Sixtar Gate: Startrail

Sixtar Gate: StarTrail does an incredible job of bringing IIDX-like scaling note rhythm gameplay to the Switch while injecting some unique tweaks to give this game a feel all its own. Having been passed over by the likes of PM Studio’s DJ Max series, it feels great to finally have this style of rhythm game available for playing on the go. The songlist, while not as robust as the Steam version, is still superb and bares room for growth by way of DLC and future software updates, of which at least some of them will be free, according to the developer’s Twitter page. I’ve been having an absolute blast with this title and will likely continue to do so for months to come. I may never manage to reach the high-end difficulty levels, but when it comes to rhythm games, it isn’t so much the destination as it is the journey. So long as you can accept that mantra into your playstyle and appreciate some subjectively great music, then I believe you will find much to love on this musical voyage into the cosmos as well.

Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL is a rhythm game that may be appealing to veterans but its advantages aren't easily translated to newcomers in the genre. With a really weak story mode and lacking relevant tutorials, this is hard to recommend to people who don't appreciate the technical side of those games. For those who are already lovers of this game style, however, there's a ton of content and the interface adjustments may leave you with a really comfortable experience above average.

The captivating graphics, the well-crafted gameplay style and the amount of care and attention put into this title is quite evident, yet for an affordable price, Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL is certainly one of the biggest surprises of 2023 for me. The game is not specifically super polished or perfect, but it speaks to me in a very personal way, so if something I said in this review specifically clicked with you, I suggest you give it a chance!

As its adaptation for Switch, the game presents variety of settings as well as the rhythm action well-fitted for joy-con environment. While the game is about a story of cute characters, the absence of tutorial and frequently changing note lane would be very challenging for beginners than it looks.