “A genuinely masterful blend of so many batshit insane elements despite being a rhythm game this has a better story than nearly any game I've played and the ways it tells that story are just insane and so cool.”
- “There has been very little care and attention given to the first-time player, and being thrust into the story/prologue upon opening the game was confusing and disorienting (both aurally and visually).”
- “Content I was previously able to play got locked behind story content that I do not enjoy doing.”
- “The story is where this game really turns me off.”
music
444 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
64%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its diverse and high-quality selection, featuring both well-known and lesser-known artists, with many tracks described as "bangers." Players appreciate the engaging rhythm gameplay that complements the soundtrack, although some have noted issues with charting clarity and synchronization. Overall, the combination of a captivating story and a rich musical experience makes it a standout title in the rhythm game genre.
- “The music is insane, the charts are fun, and I am so hooked into the story and cannot wait to see how it concludes in March.”
- “The song selection is enjoyable and fun, though the difficulty offerings can be occasionally harder or easier than one expects - each difficulty is worth a try to see where your skills stand, it's not as clean-cut as easy/medium/hard.”
- “The soundtrack, as well, is impeccable.”
- “The game stutters like me trying to play Redfall on an Xbox 360, the music goes out of sync with the gameplay every 5 minutes, and it isn't small either; the difference starts from maybe 500 milliseconds to 3 seconds, and on songs like 'Doppleganger' and 'Rafflesia', it makes the game so unbearable, I'd rather eat rusted nails.”
- “The song selection is another point that I'm a bit disappointed in, as I'm not a fan of a lot of the tracks in this game.”
- “The charts in the game aren't the best feeling to play even when you exclude bumper notes, and there aren't many songs in the game in the first place.”
gameplay
231 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The gameplay of Vivid/Stasis is characterized by its unique 4-key rhythm mechanics, particularly the introduction of "bumper notes," which add complexity and strategic depth to the experience. Players appreciate the engaging song selection and the integration of gameplay with a captivating story, although some find the bumper mechanic challenging and potentially confusing for those accustomed to traditional rhythm games. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its fun, polished execution and high skill ceiling, making it appealing to both newcomers and seasoned players.
- “The gameplay feels nice, the song selection is great, and the story is really interesting!”
- “Amazing, gameplay is pretty good and the skill ceiling scales really high, will definitely find myself coming back every now and then, story is also really good.”
- “The unique 4-key gameplay brought me here, but what really made me fall in love with it was the intricately crafted narrative and style of it all.”
- “The gameplay is what you'd expect from a 4k, with the bumper notes being the only notable difference overall.”
- “The biggest issue that I have with vivid/stasis in its early stages is that while the music selection is great, the charts of said selection are messy, cluttered and make very poor use of the actual mechanic of the game.”
- “Bad charting combined with the bumper notes make the higher levels unfun; I highly suggest you ask reputable chart creators from other vsrgs to completely redo the charts from scratch, and while you're at it, remove the bumper note mechanic entirely.”
graphics
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming and unique art style, which combines vibrant colors and pixel art elements that resonate well with players. Many reviewers appreciate the cute character designs and the overall visual aesthetic, noting that it enhances the storytelling experience. However, some players have expressed concerns about readability and the inconsistency between character art and the game's overall style, suggesting that while the visuals are appealing, they could benefit from improved clarity and cohesion.
- “The art style is my favorite in any game I've played; the vibrant colors just really grew on me alongside the characters.”
- “The game's visuals are simple and effective.”
- “I really love the pixel art style and animation; I'm a pixel art enthusiast, so that's really the standout feature for me.”
- “The text is also extremely difficult to read... I know it is part of the aesthetic, but I wish there was a way to make it more readable.”
- “From the flashing, glitchy graphics without warning as soon as you open the game, which are so bad you can't read the text onscreen, the ironic epilepsy warning after the prologue, and the fact that there was no way to enter a settings menu prior to it, so the volume is on max the whole time.”
- “But aesthetic does not mean you have to make it impossible to see properly.”
grinding
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
5%
90%
The game's grinding aspect has received mixed feedback; while some players find the currency and unlock requirements tedious and reminiscent of mobile games, others appreciate the accessibility options that can ease the grind. Many users suggest utilizing these settings to reduce the grind without compromising the experience, as the story and gameplay can be enjoyable despite the occasional grind. Overall, while grinding is present, its impact varies among players, with some finding it manageable and others feeling it detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “Besides, the way you navigate through the flowchart for new songs and stories is not grindy at all.”
- “What I do mind is how tedious it is to unlock everything and progress via the currency system.”
- “The way it is right now is just tedious, and more often than not I'm stuck with the notion of 'man, I have nothing to do right now in the game'.”
