Info about Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL:

Official game description:
Discord
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About the Game
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Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL, a different kind of rhythm game, is now available on Steam! From humble beginnings, something truly grand will be born! Let us enjoy this experience as we work together to create a fresh new rhythm game!
**■ Meet your charming navigator**
Explore the vast Sixtar system on the science vessel Ausflug with your partner Shii, the operator of the vessel.
Adventure mode, allowing players to get a glimpse into the story of Sixtar Gate, is currently in the works.
**■ Check out the variety of music we have to offer!**
Featuring songs from artists any rhythm game fan would recognize, including Life is PIANO, Brain Power, and CO5M1C R4ILR0AD.
We have also included original songs from artists like Sound Souler, KARUT, and yomoha that can only be heard in Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL.
In the future, we are planning to introduce new tracks from well-known franchises like VOCALOID and Touhou Project that players would not easily find in other rhythm games.
**■ The gates are opening!**
Gates open and close with the flow of the song, changing the amount of lanes players will have to pay attention to.
Experience a new kind of rhythm game. The implementation of this gate system means that you won't be able to let your guard down for a single instant.
**■ Free-form multiplay : Unity Session**
It doesn't matter if you're not good at rhythm games or just want to play your favorite songs, or even just want to listen to music!
Play and interact with everyone at the same time without limit in one place!

Release date: Dec 30, 2024

Categories: Rhythm Game, Music-based Gameplay, Multiplayer, Customization, High Score Chasing, Online Multiplayer, Controller Support, Local Co-op

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has notable issues with controller support and stability. Users have reported the need to manually set up controller layouts, which is not an ideal experience. Additionally, there are specific instances where the game crashes, further detracting from the user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $14.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community finds the game to be reasonably priced, especially when purchased on sale. The mention of the game being worth its price with around 64 songs indicates that the base price is considered fair for the content provided. Additionally, the positive sentiment towards the pricing during discounts supports a lower end of the price range. The overall consensus is that the game offers good value for money.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 100.0h
  - Story completion: 20.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides insights into various playtime metrics. The mention of '10 hours' for adaptation suggests a typical session length and initial learning phase. The '20 hours' quote indicates the time required to reach a higher difficulty, hinting at story completion or significant progress. The '100 hours' quotes from different users suggest a high total playtime for game completion, including endgame content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts with a chill tutorial and becomes more enjoyable as players adapt to the mechanics and explore multiplayer options, taking around 10 hours to fully appreciate.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Adaptation to mechanics and exploration of multiplayer options
  - Time to anchor: 10h 0m
  - Friction: Limited chart variety; No controller support; Lack of true online multiplayer initially
  - Unlock drivers: Multiplayer support; Frequent updates; Original compositions and clever chart design
  - Conditions: Playing with friends in multiplayer; Exploring different modifiers and customization options; Adapting to the lane-shifting mechanics
- Player Archetypes:
  - Rhythm Game Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery and familiarity with rhythm game mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Skilled and experienced in playing various key modes and familiar with advanced rhythm game techniques.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: rhythm game player; experienced
    - Reference games: DJMAX; Sound Voltex; Beatmania IIDX
  - Rhythm Game Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Finding an accessible and welcoming entry point into rhythm games.
    - Playstyle: Prefers easier modes and gradually building skills and confidence.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: newcomer; beginner
    - Reference games: DJMAX; osu!
  - Competitive Social Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Competition and social interaction within the game.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys multiplayer modes, leaderboards, and unlocking achievements.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: competitive; social player
    - Reference games: osu!; StepMania


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:
- Diverse and high-quality song selection (weight 0.78): The game offers a wide variety of songs, including original tracks and selections from different competitions. Players appreciate the good quality and quantity of the music library.
- Well-made and fun gameplay (weight 0.57): Players enjoy the overall quality and fun of the game. The gameplay mechanics and game system are well-designed, contributing to a positive experience.
- Aesthetically pleasing and functional UI (weight 0.54): The UI design is praised for its aesthetic appeal, comfort, and high quality. It features a Korean aesthetic and is described as beautiful and fluid.
- Innovative lane-switching mechanic (weight 0.36): The game features a unique and innovative gameplay mechanic where players switch between different note lanes. This adds a fresh and engaging element to the gameplay.
- Frequent updates and developer support (weight 0.33): The game receives frequent updates, including new songs and features. Players appreciate the ongoing support and expansion of the song list.
- Extensive customization options (weight 0.15): The game offers a variety of customization options, allowing players to tailor their experience. These options are described as thoughtful and extensive.
- Variety of gameplay modes (weight 0.15): The game offers multiple and well-designed gameplay modes, providing players with different ways to enjoy the game.
- Lenient judgment timing (weight 0.14): The game has a relatively lenient judgment timing, making it accessible and enjoyable for beginners.
- Cute and appealing characters (weight 0.13): Players find certain characters in the game, such as Siiga, to be cute and appealing, adding to the overall charm of the game.

