A Musical Story Reviews
Great music, delivered in frustratingly bitty form. A clever rhythm game that doesn't mesh with its prominent story.
Wonderful, lo-fi sounds and hand-crafted visuals make A Musical Story a clear a labour of love, sadly let down by its rhythm mechanics.
In its mission to make you listen to its music, A Musical Story practically hands you a blindfold. The story asks you to relax into its acid-trip jam-session cool, but somewhat harshes the mellow with its insistence on repeating long phrases until they’re perfect. However, it looks and sounds fabulous, and will reward perseverance and repeated plays.
A Musical Story is a warm, interesting and charming small adventure about songwriting and inspiration with, at its core, an essential, but not shallow, rhythm game. It looks and plays as a 70s rock concept album and lingers through solos, emotional spikes and perfect esecution. Sometimes is a bit unfair, but well, the road to perfection can be harsh.
Review in Italian | Read full review
What the game ultimately delivers is a charming, unique debut title from a studio we’re certainly interested to see more of.
A unique and finely crafted take on the musical rhythm genre, with lovely animated pixel-art stills and a truly excellent soundtrack telling the achingly heartfelt tale of a group of poor but talented musicians striving for success on their first tour. It's a brief experience and the lo-fi indie sensibilities may not be for everyone, but if you err towards left-field art and music, it's highly recommended.
A Musical Story seamlessly combines genres to create an unforgettable experience. Its rhythm segments are a refreshing take on conventions, helping it gain its own identity. In addition, the narrative is expertly delivered and takes advantage of its unique art style. Highlighted through its powerful imagery and stellar soundtrack, this sensitive coming of age story is a sumptuous and sentimental observation of a bygone era.
A Musical Story is a short rhythm game that stands out with genuinely good original music, a touching story, and amazing visuals. If you're a fan of music, art, or all things creative, this game is certainly right up your alley.
A Musical Story wants to be an inspired rhythm game but its vibrant soundtrack and pleasant visuals do little to distract from the sole, central mechanic that never evolves, resulting in frustration and obscuring meaningful progression.
All in all, A Musical Story takes you on a special journey, and it would be great to see more games like this.
Despite its brevity, A Musical Story is a game that will stick with you long after you’ve completed it. Its sumptuous artwork, simple yet incredibly emotive, will leave a lasting impression, though not as much as the fantastic soundtrack, which will pulse through your head long after you’ve turned it off. Combining a narrative driven experience with engaging rhythm-led gameplay, the result is something rather special, unlike anything you’ll have played before.
Glee-Cheese Studio's motto is to develop innovative games with a strong artistic identity. With A Musical Story, they have done exactly this. It plays and looks like no other rhythm game out there and, to me, is close to faultless. I am very excited to see what they will produce next. Here's hoping for an album release of the soundtrack on streaming services… Please!
I’ve truly enjoyed the diverse set of indie titles that have come to the Switch under the category of rhythm and music...
For music lovers who can’t play instruments, keen on perhaps learning how songs pull together, this will appeal. But for gamers looking at an indie purchase with longevity and diversity of gameplay, it’s best to avoid.
A Musical Story is a game made by people who love music to fans who are also enthusiasts. The way its compositions completely match the gameplay and the illustrations telling a story, and the fact it isn't demanding perfection in the [player's] performance of the tracks, makes this game a celebration of music['s place] in our lives. Some situations briefly break the spell, such as the lack of visual cues during songs making errors more prominent in the complex tracks. The short duration of the game also leaves a slightly bitter taste in the mouth. However, neither defeats the effort of Glee-Cheese Studio. This is a worthy first title that defines the base for future productions of the developer.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Featuring a gorgeous soundtrack and sumptuous visuals, A Musical Story certainly has everything going for it, but the experience as a whole feels as hollow as an acoustic guitar that was played once and never picked up again. Once it’s done, it’s done. And you won’t feel the need to return.
An interesting artistic, narrative and sound effort burdened by what should matter most --its gameplay.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
All those laurel wreaths of indie accolades mean nothing in the full scope of it all, because it’s only based off of seeing the end result and playing a portion of the game. Though the total playtime is less than three hours, it could be as little as 90 minutes if the execution was more humane and player-focused instead of posture-based. It’s a damn shame, and I’m sad that it took a beautiful concept and delivered it in the most minor key possible.