Mini Video Game Review: Chenso Club

Developer: Pixadome

Publisher: Curve Games

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PlayStation, Xbox, PC

Action platformers with roguelike elements will always be welcome if they are made with quality. It’s a take on the genre that encourages players to get better at the mechanics of the platforming. If the game is well made, they will be experiences that are mostly skill-based as opposed to luck (Of fighting with poor controls). Chenso Club is the latest game to join the genre, and it does it with quite a bit of success.

Chenso Club has a simple premise. Aliens are invading, and it is up to the players to save the day. They will do so by beating up aliens as they navigate side-scrolling stages. Players can dash, jump, and attack. At the end of the stage, they will fight a boss. Simple.

The gameplay moves smoothly and with good pacing. Attacks flow well together and the movement feels great. Upgrades that can be gathered along the way ensure that the experience never gets too repetitive. If that isn’t enough, there are roguelike mechanics which will require the play to restart with randomly generated stages. Finally, there are multiple characters to unlock with different playstyles, all of which feel unique.

It’s lively, but sometimes a little too lively. Some screens are simply chaotic, with tons of enemies everywhere. It’s not necessarily difficult, but it can be overwhelming to look at. Anyone who has played Lapis x Labyrinth will know what to expect from some stages. Fortunately, the game can be played with a friend, which functions well and makes the chaos a little more enjoyable.

It’s not astounding, but Chenso Club is a cute little platformer with the potential for lots of fun. It’s not a deep experience, but it’s well-crafted and sometimes that is all you can ask for.