Info about Crypt of the NecroDancer: Hatsune Miku Character DLC:

Official game description:
Descend through the Crypt of the NecroDancer as the one and only Hatsune Miku! With your trusty leek, iconic outfits, and dazzling dance moves, face down any enemy that comes your way with style.
Key features:
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*   Play as Hatsune Miku -- attack by dancing through enemies, including clusters of enemies, while wielding a leek  
*   Move in all 8 directions  
*   No shovel -- dig by dashing through enemies into walls instead  
*   Charm enemies with your new ability: SING!  
*   Dress to impress: all armors are reskinned as official Miku outfits  
*   Dance along to 15 Hatsune Miku songs added to the soundtrack, including two all new Miku tracks created by Danny Baranowsky!
Songs included in the DLC:
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*   1-1: Too Real - Danny Baranowsky  
*   1-2: Wonder Style - colate  
*   1-3: SURVIVE (Foxsky Remix) - Umetora  
*   2-1: Ten Thousand Stars - Circus-P  
*   2-2: Lucky Orb (Clean Tears Remix) - emon(Tes.)  
*   2-3: UNDERWATER (Rexium Remix) - Hylen  
*   3-1: Highlight - KIRA  
*   3-2: Intergalactic Bound by CircusP and Yunosuke  
*   3-3: Hello Builder by Utsu-P  
*   4-1: MikuFiesta by AlexTrip Sands  
*   4-2: Can't Make A Song!! - beat\_shobon  
*   4-3: Be Furious (Reno Remix) - Ocelot  
*   5-1: sweety glitch - gaburyu & nyankobrq  
*   5-2: Thousand Little Voices - Vault Kid & FlangerMoose  
*   5-3: My One and Oni - Danny Baranowsky

Release date: Apr 4, 2024

Categories: Rhythm Game, Roguelike, Music-based Gameplay, Dungeon Crawler, Roguelite, Character Progression, Co-op Multiplayer

