Phenixx Gaming

Warning: The subject of this review contains references and depictions of violence, use and abuse of recreational drugs, and other mature themes. Reader discretion is advised.

Some games have titles that perfectly describe what you’re in for when you play them. A Musical Story is one such title. In A Musical Story, you play as Gabriel, a young guitarist in the 1970s who’s trying to come to terms with sudden fame and fortune with all the downsides those tend to bring along. Before I explain exactly what A Musical Story is, let me tell you what it isn’t: It isn’t a lengthy story experience, and its core gameplay isn’t complex. Even less so if you’re competent at rhythm games. I don’t think these are necessarily negative things, though.

I finished the entirety of A Musical Story’s campaign in a single sitting, which took just under two hours, according to Steam. I probably could have shaved at least a good ten or fifteen minutes off my total playtime if I had performed better at its core gameplay loop, though. I think A Musical Story’s main strength is its plot, which it conveys quite well without any written or spoken dialogue. My main complaint about A Musical Story is (unfortunately) that its gameplay kept getting in the way of my ability to experience the story.

A Musical Story is the least complex rhythm game I’ve ever played. I don’t mean that as a bad thing in itself. It’s just that, as I said, playing the rhythm minigames the gameplay loop expects of me is just engaging enough that it distracts me from paying full attention to its plot. Considering the gameplay requires only the left and right arrow keys, I went into it thinking I wouldn’t have to focus nearly as much on correctly following rhythmic patterns as I ended up needing to. That’s where my main issue lies with A Musical Story.

I had difficulty focusing on the gameplay because it’s overlaid atop the animations that tell its story. However, I have a hunch that if I were better at rhythm games, this wouldn’t have been nearly as problematic. I would go so far as to say that A Musical Story’s gameplay is so basic that anyone who’s even slightly more rhythmically inclined than I am might ultimately get bored with it.

Even though I was distracted from much of the plot of A Musical Story, I was able to follow it well enough that it still managed to resonate with me. A Musical Story’s soundtrack combined with the plot’s art and animations work together as an excellent method of storytelling, even without any attached writing or speech. You can unlock up to two Steam achievements during each chapter of A Musical Story. You get one for simply finishing each chapter and another if you play each rhythm section perfectly on your first attempt.

Like I mentioned earlier, A Musical Story is not a long or particularly difficult experience. I doubt its challenge or its duration would change much at all if you’re good at rhythm games and you set out to 100% complete its campaign. That’s why I think A Musical Story’s base price is a bit too high for what it offers. Its plot may be its strongest aspect, but that cannot support or justify a $14.99 asking price on its own. My final word on A Musical Story is that I’d definitely recommend experiencing it, albeit only when it’s discounted.

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A Musical Story

$14.99

6.5

Score

6.5/10

Pros

• Excellent storytelling without any written or spoken dialogue.
• The campaign only requires a small time investment.
• Accessibility options are a great help for players who struggle with keeping a rhythm.

Cons

• Very basic rhythm gameplay.
• The gameplay can harm the player’s ability to follow and appreciate the plot.
• 100% completion is disabled if you turn on accessibility options permanently.