Info about Chenso Club:

Official game description:
  
The alien invaders are everywhere, attacking everything and everyone! And when they die, the life-force they leave behind is an ultra-incredible energy source! Is there any hope?  
Meet the Chenso Club: a growing group of fighters here to save the world. They’re using the aliens’ life-force to power up and beat them at their own game. Don’t let their adorable nature fool you - they will happily and brutally obliterate any threat that gets in their way.  
Our heroines want any excuse to use their newfound powers. It’s up to you to master their moves, increase their power and show the world the might of the Chenso Club.  
Master the girls’ moves, kick your reflexes into high gear, and battle your way through randomized stages to obliterate aliens.  
Play solo or indulge the Chenso girls’ competitive nature with couch co-op.  
Power up your heroine by sacrificing your health in shops and events.  
Experience various fast paced and fun bonus levels and events!

Release date: Sep 1, 2022

Categories: Roguelike, Action Platformer, Beat 'em up, Local Co-op, Pixel Art, Character Switching


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews directly compare price to value. Multiple users treat $10 as an acceptable or even full-price-worthy price point, while $15 is criticized as too high for a short, limited-replay experience. Several comments recommend buying only on sale or deep discount, which suggests the community sees the fair base price as below $15 and centered around $10, with lower sale-oriented expectations around $5.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 3.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: 40.0h
  - Reasoning: The explicit completion statement supports gameCompletion at about 5 hours. Reaching the final boss in roughly 2-3 hours supports storyCompletion at about 3 hours. A reported session of almost an hour supports sessionLength at about 1 hour. The mention of a 40-hour achievement grind supports endgame at about 40 hours. Confidence is moderate because completion times vary across reviews and some evidence is translated or approximate.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Reports often describe early fun from flashy combat and co-op chaos, but many players say the experience becomes repetitive or boring quickly.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Playing in local co-op
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: horrendous default controller layout; rough first-hour learning curve; clunky/janky controls and rough movement; glitches and bugs; no meta-progression and lost progress on death; repetition and limited content
  - Unlock drivers: getting used to the controls; playing in local co-op
  - Conditions: playing with friends in local co-op; playing solo; tolerance for repetition and limited content; acceptance of weak meta-progression; getting past rough controls and the first-hour learning curve; completing the brief tutorial
- Player Archetypes:
  - Couch Co-op Social Player (buy)
    - Motivation: To share chaotic local co-op runs with friends or a partner.
    - Playstyle: Plays local co-op story mode, often on casual difficulty, with another player on the couch.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Action-Platformer Arcade Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: To enjoy side-scrolling hack-and-slash platforming with a strong soundtrack and arcade feel.
    - Playstyle: Runs solo arcade-style stages, slashing aliens and replaying in short sessions.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: regular platformer player
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Roguelite Progression Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: To find deep roguelite progression and build variety that rewards repeated runs.
    - Playstyle: Repeats runs, analyzes unlocks and meta-progression, and expects meaningful build changes.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Skul: The Hero Slayer; Rogue Legacy
  - Smash Bros Solo Homage Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: To relive the solo Smash Bros campaign experience with a roster of unique fighters.
    - Playstyle: Plays solo, unlocks and masters distinct characters, and treats the game as a Smash-like single-player mode.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Super Smash Bros Brawl; Super Smash Bros


