Richard—February 24, 2023
The controls for you ship are different from most other space fighter simulation games, it controls more like starfox with more vertically and big open map sectors. You barrel roll left or right to dodge attacks instead of rolling for flight, and you unlock ship abilities like teleporting behind enemies, ship drifting and psychic attacks. You even upgrade your ships armor and shields. The story is pretty good too. Fun game if you a space fighter fan. Read more
BBgunGoesBANGARANG—January 10, 2022
Like many others who have reviewed and played this game, I stumbled upon it rather blindly on release. Also like others, I was instantly pulled in by the intriguing notion of a new space shooter in the vein of some of the OG goodies. One quick glance at the game’s trailer, and you’ll get a good taste of what Chorus has to offer, mostly in its opening hours - but nonetheless, the studio isn’t trying to hide anything here, but instead show off the game they built for what it is. And what Chorus is: simply put, a third-person space shooter, with fast paced action, smooth/slick controls, all with a polish of an arcade classic set in a vast and explorable world. The story is subjectively strong, with some weak points, mainly in dialogue, or with some of the side missions, but overall I found it enjoyable. The vengeance plot was on point, and some of the characters provided some solid storylines. This extends into how your character obtains certain attributes, which was built in well enough that it wasn’t a distraction. Each act progressed changes the environment and area, offering more side mission and collectibles, though you can still freely move between the different star systems at will, creating a fluid open world that allows some player choice in gameplay and exploration. Gameplay was really easy to pick up, starting the player out with a base class ship, then eventually the main ship that’ll be used for most of the game. Flying and shooting changes into overdrive once the main ship is acquired, as drift is introduced, and allows the player to really maneuver like threading the needle. Accompanying the standard arsenal of machine guns, missiles and lasers, are the character’s Rite Powers, which offer up some new tactics to really ramp up the battles the game eventually throws you into. Some included are: a brief teleportation straight behind the enemy, a bolt of lightning that disrupts shields, along with a few more that I don’t want to spoil. The mainline of the gameplay revolves around several types of missions, like small puzzle missions, dogfights with even-leveled enemies, to massive space battles with large scale ships that require some strategy to bring down - including some awesome Star Wars trench run type stuff to bring down massive battleships from the inside. And on the side is stuff like helping out NPCs, navigating old ship wrecks, and the simple collectibles, like weapons, ammo, credits, and some ghostly memories that give some exposition to things that have happened in the game’s universe. On the whole, overall, Chorus is a phenomenal sleeper hit with some truly satisfying gameplay, and taking the flying formulas of old to render a game that not only feels fresh, but also extremely fun. Though, on the negative, this is a AA game, and it shows in some of the repetitive missions, lack of creativity when traveling long distances between missions, would’ve liked to see more character work, or something done with the actual character rather than being shipbound almost the entire time, even if just animating the faces in the dialogue boxes that pop-up during in-game conversations. I also feel it’s worth noting some of the difficulty spikes I experienced in some areas of the game. I feel safe saying I had a pretty good handle on this game for the most part, so when the spikes on difficulty hit, it wasn’t so much my fault, as much as it was just poorly designed segments. For example: I was in an area where I had to use boost and drift to fly through some very small and spiraling corridors while a one-hit force was chasing me, with the biggest issue being walls literally making certain points the size of a pin to thread, or else it’s a one-hit death back to the very beginning. I eventually made it through with pure luck, but not after trying enough times to make me want to air mail my controller into my neighbors driveway. Fortunately, these moments are few and far between, and not enough to dampen the experience I had overall. I definitely suggest this game for anyone who simply enjoys some solid gameplay, and a rad adventure destroying space cultists with a ship that maneuvers like something from Control or Doom - and by that I mean: fast gameplay with tactical weapon swapping, and the need for speed in obtaining some satisfactory destruction. I know I’m not the only one with is sentiment, but a sequel to Chorus is something I’d love to see happen, simply because this game was so close to being a full-on masterpiece, and we need more well-crafted space shooters. Read more
Benjamin—July 28, 2024
"Chorus" for the PlayStation 5 is an impressive space combat game that combines stunning visuals with intense gameplay. Developed by Deep Silver Fishlabs, the game focuses on Nara, a skilled pilot with a troubled past, and her sentient starfighter, Forsaken. Together, they engage in a series of fast-paced, thrilling dogfights across a beautifully realized universe. **Gameplay and Mechanics:** The standout feature of "Chorus" is its combat system. Players can perform sharp turns, quick weapon swaps, and use unique abilities like drifting in space to outmaneuver enemies. These mechanics make the battles both strategic and exhilarating. The game also offers a variety of weapons and special abilities, known as "rites," which add depth and keep the combat fresh and engaging. **Visuals and Design:** Visually, "Chorus" is breathtaking. The game showcases richly detailed space environments, massive space stations, and intricately designed ships. The PS5’s capabilities ensure smooth performance and rapid loading times, making the exploration and combat seamless and immersive. The game's environments act like mini sandboxes, encouraging players to explore, find hidden items, and take on side missions. **Story and Characters:** The narrative of "Chorus" centers on Nara's journey of redemption as she battles a sinister cult. While the story has intriguing elements, it often feels secondary to the gameplay. Character development and dialogue sometimes lack depth, which might leave players less invested in the storyline. However, the relationship between Nara and her ship adds an interesting dynamic to the game. **Challenges and Criticisms:** Despite its many strengths, "Chorus" has some drawbacks. The mission structure can become repetitive, and certain encounters can be frustrating due to the checkpoint system and difficulty spikes. The final boss fight, in particular, has been criticized for being overly chaotic and poorly designed, which can detract from the overall experience. **Conclusion:** "Chorus" excels in delivering high-octane space combat with stunning visuals and innovative mechanics. While the narrative may not be its strongest aspect, the game's engaging gameplay and impressive design make it a worthwhile experience for fans of space shooters. Despite some repetitive missions and occasional frustrations, "Chorus" offers a thrilling ride through the cosmos that showcases the capabilities of the PlayStation 5. Read more
