Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! Review

Breaking News: The Dancing Queen returns in VR!

Release Date
February 25, 2020
Developed by
Grounding Inc.
Published by
Grounding Inc.
Genre
VR / Rhythm
Systems
PlayStation VR

inThe year is 2000, and Y2K is over. You’re reading a Game Pro magazine trying to see if there are codes, and then you see ad for Space Channel 5 featuring the funky futuristic reporter Ulala stating, “Life is a Dance Party. Then you Die.” For anyone who doesn’t know about this cult classic, Space Channel 5 is a game where you play as Ulala as she dances her way through a 1960 themed sci-fi landscape trying to rescue people from the aliens! It was initially on the Dreamcast and then ported over PlayStation 2 and GameBoy Advance. Space Channel 5 is similar to Simon Says but funky and is something I believe people should give a chance. A lot of things have changed in gaming since 2000, and with the advent of in-home VR technology, Space Channel 5 is back, but this time in VR! It makes sense for a game like this to make the jump! Does Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! Hold the groove along with the other entries in the series. Well, kind of.

Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! have you take control of a Space Channel rookie as you work together with the great Ulala to rescue the universe from the forces that threaten to throw off its groove. The game mainly takes place in the same area as the previous entries in the series. You’re given commands and must match it to the rhythm of the beat or suffer a penalty. Most of the time, this is pretty easy and can get you going. However, playing this on the PlayStation VR wasn’t the most authentic experience, and sometimes I would make the motion perfectly, and it would count it wrong. During the start of my playthrough, I had to adjust the PSVR to get Space Channel 5 VR to respond correctly. When it did work, it was smooth, but when it didn’t, it was pretty rough and took me out of the experience. I hear that on other VR devices like HTC Vive, this isn’t necessarily an issue.

The other games in the series are pretty little experiences. The original game’s story could finish in around 90 mins, and this game is no different. Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! Features 4 stages that take about 30 minutes to complete. Just as soon as I was getting into the grove it was over. It does feature an arcade mode (the same as story mode without lives) and a 100 level dance challenge. If you like Space Channel 5, there is some replay value, but if you are not feeling it after beating the story, there is little to be done afterward. It’s a bit steep at $40, which makes it hard for me to recommend as a game with around two hours of gameplay. Maybe if the controls were a little better, then I would be a bit more excited to recommend it to people.

Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! Review
Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash Review
Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! has a lot of styles that lives up to the series name; however, its lack of content prevents the game from living up to its true potential as a great VR rhythm game.
Pros
Its got style for days
Fun rhythm game play
Great music
Cons
Very short length
Little replay value
3
Score