GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · February 16, 2024

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Review, A new rhythm music game starring the songstresses of the Azure Striker Gunvolt series, Lumen, Lola, and Luxia singing 15 different songs. Follow the notes to the pounding beat and aim for a top score in this electrifying rhythm game!

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Review Pros:

Decent anime-style graphics.
3.1GB download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Japanese voice.
Graphics settings – frame rate, windowed mode, and v-sync.
Note options – note speed, hold note transparency, and dual tap line display.
Timing options – timing window, note rank height, and late/fast display.
Lane options – Lane size, note receptor height, lane separation, lane transparency, and measure line display.
FX options – BG brightness, turbo FX transparency, danger FX transparency, combo display, and background type.
All options have a preview window.
Music video mode lets you create or play singular songs complete with a music video.
Tutorial mode.
The gameplay and gimmick is you deal with two lanes and one side of the pad does one so left does left and right does, any button can be used.
Flickr moves are done with the sticks.
Earn a bonus charge to trigger a timed event where you earn more points.
Instant feedback on your timing of hitting the notes.
The music video plays out in the background.
Fantastic tracklist.
Local stats and local leaderboards.
Click more info on any track to get all the artists and composer information.
Four difficulties – Easy, normal, hard, and expert.
Music tracks come from the Gunvolt and Luminous Avenger series.
Full music track filters.
The game can be played with a keyboard.
Calibrate buttons and timing option.
A game for the fans of the game series.
Uses a full combo counter.
Satisfying gameplay.
End of track score breakdown including a rank.
Unlock new tracks by playing concerts.
You can play tracks in any order you want.
Feels like a real game changer with its dual lane and the way they integrate flicks and rolls with the sticks.
After u pausing the game you get a 3 second countdown.
Fast loading times.
It is a lot of fun to play.
Due to the controls, it makes the game accessible.
Different backgrounds from concert-style singers to flyovers of locations and actual games playing in the background.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Review Cons:

Only ten Steam achievements.
Has a tutorial mode but it is hidden in the gallery menu.
Hard to see the bars coming down the lanes.
No actual gameplay settings section.
Doesn’t have any graphics settings in a set place and instead it’s when going to play a game.
Songs autoplay a preview and this includes locked/unreleased songs.
A lot of DLC, it is the structure of the game but I’m just telling you.
Initially daunting as you get to grips with it all.
The preview window is small and you have to squint to see changes.
Kind of a victim of the genre but it’s hard to see the video playing out in the background as you are too busy.
Doesn’t offer a song progress bar.
Playing with the keyboard is not as good.
A few of the backgrounds can be off-putting.
You don’t get the song length info.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle:

Official website.

Developer: Inti Creates

Publisher: Inti Creates

Store Links –

Steam

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
8/10

Sound - 8/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
8/10

Length - 8/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.8/10

Summary

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle is a game that offers a unique and satisfying gameplay experience with its dual-lane system and integration of flicks and rolls with the sticks. It features decent anime-style graphics and a fantastic tracklist from the Gunvolt and Luminous Avenger series. The game is a 3.1GB download and has full controller support, with Japanese voice acting. It also supports Steam achievements, although there are only ten.

The game provides a variety of settings options, including graphics settings (frame rate, windowed mode, and v-sync), note options (note speed, hold note transparency, and dual tap line display), timing options (timing window, note rank height, and late/fast display), lane options (lane size, note receptor height, lane separation, lane transparency, and measure line display), and FX options (BG brightness, turbo FX transparency, danger FX transparency, combo display, and background type). All these options come with a preview window.

The gameplay is unique, dealing with two lanes where one side of the pad controls one lane. Flicker moves are done with the sticks. The game provides instant feedback on your timing of hitting the notes, and a bonus charge can be earned to trigger a timed event for more points. The music video plays out in the background during gameplay, providing a dynamic visual experience.

The game offers four difficulty levels – easy, normal, hard, and expert. You can unlock new tracks by playing concerts, and tracks can be played in any order. The game also includes a music video mode, a tutorial mode, local stats, and local leaderboards. More info on any track can be accessed to get all the artists and composer information.

Despite its many strengths, the game does have some areas that could be improved. The bars coming down the lanes can be hard to see, and there’s no actual gameplay settings section. The graphics settings aren’t located in a set place and are instead accessed when going to play a game. Songs autoplay a preview, including locked/unreleased songs. The game also has a lot of DLC. The preview window is small, making it hard to see changes, and it can be difficult to see the video playing out in the background as you are too busy with the gameplay. The game doesn’t offer a song progress bar, and playing with the keyboard is not as good as playing with a controller. A few of the backgrounds can be off-putting, and the game doesn’t provide song-length info.

Overall, GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle is a lot of fun to play and offers a unique gameplay experience. Its controls make the game accessible, and it feels like a real game-changer in its genre. However, it can be initially daunting as you get to grips with it all. This game is definitely for the fans of the game series.