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Fair / Traditional Paid DLC; summary: The reviews discuss optional paid DLC character packs such as Miku and SYNCHRONY, plus one complaint about DLC being required to maintain achievement completion. There is no evidence of real-money gacha, loot boxes, paid currency, pay-to-win power, convenience items, or an in-game cash shop. The monetization appears to be traditional paid add-on DLC, which under the audit rules is not predatory and caps the score at 20.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $40.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews express strong positive value and purchase motivation for the base game, describing it as worth buying and offering good value for money. However, no review provides an explicit base-game price, so the fair range is inferred from general sentiment and the Miku game context. The community appears comfortable with a mid-tier base-game price, supporting an estimated fair range of $20-$40 USD. Confidence is moderate-low because the evidence lacks direct price anchors.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 2.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The English review reports a 2-hour session with the DLC, supporting sessionLength = 2 hours. A translated Korean review estimates the DLC adds about 2 hours of new gameplay, which supports gameCompletion = 2 hours for experiencing the DLC content. The five-minute mention reflects an initial impression and does not establish a separate metric. No evidence supports storyCompletion or endgame; the 100-hour mention refers to base NecroDancer experience, not this DLC.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes:
  - Vocaloid-First Miku Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: Play as Hatsune Miku and enjoy Vocaloid songs and character content.
    - Playstyle: Character-focused and casual; may struggle with the rhythm-roguelike difficulty and learn by trial.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Vocaloid fans
    - Reference games: Project Diva
  - NecroDancer Veteran Mechanic Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Master a unique, complex character and extend the base game's roguelike replayability.
    - Playstyle: Technical rhythm-roguelike play with careful positioning, lineups, and item build decisions.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: NecroDancer fans
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Multiplayer Value Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Affordable shared multiplayer fun, including with friends who do not own the DLC.
    - Playstyle: Multiplayer-focused sessions, often mixing DLC and non-DLC players and using added songs.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Miku's soundtrack is excellent (weight 0.92): The DLC includes a high-quality soundtrack with catchy and well-selected Vocaloid songs, including new tracks by Danny Baranowsky. Many players find the music memorable and worth listening to outside the game.
- Miku is a unique character (weight 0.84): Miku offers a distinct playstyle with diagonal movement and a combo-driven kit, making her more than just a skin. Her mechanics are challenging but rewarding once learned.
- Miku's unique abilities and mechanics (weight 0.78): Miku features a singing mechanic that can dig walls and heal, a leek weapon that allows phasing through enemies, and a dash attack that stunlocks enemies. These abilities create a fast-paced, combo-heavy playstyle.
- Miku is fun to play (weight 0.73): Players find Miku enjoyable and engaging, with a satisfying combo system and unique movement options. Her playstyle is described as fun, fresh, and highly replayable.
- Includes a full soundtrack with many songs (weight 0.73): The DLC comes with a complete album of 15 tracks, including a mix of famous and niche Vocaloid songs, with genre variation. The tracklist shows careful research and selection.
- Excellent visual design and costumes (weight 0.6): Miku's armor pieces are reskinned to match her various outfit designs, each associated with a song from the soundtrack. The sprites are colorful, detailed, and well-crafted.
- DLC is more than a skin (weight 0.5): Miku is a fully-fledged character with unique mechanics, not just a cosmetic skin. The developers put significant effort into making her feel like a complete addition to the roster.
- Good value for the price (weight 0.36): The DLC is considered inexpensive and offers substantial content, including a full character, new soundtrack, and unique skins. Many reviewers find it well worth the money.
- New songs and remixes included (weight 0.36): The DLC features 15 new compositions, including two new tracks by Danny Baranowsky, as well as remixes of famous songs like 'Lucky Orb'. The variety keeps the soundtrack fresh.
- Miku is challenging yet fair (weight 0.36): Despite her difficulty, Miku is considered fair and rewarding, with a high skill ceiling that appeals to experienced players. Her mechanics are balanced and enjoyable once learned.
- Combo system is satisfying and rewarding (weight 0.33): Hitting combos with Miku feels great and encourages careful planning and execution. Successfully stringing attacks rewards players with powerful effects and a sense of accomplishment.
- Character design is well-received (weight 0.31): Players appreciate Miku's overall design, including her sprites, voice, and the care put into her implementation. She fits the game's aesthetic perfectly.
- Diagonal movement adds strategic depth (weight 0.29): Miku's ability to move diagonally allows for dodging and more flexible positioning, differentiating her from other characters. This mechanic is central to her unique playstyle.
- Developers put care into the DLC (weight 0.25): Reviewers note the level of care and effort put into the collaboration, from the character's mechanics to the soundtrack selection. The DLC feels polished and complete.
- Music appeals to Vocaloid and non-fans (weight 0.2): The soundtrack introduces players to Vocaloid music and is enjoyed even by those who are not typically anime fans. The DLC has broad appeal and is recommended for various audiences.
- Miku is fully voiced and expressive (weight 0.16): Miku has full voice acting, including lines like 'ohayo!!!' when entering shops, which adds charm and personality. The voice acting is done properly and enhances the experience.
- Multiplayer compatibility with non-DLC players (weight 0.07): Miku is compatible with players who do not own the DLC in multiplayer settings, allowing for seamless co-op. This inclusivity is appreciated by the community.
- Includes Japanese language support (weight 0.06): The DLC offers Japanese language support, adding authenticity for fans of the character. This feature is noted as a positive addition.

