SlipDream Resonator

So this is pretty solid rhythm game, but I do have some reservations with giving it a blanket recommendation. The core gameplay is a sort of hybrid of a twin-stick shooter and an inverse Mai-Mai, with notes coming in from the edge of the screen that you collect at the center of the screen by pointing an analog stick towards and pressing the trigger on the same of the controller. As an added wrinkle, there's collectable power ups that kinda feel like they came out of an Amplitude game, but overall the core game loop is simple and pretty well executed. As for the setlist, it's pretty good IMO. There's a bent toward almost 80'ish pop and ambient pieces that feel pretty unique for a commercial rhythm game, and while there's not many tracks, there's a plenty enough of them to justify the games relatively cheap asking price. On the more questionable aspects of the game, I have issue with the games visuals. On the subjective side of things, there's some aspects of the visual design that I really dislike, like the games choice of fonts, so I hope there's some theming choices added in the future. As a more objective complaint, though, the game's default gameplay presentation make me HORRIFICALLY ill, to the point that I'm running to the bathroom after a single chart. Turning off all the visual options in the menu helps but it doesn't quite entirely get thing under control thanks to the game's fatal flaw that exacerbates the whole situation: atrocious performance. I've been playing exclusively on a Steam Deck, and as the game's optimization stands the Deck can basically can never hit 30fps in gameplay, with normal gameplay sitting at ~25fps with regular dips to the tens, even with turning down all the few visual options the game has, which is absolutely mindboggling considering what the hardware is capable of. To the game's credit, it actually plays okay at those low framerates, and if it didn't exacerbate my issues I wouldn't complain too much. However, since framerate is an issue for me, I've been spending the last couple of hours messing with engine config settings trying to get stable performance that without making the game look like garbage, and I think I've got a something acceptable now: By going into the game's AppData folder and editing GameUserSettings.ini to set all the scalability groups settings to 0 and the resolution scale to 80%, I can lock the game at 40fps at the OS level with a fairly minor hit in image quality, which does actually help tremendously with the queasiness, even if it doesn't eliminate it. Anyways, despite how much of this review is dedicated to negative criticism, I do honestly recommend it overall. It's a fun and fairly unique rhythm game that's a good fit for portable devices and it likely won't bother the average player. I just hope there's some added options and performance optimization down the line.

I had a great time vibing out to this game. I got lost blissfully in the memorizing visuals and its killer soundtrack. It was challenging, buy my fingers eventually learned to dance to the tune of beat!

I'm having a lot of fun with this game - it has been a long time since I have clicked with a rhythm game and SlipDream has been bringing back memories of trying to get to expert mode in guitar hero & DDR. i love finding my way around the songs and how the dual stick element leaves it a bit more open ended than other controller based rhythm games & more like using a DDR pad and choosing how to use your feet independently. figuring out whether to use the left or right arm can be tough in the moment but it has me going back to songs to learn the optimal path. each song fits wonderfully with the aesthetic and I love all of menu screen background music and SFX. You can feel the love put into this one <3 fully synchronized & experiencing psychic remnants

Fun rhythm game. Works well on steam deck, but i disabled the track pads because I kept hitting them on accident. Love the visuals and the music.

This is a really interesting take on a rhythm game, haven't encountered something like this before! It was easy to pick up but considerably more challenging once you start ramping up the difficulty. But I was having fun even when I was horribly inept (which is often) the music is so damn good and the overall atmosphere kind of sucks you in. Easy to pick up and tough to master so I would def recommend for any rhythm game or music lover to try out! Now if only I was good enough for the robot voice to stop criticizing me after every round...gotta have goals I guess

日本語のレビューがなかったので。 「音ゲー」として買おうか悩んでいるそこのあなた。ちょっとお待ちを。 これは音ゲーというより、[b]アクションやシューティングに近いもの[/b]です。 [h2]ざっくりとしたゲーム内容説明(※念のため)[/h2] 左スティックと左トリガーの[b]【左アーム】[/b]と右スティックと右トリガーの[b]【右アーム】[/b]で、８方向から流れてくるノーツを処理していくゲーム。 ノーツの種類は普通にトリガーするだけの「通常ノーツ」、いわゆる同時押しにあたる「デュアルノーツ」、長押しの「ロングノーツ」、アイテムを取得できる「アイテムノーツ」がある。 取得したアイテムは左右のアームに記録され、それぞれLB/RBを押すことで任意のタイミングで使用可能。 [h2]気になった点[/h2] [b]・音ゲーならではの気持ちよさがない[/b] 日本語対応してないので、自分が気づいてないだけかもだけど、このゲーム、ノーツをヒットしたときのいわゆる「打鍵音」がない。 そのため、音ゲーならではの「演奏感」が皆無といっていいほどない。 ならばノーツ処理が曲とリンクしているかというと、そこまででもなく、総じて音ゲーとしての気持ちよさがない。 [b]・操作が独特[/b] 通常の音ゲーと違い、「スティックで方向を合わせて」「トリガーを引く」という２つのアクションを行わなければならないため、難易度が上がっていくにつれ、スティックでの方向合わせに集中してしまい、もはやノーツをただ処理していくだけのアクションやシューティングに近いものになってしまう。 ノーツも左と右の指定が特にないので、デュアルノーツ以外片手で処理した方が楽という状態。 (もしかしたら高難易度曲だと左右指定があるかも？) [b]・アイテムの存在が邪魔[/b] これは好みにもよりそうだけど、個人的にはアイテムが邪魔でしかない。 もちろんアイテムを使用せずに曲をクリアすることは可能だけど、アイテムを使った方がスコアは上がる。 しかし、スマホ音ゲーによくある自動発動型のスキルと異なり、任意のタイミングで使用できてしまうのが問題。 任意ということは、音ゲーにおいて「リズムに関係ないタイミングでボタンを押す」ということになり、どうしても使いにくさの方が上回ってしまう。 アイテムノーツがあるなら、即座発動でもよかったのに。 そのほか、微妙なところでは「使用されてるフォントが読みにくい」ことや「演出が単調」などなど。 プレイしてみた感じ、使用されてる楽曲そのものはそこまで悪くないのにゲームシステムがうまく「音ゲー」になりきれてないのがすごくもったいない。 アーリーアクセスならまだ先の可能性があるが、これで製品のようなので将来性にもあまり期待ができそうにないので、現状は「おすすめできない」感じ。

fun, easy to pick up rhythm game with great psychedelic visuals, a clinical hyperpop aesthetic, and a killer soundtrack... big recommend