It’s now available for Quest, PC VR and PS VR2.
Trombone Champ Unflattened is a great way to capture the spirit of this hit rhythm game. Here’s our full impressions.
Holy Wow Studios had an undeniable hit back in 2022 with its 2D rhythm game Trombone Champ and two years on, Flat2VR Studios has taken this hilarious premise even further. Trombone Champ Unflattened is a new game that builds on the foundations of Raicuparta’s mod and delivers ridiculously silly entertainment. You’ll be performing in a 3D hall for a crowd of Mii characters who aren’t scared to switch from approval to disgust. The core mechanics of the game are very similar to those in the original. Double Mode is a game where notes are displayed on both sides of your body. You can only toot so much before you run out breath. The score multiplier increases as you maintain combos, filling up a “CHAMP” meter that gives more points. You’re then ranked from F to S, and your highest scores are then uploaded to the online leaderboards for a more competitive edge.
However, you may recall that my biggest problem in my
several months ago was the controls. The disconnect between the physical movements (the trombone slider requires you to move forward and backward) and the screens notes was initially a problem. This was my initial thought, but it turned out that it would get better over time. The ‘Classic Mode’ is an option which allows you to play the game in one lane. This makes it feel like Trombone Champ. Double Mode makes better use of the 3D environment, but it’s a welcome alternative if you’re struggling to keep focus between two lanes at once.
Quest 3 screenshots taken by UploadVR
There’s also mixed reality support that lets you place the concert hall in your play space. Trombone Champ doesn’t require any physical movements beyond what you can do with the motion controls. MR therefore isn’t necessary for games that have you running into objects nearby or hitting your walls. It’s still a good idea for those who like to play in their living rooms. The game is not overly complex, but it’s a good way to motivate you to keep practicing. It’s getting quite tiresome to clear all of these challenges in order to reach the final boss. I am currently around 50 from completion. If you don’t like to complete challenges, the other modes are also very replayable. You can choose freely from the selection of mostly classic tracks in Free Play, from old-time favorites like When The Saints go Marching In and unusual modern styles like Ska. Even when I butcher songs like Night on Bald Mountain, my terrible rendition proves that I still laugh. The Improv mode is another way of freely trying out new ideas. Clearing songs will earn you Toots, which is the currency in the game that can be used to buy new collectible cards. Cards are used to unlock new trombones, and all differences are cosmetic. Between decorating the trombones with paint and physically holding the cards is a great touch, and it’s clear the developers got creative with officially adapting this for VR.impressionsQuest 3 screenshots taken by UploadVR
Looking back at my Gamescom demo, it’s clear that I needed more time with Trombone Champ: Unflattened to better appreciate what’s being offered here. Rarely is a game that makes me laugh at my mistakes. It’s an excellent debut from Flat2VR Studios, and I am still enjoying it after 5 hours. The
Trombone Champ: Unflattened game is now available for $15. It’s also on
and
.
.