"One Hand Clapping" distributed by THQ Nordic and Handy Games for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PCs and smartphones. This is a 2D puzzle action game where you use the voice of the player to move objects, create scaffolding, and solve various gimmicks.
advertisementWhen the short demo version was released in 2018, this work quickly became popular among overseas YouTubers. In Japan, a live video of popular voice actor Natsuki Hanae challenging the game while saying various lines with beautiful voice became a hot topic, so many of you may be familiar with it.
In reviewing this time, I played the switch version. To play the switch version, you need a 3.5mm 4-pole stereo mini plug (CTIA standard) microphone or headset, so make sure you have the equipment before downloading. I have pulled out the earphones with a microphone that I used to use on my smartphone.
A list of compatible microphone / headset products is available on the official website of "One Hand Clapping", so you should check it out.
"One Hand Clapping" Nintendo e-shop site "One Hand Clapping" PS Store site "One Hand Clapping One Hand Clapping" Microsoft Store site "One Hand Clapping One Hand Clapping" Steam site "One" "Hand Clapping One Hand Clapping" Download on the App Store "One Hand Clapping One Hand Clapping" Download on Google Play "One Hand Clapping One Hand Clapping" Official WebsiteAn adventurous journey to resist the darkness and bring the light back to the world
When you start the game, you will see a pitch-black screen and the words "Let's sing ...". While groping, I tried to say "Ah", and a black object wriggles, and a dark city emerges from the darkness. Many gazes staring at the hero in the center of the screen. This pitch-black world is ...
There is almost no explanation as to where to go or what to do. Since I had only the previous knowledge of "a game that makes a voice", when I read the introduction of the site again ... "The power of darkness" silence "forbids people to sing and the city is surrounded by darkness. I did. Let's get rid of the darkness with your singing voice and bring the light back to the city. "Ah, I see, the purpose of the adventure is to save the world surrounded by darkness with the singing voice of the player.
So, I switch my mind and go through the darkness. Then, I couldn't move forward because I hit an obstacle (or rather, it was dark and I couldn't see it well).
At this point, I quietly uttered, "Why?" However, this is a big hint to move on. By chance, I found a gimmick that responded to my voice. So, when I immediately said "Ah", the surroundings became brighter and there were no obstacles.
As the game progresses, the gimmick gradually becomes difficult with action elements, but just by saying "Ah" toward the gimmick, what kind of voice should be made, how the gimmick moves, Mysteriously, I can see how to solve it.
Yes, "it can be solved by repeating trial and error". This is one of the charms of this work. After all, this work is one straight road. There is no concept of having to take a treasure chest, neither the time limit nor the game over.
In addition, when playing, you will continue to speak for a long time, and there is a possibility that you will pick up a little noise around you with the microphone, so we recommend an environment where you can be alone.
When I turned on the air conditioner during play, the microphone picked up the sound of the wind coming out of the balloon, and the sound was constantly reacting. In that case, change the sensitivity of the microphone from the setting menu.
By the way, since I was learning vocal music, I have some confidence in vocalization, but even so, when I perform actions such as moving or jumping while making a voice, I make higher and lower sounds. I often concentrate on the operation and raise my voice so much that I scream when I notice it. If that happens, the range will become more and more blurred and it will be difficult to solve the gimmick, so if you find it difficult to solve, you may want to change the range from the setting menu as well.
As an aside, I thought that the game could be played with something other than my own voice, so I put my smartphone near the microphone and played while making sounds with the piano app. Of course, I was able to play, but there are many scenes where I make sounds while taking action, so it is difficult to operate at the same time. After all the strongest weapon is your own voice! La la la la ~ ♪
The important thing is the length and pitch of the sound, and the tempo.
Before starting the game in earnest, let's write down the impression about the "sound" that is the key to this work. What I found a little difficult was the scene of making a scaffolding with the difference in pitch of the sound.
Of course, it is not necessary to put out the pitch with the exact pitch of "Dremi Fasolaside ~ ♪ Doshira Sofa Milled ~ ♪", and it is okay with the simple image of "adding intonation".
For example, it's okay if you say "Iyooo ⤴!" Like Kabuki, or "Nya-Oh!" Like a cat's bark, with the feeling that it is higher or lower than the first sound you made. .. Please note that the important thing is not the "strength" of the sound but the "high and low" of the sound.
It's also ant to say your favorite special move name, such as "You are ah !!", "Try to be attacked by me !!", or "The criminal is you ah !!". Speaking of immersiveness, you can enjoy the game from a different angle.
In the demo version released in 2018, the microphone responded to each word of the line, and the scaffolding appeared as a complicated waveform, but in this work, the scaffolding becomes unexpectedly straight even if you speak the words. For example, here is the scaffolding when you say "The criminal is you !!".
However, it is better to stretch one sound firmly than to speak a line, which is a beautiful scaffolding. Oh yeah, when you say a line, be careful because you may be worried by the neighbors if you get hot and loud.
Also, as the game progresses, it is important to make sounds that are far apart, such as "Domisodo ~ ♪", or to take rhythms such as "Do ~~~ Remi ~ ♪", and to make sounds in a timely manner. It may take some technique, but there is a model sound hidden in the game, so let's refer to it.
It's okay if the song is sloppy!Sing your own song
Now let's get back to the game.
Compared to the demo version, this work has evolved in a very beautiful form and color of characters and objects. The action elements have become stubborn, and inspiration is needed to solve the gimmick, so even those who played the previous work should be able to play with a new feeling.
The beginning of the game is "Silent City", a city surrounded by darkness. It's a dark world as if darkness dominates. The flowing BGM is also terrifying, and the black wriggling shadow seems to be an exhausted human being living in modern society.
The difficulty level is easy at the beginning, so it is important to say "Ah" and proceed, and if there is a gimmick that reacts, touch it and get used to the game. As mentioned above, there is no time limit or game over, so let's proceed without fear of failure.
When you pass through the clock tower, there is light in the distance. Is it the rising sun or the setting sun? When I was vague, darkness suddenly appeared and the hero was swallowed ...
The next stage is "Duet Dessert". The colors of the rocks and cacti on the scaffolding are beautiful in the pale violet sky, which is similar in color to the glittering purple sand. Friends who will adventure together will also appear, and every time you solve the gimmick, they will react, so the lonely adventure will be lively at once!
In this stage, there are many scenes where the gimmick is solved by adding inflection to the sound or playing the instructed melody. If you make a mistake, you can reset it, and you can start over again, so don't rush.
While saying "don't rush", the writer hurriedly made strange noises and hit the obstacles in the scene of avoiding the obstacles at the end of this stage and chasing after them. I was swallowed by the darkness. Tohoho. The game wasn't over and I was able to start over from just before, so I was able to move forward little by little, which was helpful.
In addition, a variety of stages such as "Mountain of Maestro" aiming at the top of the mountain where a sense of rhythm is important, and "Forest of Fugue" of a mysterious forest playing a melody will appear.
The important thing is to sing your own song, like the word "sing your song" that appears in the promotion video of this work. The goodness of the song has nothing to do with advancing the game, so let's say it as you like. I want you to challenge again and again to bring back the light to this world.