At first glance, DEATH A LIVE looks like another unusual Japanese indie game that decided to combine several completely different ideas. However, once you scratch beneath the surface, it becomes clear that this combination is exactly what makes it interesting. This is a rhythm-action adventure where you have just 30 days to prepare for a major concert, while an obsessive yandere fan is constantly on your heels, ready to turn her love into something far more dangerous.
I had the opportunity to try DEATH A LIVE at Gamescom, and what immediately caught my attention was how seriously the game commits to its unusual premise. Here, music is not simply background noise but becomes part of the gameplay itself, while your relationship with the fan and the decisions you make influence how the story unfolds.
When Rhythm Becomes a Way to Survive
DEATH A LIVE is not a traditional rhythm game where you simply follow notes appearing on the screen. The core idea is to use rhythm and the so-called Voltage Control to influence your opponent's emotions and try to survive her attacks.
During combat, you use a combination of WASD controls, the mouse and changes in stance to attack, parry and avoid whatever your opponent throws at you. At the same time, you need to keep an eye on her “Girl Voltage” and try to control it.
It's an interesting concept because rhythm here isn't simply about pressing buttons with perfect timing. You need to keep track of the situation and react at the right moment, while the pace and intensity of encounters continue to change.
Thirty Days Until the Big Concert
Outside of the action itself, the game introduces a 30-day structure. You have a limited amount of time to practice with your band, interact with fans and prepare for the final performance. At the same time, you need to pay attention to your relationships and the decisions you make, as your actions can influence how the story ends.
I particularly like the idea behind this time-based structure. Instead of simply moving through a series of battles, you get the feeling that something is gradually approaching. You know that the thirtieth day is waiting for you, but you don't know exactly how you are going to get there.
And since the game features multiple endings, your decisions carry even more weight.
The Yandere as the Main Threat
Of course, it's difficult to talk about DEATH A LIVE without mentioning its main antagonist. She isn't simply another boss who shows up to make the game more difficult. The entire story revolves around her obsessive relationship with the protagonist, and the game uses that concept as the foundation for its combination of dark humor, romance and action.
One of the more interesting ideas is that the relationship between you and her isn't presented simply as a classic battle between good and evil. The way you communicate, who you accept and who you reject can affect her “Voltage” and the eventual outcome. That could be particularly interesting in the full version, once we can see just how different the various choices actually are.
Neon, Music and Complete Chaos
Visually, the game goes all-in on the neon aesthetic. The cyberpunk style, vibrant colors and strong contrast between different shades create the feeling that you're in the middle of a completely chaotic concert that could turn into horror at any moment. Steam itself highlights the neon cyberpunk aesthetic as one of the game's key visual elements. And it works for the game.
DEATH A LIVE doesn't try to be subtle. Its premise, visual style and characters make it clear that this is a game that wants to be unusual, a little crazy and absurd enough to make you stop and wonder what exactly you just watched.
An Idea That Still Has to Show Its Full Potential
What I tried at Gamescom left me with the impression of a game that already has a very clear identity. The most interesting aspect is the combination of rhythm, action, character relationships and the 30-day time limit.
That said, it's difficult to judge how deep all of these systems will be based on a single demo session. It will be particularly interesting to see how much the different endings actually vary and how strongly the decisions made during those 30 days will affect the final outcome.
The game is still in development and does not yet have a confirmed release date. Following Gamescom, the developer announced that future versions will further improve the rhythm gameplay, meaning that the system we tried is still subject to change. For now, however, DEATH A LIVE leaves a very distinctive impression. It isn't easy to describe using a single genre label, and that may actually be its biggest strength.
A rhythm game, action, yandere horror, cyberpunk and a little dark humor – all wrapped into a story where you're trying to play your way to the big concert without ending up dead.
For now, definitely one of the more unusual projects we had the chance to try at Gamescom.