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Great Pixel Art and Graphics (weight 0.44): The pixel art is vibrant, expressive, and well-made, while the graphics are clean, retro, and enjoyable to look at. Clusters 3, 4, and 6 highlight the visual appeal and artistic style.
- Positive Overall Reception (weight 0.41): The game is widely praised as good to excellent, with many reviewers describing it as entertaining and playing really well. Clusters 1, 18, 22, and 23 highlight general enjoyment and a great experience for both roguelike fans and newcomers.
- Excellent Soundtrack and Music (weight 0.41): The soundtrack is consistently described as great, well-made, and surprisingly excellent, with each song having its own energy. Clusters 2, 5, and 20 specifically commend the upbeat and memorable music.
- Unique Character Playstyles (weight 0.27): Characters play very differently from each other, with unique and fun playstyles that add variety for all player types. Clusters 8 and 9 emphasize the diverse roster and multiple characters to choose from.
- Solid Platforming Gameplay (weight 0.24): The game is a good, simple platformer without excessive quirks, featuring decent platforming and neat mechanics. Clusters 7 and 14 note the enjoyable platforming experience.
- Roguelite Progression and Replayability (weight 0.17): The blend of roguelite progression and side-scrolling action is energetic and fun, with high replayability despite deceptive difficulty. Clusters 10 and 24 highlight the roguelite elements.
- Charming Character Designs (weight 0.17): The character designs are memorable, amazingly designed, and charming, contributing to the game's appeal. Clusters 11 and 16 specifically praise the characters.
- Awesome Art Style (weight 0.17): The art style is amazing and aesthetically pleasing, making the game look really good. Clusters 17 and 21 commend the overall visual style.
- Local Multiplayer Fun (weight 0.1): Local multiplayer adds chaotic and entertaining team efforts, enhancing the social experience. Cluster 12 mentions the inclusion of local multiplayer.
- Easy and Convenient Controls (weight 0.1): The controls are easy to get used to and not clunky, providing a convenient gameplay experience. Cluster 13 highlights the accessibility of controls.

Common complaints:
- Clunky and unresponsive controls (weight 0.6): Many players find the controls clumsy, stiff, and sluggish, requiring significant time to get used to. This is widely reported as a core issue affecting overall enjoyment.
- Frequent bugs and glitches (weight 0.51): Numerous bugs are reported, including softlocks, freezes, crashes, and progression-halting issues. These significantly detract from the experience and can force restarts.
- Lack of content and variety (weight 0.4): The game is short, with limited stages, unlockables, and post-game content. Enemy and boss variety also feels lacking, leading to a sense of repetition.
- Floaty and janky movement (weight 0.38): Movement is frequently described as floaty, slow, and janky, with poor momentum and responsiveness. This contributes to a jarring and unintuitive gameplay feel.
- Weak roguelike and meta-progression (weight 0.37): The roguelike elements are criticized for lacking variety, meaningful progression, and proper explanation. The meta-progression feels grindy and unrewarding.
- Repetitive and boring gameplay (weight 0.36): Players report that the game becomes repetitive quickly, with little variation between runs and a lack of engaging content. This leads to boredom and a desire to stop playing.
- Unfair difficulty and spikes (weight 0.35): Difficulty is often perceived as unfair due to sudden spikes, lack of checkpoints, and punishing mechanics. Bosses and certain levels exacerbate this issue.
- Visual clutter and unclear visuals (weight 0.34): The screen often becomes cluttered with projectiles, effects, and enemies, making it hard to track important elements. Visual noise also obscures enemy attacks and hazards.
- Story and dialogue issues (weight 0.32): The story is often seen as nonsensical, shallow, or tonally inconsistent, with unvoiced dialogue that can be sped up but not skipped. This detracts from the overall experience.
- Poor level design (weight 0.32): Levels are often seen as uninspired, with layouts that are punishing, confusing, or poorly suited to the game's mechanics. This includes issues with traps, enemy placement, and navigation clarity.
- Frustrating platforming mechanics (weight 0.29): Platforming segments are often frustrating due to sloppy design, difficult jumps, and floaty air control. Players cite issues with precision and frequent deaths.
- Poor character balance (weight 0.26): Many characters feel underpowered or missing moves, with only a few being viable. This imbalance reduces the incentive to play as different characters.
- Clunky combat experience (weight 0.24): Combat is described as clunky, rough, and unsatisfying, with slow attacks and poor hit feedback. This makes engaging with enemies feel tedious.
- Confusing HP and currency system (weight 0.17): The system where HP doubles as currency is criticized as exploitable and nonsensical, rewarding passive play and punishing upgrades. Players find it frustrating and counterintuitive.
- Grindy achievements (weight 0.17): Achievements require excessive grinding, such as 40 hours of play, and are often combined with bugs that make the process even more tedious. This is seen as a major flaw.
- Unskippable intros and poor menus (weight 0.16): Unskippable logo intros and finicky, input-blocking menus create barriers to speedy navigation. This is a minor but frequently mentioned annoyance.
- Damage sponge enemies (weight 0.14): Enemies, especially later in the game, become overly tanky with high HP, turning fights into tedious slogs. This is a common frustration among players.
- Random NPC challenge inconsistency (weight 0.13): NPC challenges have random durations and rewards that may not be useful, leading to inconsistent experiences. This randomness can feel unfair or unrewarding.
- No Japanese language support (weight 0.12): The game lacks Japanese language support, and attempts to use machine translation are inadequate. This limits accessibility for Japanese players.
- Limited dash directions (weight 0.1): The dash mechanic is restricted to only four directions, which limits mobility and precision during combat and platforming. Players find this especially problematic in a game that emphasizes aerial movement.

