Video Game Review - Chenso Club

Rob reviews Chenso Club on PC...

If you're a long-time reader of Geek Culture Reviews, you'll already know that I have a soft spot for the humble roguelike/lite. For me, the genre's 'gitgud' gameplay is the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day at the day job. So it comes as no surprise that when the offer to review Chenso Club fell into my inbox, I graciously accepted the offer. 

Developed by Swedish developers Pixadome, Chenso Club is a fast-paced 2D platformer that combines platforming elements with brawler mechanics, that are all wrapped up in a 16-bit setting. 

Chenso Club manages to keep pace with the best of the genre, with a satisfying gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for one more run. A typical run through Chenso Club consists of a variety of areas linked together to form a stage. Across these areas, you'll be battling various enemies while performing a few light platforming puzzles. Come to the end of the first part of the level and you'll be thrown into a bonus area which offers a handful of upgrades. Meanwhile, the end to the next area results in a boss fight, and then the circle repeats. 

As you progress through each arena, aside from encountering the game's many "fodder" enemies you'll also meet unique characters who love to throw down a challenge. For example, there's a clock-based character who asks you to complete a challenge against the clock. Killing enemies replenishes the timer while playing defensively essentially works against you. There's also another character who tasks you to traverse the current area while shrouding it in darkness. 

Much like its gameplay loop, Chenso Club offers a straightforward way towards combat Each of the cast has at their disposal a simple attack, jump, and dash. Each character is then different from the others due to their preferred weapons. This then allows for plenty of variation in playstyle, with each hero offering something over another. For example, one hero favours a large hammer. While it hits heavy, she's pretty slow and doesn't move as fast. Meanwhile, another hero utilises two ice daggers, and while she's nimble the use of ice results in a slight overshoot when she moves. With five heroes to choose from, there is someone to suit every playstyle. 

Much like traditional video games, Chenso Club gives you four available difficulty settings. For those - like myself - looking for a casual setting 'story' will be the one for you. Choosing this setting affords you plenty of extra health and a small tweak to your damage output. While this tips the risk Vs. reward factor in your favour, your ultimate success is still decided by the RNG and your skill. And there's nothing worse when the current run doesn't go to plan. 

However, if you want a more challenging time Chenso Club offers this too. Choosing a higher difficulty then tips the odds into the enemy's favour as they'll hit harder and you'll have less health. This then turns the game into a tactical shooter as you'll have to nail your builds while praying to the RNG gods. The only reprieve is that enemies do occasionally drop health pick-ups, but on the higher difficulty the % of these is decreased. 

Another factor is that your health also acts as the game's currency. Whenever you visit the in-game shop, you'll pay for your upgrades with a percentage of your total health. I've noticed recently that a lot of rogue titles have incorporated this as a way of adding rhythm to the game, whilst upping the fear factor. After all, what's the use of that flashy gun, when one hit means you're dead? 

That being said, purchasing upgrades is totally down to your own choice. On occasion when a run wasn't going particularly well, I either sacrificed health for these upgrades as a way to experiment. Naturally, with the repetitive nature of the title, this is a perfect and legitimate strategy. 

The overall presentation is pretty good with the game bathed within a 16-bit ascetic. While it's nothing new for the genre, it's an ascetic that works well. What Chenso Club does differently is that it mixes this up with some gorgeous animated cutscenes that feel straight out of a comic book. The soundtrack also has a SEGA Genesis (or Mega Drive) vibe to it with plenty of catchy tunes to blast away the enemies. It also gives Chenso Club a lighthearted feel, which is exactly what the game is. 

As a whole, Chenso Club is a game that's worth playing. Whether you're a fan of the genre, or just looking for something of a different beat, Pixadome has created a game that ticks many of these boxes. While it's not going to knock Hades or Dead Cells from their pedestals - it doesn't need to. Instead, Chenso Club offers its brand of chaos that's wrapped up in a gorgeous 16-bit presentation.

Rating 7.5/10 

A code was kindly provided for this review 

Chinese Club is available now and can be purchased via Steam

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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev