ADOFAI Plum - Skyscape
ADOFAI Plum Skyscape: When the Sky Starts Lying to You
Okay so I'm one of those weirdos who actually ENJOYS suffering in rhythm games. Like, the harder the better. If it doesn't make me question my life choices at least three times per session, what's even the point? So when I saw "Plum Skyscape" I was like... sky? Deception? Pain? Sign me up.
Played this with my arcade button setup because why not make things even more awkward, right? That big chonky button clicking away while I'm trying to figure out what the heck is happening on screen. The thing about Skyscape is... it lies. The visuals are pretty, sure, all sky-like and cloud-ish, but they're designed to trick you. Like, you think you're following one thing but actually you should be watching something completely different.
I was also messing around with some visual mods while playing this. You know, trying different color schemes, turning off certain effects, just... experimenting. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it makes things worse. But that's half the fun, right? Finding that sweet spot where the game becomes playable... for you.
So here I am, detective mode activated, trying to piece together what's actually important on screen and what's just... decoration. Like, that cloud pattern looks cool but does it actually mean anything? Or is it just there to distract you from the real rhythm clue?
Honestly the rotation sections are the worst. Or best? Depends on your perspective. Do you watch the little planet thing? Or the tile coming up? Or... some third point in space that doesn't even seem connected? My eyes keep jumping around and I'm pretty sure I'm developing a twitch.
Cool thing though - some tracks actually mimic the music with their shapes. Like a zigzaggy bit when there's a synth line, or a smooth curve when the bass drops. Once you notice it, it's everywhere. Or maybe I'm just imagining things after too many hours.
Learning to tell what's decoration and what's actual important geometry is like... a skill you didn't know you needed. Some stuff is just pretty. Some stuff will literally make you fail if you ignore it. Good luck figuring out which is which!
And those tracks where parts seem to break apart as you pass? So cool visually. So disorienting gameplay-wise. Like "oh nice effect" followed immediately by "wait where do I press now?"
Random thoughts while detecting: Does ADOFAI even work on multiple monitors? Like, if I have two screens, does it matter? And what ARE the big difficulty walls everyone talks about in the community? Like, which levels are the real gatekeepers? Also how do gaming journalists write about this game anyway? "It's hard but pretty"? There's gotta be more to say.
Plum Skyscape is for when you want to suffer beautifully. The sky theme is nice, the deception is real, and figuring it out feels like solving a puzzle. Just... maybe don't use a dance pad. Unless you're into that. No judgment.
Case... partially solved? Back to the crime scene for more clues.
