When a new rhythm game comes out, especially for VR, I find myself asking: does this game bring anything new to the table? Sure, VR is the perfect platform for the genre now that plastic peripherals are basically dead, but the likes of Beat Saber and Synth Riders have essentially cornered the market so much that any other games really need to provide something unique to truly stand out.

When I first saw Starwave in its reveal trailer, I honestly didn’t think it would be able to do anything new. It looked like Synth Riders, but using the giant sticks of Beat Saber. However, I decided to give it a chance anyway – and I’m really glad that I did. Whilst the gameplay doesn’t seem to offer anything particularly unique, I still think that this may actually be my new favourite rhythm game on the Meta Quest 3.

Let me explain why. 

Many thanks to the publisher for the review code.

GOING SUPERNOVA
Using what looks like a rainbow-coloured variant of Harry Potter’s magic wand, your aim is to fly through the vast reaches of space bashing supernovas to the beat. Points are earned based on how hard you whack them, although you’re never required to do so. Unlike Beat Saber, there’s no directional requirement needed to successfully register a hit, but should you see an asteroid you can whack them in that specific direction to earn additional points. It’s not just supernovas that you’ll need to hit, however, as you’ll also come across stardust trails that you need to follow with your wand, and comets that you need to start pounding at frantically once they’re within your reach.

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Starwave is very much a rhythm game and everything you do fits perfectly to the beat of the music playing in the background. I love the original soundtrack for the game, as the 36 available tracks evoked memories of 2000’s era dance music, which brought me back to my partying days! It’s not just this wave of nostalgia that I enjoyed though, as these tracks are genuinely really catchy and I had many of them sticking with me even after turning the headset off. I’ve noted before that I think original soundtracks generally work better in a rhythm game, as you don’t let any specific bias get in the way of your enjoyment of the songs; as a result, this game proves to me consistently enjoyable with no notably bad tracks.

Even though Starwave may appear to be like other similar games in the genre, what sets this game apart is that it feels almost meditative in nature. There’s zero risk of failure, and I never found it all that difficult to hit all the notes (although aiming supernovas towards asteroids can feel impossible at times!); however, instead of feeling bored I ended up finding my body fusing with the music. Within minutes of playing, there was no ‘me’ any more – only the melody that I seemed to be guiding using my very soul. It’s really hard to describe, but there’s something almost magical about the whole experience.

This lack of difficulty will no doubt end up being off-putting to many fans of the genre, as there’s no real way to customise the experience to your own liking. Whilst I personally found the difficulty level perfect for me, as it provided enough challenge to keep me focused without ever becoming difficult, I’m sure veterans will find it far too easy for their liking. Sure, the challenge is meant to be all about improving your score each time, but I do think there should probably be additional options to help increase the speed things come at you and perhaps even add a failure state for those who desire it.

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But that’s a small qualm for what is otherwise a beautiful and engaging musical experience. There’s just something wonderous about finding yourself lost in the music as you gradually start unlocking new constellations. Add to that the game’s daily voyage system that incentivises you to keep you playing every day, and there’s even an area for you to see all the constellations that you’ve unlocked. It really is a fantastic little package, and one you’ll want to keep coming back to whenever you just need to blow off a little steam,

VERDICT
Starwave is a magical journey through musical space that manages to successfully fuse your soul with its wonderous soundtrack. Sure, some may be disappointed at its lack of a failure state, but its almost zen-like nature is almost certain to ease you of your troubles. Until you take the headset off, at least.