Chorus was one of the first games revealed for the PS5. It is not exclusive though as it also launched on nearly every console. Still, this is seen as more of a PS5 game than anything else because of the initial reveal. It runs well on the system too which I great to hear.
Overall, most aggregate scores are falling around the low to mid-70s range. That’s not bad for a brand new IP. It’s certainly not amazing. It has its rough edges but Chorus should appeal to hungry space shooter enthusiasts out there. When was the last time a AAA game like this appeared? Let’s go through the rights and wrongs Chorus made.
8 Best: The Open-World
One of the biggest surprises in this game was the open-world environment. Maybe it should be referred to as an open-space game. After a quick tutorial mission inside the wreckage of another ship, the world opens up completely in this asteroid belt.
There are a lot of side quests for players to tackle. Before heading to the Enclave, which is home base, it is recommended to tackle a few. Most of them offer some good side stories too from aiding a trucker with her debt to pirates to bringing home kids that are racing too much.
7 Worst: Indoor Environments
The indoor environments present a lot of problems that all fall back to the controls. Maneuvering the ship is fine, but everything could have been tighter. It makes dog fights harder to handle in the cramped insides of temples or ships.
The more open spaces aren’t that much of a problem even with the controls. The biggest issue is regrowth seals. These are targets that must be hit in quick succession to open doors. Players must master a drifting ability and it can sometimes just feel impossible to do small areas.
6 Best: Graphics
The game looks great on old hardware and new hardware as well. On PS5 in particular, the open-world environments look very inviting. The black abyss of space accompanied by far-off planets and twinkling stars can hypnotize players. It may cause them to drift off because they are taking in the beauty too much and not paying attention to the task at hand.
It’s a problem and not a problem at the same time. Chorus also performs well on most console setups with no big bugs to speak of. Plus the loads are quick for an open-world game which is always great to see.
5 Worst: The Story
The story centers on Nara who was part of a space cult known as The Circle. She is also a chosen one, of sorts, with psychic abilities that make her an ace pilot. One day her leader makes her destroy a planet that is too far for Nara so she flees.
The game picks up a few years later with Nara in hiding only to find herself facing The Circle once again. The small side conversations with side quest NPCs are entertaining, but Nara as a lead leaves something to be desired as a female protagonist. She’s a bit creepy because she whispers to herself like Gollum. It’s hard to sympathize with her cause when Nara doesn’t show much emotion.
4 Best: The Mastery System
Chorus is not a traditional RPG but it does borrow elements from the best. When players use weapons, for example, those weapons can level up based on kills. There is a sub-menu in the game which reads out what players need to do to level up certain parts of the ship.
Another section of the ship may have Nara take damage with her hull to increase HP or resistance. It’s an interesting system on top of a fun set of customization options in the shipyard. Players can deck out their ship any way they want as long as they have money.
3 Worst: Photo Mode
Like most modern games, Chorus has a photo mode. This allows players to take in the aforementioned beauty of the open world while pausing the action. There is a problem with it that could get resolved in a patch if the developers wanted.
When players take a picture, that screenshot will be in widescreen with top and bottom black bars. This cuts off a good section of the shot. The top bar also has the name, Chorus, plastered on it to seemingly help players remember what game this is from. Seeing compromises made to any photo mode like this can be a deal-breaker. It’s almost not worth using at all right now.
2 Best: Ship Speed
It may be hard to maneuver in tight spaces, but Nara’s various ships handle well enough in the open world of space. The true marvel is the speed of these ships. Players can boost around to go short distances or to avoid blasts in a dogfight.
There is also some light-speed travel to get around faster as well as warp gates. The sense of inertia isn’t going to make anyone sick while playing it. However, the speed can help create a more in-depth immersion for players wishing to travel to real space someday.
1 Worst: No Fast Travel
Driving around is fun, and quick too, but it would have been even better if the game offered fast travel. This option would be handy for when players wish to go back to home base in an instant. These areas are the only way for players to properly equip their ship with the latest gear.
Having to travel back and forth manually between bases can be a pain. The Enclave, for example, is also hard to discern where to park at first. Most open-world games have fast travel options. So, not having it in Chorus seems odd.
Chorus was released on December 3, 2021, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