Common complaints:
- Infrequent and unstable updates (weight 0.5): Players are dissatisfied with the lack of updates and the long intervals between them. The updates that do come are often unstable and lack calibration.
- Decline in game quality and trust (weight 0.4): The game has seen a significant decline in quality and player trust over time. Many players feel that the game has been abandoned by its developers and has lost its direction.
- Excessive DLC focus (weight 0.19): Players feel that the game focuses too much on selling DLCs rather than improving the core gameplay or adding substantial content.
- Lack of language and controller support (weight 0.19): There is a notable absence of support for the Chinese language and controllers, which limits accessibility for some players.
- Focus shifted to other games (weight 0.11): Developers seem to be focusing more on other games using the same IP, leading to neglect of this game.
- Removal of online play (weight 0.11): The removal or temporary closure of online multiplayer has been a significant issue for players.
- Sync issues with tracks (weight 0.1): Players experience varying sync issues with different tracks, making it harder to play.
- Difficulty for beginners (weight 0.1): The game is noted to be difficult for beginners to adapt to, which may limit its accessibility.
- Limited content at release and present (weight 0.1): The game has been criticized for its lack of content both at its initial release and at present.
- Lack of player-music interaction (weight 0.09): The music continues to play regardless of player input, making it feel like the player is not creating the music.
- Settings reset issues (weight 0.09): Updates often reset all settings, causing inconvenience for players who have to reconfigure their preferences.

Gameplay feedback:
- Multiple Key Configurations (weight 0.54): Players can experience different key configurations, including 4K, 5K, and 7K modes. The game also features transitions between these key configurations, adding variety to the gameplay.
- Diverse Game Modes (weight 0.47): The game includes various modes such as Travel Mode with LUNAR and SOLAR sub-modes, Adventure Mode, and different difficulty levels. These modes offer a range of experiences for players.
- Rhythm Game Mechanics (weight 0.43): The game is a rhythm-based experience with mechanics similar to other popular rhythm games like DJMAX. It features a falling-note system and includes FX notes, providing a familiar yet unique gameplay experience.
- Innovative Lane System (weight 0.33): The game introduces a shifting lane system that changes the number of lanes during gameplay. This feature adds a dynamic element to the rhythm game mechanics.
- Highly Customizable Interface (weight 0.31): The game offers extensive customization options for the user interface, including customizable widgets, settings, and sorting options. Players appreciate the ability to tailor the UI to their preferences.
- Challenging and Engaging Gameplay (weight 0.11): The game offers a challenging and engaging gameplay experience, with a focus on the feel and difficulty progression from 4K to 7K.

Performance notes:
- Performance issues reported (weight 0.2): Several players have reported various performance issues, including occasional stuttering, crashes, and performance issues at certain FPS settings.
- Graphics and resolution feedback (weight 0.19): Players have provided feedback on graphics and resolution, noting clean graphics but also suggesting higher resolution support and improvements in video quality.
- Network and server issues (weight 0.11): There are reports of network dependency for judgment and unstable multiplayer servers, indicating potential issues with the game's online functionality.
- Accessibility and system requirements (weight 0.11): The game has low system requirements, making it accessible to a wider range of players. However, there are occasional issues with accessing the game.
- Audio and visual cues (weight 0.1): Some players have reported issues with audio cues and pixelated video before song loading, suggesting areas for improvement in the game's audio-visual experience.
- Black screen issues (weight 0.07): A significant issue reported is that the game screen is black and unresponsive 99% of the time, severely impacting gameplay.
- Graphics settings for lower-end computers (weight 0.06): Suggestions have been made to include graphics settings for lower-end computers, indicating a need for more customizable graphics options.
- Frame rate limit removal (weight 0.05): Players have suggested the removal of frame rate limits, which could enhance the gaming experience for those with higher-end systems.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for rhythm game fans (weight 0.38): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy rhythm games, including both avid gamers and beginners. It is praised as a great Korean rhythm game and is suitable for music game lovers.
- General game recommendations (weight 0.24): The game is recommended for both newcomers and veterans. It is considered worth buying and is generally recommendable, including its DLC.
- Gameplay features (weight 0.18): Players have requested specific gameplay features such as rollback, offline gameplay, a single-player story mode, and personal profile features.
- Casual and specific enjoyment (weight 0.13): The game is enjoyed casually and occasionally. Some players suggest specific songs for practice.
- Desire for more updates (weight 0.11): Players express a desire for more updates beyond just attendance rewards. Some suggest waiting for updates to stabilize before fully engaging with the game.
- Collaboration requests (weight 0.11): Players are requesting more collaborations, specifically mentioning a collaboration with Muse Dash.
- Platform suggestions (weight 0.06): Some players suggest playing the game on Nintendo Switch or using an emulator for a better experience.
- Request for official keyboard (weight 0.06): There is a desire among players for an official keyboard to enhance gameplay.
- Mobile version improvements (weight 0.06): There are suggestions for improving the mobile version of the game.

