Here’s one that slipped under our radar – the PC VR version of Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash is already available on Viveport, and is coming soon to SteamVR.
The VR adaptation of the cult rhythm action game launched on HTC’s Viveport Infinity subscription service on November 20th. That means you can get access to the title via the monthly subscription that allows you to play a whole heap of other VR games too. This version of the game is compatible with just about every PC VR headset – Rifts, Vives, Index and even Windows Mixed Reality should be covered.
But what if you don’t want to use Viveport? Well the game’s coming soon to SteamVR, launching on December 9th according to the official website. It’ll cost $24.99 on the platform.
Space Channel 5 VR has already done the rounds on both PSVR and Oculus Quest, having launched on the former back in February of this year. While it was great to see an obscure fan-favorite series return in VR, we thought the gameplay was far too basic and the content far too thin to warrant a hefty asking price.
“Space Channel 5 VR should have been a glorious return to form, but this cult hit series can’t keep up with the beat set by its competitors,” we said in our 2/5 review. “The surprisingly brief campaign coasts on by without ever pushing your skills and, once it’s over, there’s very little else to do. Ulala and co are long overdue a return to the main stage, but this isn’t it.”
Will you be checking our Space Channel 5 on PC VR? Let us know in the comments below!
Returning in the midst of VR’s rhythm action obsession, you’d think the cult hit Space Channel series would strut onto headsets with ease. But this short-lived revival stumbles on the dance floor, and just about everywhere else.
In Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash — the first game in the series in 18 years — you dance-off with aliens in order to save the galaxy. The original two games’ button-matching gameplay (similar to that of the Parappa The Rapper series) has been translated into a gesture-based system. Your enemy throws its arms up, down and side-to-side then passes the sequence on to you to imitate with your motion controllers. Your thumbs are no longer the dancers here; your entire body is.
But, though the game retains the distinct wackiness that kept it in the hearts and minds of so many over the past two decades, too much else has been lost in the transition. Space Channel 5 VR starts off as a gentle reintroduction to the series then just sort of lingers there. Its 30-minute campaign — even then wearisomely padded out with lengthy level introductions and endings — only rarely tests your skills. A series of simple inputs is quickly regurgitated, and then whichever of the four levels you’re playing ends without ever really getting going. It doesn’t struggle to find its rhythm so much as actively avoids it.
Comfort
Space Channel 5 VR is a largely stationary experience, with occasional dodging from side-to-side. The headset itself can be a little finicky to keep in place in these moments but, broadly speaking, there’s no reason to worry about comfort here.
Developer Grounding seems painfully aware of the risks of dancing around in VR (and the way your PSVR can slide around on your head). It’s an understandable concern, but one that casts a long shadow over Space Channel 5 VR. The split-second difference between inputs in later levels of the original game are spaced out to give you more time. It’s a softer, less calculated version of the game without any of the original’s immediacy and, to boot, an alarming lack of things to do. This is a timid alternative to the intensity of Beat Saber or OhShape, too afraid to commit to the demanding rhythm that makes those games sing.
Even the 100-stage dance-off mode, one of the few extras available after you beat the campaign, fails to really push you in any way. Perhaps it was naive of me to expect a long list of classic tracks to shoot for high-scores in once I was done with these two modes, but that’s the standard set by its VR contemporaries. All that remains, however, is an arcade mode to replay the story. At best, you’ll get an hour out of Space Channel 5 VR before you’re done with it.
Space Channel 5 VR PSVR Review Final Impressions
Space Channel 5 VR should have been a glorious return to form, but this cult hit series can’t keep up with the beat set by its competitors. The surprisingly brief campaign coasts on by without ever pushing your skills and, once it’s over, there’s very little else to do. Ulala and co are long overdue a return to the main stage, but this isn’t it.
Space Channel 5 VR (or, if you prefer the stacked full name, Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash!) is now available for PlayStation VR, with a 10% discount for launch. Plus, we’ve got some little tidbits of news for upcoming DLC.
We recently received a new trailer ahead of the game’s launch, and now it’s finally available on the PlayStation Store for $39.99. However, for a limited time the game is also 10% off to celebrate launch, so it comes down to around $35.99. You’ll be able to play through a Story Mode, as well as Arcade and Trial modes, and you’ll be able to keep track of how many calories you burn while playing.
In a press release, developers Grounding Inc. revealed that DLC, to be released at an undisclosed later date, will feature “a collaboration with the legendary virtual pop star Hatsune Miku, who is appearing at Coachella this year.” The DLC allows players to dance with both Ulala and Hastune Miku, with more details to follow “at a later date.”
We went hands on with the game back in April of last year and had a great time: “The original Space Channel 5 was fun in its own right, but the inclusion of VR takes things to a whole new level. You’re still listening for the call of Ulala and the in-game bell that tells you when to move, but thanks to VR, everything feels way more engaging as you play.”
Space Channel 5 VR is also supposedly launching on PC VR and the Oculus Quest eventually, but we don’t have any confirmed release windows beyond ‘coming soon’.
Will you be picking it up on PSVR? Let us know in the comments.
Space Channel 5 (1999) first launched on Dreamcast and PS2 over two decades ago, and now the long-dormant franchise is ready to reemerge on PSVR headsets this month with Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash!
Originally slated to launch in December 2019 on PSVR, Space Channel 5 VR was later delayed to Spring 2020. Now, Japan-based developer Grounding Inc. says the rhythm game is headed to PSVR on February 25th in North America (prices at $40), and in Europe & Oceania one day later.
Versions for PC VR headsets will be available through Steam and Viveport, and for Oculus Quest, although their respective launch dates are still unknown at this time.
Set in the titular 25th-century space TV station ‘Space Channel 5’, the single-player VR game tasks you with fighting against alien invaders and rival dance crews with the power of choreographed moves—all in the patently ’60s retro-future surroundings. Although you don’t take over Ulala herself, you do get a chance to bust moves as her assistant.
Space Channel 5 VR is said to include a story mode, arcade mode, and an endurance exercise mode with calorie counter. Check out the latest trailer below:
Space Channel 5 VR, the newest entry in the cult hit rhythm action series, comes to PSVR in a few short weeks.
The game’s website confirms that the console version of the game launches in the Americas on February 25 2020 for $39.99. It’ll launch in Europe and other territories on February 26. However, the game’s website still lists the promised Oculus Quest and PC VR versions as ‘Coming Soon’, so we’d guess there’s a bit of an exclusivity window going on.
A new trailer for the game has just been released, too. It shows us some new environments and characters.
Space Channel 5 VR is the first new game in the series since 2002’s Space Channel 5: Part 2. In the series, you fend off invading aliens by dancing to the beat. The series built up something of a cult following over the past two decades, so it’s great to see its return. The VR game remixes content from the original title only now you’ll be fully embodying a character and making the dance moves yourself.
The game comes with a Story Mode as well as Arcade and Trial modes. You’ll also be able to keep track of how many calories you’ve burned while playing and there’s even a Viewing mode to watch the story through again from a third-person view without playing.
That calorie counter is particularly interesting given that Space Channel 5 VR is one of a growing number of titles in the VR fitness category. It’s great to see a game getting a native counter.
Will you be picking up Space Channel 5 VR? Let us know in the comments below!
Japanese developer Grounding Inc. has confirmed that rhythm-action title Space Channel 5 VR: Kind Funky News Flash! is once again being delayed, pushed back from its 2019 release window into the Spring of 2020.
In a statement on the official Space Channel 5 VR: Kind Funky News Flash! website Grounding Inc. says: “Thank you for your support for “Space Channel 5”. We regret to announce the “Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash!” will be delayed. Originally scheduled to be released end of 2019, it has since been pushed back to Spring 2020. The new release date will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you again for your support to our game and apologize for the delay.”
While the English version is devoid of any reason behind the delay the Japanese version does note the delay is to improve the quality of the videogame.
A reboot of the Sega Dreamcast classic from 1999, Space Channel 5 VR: Kind Funky News Flash! was originally announced in early 2018 as Space Channel 5 VR: Arakata Dancing Show in Japan. A couple of months later it was confirmed the videogame would be getting a western launch with its new title.
Just like its predecessor, Space Channel 5 VR: Kind Funky News Flash! is a dancing rhythm videogame where you have to strike poses to catchy tunes to score as many points as possible. The gameplay should be a good fit for virtual reality (VR) headsets which have seen a growing abundance of rhythm-based titles arrive, such as Beat Saber, Synth Ridersand BoxVR to name a few.
