Rhythm games have been around for a while, and many of them start to feel similar after some time. So, when I heard about Spin Rhythm XD, I was curious to see if it offered something different. From what I saw in the trailer, it looked like it might shake things up a bit.
How It Plays (Out)
Spin Rhythm XD has a simple idea but takes some practice to master. At the bottom of the screen, there’s a long bar with notes coming towards you. Instead of just pressing buttons, you spin a colored wheel to match the notes. The wheel changes colors, and you need to line it up with the colors of the notes as they come.
There are five types of notes you’ll deal with:
- Single Notes: Just line up the wheel’s color with the note.
- Bar Notes: Align the color and press the X button.
- Hold Bar Notes: Hold the X button and move the wheel to follow the note.
- Scratching Sections: Flick or wiggle the analog stick according to the arrow.
- Beat Notes: Press and hold the trigger in time with the beat.
As you move to harder levels, the game gets faster and adds new challenges. For example, you’ll start tapping to the beat in Hard mode, and holding beat notes only appears in the toughest level, XD. I began on Normal mode and then moved to Hard. I didn’t play much of Expert or XD because they were too challenging for me.
VR vs. Flat-Screen Play
You can play Spin Rhythm XD on both VR and a regular screen. In VR, you use motion controllers to spin the wheel, which looks cool but felt less precise than using the analog stick on a flat screen. I ended up preferring the flat-screen mode because it felt more accurate.
In VR, the game has backgrounds that change with the music. They look great but can be a bit distracting. Luckily, you can customize a lot of the game’s visual elements, like note colors and designs, which is a nice feature. I played with Meta Quest 3 and had no issues.
Music and Customization
The game has an impressive selection of over sixty electronic tracks from artists like Moe Shop and Pegboard Nerds. Even if you’re not a big fan of electronic music, the tracks are enjoyable and fit well with the gameplay.
As you play, you unlock new songs, character designs, and note styles. There are also leaderboards if you enjoy competing or challenging friends.
Controls and Immersion
The current VR control system uses laser pointers and buttons, which felt a bit awkward. I think using avatar hands to interact with the wheel might be more immersive and fun. I hope the developers consider this in future updates.
Verdict
Spin Rhythm XD brings a fresh twist to rhythm games. It combines interesting gameplay with a good soundtrack and cool visuals. Despite a few issues with VR controls and some distracting backgrounds, it stands out in the genre. If you’re looking for a new rhythm game to try, Spin Rhythm XD is definitely worth a look.
Spin Rhythm XD: It’s a solid game that adds something new without completely changing the genre. Overall, I enjoyed it and think it’s a good choice if you want to try something new. It works well in both 2D and in VR. – Tom Henry