Gameplay feedback:
- Roguelike Structure (weight 0.46): The game is a roguelike with stage-based progression, upgrades, and permanent unlocks. It also includes roguelite elements and a final boss.
- Distinct Character Roster (weight 0.44): The game features multiple playable characters, each with unique weapons, abilities, stats, and move sets. This variety encourages players to master different playstyles.
- Action Platformer Gameplay (weight 0.37): It is an action platformer with run-and-gun elements and platforming sections. The game includes combat-focused gameplay with boss battles.
- Local Co-op Multiplayer (weight 0.27): Local cooperative multiplayer is available for up to two players, allowing co-op play in story mode. This enhances the social gaming experience.
- Multiple Difficulty Options (weight 0.24): The game offers multiple difficulty settings, including a story mode and casual options. Players can adjust difficulty to suit their skill level.
- Health as Currency (weight 0.17): Health is used as currency to buy items and upgrades in the shop, and lives can be spent for power-ups. This creates a risk-reward system where players become more vulnerable.
- Character Unlock System (weight 0.14): New characters are unlocked as the story progresses, with one character unlocked per stage cleared. This provides a sense of progression and reward.
- Smash Bros-like Controls (weight 0.1): The game attempts a roguelike formula with Smash Bros-inspired controls, offering a unique blend of fighting game mechanics and roguelite progression.
- High Replayability (weight 0.1): The game includes replayability elements and roguelite progression, encouraging repeated playthroughs. This extends the game's longevity.
- Aerial Combat Focus (weight 0.1): The game encourages aerial fights, adding a vertical dimension to combat. This differentiates it from typical ground-based platformers.

Performance notes:
- Severe FPS drop bug (weight 0.1): After changing volume and exiting the pause menu, FPS can drop below 15. The issue requires a restart to resolve, indicating a persistent performance bug.
- Runs well on low-end (weight 0.06): The game runs smoothly on a Core2 Duo laptop with 4 GB RAM and Windows 7, maintaining solid framerate without slowdown. This demonstrates broad compatibility with older hardware.
- Lag when overpowered (weight 0.06): The game experiences severe lag when the player becomes too strong. This suggests a performance scaling issue tied to character power.
- Controller disconnection issue (weight 0.05): Controllers frequently disconnect after a period of play. This connectivity problem disrupts gameplay for controller users.
- Lengthy loading screens (weight 0.05): Loading screens between stages take 10 to 15 seconds, which players find excessively long. This impacts the overall pacing and enjoyment.
- Low PC requirements (weight 0.05): The game's PC requirements are very low, allowing it to run on modest hardware. This is a positive point for accessibility.
- File optimization praised (weight 0.05): Players note the game uses very little disk space and is excellently optimized. This positive technical aspect is appreciated by users.

