Review: I-Chu: Chibi Edition Is Bogged Down by Its Mobile Roots

I like cell rhythm video games like Love Reside College Idol Pageant, Hatsune Miku: Colourful Stage, and I-Chu. The thought of accumulating character playing cards, constructing them up, and utilizing these decks to make sure I’m sturdy sufficient to clear track levels has all the time been thrilling. Plus, Japanese idol music is fairly good. I-Chu: Chibi Version appeared like precisely the kind of recreation I’d need, since it’s all that minus free-to-play nonsense. Besides despite the fact that it is a single-purchase recreation, a lot of these cell trappings get in the way in which. To not point out, the interpretation is shockingly awkward.

Etoile Vie College is a faculty for younger males of various ages to take care of develop into idols. They practice in numerous programs to ideally develop into sturdy performers. The place can we are available in? We’re the producer who helps them on the way in which. Although that basically means we gather character playing cards to type groups, use these decks to earn factors as we play via rhythm-game songs, and skim extraordinarily quick visible novel chapters that go over their journey to stardom. 

Mainly, right here’s how the gameplay loop goes. You play via a track on simple along with your crew of 5 “abilities” recruited from the gacha. (These playing cards might be mixed or leveled as much as develop into stronger.) After beating sure songs, you possibly can learn via a handful of story chapters. A brand new monitor then opens up, you beat it, and you’ll learn extra story chapters. 

Now, earlier than we go additional, know this isn’t an otome recreation. Whereas your “avatar,” who acts as a producer, is a girl, there’s no romance right here. All the facet tales that had these components within the cell recreation are absent within the I-Chu: Chibi Version. I used to be extremely disillusioned to listen to about that, so it’s finest to know that earlier than you decide it up. 

You’re, so far as I’ve seen, locked into the “simple” issue to unlock extra of the story in I-Chu: Chibi Version. Which that you must advance to unlock extra of the gacha banners. The simple variations of songs are actually too protected typically, and I’ve but to not get a full combo on one. Particularly since the entire digital “mates” you possibly can choose for help have maxed out events.

Although actually, skipping the story won’t be a nasty concept. The localization is dangerous. There are such a lot of awkward phrases right here and unusual phrase decisions. The punctuation and spacing between letters is wrong at occasions. It isn’t as dangerous as what occurred with The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom, however there are occasions when it feels shut. Which is bizarre, as I’ve discovered PQube translations to sometimes be reasonably stable. 

I used to be additionally disillusioned by how a lot unlocking there may be for a console model of a cell recreation. At this level, somebody is paying $30 for I-Chu: Chibi Version. On the very least, the entire songs must be obtainable instantly within the free-play part, so you possibly can soar proper into any tracks you get pleasure from. However no. They’re not. It’s worthwhile to undergo the story to unlock them. Equally, not all of the gacha banners can be found both. Once more, that you must unlock them. 

Talking of which, I’ve plenty of points with how the gacha is dealt with in I Chu: Chibi Version generally. The percentages appear as dangerous as they might be in a cell recreation. After 5 hours of taking part in, I solely have one LE card, and it’s for Li Chaoyang. You’d suppose that, given that is utterly offline and pulled from the cell model, the speed may very well be elevated so I’m not swamped with Rs and RRs. It’d be good to see LEs extra typically.  

Which is all a disgrace, for the reason that rhythm recreation portion of I-Chu: Chibi Version is kind of enjoyable. When you do begin unlocking a considerable variety of tracks — let’s say round 10-20 — you’ll begin discovering favorites! I felt plenty of them have been catchy, and the vocalists performing all of them appeared fairly proficient. The Regular and Exhausting difficulties begin to really feel pleasing, and Maniac might be genuinely difficult. 

I like the thought of I-Chu: Chibi Version, as having a one-purchase model of a cell recreation that grants you to entry to nearly every thing is interesting. Nevertheless, the way in which it forces you to unlock every thing, the awkward localization, and the nonetheless irritating gacha system maintain it again. The music is sweet! The rhythm recreation ingredient is fairly stable! When you get some respectable playing cards, you may make some sturdy groups! It’s simply the entire different stuff surrounding it bogs it down.

I-Chu: Chibi Version might be obtainable for the Nintendo Change on October 3, 2024.