Common complaints:
- Character is very difficult to play (weight 0.97): Many players find the character challenging, especially for beginners, with a high skill floor and requiring relearning the game. This difficulty is compounded by various restrictive mechanics.
- Missing beats causes damage (weight 0.61): Players take damage when missing a beat or skipping beats, which is a harsh penalty that discourages new players and forces constant rhythm adherence. This mechanic is often criticized as excessive and not optional.
- Songs do not fit rhythm (weight 0.57): The Hatsune Miku songs often lack clear beats or tempo hints, making it hard to match actions to the rhythm. Some tracks are too fast or have off-beat patterns, causing frequent beat misses.
- Combo system is hard to use (weight 0.5): The 4-combo requirement for recharging Sing is extremely difficult to achieve, especially in early game or when few enemies are present. This makes the ability almost unusable for many players.
- Moving diagonally is difficult (weight 0.42): The character's 8-directional movement is hard to control, requiring diagonal movement that is awkward with keyboard or controller. This leads to misinputs and increased mental calculation.
- Lack of invincibility frames (weight 0.4): The character has no invincibility during dash or after attacks, making it easy to take damage from enemies, especially when multiple enemies are present. This is in contrast to other characters like Suzu.
- No invincibility on dash attack (weight 0.34): The dash attack lacks invincibility frames, so players can take damage from offscreen enemies or those remaining at the landing spot. This makes aggressive play risky.
- Cannot use shovels or bombs (weight 0.33): The character is unable to use shovels or pick up bombs, limiting digging and resource gathering. This makes the microphone serve as a digging tool instead.
- Cannot use weapons or spells (weight 0.33): The character cannot pick up weapons or spells, and spell slots are banned, severely restricting combat options. Only spell scrolls and books can be used, but strong spells are rare.
- Restrictive resource management (weight 0.32): Barrels, crates, and urns require specific items like bombs or spikes to open, causing resource loss. The character also cannot obtain other spells, and many items are unusable.
- Poor balance compared to others (weight 0.25): The character has many downsides and few advantages, making her weaker than existing characters. The difficulty is not compensated by any significant benefits.
- Singing is not useful (weight 0.2): Singing is mostly useful as a self-range bomb, but healing or killing monsters with it is inefficient. Its recharge requires a 4-combo, which is hard to achieve.
- DLC character not appearing (weight 0.16): Some players purchased the DLC but the character did not appear until rebooting the game, and regular characters were still shown. This is a technical issue.
- Ice sliding causes damage (weight 0.12): On ice tiles, the character slides at a timing different from the beat, and inputs during sliding cause damage. This makes ice sections very punishing.
- No final boss added (weight 0.12): The DLC character lacks a final boss, and the soundtrack does not extend to boss floors. This makes the content feel incomplete.
- Armor icons are confusing (weight 0.11): Armor icons are hard to distinguish when wearing certain rings, and reskinned armor makes it difficult to remember which armor is equipped. This affects gameplay clarity.
- Cheating in high-score rankings (weight 0.1): A player at rank 1 in the coin total high-score ranking is clearly cheating, with poor recorded play. This is a concern about leaderboard integrity.
- No achievements for all-zone runs (weight 0.06): There are no achievements for clearing all-zone runs, which reduces replay value for some players. This is a minor complaint.
- Monkeys are frustrating (weight 0.06): Monkeys are exceptionally frustrating to deal with, adding to the overall difficulty. This is a specific enemy complaint.
- Death voice may upset fans (weight 0.05): Miku's death voice sounds pitiful, which may upset fans of the character. This is a minor aesthetic complaint.

Gameplay feedback:
- Missing beats causes damage (weight 0.45): Players take damage when they miss a beat or fail to hit notes. This is a core rhythm-based penalty that applies to all characters.
- Diagonal movement available (weight 0.39): Characters can move diagonally, adding eight-directional movement. This allows for more flexible positioning and attacks.
- Miku is a DLC character (weight 0.38): The DLC adds Hatsune Miku as an official playable character in Crypt of the NecroDancer. She is a fully fledged character with unique mechanics, not just a skin.
- Miku has high difficulty (weight 0.17): Miku is considered one of the harder characters to play due to her challenging mechanics and restrictions. Players find her difficult to master.
- Limited item slots for Miku (weight 0.13): Miku can only hold and use one item slot, and all spell slots are banned. She cannot pick up weapons or spells, restricting her combat options.
- No shovel for digging (weight 0.13): Miku lacks a shovel, so she cannot dig walls directly. Instead, the microphone becomes a digging tool, and wall digging requires using enemies with the leek or microphone.
- Wall bump avoids beat miss (weight 0.13): Moving into a wall does not count as a beat miss for Miku, unlike Aria or Coda. This allows players to wait safely by bumping into walls without taking damage.
- Dash lacks invincibility frames (weight 0.12): The dash ability does not provide invincibility frames, making it risky to use for avoiding damage. Players must time dashes carefully.
- Dash attack stunlocks and scales (weight 0.12): The dash attack stuns enemies and increases damage with each sequential attack. However, it does not stop other enemies from moving into you.
- Sing spell charges via combos (weight 0.12): The Sing spell is charged by dealing damage four times in a row. This encourage maintaining combos to unleash the spell.
- Combo increases damage (weight 0.12): Damage increases with the combo count, scaling from 1 to 4 as players chain hits. This rewards sustained attacks.
- Multiplayer mode exists (weight 0.12): The game includes multiplayer settings and modes. Players can engage in cooperative or competitive play.
- DLC includes Vocaloid songs (weight 0.12): The DLC features a selection of Vocaloid songs. This adds new music tracks to the game.

Performance notes:
- Diagonal movement control issues (weight 0.12): Players report control issues with diagonal movement on OLED and with Xbox controllers. This affects input accuracy during movement.
- Limited Steam Deck button remapping (weight 0.07): On Steam Deck, button setting compatibility is limited, allowing only L1, L4, and R1 to be remapped. This restricts customization for players.