Recommendations:
- Wait for sale (weight 0.29): Several reviewers advise buying only on sale or discount, citing that the full price is not justified. They suggest waiting for a price drop before purchasing.
- Recommended for genre fans (weight 0.29): The game is repeatedly recommended for fans of specific genres such as roguelites, arcade brawlers, retro-inspired games, and metroidvanias. Those who enjoy these styles will find plenty to appreciate.
- Better with friends (weight 0.27): Multiple clusters highlight that the game is best experienced in co-op, with friends recommending it for social play. It is particularly suited to couch co-op and two-player sessions.
- Not worth full price (weight 0.17): There is consensus that the game is not worth its full price, with specific complaints about $10 and $15 price points. Even those who enjoy it often recommend waiting for a discount.
- Mixed or hesitant recommendations (weight 0.16): Several clusters express hesitant or conditional recommendations, with some saying they wouldn't be their first choice. Others recommend with reservations or only for encouragement.
- Potential if improved (weight 0.13): Some reviewers indicate they would re-engage if certain improvements are made, such as better gameplay or updated controls. They currently hold off due to these issues.
- Casual and light enjoyment (weight 0.12): Some find the game good for casual, light enjoyment, but not suitable for long play sessions. It is also not recommended for those seeking a more casual experience if it proves too hard.
- Not recommended overall (weight 0.12): A few clusters simply state not recommended or do not recommend at this time, without detailed reasons. These reflect general dissatisfaction.
- Give it a chance (weight 0.12): Despite mixed opinions, some encourage giving the game a chance, especially if it seems appealing. This reflects a positive but cautious sentiment.
- Short but enjoyable (weight 0.09): Some reviewers describe the game as a short and fun experience, though one notes it may be too short for the price. It is seen as a good option for a brief, lighthearted playthrough.
- Requires patience and skill (weight 0.09): The game is noted to require patience and skill, and may frustrate newcomers. It is recommended for those who enjoy a challenging experience.
- Better alternatives exist (weight 0.09): Some reviewers recommend other games in the genre, such as Skul: The Hero Slayer or Rogue Legacy, as better options. They also suggest trying Metal Unit instead.
- Multiplayer not recommended (weight 0.05): One reviewer explicitly does not recommend buying the game, especially for multiplayer, indicating dissatisfaction with the multiplayer experience.
- Cute characters appeal (weight 0.05): The game's cute characters are a strong draw, and reviewers suggest trying it if that appeals to you. This aesthetic is a notable positive aspect.
- Spawn bugs and content issues (weight 0.05): A specific complaint mentions annoying spawn bugs and content removed on lower difficulties, which detracted from the experience.
- Regional pricing favorable (weight 0.05): In some regions, such as Argentina, the price is considered very reasonable and the game is recommendable. This contrasts with complaints about pricing elsewhere.
- Check gameplay first (weight 0.05): One reviewer suggests watching a YouTube video to see gameplay before giving it a try, indicating that the game may not be for everyone.

Other player notes:
- Short game length criticized (weight 0.33): Many players note the game is very short, completable in just over an hour or a few hours, with only 6 levels. Some find the price too high for the length.
- Supports multiplayer and local co-op (weight 0.27): The game features a multiplayer mode, including local co-op for up to two players. However, it lacks online multiplayer and only supports Remote Play Together.
- Various game comparisons made (weight 0.24): Reviewers compared the game to Mega Man, Metal Unit, Shovel Knight, Dead Cells, and others. These comparisons highlight its genre influences and mechanics.
- Developer information and status (weight 0.19): Developed by Pixadome and published by Aurora Punks, the studio has since shut down. There have been no updates for several months, raising concerns about future support.
- Pixel art and visuals praised (weight 0.16): The game features colorful pixel art inspired by the 16-bit era, with destructible environments. The sprite work and art design are generally well-received.
- Developers communicative and supportive (weight 0.16): Developers provided blazing fast support and communication, actively seeking feedback and working on patches. This positive engagement was appreciated.
- Free from Fanatical promo (weight 0.16): Several reviewers received the game for free through a Fanatical promotion or limited-time giveaway. This distribution method was commonly mentioned in feedback.
- Price considered worth it by some (weight 0.13): While some find the price high, others consider it super or worth it, especially at a discount or regional price. The full price is around $10-$15.
- Release and platform details (weight 0.13): Released on September 1, 2022, and available on Steam. The game runs perfectly on Steam Deck.
- Small community and underrated (weight 0.13): Despite good art design, the game has a small community and not many players. Some consider it underrated.
- Six characters and levels (weight 0.13): The game features 6 different characters and 6 levels. Some players only tried a few characters before finishing.
- Hoped for sequel and more polish (weight 0.13): Some reviewers wish for a sequel where issues are fixed, feeling the game needed another year in development. The game is currently in beta.
- Translation issues (weight 0.11): Chinese machine translation is present, and there is no Japanese language support. Korean translation is available.
- Mixed review scores (weight 0.1): Reviewers gave varying scores, from 3/10 to 6/10, indicating divided opinions. The short length and lack of polish were common reasons for lower scores.
- Compared to Super Smash Bros (weight 0.1): Players compare the game to Super Smash Bros Brawl's Subspace Emissary mode, noting it as an homage. However, the character roster is smaller than modern Smash games.
- Lighthearted alien invasion story (weight 0.09): The premise involves alien invaders leaving bio-energy, with a crazy-alien invading earth. It's a lighthearted and humorous setup.
- Blood and gore similar to Super Meat Boy (weight 0.09): The game includes blood trails reminiscent of Super Meat Boy, though it's clearly fake. This might not be suitable for young children.
- Keyboard controls difficult (weight 0.09): Keyboard and mouse are supported, but keyboard controls are difficult to use. A fight stick was used by at least one player.
- Achievements require grinding (weight 0.05): Some achievements are time-consuming, requiring around 40 hours of grinding. This may deter completionists.
- Refund issues noted (weight 0.05): One reviewer mentioned being unable to get a refund due to time elapsed. This may be a concern for potential buyers.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.26): Players are frustrated by lengthy achievement grinds, difficulty spikes, and visual clutter that obscures hitboxes. Bugs causing FPS drops, softlocks, and lost progress compound the issue, along with janky controls, stiff movement, and poorly explained upgrades. Unfair boss fights, damage-sponge enemies, and awkward platforming further exacerbate the frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Disappointment stems from the game failing to execute its roguelike and Smash Bros-inspired mechanics well. Limited scope, lack of meta-progression, and clunky controls prevent the experience from hooking players. Technical issues like bugs and controller disconnections, along with a clichéd story, contribute to the letdown.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Players enjoy the fun gameplay, replayability, and homage to Smash Bros single-player. The soundtrack, art design, and varied character mechanics are praised, as is the local co-op that adds chaotic fun. The game is seen as entertaining and creative, providing a good time even if not perfect.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Appreciation is expressed for the excellent optimization, soundtrack, and distinct sprite art. The developers are commended for their blazing fast support and communication, as well as accessibility features like story difficulty. The ability to play split-screen on one device is also valued.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Annoyance arises from misplaced existential depth in the story and an unclear, harsh difficulty ramp-up after completing a world. Technical issues like crashes when changing language and removal of levels on lower difficulties add to the irritation. Finicky menus, confusing scenery, and long loading screens also bother players.
- Fun (weight 0.03): The game is considered fun due to its entertaining action gameplay, funny enemies and characters, and engaging story. Testing different characters and playing with friends enhances the fun factor, making it an overall enjoyable experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Satisfaction comes from a combat system that rewards aggression and precision, with easy-to-learn controls and flashy, precise combat. The great game feel when hitting enemies and fast action with good special effects contribute to a satisfying experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement is driven by fast-paced combat and arcade fun, with super fun gameplay and replayability. Players express eagerness to play more and enjoy the overall experience.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom sets in due to repetitive gameplay that becomes more tedious over time, with glitches and achievement grinding. Levels feel the same, and the long grind to unlock items and achievements lacks challenge and variety.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is caused by the lack of a save system leading to repeated time loss, and unfair hitboxes from the final boss that cost long runs. Punishing map design that doesn't account for reaction speed also fuels anger.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise stems from the game running well on low-end hardware, and the reviewer liking all minigames despite usually being annoyed by them. The game is also considered underrated, which is unexpected.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion arises from unexplained mechanics such as minigames, the social element, stage completion, and token acquisition. Many negative reviews also leave the reviewer puzzled.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love is expressed for the characters and game feel, as well as the diverse playstyles and overall presentation. The game plays really well, and players enjoy the diverse characters and overall experience.
- Irritation (weight 0.01): Irritation is caused by story tonal whiplash and inconsistent villain knowledge, along with quality-of-life issues like non-skippable intros and unskippable dialogue.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike stems from grindy achievements and unfun gameplay due to imprecise, slow, and floaty movement and combat.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is felt for the game's originality and unique graphics despite similarities to other games, as well as its amazing style, great action, and unique character playstyles.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest is piqued by the intriguing and unserious story, and the unique mechanic of spending HP to buy items.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy is brought by the vibrant pixel art and upbeat soundtrack, along with sweet controls and fun gameplay.
- Challenge (weight 0.01): Challenge is derived from extremely complicated bosses that test player skill.
- Mild enjoyment (weight 0.01): Mild enjoyment is experienced because the game is interesting to experience despite its flaws.}