The story is set in 25th century involving Space Channel 5’s top reporter Ulala. She is hosting a news report on a mysterious dancing incident involving aliens known as “Morolians”, forcing people to dance. This means you need to fight the invading aliens by strutting your stuff in the ultimate dance battle, receiving more views and helping Ulala in the process.
Space Channel 5 VR: Kind Funky News Flash! is slated to support PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive when it eventually arrives. When details of a more concrete release date are confirmed, VRFocus will let you know.
When Space Channel 5 released on the Dreamcast nearly 20 years ago, it introduced fans to a weird and unique world that has managed to stay with them ever since. While Ulala has been a staple for Sega in a variety of other racing and mash-up titles, fans of the Space Channel 5 series will finally be able to get dancing again, as Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash! will be releasing later this year.
After donning a PSVR headset and checking it out at PAX East last month, I can safely say that fans of the series will feel right back at home once they get their hands on it.
Space Channel 5 VR once again puts you in the shoes of a reporter, but this time it isn’t Ulala. Instead, you’re a new recruit who is following the iconic reporter around. Once you drop into the game, you’re given a brief tutorial by Ulala on how to play the game, and it’s here where you learn how everything functions in VR. In order to move, you simply gesture in the proper direction along with the music, and you’re good to go.
You’re also able to move your body side-to-side and up and down to complete various poses, and thanks to the added functionality of VR, you’re able to charge up attacks by lifting your hands up as you’re playing. The controls are all intuitive, and everything felt really smooth as I learned the ropes on how to get my groove on.
After the tutorial ends, things quickly go wrong, and you’re suddenly in the middle of an alien invasion that you must fend off. Much like the original game, Space Channel 5 VR tasks you with defeating aliens through dance, but unlike the original, you’re much more active this time around. Instead of simply watching people dance and pressing buttons along with the music, you’re on your feet and actively moving alongside Ulala.
Similar to other dance titles, Space Channel 5 VR is mostly played by making you strike various poses and nail certain arm movements in time with the music. You can either watch Ulala dance or check out a screen that shows you the upcoming moves to help you out. Moves get more and more complex as you continue playing, although things never felt so difficult that they were impossible. The general flow of gameplay seems similar to the Oculus Rift and Quest title, Dance Central VR.
The original Space Channel 5 was fun in its own right, but the inclusion of VR takes things to a whole new level. You’re still listening for the call of Ulala and the in-game bell that tells you when to move, but thanks to VR, everything feels way more engaging as you play.
Dodging with your actual body and sending out attack beams against aliens feels way more rewarding when you’re actually on your feet and moving about. Just like the Dreamcast title, the soundtrack in Space Channel 5 VR is filled with incredible tunes, and promises to pay homage to the 60s style sound that the original also had. Throughout my time with the game, it was hard not to keep moving along with the music, which is a good sign for any game that is solely focused on dancing.
I didn’t notice any issues with the performance or controls during my demo. Tracking and movement all seemed to be accurate, and the updated design of Space Channel 5 VR was a great touch as well. The colorful details in Ulala and the Morolians were a great contrast for the stark white look of the in-game spaceport, and while it would be nice to see other environments (like the one shown below), the colorful and vibrant nature of the characters in Space Channel 5 VR made up for it.
The only downside to my time with Space Channel 5 VR was just how short the demo was. After only playing for about 15 minutes, I was surprisingly disappointed to have to stop playing. As a huge fan of rhythm titles but not a huge fan of getting up and dancing in real life, I was genuinely shocked at how much fun I had.
There’s no current information on when Space Channel 5 VR will launch, but it will be available on PSVR and SteamVR when it releases, presumably sometime later this year. Check out the official website for more details.
If you hadn’t heard, Space Channel 5 VR is coming. Yes, really. Don’t believe us? This new trailer proves it.
Sega revealed the latest look at its upcoming VR port, developed by Grounding, earlier this month. It’s our best glimpse yet, showcasing improved graphics and announcing a new two-player co-op mode.