Recommendations:
- Overall strong buy recommendation (weight 0.41): Reviewers repeatedly give a clear buy recommendation, often with emphasis and high confidence. The feedback is brief but consistently positive across several clusters.
- Miku DLC is the main draw (weight 0.38): Many reviewers say the DLC is worth buying specifically because of Hatsune Miku, even when gameplay itself is not ideal. Others warn that Miku's name is the primary reason to purchase rather than the character's in-game performance.
- Mods and gameplay adjustments suggested (weight 0.3): Reviewers suggest using the Easier Miku mod, switching to vanilla music, or changing the protagonist's skin for a better experience. These tweaks are often recommended for different play styles.
- Appeals to specific fan bases (weight 0.27): The DLC is strongly recommended for Vocaloid and NecroDancer fans, as well as big fans of the game. It is also noted to appeal broadly, even to non-anime fans.
- Good value for low price (weight 0.25): Reviewers frequently mention that the DLC or game is inexpensive and worth the money, making price a common positive factor. The low cost is used to justify buying even with some flaws.
- Caution for new players (weight 0.25): Multiple reviews warn that new players may find the DLC discouraging, especially if drawn in by Miku. The high difficulty and need to build proficiency are highlighted as barriers.
- Recommended for experienced players (weight 0.2): Several reviewers note the content is aimed at dedicated or advanced players rather than newcomers. They recommend it to those already familiar with the game or NecroDancer.
- Mild negative or conditional feedback (weight 0.18): A few reviewers express reservations, such as not recommending it unless one genuinely likes Miku or noting it is not for everyone. One reviewer does not recommend it at all.
- Good for music and tracklist (weight 0.11): The DLC is praised for its soundtrack and genre variation, making it worth buying for the songs alone. New fans especially appreciate the tracklist.
- Recommended for beginners with SYNCHRONY (weight 0.11): Some reviewers recommend buying the SYNCHRONY DLC and playing multiplayer, especially for beginners. It is also considered a must-have for those who already own SYNCHRONY.

