Project Heartbeat is the ultimate cute community-driven rhythm game, featuring music from top artists of the Eurobeat genre made popular by the Initial D anime and manga.
Players praise the game's technical excellence, with the custom-built Shinobu audio engine providing excellent performance, low latency, and preventing de-synchronization issues. Reviewers report the game feeling highly responsive and smooth, even on lower-end hardware like the Steam Deck.
One of the key strengths of the gameplay is the depth and customization options it offers. The game includes a powerful, user-friendly editor that allows players to create and share their own song charts with the community. This enables a near-infinite library of content, as players can import charts from other games like Project Diva and Mega Mix+. Additionally, the game offers extensive customization options, such as the ability to customize button sounds, user interface, and even use background videos for songs.
The game is praised for its wide range of controller and input device support, including compatibility with devices like the Gamo2 Divaller controller used in the Project Diva series. This makes the gameplay highly accessible for players who are already familiar with the control schemes from other rhythm games in the genre. The game also includes features like an automatic video downloader and the ability to import modded charts from other games, further enhancing the accessibility and ease of use for players.
A significant aspect of the gameplay is the community-driven nature of the game. The Steam Workshop integration allows players to easily discover, download, and play custom charts created by the community, providing an ever-expanding library of content. Many reviewers highlight the welcoming and supportive nature of the community, which is seen as a major asset for the gameplay experience.
For players familiar with the Project Diva series, the game is often praised as a worthy alternative or even a superior option in certain aspects. The focus on community-created content and the technical improvements over the Project Diva games, such as better performance and lower latency, make the gameplay an attractive choice for rhythm game enthusiasts.
While the majority of reviews are overwhelmingly positive, some players note that the community-driven nature of the game can also lead to a higher proportion of challenging or low-quality custom charts, potentially creating a barrier for newcomers to the genre. Additionally, the lack of in-game tutorials may be a concern for those unfamiliar with rhythm game mechanics.