As a recent addition to the rhythm game genre which rockets the player to space, Sixtar Gate: Startrail is currently in early access on Steam, and looking towards a full release on the Switch on March 16, 2023. The title’s anime-inspired aesthetics focus on the mascot character Shii, offering pleasant visuals and artwork themed around the fluffy girl’s explorations of the universe.
But a rhythm game is, first and foremost, about the music. Sixtar Gate: Startrail offers an incredible soundtrack, brimming with songs that are dynamic and enjoyable, but also suited towards fast-paced and intense rhythm gameplay. Though Sixtar’s presentation and narrative are currently a bit underdeveloped, the compelling and competent charts for incredible songs will keep you playing the game for one more listen.
▍Electronic Vibes That Surprise
The soundtrack of Sixtar Gate: Startrail leans towards energetic electronic compositions which are closest in the genre to Vocaloid artists like Kairiki Bear, and electronic Touhou composers like Shibayan Records. And the game does include Touhou fan songs and a paid DLC pack for additional Touhou content.
The soundtrack excels at typical strong points for electronic songs: fast, blood-pumping buildups, explosive choruses, and an interesting mix between pleasant synth melodies and vocals. But its music is layered and dynamic to the point that one genre does not do Sixtar Gate: Startrail justice.
The electronic tunes offer very interesting variations on rhythm and intensity so songs are always pleasantly surprising. The song Crossing Delta switches between a lighter melody with sounds reminiscent of a marimba, into an explosive stretch of percussion and pulsing synth sounds.
▍Interesting and Complex Original Tunes
Crossing Delta is not a song unique to Sixtar Gate: Startrail but speaks to the general quality of the selections. That being said, the game’s original compositions are often its most interesting and dynamic. Genres bends and unexpected instruments appear within songs like Lady and Lazy, which shifts from a whimsical, piano-driven soft tune into heavy synths, before an ending which combines both sounds.
The songs within Sixtar prove how diverse electronic tunes can be, and a player will experience jazzy trumpets, quick and light retro tunes, and bass-pumping melodies across the soundtrack. The original song Tourmaline is a strong example of the game’s complex, original tunes.
Sixtar Gate is not entirely electronic music, and the occasional orchestral or hip-hop inspired song is part of a formidable musical diversity. But the sound designer for Sixtar has the game’s electronic core perfected. At the moment, there are about 100 songs which are either free or unlockable through gameplay: a generous helping of fantastic music, for the game’s price point.
▍Dynamic Gameplay Blended with Music
The gameplay of Sixtar Gate is standard for the genre – a player hits a combination of keys or buttons when notes touch the game’s sensor bar. Rhythm games naturally lend themselves to the intensity and speed of electronic songs, and in my playthrough of Sixtar Gate’s normal difficulty, called “Nova” in-game, the placement of notes felt properly synced with each beat or melody.
I only rarely felt like the game was creating too many notes for a tune. My only one complaint about the basic gameplay is that it can feel underwhelming to hit notes, which by default do not produce a satisfying, responsive noise, though this setting can be tweaked within the game’s extensive customization options.
But the exceptional element of Sixtar Gate’s gameplay is perfectly suited to its music. Occasionally, the sensor bar in the middle of the screen will open up, introducing a new button which a player must press in time with the falling notes.
The feature is labeled by Sixtar Gate as the “Gate System.” Misleadingly simple, this change warps a player’s entire perspective, shifting where the notes will fall to test muscle memory and force more difficult button combinations. This strong twist to the gameplay occurs most frequently at intense moments in songs, or on occasions when a tune is changing its rhythm or mood, creating a very strong link between gameplay and music so that a player will intensely experience the songs they are playing.
▍Fairly Balanced Difficulty and a Nice Learning Curve
As a player who appreciates rhythm games but is not too skilled, I adapted to the game’s controls and played through the soundtrack on normal, or Nova, mode. Typical rhythm game issues with skill gaps would occasionally happen, where I found one song incredibly easy and then another incredibly hard. But the songs’ difficulties are numbered, addressing this issue.
In my Nova playthrough it was rare for a song to be a pushover or an instant fail. More difficult sections of songs, often stretches where the Gate System is used, challenged me; learning to adapt to the expanded note board creates a compelling learning curve for players less skilled at the rhythm genre.
Increasing the appeal and longevity of the game’s content is a gradually-acquired currency system, which allows a player to unlock songs or purchase banners and pictures for their profile. I cannot comment on the game’s highest difficulties but the speed and intensity of the Nova mode suggest a challenging skill ceiling.
▍Cute But Underdeveloped Presentation
The biggest downsides to Sixtar Gate are its presentation and polish. Controls feel a bit wonky—the mouse cannot be used to browse songs, but a player cannot use the wasd keys either—where their hand will be placed during gameplay. The localization feels a touch unfinished, with a lack of subtitles for song names or dialogue from the game’s navigator Shii. Certain visuals also feel a bit off, like a transition within a Touhou home screen bizarrely flashes character images for just a moment.
And though Shii is prominently featured within the game’s artwork, her personality and role as navigator to the captain player character are underdeveloped. A story mode has been promised for the early access game’s future and has the potential to capitalize upon the strong artwork of Shii and tie together the space theme.
Another presentation woe is that nothing is explained; a player must figure out what each game mode is by trial. Though, there continue to be plenty of interesting features constantly added by developer Lyrebird Studio, like a charming ability to see other players’ scores on songs in real-time as you play. But don’t expect the game to explain its features to you at present.
▍Sixtar Gate: Startrail Has Potential But Needs Polishing
Sixtar Gate: Startrail and its staff know rhythm games; the incredible, dynamic soundtrack and compelling gameplay are blended together seamlessly through the gate system. A player is left wanting to know Sixtar a bit more, though, due to unclear presentation and ineffective use of the central character Shii.
But this is a minor gripe for a stellar title which is absolutely worth its current $25 price point on PC, and expanded continually with new songs and features. The upcoming Switch release adds an extra incentive through goodies like adorable art and a soundtrack. If you are a fan of electronic tunes, rhythm games, or just good music in general, then Sixtar’s fantastic tracklist and engaging gameplay will give you a reason to keep this title on loop.
Review Score: 4.5/5
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Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL Review - Rhythm Gameplay Electrifying the Stars
The rhythm game Sixtar Gate: Startrail combines strong gameplay and a fantastic soundtrack to revolutionize the songs stuck in your head.
Operating System: Switch, PC
Application Category: Game
4.5