GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle is the first rhythm game in the GUNVOLT series developed and published by INTI CREATES. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Review Overview

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Simple but Enjoyable Rhythm Gameplay Fantastic Music	Barebones Track List Lack of Overall Content

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Overall Score - 54/100

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle is a fun and simple rhythm game, but it takes simple a bit too seriously. It's quite barebones, with hardly any content to make up for the limited song choices. Considering that the company plans to release paid DLC for this game, having only 15 songs in the base game feels way too unfair. While it's a decent game for beginners, there are better options out there with far more songs and content. Moreover, it's not a great entry point for newcomers to the series, as there's no story mode or explanation of what the Gunvolt series is about. It's good for fans, but not much beyond that.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Story - 3/10

Sadly, the game misses out on having a story mode, which could have been a chance to pull in new fans like me to the Gunvolt universe. The most I could find in terms of the storyline is about three idols putting on a concert, which could have been at least an interesting narrative to delve into. While it's true that rhythm games don't always require a story mode, given the lack of content in this game and its status as a spin-off of a series, it would have been nice to have some additional information about the idols on screen.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Gameplay - 8/10

You can tell that this is INTI CREATES' first rhythm game because it's quite basic overall, but that doesn't mean it's bad. In fact, the gameplay is enjoyable and addicting because it's so easy to get into. Unlike many rhythm games nowadays, you don't have to worry about convoluted gimmicks or specials. It's forgiving for newcomers or those who aren't good at the genre because there are only 4 buttons, and there's a higher success rate of hitting notes even if you're a little early or late. So improving at the game is actually fun, as you just need to focus on the note lane and the music. I just wish there were more customization options, like changing button layouts, to make the game even more accessible.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Visuals - 6/10

The game's visuals are decent at best. The 2-D art style of the cover art seems to be translated fairly well into 3-D, and the models for Lumen, Lola, and Luxia, look pretty decent. I really enjoy the music stages where these idols are performing on stage, but sadly, those stages are few and far between. Most of the time, the background videos for the tracks are gameplay from previous Gunvolt games, which isn't bad because it looks nice, but I wish they added more of those concert scenes. I must admit, the user interface (UI) is quite striking. The note indicators resemble gun scopes, and the design in the middle changes based on the character singing the song. For instance, when you play a song by Lumen, the middle of the scope becomes a butterfly.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Audio - 6/10

There isn't much to say about the voice-acting because there are only three characters in this game: Lumen, Lola, and Luxia. They hardly say anything except when they're singing. Speaking of singing, they have lovely voices, and the music in this game is really note-worthy. I didn't find any of the songs bad; they're actually quite nice to listen to even outside of playing the game. It's just a shame that the game only has 22 songs, and seven of them are just complete versions of other songs in the game. So, you only have 15 unique songs, which feels lacking.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Value for Money - 4/10

While I find the gameplay enjoyable, and $15 seems like a fair price, I'd suggest saving your money for a game that offers more bang for your buck.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Review | Revolting Lack of Records

There's not much to say about this game because there's not much in it anyway. It's a rhythm game based on the GUNVOLT series, but that's about it. Right from the start, you're thrown into a tutorial without any context about the characters or the GUNVOLT universe.

It's a missed opportunity for newcomers to get hooked on the franchise, as fans consider the lore and characters to be a key selling point. For me, the game boils down to idols singing on stage—they're cute, but there's not much depth to it.

I could have overlooked the absence of a story mode because, well, it's a rhythm game—the main attraction should be the songs, right? Unfortunately, even in that department, it falls short. Now, don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed every song available, especially Ergo Sum, an upbeat track sung by Lumen that really gets my heart racing.

But with only 15 songs to choose from, it feels lacking, especially considering the supposedly extensive library of amazing songs from the GUNVOLT series.

I wish they had included at least 5 more tracks, as I breezed through the game in under 2 hours. Honestly, I might have forgiven this oversight if it weren't for the fact that they're planning to release paid DLC packs, each with 5 songs priced at $4.

Couldn't they have included one of those packs in the base game? By the time the DLC becomes available, I fear there won't be many players left to enjoy it, as the game is easy to beat and doesn't offer much else.

So I’ve been complaining about the severe lack of content, so what exactly does the game offer? First off, if you're expecting a story mode, you're out of luck. There's none of that here. As for other gameplay modes, well, there's just one: concert mode. In this mode, you pick a song from a list and play it on easy, normal, hard, or expert.

I'll admit, that expert mode can be pretty challenging and might keep you busy for a few extra hours if you're aiming for perfection.

Outside of concert mode, there's the music video mode. Here, you have two options: “music player” and “movie player.”

The music player lets you listen to the songs like you would on an MP3 player, at your own pace. The movie player lets you watch the concert performances of Lumen, Luxia, and Lola without having to play the game.

It's a neat feature to enjoy the visuals without the gameplay pressure. However, there are only 7 of these performances available, although they're all pretty well done as the choreography and stages feel straight out of an idol concert.

The silver lining of this game is in its gameplay, I think INTI CREATES did a great job of making a simple yet addicting gameplay experience. Here's the deal: there are four grid lanes, but you only need to press 4 buttons—specifically, the L and R triggers, and the analog sticks. Yes, you heard that right—the game utilizes the analog sticks by either flicking them in the correct direction or rotating them in a specific way, depending on the cursor's movement speed and rotation.