The original Space Channel 5 was a rhythm action game in which you performed snazzy moves to fend off an alien invasion. That might seem like a strange fit for a VR game but this trailer remarkably makes some sense of it. We can easily see ourselves throwing out shapes to Ulala’s commands using VR’s position tracking. Heck, it might even be a pretty good workout. It’s like it’s been turned into Just Dance, just with a little Space Invaders thrown into the mix.
We’re not exactly sure how the game’s co-op mode will work. At a guess we’d say it’ll probably need two VR users but it would be cool to see some of the original gameplay mechanics for someone on a standard screen.
Elsewhere this version of the game is going to come with new content. Sega is promising new stories, stages and characters. That’s pretty exciting news for the cult classic series; there hasn’t been any genuinely new Space Channel 5 content since 2002’s Part 2.
We don’t have a release date for Space Channel 5 VR just yet. We do know it’s coming to PSVR and HTC Vive. No word on an Oculus Rift (or, hey, Oculus Quest) release just yet but we’ll let you know.
Though the SEGA Dreamcast is long gone now, its legacy lives on in the form of the videogames that came to prominence on SEGA’s last console. One of those is Space Channel 5, whose virtual reality (VR) adaptation has been making the rounds at event in Japan, and now wil finally be getting a home release on the PlayStation VR.
Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash is currently in development and is set for release some time in 2019, appropriately marking the 20th Anniversary of the title’s release on the Dreamcast.
A demo of Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash will be playable at the Tokyo Game Show 2018 on 20th-23rd September, 2018. There are also plans to hold a special campaign called the ‘Gyun-Gyun Campaign’ to celebrate the announcement.
Players will be broadcast into the 25th Century where players will take control of rookie reporter twin sisters Lou and Kee who will act as the player avatars for the futuristic rhythm adventure. Lou and Kee (and the player) will be able to dance alongside iconic Space Channel 5 host Ulala and bring back a wash of nostalgic memories.
Developers Grounding Inc have promised that the classic Dreamcast setting and gameplay will be present, but now players can react to the rhythm using their body, instead of just the controller. Brand new stories, characters, stages and sounds can be expected.
Attendees at the Tokyo Game Show will be able to request time with the Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash demo. Demonstrations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, though some advanced reservations are possible by contacting the company.
Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash will be at the Grounding Booth, Hall 10, W19. The title is available in both English and Japanese, though a Western release has not yet been confirmed. The English trailer is available to view below.
For future coverage of Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash and other upcoming VR experiences, keep checking back with VRFocus.
The SEGA Dreamcast is unique as it is perhaps more beloved after its lifespan than during it. A case of not knowing what you had until it had gone, SEGA’s last home console was almost too ahead of its time in many ways and it and its videogame library brought about a great many ideas now considered standard in the industry.
One colourful rhythm-action title that made waves was a slightly surreal one about an intergalactic news reporter in the mini-est of vinyl miniskirts who found herself part of a story of alien invasion. Saving the day not through journalism but effectively via a series of dance-offs. That title was Space Channel 5 and it still beloved today, the character of Ulala being elevated to one of publisher SEGA’s ‘All-Stars’.
A virtual reality (VR) version of Space Channel 5 has been a reality for over two years now. Appearing at 2016’s Tokyo Game Show as Space Channel 5 VR: Ukiuki Viewing Show, the initial six minute demo originally used an HTC Vive to transport people five hundred years into a future of interstellar broadcast networks, hostage rescuing and Space Michael Jackson.
Initially an experience for arcades earlier this year the rechristened Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash! confirmed plans at least for a home release thanks to a “Game Hardware for Console Version” label, which said it was TBD – or ‘To Be Determined’. Now however in the run up to this year’s Tokyo Game Show the PlayStation VR has been confirmed as a platform for release. What has sadly not been confirmed is any release date, or how any Western release might factor into proceedings. However, a newly released trailer for the announcement at least shows that Ulala, the invading Morolians and the residents of the space station are looking, graphically, better than ever.
You can watch that below. We’ll bring you more news about Space Channel 5 VR as soon as we have it on VRFocus.
One colourful rhythm-action title that made waves was a slightly surreal one about an intergalactic news reporter in the mini-est of vinyl miniskirts who found herself part of a story of alien invasion. Saving the day not through journalism but effectively via a series of dance-offs. That title was Space Channel 5 and it still beloved today, the character of Ulala being elevated to one of publisher SEGA’s ‘All-Stars’.