Other player notes:
- New Soundtrack Included (weight 0.53): The DLC features a new soundtrack with Vocaloid songs, including tracks by Danny Baranowsky. The music replaces most field BGM and adds variety.
- Hatsune Miku Character Added (weight 0.42): The DLC introduces Hatsune Miku as a playable character, which is a major draw for fans. Some players bought the base game specifically for this collaboration.
- DLC Low Price Praise (weight 0.34): Many reviews highlight the DLC's low price, with some noting it costs around two dollars. The affordable price is seen as a great value for the content offered.
- Content Rich DLC (weight 0.26): Beyond a character, the DLC includes new songs, armor skins, a singing mechanic, and item reskins. It is considered more than just a skin and offers substantial content.
- Mods and SYNCHRONY DLC (weight 0.2): The SYNCHRONY DLC allows adding mod characters, and there is a mod called Easier Miku that removes beat miss penalty. An update fixed a brutal Zone 4 requirement without SYNCHRONY.
- Character Difficulty and Comparison (weight 0.2): The new character is challenging and compared to Aria runs, but also to Suzu for dashing and Diamond for diagonal movement. Some wish for an easier second character.
- Rhythm Gameplay Issues (weight 0.17): Some songs have BPM mismatches or lack beat and tempo hints, making gameplay less comfortable. Song lengths can also be inconsistent, affecting rhythm.
- Danny Baranowsky Remixes (weight 0.12): Two new tracks are composed by Danny Baranowsky and are partial remixes of original Necrodancer tracks, which some players find enjoyable.
- Leaderboard and Replays (weight 0.11): DLC owners can view rank 1 replays, and top players demonstrate skilled runs with the new character, adding a competitive aspect.
- Soundtrack Length and Boss Floors (weight 0.11): Most custom tracks are at least three and a half minutes, with some longer, but the soundtrack does not extend to boss floors.
- Discovery and Initial Impressions (weight 0.09): Some players discovered the DLC by accident, initially mistaking it for fanmade content, and were surprised by its quality.
- Multiplayer Compatibility Maintained (weight 0.07): The DLC is compatible with non-DLC players in multiplayer, allowing everyone to play together regardless of ownership.
- Steam Deck Compatibility (weight 0.07): The game is claimed to be fully compatible with Steam Deck, making it accessible on the go.
- Limited Content Duration (weight 0.07): Some players feel the DLC adds only about two hours of new life to the game, which may be short for some.
- Vocaloid Event Themes (weight 0.07): Most songs are main themes from Vocaloid events like Miku Expo and Digital Stars, appealing to fans of those events.
- Japanese Language Support (weight 0.06): The DLC includes Japanese language support, which is appreciated by players.
- No New Achievements (weight 0.06): The DLC does not add any new achievements, which disappoints some players.
- Developer Support and Future Content (weight 0.06): Players believe the developers still have many things planned for Necrodancer, indicating ongoing support.
- New Character Skin Option (weight 0.06): The game includes a protagonist skin that can be changed to Miku, adding customization.
- Regional Availability Issues (weight 0.05): The game is no longer searchable on the PS4 Hong Kong store, which may limit access for some players.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated by Miku's steep learning curve, including tough beat-matching, undocumented health loss when standing still, and a lack of invincibility after dashing. Complex combo requirements, harsh penalties for missing beats, and poor controller support further exacerbate the difficulty, making the character feel unplayable for many.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Satisfaction stems from mastering Miku's mechanics, which leads to rewarding combo execution and a unique gameplay experience. The DLC offers substantial content, including new songs and a distinct character, providing good value for players who overcome the initial difficulty.
- Disappointment (weight 0.1): Disappointment arises from Miku's poor balance and lack of beginner-friendliness, with songs that don't fit the game's rhythm and no compensating advantages. Technical issues like Steam Deck compatibility problems and missing achievements also contribute to the letdown.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players enjoy Miku's fun and challenging playstyle, highlighted by directional movement, charge attacks, and a great soundtrack. The character's unique abilities and the opportunity to play along with Miku songs make for an engaging experience despite the high skill floor.
- Appreciation (weight 0.07): Appreciation is driven by the care put into the DLC, including excellent music, reskinned armor, and full voice acting. The developers' respect for players, such as not adding achievements, and the introduction to vocaloid music are also valued.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Excitement centers on Danny Baranowsky's new soundtrack, Miku's unique skin and leek weapon, and the overall high-quality music. The shadow drop and the prospect of a new playstyle brought players back to the game.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): Amusement comes from the irony that a DLC character designed to attract buyers is one of the hardest to play, and from the humorous contrast of a cheater's poor gameplay being publicly displayed. Some tracks are also amusing to dance to.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Surprise stems from the DLC being a pleasant and unexpected addition, with Miku implemented as a fully fledged character rather than a simple skin. The collaboration's difficulty was also harder than anticipated.
- Relief (weight 0.03): Relief is provided by the existence of the Easier Miku mod, which offers a lighter experience, and by fixes to Zone 4. Players also found workarounds to make the character appear when she initially didn't.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the DLC is primarily due to the inclusion of Hatsune Miku herself, along with her album and the fact that she fits perfectly into the game as a full character.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is fueled by Miku being the reason players bought the base game, the unique ability to kill enemies by phasing through them with music and a leek, and the developer's proven track record with crossovers.
- Fun (weight 0.02): Fun is derived from the gigamix mode in the dungeon, where players shake their body to the rhythm, and from the overall gameplay, especially the satisfying 4-combo.
- Delight (weight 0.02): Delight comes from the amazing, catchy, and on-theme music, well-done outfits, and thoughtful details like Miku saying hello in shops. The excellent soundtrack encourages players to stay on the floor just to listen.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is brought by the addition of Miku Fiesta, a fun playstyle, and colorful sprites that enhance the overall experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is inspired by beautiful visuals, nice particles, and outfit-armor matching, as well as watching top leaderboard players execute smooth and impressive runs.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): Disgust is caused by extremely annoying monkeys in the game and the character being unbearable to play despite a cool design.
- Amazement (weight 0.02): Amazement arises from the Hatsune Miku crossover itself, the character's armor-based dress changes, and her unique, complex, and powerful playstyle accompanied by a great soundtrack.
- Concern (weight 0.02): Concern is felt because the DLC's difficulty and pitiful death voice may upset Miku fans, and the hardcore mode is challenging even for experienced players, potentially alienating newcomers.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike stems from Hatsune Miku not fitting the game's setting and her character being annoying to play as.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is expressed by players who would have bought the DLC earlier if they had known Miku was in Crypt of the Necrodancer.}