DEEMO -Reborn- Review for PlayStation 4

Beautiful, heartwarming, and just a little bit creepy. Rayark Inc. has reincarnated their classic rhythm title, DEEMO, into the sensory spectacular, DEEMO -REBORN- for PS4.

This musical puzzle/quasi-open world is sure to steal your attention, as well as your heart, for hours on end. This DEEMO revamp offers two modes: normal TV mode and VR mode, if you wish to take this stunning experience to a whole new level.

For those of you who are not familiar with the original or would not say no to a refresher—the original DEEMO revolves around a lost little girl who is taken in by a seemingly spooky, yet sweet, eponymous character. Through instrumentals and lyrics on the piano, the two work together to enchant a little tree into growing big enough to send her back home. DEEMO -REBORN- follows this exact model, but with grander visual evocations and more exploration opportunities.

I fail to conjure up any mechanical complaints or fundamental criticisms. Gameplay is smooth, loading screens are brief, and any potential bugs crept past my discerning eye. Puzzles are varied, interesting, and fair in their level of difficulty. The environment design and color palette are absolute perfection. Graphics are creamy and glassy—like an oil painting with a hint of ethereal whimsy.

The layout of the piano buttons is not necessarily congruent with the PlayStation controller setup. It would be appreciated if the control markers did not disappear after the tutorial, so I highly recommend memorizing them. You can always return to the settings menu and ‘View Controls’ if you get confused. The good news with the controls is that you can select the layout of the buttons—albeit you only have two choices and their differences are minimal.

I must give praise to the musical scores. One would expect quality music from a rhythm title, but what DEEMO -REBORN- gifts the ears with is nothing short of exceptional. Be whisked away into somber serenity with dreamy instrumental arrangements, jam along to catchy pop tunes, and embrace your sentimentality with emotional ballads.

This title incorporates everything the genre should be and makes it interesting to a variety of audiences. Rhythm games are a fairly niche market, but DEEMO -REBORN-  has enough of an open world component to add a layer of depth to what was originally a phone game. I say Rayark Inc. has done a fantastic job mastering this unique title. Whether or not you played the first one, definitely add this to your gaming library.

Also, fun fact—a feature film adaption of this title is scheduled for release in 2020. If it contains even a fraction of the music and shadowy tone, I anticipate a positive delight.

Rating: 8/10

Check Out the DEEMO -REBORN-  Video:

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