Chorus – Review
Our Score: 8/10
In Chorus, take control of Nara on a quest to destroy the dark cult that created her. Unlock devastating weapons & mind-bending abilities in an evolution of the space-combat shooter. Along with Forsaken, her sentient starfighter, explore ancient temples, engage in zero-g combat & venture beyond waking reality.
Lead Nara, an ace pilot facing her haunted past, and Forsaken, her sentient ship. Their quest for redemption will take them across the galaxy and beyond the boundaries of reality, as they fight to unite resistance forces against the Circle and their leader, the Great Prophet, at all costs.
What is Chorus?
In Chorus, you take on the role of Nara, a pilot who defected from the Circle, a psychotic collection of people who only want to impose their ideas on the whole universe. They don’t like people who disagree with them and punish them with destruction and death. When Nara was with the Circle, she did some nefarious things. But something snapped inside her, and she fled and went into hiding. Assuming the role of a soldier, Nara declares that the Circle is just a matter of time before it reaches the section of the universe where she left. Nara is reluctantly lured into a struggle in which only she can reverse the tides after a series of events are set in motion. With the assistance of her combat-hungry ship, which she had hidden away.
It’s vital to keep in mind that Nara isn’t your typical pilot. She wields a supernatural ability known as “Rites.”These rites provide her an advantage over her opponents and are useful for locating stuff floating around in space and fulfilling goals.
When it comes to a variety of space combat games, there’s normally some complicated system. While that is wonderful, it takes away the enjoyment because I don’t always want to min/max when I simply want to blow something up. As a result, I prefer Chorus’s streamlined systems. While the game still has enough firepower to make any space combat lover happy, it is limited to only three weapons: Gatling Guns, Lasers, and Missiles.
These systems can now be updated. Either by acquiring newer varieties, getting awarded for completing tasks, or becoming more familiar with the weapons themselves. That last bit is a clever way of preventing pilots from becoming overly reliant on a single weapon.
Look and Feel of Chorus
Visually, the game is very gorgeous looking. The beauty of space is captured quite well. Everything looks so visually stunning. Especially when the darkness of space is contrasted with a bright color like red with the Rift in the sky. The game also has a photo mode. This helps take some gorgeous photos. And my goodness does it help bring out the beauty of this game.
On consoles, the game features two modes. One mode offers 60 frames per second, while the other maintains a steady 30 frames per second. I honestly have no idea what the difference between the two is (apart from framerate), but I’m sure more information will be released soon by other places. Ray Tracing is apparently included in the 30fps option, however, I’m not sure if that’s for shadows, lighting, or reflections. I tried both modes and decided to go with 60fps – they both look great on a 4K TV, and the added benefit of a silky smooth 60fps means you feel more in charge of the ship when you engage the Faceless and blow them to bits.
The audio is also excellent. From the sounds of the weaponry to the conversations of the various characters you’ll meet with, the audio direction is amazing. In addition, when adversaries die, you’ll hear them curse you or say things like “You’ll get yours,” “ARGH,” or even “Hail the prophet” over the intercom. It’s the minor details that help to create a sense of immersion.
Final Verdict
Chorus is one of the most enjoyable space combat games I’ve come across in a long time. There’s plenty of space battle to be had, and the story is engaging enough to keep you guessing about what will happen next. The game also looks terrific, regardless of the visual settings. Chorus is the game I’d recommend to anyone searching for their first space combat game. Especially if they don’t want to play something too complicated.