- “The story is interesting, it's a solid 4K vsrg, but it's like a pay-to-win mobile game grindy.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted, with players enjoying its witty dialogue, funny characters, and amusing scenarios that add levity to the gameplay. Many reviews note the comedic elements woven into the rhythm and visual novel aspects, making the experience both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the humor is a significant draw, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “Plus, the dialogue can be hilarious when it wants to be.”
- “Banger rhythm game with a funny story and its own nice gimmick.”
- “Enjoyable songs, enjoyable story, humorous characters, and slight grinding.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply impactful storytelling and relatable characters, particularly resonating with players who identify as LGBTQ+. Many users report experiencing strong emotions, including moments of sadness and joy, with some even crying during gameplay due to the well-crafted narrative and beautiful writing. The game effectively combines challenging rhythm mechanics with heartfelt moments, creating a unique and memorable emotional experience.
- “This game made me cry a little and I love it.”
- “Amazing storytelling, great integration of the game itself into the story, very emotional moments all the way through... I even cried three times.”
- “The story is well written and was very touching for me, and some of the parts have been quite impactful and helped me face certain situations in my life, in no small part thanks to the fact that I could relate more easily with the main character since we’re both trans.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering and inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end systems. While some users report satisfactory performance on mid-range PCs, there is a consensus that the game requires further optimization, particularly for lower-end hardware. Overall, players express a desire for improvements to enhance the gaming experience.
- “Some people mentioned performance issues, but it was completely fine for me on a mid-high end PC of decent age.”
- “It's also nice that you can get a reasonable amount of both in-game currency systems (performance and charge) quickly and easily, with different modes that allow you to get more of them faster by focusing in on a specific one.”
- “The game's performance can be patchy from time to time, and while my own computer is kind of weak, I've had friends suffering from semi-frequent stutters on brand new i7+4070 equipped computers, so it's not just me.”
- “It does need a bit of optimization for low-end players though; the FPS counter reads 120 FPS and the notes scroll like they're on ~50 FPS.”
- “I have a pretty crappy PC, so the game doesn't run that smoothly for me, but I sincerely think this needs some optimization; it runs pretty badly for what it is.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is currently compromised due to bugs and crashes, particularly in early access, with notable issues on Linux where performance is significantly hindered. While players anticipate improvements by the game's full release later this year, they report frustrating glitches and occasional freezes, though some aspects of the game's aesthetic are appreciated. Overall, the experience remains unstable, with calls for additional features like data reset options to enhance gameplay.
- “Though, when playing on Linux, the game is a buggy and laggy mess.”
- “Although it is still a buggy experience, and some of the charts might frustrate you, personally, the lack of ability to reset data for those who want it is something I'd like to see. Several options to reset data would be a good idea, especially an option to clear unlocked songs but keep the scores.”
- “The intro sequence is problematic; the keyboard glitches out when I'm trying to enter a name.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game offers significant replayability through its engaging gameplay loop and smooth mechanics, comparable to popular rhythm games like osu!. Players can explore all songs in the menu, and features like courses and a rating list provide additional incentives to improve scores, enhancing the overall replay value.
- “Amazing gameplay loop that encourages a lot of replayability.”
- “On top of replayability, the gameplay itself is very smooth; I would compare the quality to the likes of rhythm titans such as osu!.”
- “With features like courses and the rating list, there is a strong aspect of replayability and an incentive to work harder for a good score, rather than just aiming for an SS+ or V on the song select, which is quite nice.”
- “It's not made obvious that all the songs are playable in the song play menu by scrolling left and right with E and W.”
- “With stuff like courses and the rating list, there's some aspect of replayability and an incentive to work harder for a certain good score, rather than just for that SS+ or V on the song select, which is quite nice.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is met with mixed reviews; while some appreciate the unique and visually appealing character designs, others find the personalities lacking and the overall art style cluttered and unappealing. The combination of pixelated backgrounds and diverse art styles contributes to a disjointed experience that detracts from character engagement.
- “The visual novel part of the game had a unique art style, which I personally disliked, but the character design is on point though.”
- “Fun rhythm game with good character designs and nice looking UI.”
- “The pixelated real-life backgrounds fail to provide anything other than more clutter, making the loud character design even harder to put up with.”
- “Character design is... weird but somehow normal.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective combination of drawn character portraits and pixelated backgrounds, often depicting real-life scenes, which enhances the immersive experience during the visual novel segments.
- “The art and atmosphere in this game are truly impressive.”
- “The visual novel segments utilize drawn character portraits alongside pixelated backgrounds, often depicting real-life scenes, which creates a captivating atmosphere while reading the story.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its monetization model, being completely free with no in-game purchases or microtransactions, which enhances the overall experience for players.
- “The game is also free with no in-game purchases, which is a massive bonus and makes it all the more awesome that you can play it without spending anything.”
- “No microtransactions!”