It might feel a bit awkward to rotate at first, but thankfully, it's the most forgiving aspect of the game. You don't have to time it perfectly; you can still score points even if you rotate too fast or too slow—just swiftly drag your cursor in the direction it's moving before it completes its cycle. It's simple, fun, and incredibly addictive. My only gripe for the gameplay? I wish there were more songs to jam out to in this game.

And that's pretty much it for this game. There's not much else the game can offer beyond that.

Pros of GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle

Things GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Got Right
Simple but Enjoyable Rhythm Gameplay Fantastic Music

Simple but Enjoyable Rhythm Gameplay

While the game lacks content and doesn’t provide much context about anything else, the gameplay is thankfully fleshed out and easy to get into as the tutorial does a great job of letting you understand its mechanics. I know, most rhythm games don't really need tutorials—you just hit buttons in time with the music—but this one adds a twist by incorporating the analog sticks.

You simply flick them in the right direction or rotate them when prompted. Now, rotating the sticks might sound like a hassle, but fear not! The game is quite forgiving in this regard.

Even if you're a tad early or late, you'll still rack up points. Plus, aside from the analog sticks, you only have to worry about the L and R triggers. Here's the clever part: the game's UI presents four grid lanes, but in reality, it's just two lanes.

The L trigger controls the left lane on both grids and vice versa for the R trigger and the right lane. This means you won't accidentally hit the wrong button for a lane—a real blessing in disguise. I hope more rhythm games take notes from this approach in the future.

Aside from that, the notes you hit in the game don't offer much variety, except for the fact that you earn more points based on their color. There are no special power-ups or mechanics like time-slowing abilities, but that's perfectly fine because the game's core rhythm gameplay is already well-developed. It's easy to pick up but challenging to master, especially in expert mode. If you're up for more of a challenge and happen to have a Nintendo Switch, I recommend trying handheld mode.

The game offers an optional touch mode where you tap the screen instead of using the controls. It's tougher because you have to tap each lane individually, unlike the L and R triggers, which cover both lanes on their respective sides.

Fantastic Music

Despite its limited song selection, I must admit that the developers did a commendable job in choosing some great tracks like Ergo Sum, Virtue of the Dawn, and Celestial Paean. These songs are beautifully sung and composed, and they suit the rhythm game genre perfectly. It's no surprise that fans have longed for a Gunvolt rhythm game, especially since the tracks selected span across the entire series.

Cons of GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle

Things That GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Can Improve
Barebones Track List Lack of Overall Content

Barebones Track List

It’s truly disappointing that a series like GUNVOLT, which is renowned for its amazing music, isn’t properly represented in their rhythm game. Even though I haven't played the series myself, I'm aware of its stellar songs, and having only 15 tracks feels like a disservice, both to the franchise and as a standalone rhythm game. The prospect of paid DLC is perplexing, as it seems they could have easily included more tracks in the base game before asking players to shell out additional cash. While $4 may not seem like much, it leaves the game feeling incomplete.

Lack of Overall Content

While I didn't expect anything extravagant from a $15 game, some extra features would have been appreciated, like cut-scenes or additional music videos. Especially considering the main mode is already lacking. It would have been nice to learn more about the characters, as I find Lumen, Lola, and Luxia quite intriguing and adorable, if I may say so myself.

Is GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Worth It?

It’s Worth It for Gunvolt Fans and Rhythm Game Geeks

While I understand that $15 seems fair at first glance, the game's value becomes questionable once you start playing. It lacks enough songs and additional modes to justify the price tag. However, for fans of the Gunvolt series, it's worth trying out, offering a glimpse of their favorite characters in 3D and providing some enjoyable gameplay for a couple of hours. Rhythm game enthusiasts might also find it entertaining, thanks to its simple yet engaging mechanics. But for newcomers to the series or genre, it's not the best starting point. It fails to capture the essence of what makes Gunvolt special and there are better, cheaper, or even free alternatives available.

Digital Storefronts
Steam	Playstation	Xbox	Switch
$14.99

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Overview & Premise

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle is a spin-off rhythm game starring Lumen, Lola, and Luxia singing 15 iconic songs from the beloved Gunvolt franchise. Hit your notes accordingly and sync to your favorite idols on the screen! There will also be recap videos available to explain the narrative history of the GUNVOLT franchise.

GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle FAQ

Why was this Game Made?

The idea for this game came about while the team was working on Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2. The director, Naoya Kiji, was chosen by the CEO due to their passion for rhythm games.

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GUNVOLT RECORDS: Cychronicle Product Information

Title	GUNVOLT RECORDS CYCHRONICLE
Release Date	February 15, 2024
Developer	INTI CREATES
Publisher	INTI CREATES
Supported Platforms	PC(Steam), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre	Rhythm, anime
Number of Players	1
Rating	ESRB E
Official Website	GUNVOLT RECORDS Cychronicle Official Website

Uriel Rodriguez

Writer | Gamer | Self-Proclaimed Digimon/Sujimon/Persona/Palworld/Pokémon Master