The Chainsaw Man manga becomes a rhythm game in Chainsaw Dance, a free and unofficial tie-in
Chainsaw Dance is a free rhythm game inspired by the manga series Chainsaw Man, mingling the comic's horrific sensibilities with a game genre more typically associated with bright colours and good cheer. Take control of your terrified dancer and make sure they hit the beat. Even though the game is an unauthorised fan project it successfully recreates the drawing style of the manga.
The visual style of Chainsaw Dance sets it apart from more traditional rhythm games like Friday Night Funkin' and leaves it closer to horror games like Slender: The Eight Pages, which will please fans of the manga that inspired it. Meanwhile, players who are fond of rhythm game tradition will be pleased to know that it never ventures far from the formula, Which some funky tunes on offer and simple but addictive gameplay.
A horror makeover for the rhythm genre
The traditional rhythm game formula gets a horrific, manga-inspired makeover with Chainsaw Dance, and the animated characters look utterly scared stiff as they dance. Despite this unorthodox thematic makeover, the basic mechanics remain the same as with most rhythm games: hit the keys in time with the onscreen arrows to fit the beat.
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Enter the world of Chainsaw Man
Fans of the Chainsaw Man manga will be right at home with this game. You can choose between two of the manga's characters, Denji and Kobeni, rendered in a pixelated aesthetic that suggests the 90s era of gaming. While an unofficial title, the game does a good job of recreating the manga.
A traditional rhythm game at heart
While the morbid theme provides a considerable amount of novelty value, Chainsaw Dance offers little in the way of new for the dance-game genre. You can choose between two difficulty modes and a range of catchy songs, but the gameplay remains basic. Fans of the genre will enjoy it, but those who never warmed to the rhythm genre are unlikely to be converted by Chainsaw Dance.