Other player notes:
- Chinese language support needed (weight 0.12): There is a significant demand for adding Chinese language support and localization to make the game more accessible to Chinese-speaking players.
- More mascot interactions wanted (weight 0.11): Players are expressing a desire for more interactive elements and interactions with the mascot character in the game.
- Game in Early Access (weight 0.11): The game is currently in Early Access, which means it is still under development and may have incomplete features or bugs.
- Customizable key bindings requested (weight 0.07): Players are suggesting the addition of customizable key bindings to enhance the gameplay experience and provide more flexibility in controls.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Players are frustrated due to a variety of technical and gameplay issues. Key problems include lack of updates, difficulty with controls, and specific bugs such as crashes with the song 'Milk'. Additionally, the forced 5-key gameplay and lack of certain features like controller support and judgment offset contribute to the frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.17): Players express satisfaction with the game's high-quality music library, enjoyable gameplay mechanics, and attractive visuals. The variety of songs, customization options, and smooth gameplay contribute to a positive experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Disappointment stems from the company's approach to game development, lack of updates, and removal of features. Players also feel let down by the lack of controller support, performance issues, and the overall state of the game.
- Joy (weight 0.07): Joy is derived from the game's fun gameplay, good music selection, and cute character designs. Players appreciate the unique gameplay mechanics and the overall enjoyable experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Enjoyment comes from the game's fun and accessible nature, innovative mechanics, and strong soundtrack. The variety of songs and appealing aesthetics also contribute to the positive experience.
- Hopeful (weight 0.05): Players are hopeful about the game's potential and future improvements. They expect gradual enhancements as it is an early access game and look forward to more features and content.
- Happy (weight 0.05): Happiness is derived from the enjoyable gameplay, music, and character interactions. The unique gameplay mechanics and customization options also contribute to the positive feelings.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement comes from the innovative gameplay with changing lanes and diverse soundtrack. Players are also excited about the unique gameplay mechanics and the variety of songs.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation is shown for the game's original songs, unique gameplay, and good developer support. The appealing mascot character and variety of songs are also highly valued.
- Excited (weight 0.03): Players are excited about the enjoyment of the game, high customization, and unique gameplay mechanics. They look forward to future DLCs and improvements.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Frustration is caused by update issues, frequent resets, and lack of audio customization options. The forced online mode for a single-player game and lack of guidance for key changes also contribute to the frustration.
- Disappointed (weight 0.03): Disappointment arises from the current state of the game, patch issues, and missing features. The low online player count and lack of appealing gameplay also contribute to the negative feelings.
- Enthusiastic (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm comes from enjoying the gameplay and recommending it highly. Players provide detailed and positive reviews, highlighting the game's strengths.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is directed at the company's decision to move the development team to a mobile gacha game. The loading screen cutscene and lack of options to turn it off also contribute to the anger.
- Positive (weight 0.01): Positive feelings are derived from the overall enjoyment of the game's features. Players appreciate the game's quality and the enjoyable experience it provides.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Concern is related to the potential interruption of updates. Players worry about the slow development progress and bugs affecting the game.
- Hopefulness (weight 0.01): Hopefulness is expressed through the desire for Chinese language support. Players are optimistic about the game's future and potential improvements.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Satisfaction comes from enjoying the game's quality and features. Players are content with the overall experience and the game's offerings.
- Concerned (weight 0.01): Concern is related to the slow development progress and bugs. Players are worried about the potential impact on the game's future.}