Z-I-v Summer Contest 2020

Ah! Leah! (_|/-\43D)
The rhythm choices throughout the Heavy chart felt too random at times and a tad too overstepped. Especially for a song like this. The standard chart is okay, nothing wrong with it. Though both charts seem to end abruptly. Maybe a bit off-sync?

All in You (vincentw)
The scroll gimmicks, while a cute way to spice up a file, it kind of makes the song feel like it drags on a bit too long. The steps are good, however. Though, like chewi said, I would suggest extending the freeze at b33.5 to maybe a b35 or b34.75 so it feels like it goes to the song a bit more.

B Who I Want 2 B (chewi)
I think the steps absolutely fit to accommodate the production. Not too difficult, yet not too simple. A nice balance. A slight nitpick, but I feel like the video isn’t exactly in sync with the song (and I don’t if it’s due to the offset for #BGCHANGES or if that’s how the video was cut to be in similar length), but that’s not related to the steps. Top notch steps here.

Cave Me In (DigitalBasic)
Nice to see the different sections stepped in the Heavy chart. Pretty fun steps. One minor complaint would be that I feel the steps could’ve gone along to the production a bit more during the triplet section (b164 to b190).

Dead Soul (Daffa)
Nice to see you back, mate. The three charts I played (Standard, Heavy and Challenge) are genuinely fun to play through. I especially appreciate the spins in Standard as a way to spice up the song. Would’ve liked to see a long hold note when the first drop ends in the Challenge chart at least, but that’s a minor nitpick. Overall, very good charts.

EPIC (Pika-Vix)
Good lord, the 16th streams at the beginning of the heavy chart was brutal. Not a fan of that. The rest of the chart was fine, though it definitely feels like a 15, not a 14. I did play the standard chart out of curiosity, but honestly, it feels understepped at times. Especially during the ending and intro portions of the chart. And I think some of the notes don’t match to the song in the Standard chart?

F/E/D/R (I Don’t Care) (TonyAkita)
It’s okay. Not much to say about it. I do appreciate the slight charting differences between Heavy and Challenge.

Fly you to the star (t7r)
The steps are cute. I like it, overall. The ending kind of threw me off a bit, but I don’t hate it.

Gate One (ledgam3r)
I really like it. Both the Standard and Heavy charts. The stops are a nice addition to the simfile and the jumps at the beginning are just a blast to hit the notes. No complaints here.

Get Your Wish (Czery)
Oh boy. Where do I start? Considering I stepped this song as well in a recent contest before this one, I expected at least some differences between mine and this one. I appreciate the effort in here, but it feels offsync. The Challenge chart was overstepped. The stop, I feel, wasn’t necessary and, while I appreciate the speed gimmicks in this one (much like being underwater), it felt like you just stopped using it near the end of the first chorus. The Heavy chart is the biggest offender for me. The steps don’t even go to the song most of the time, the mines in this one (I feel) should’ve gone with the ticks, and the chart’s not even finished (like about 3 measures before it actually finishes like the Challenge chart).

HiT! HiT! HiT! (CLOUDIO)
The chart’s alright. Not much to say about it, to be honest.

Like It! (DDRDAIKENKAI)
Much like the song title describes, I like it. There’s a nice balance between stepping the vocals and the instrumental. The patterning in this one is also good.

Make It Werk (dj VERTICAI)
Patterning is pretty clean. The rhythm choices make sense to the song. The song itself felt it went on a bit too long, but I think the steps are pretty good in this one.

Now A New Day (mathio124)
Now this is absolutely an improvement from your first file. I enjoyed this one. The patterning is definitely improved and makes sense to the song. Only thing I would’ve liked to see is there should be steps that complement to the kicks during the long hold note section (b204 to b227.5) and perhaps end it with two hold notes at b271.

Quon (marten)
Not really a fan of boss level charts (I usually like to play charts rated at 10-15 on X-Scale), but I can see why this song warrants for it. It’s also very good with how the steps and patterning mesh with the song. And the half-BPM sections are a welcome addition and fit to this. Bonus points for stepping a variety of different sounds in this one.

Rise Up (Silver Spirit)
Pretty enjoyable chart. Would’ve like to see some sections that go a half the BPM and maybe throw in a couple of rolls into it, but I can see why it wasn’t needed. The only problem I have with it is that the in the section m22-23, it seems like the first half doesn’t completely go to the instrumental and only in the second half it does. Just turn that section into a stream of 16th notes and it’ll be an improvement.

Set Me Free (Pandy X)
Very fun Standard and Heavy charts. Do like the stop usage in this one, though the last two threw me off a bit. The patterning in both charts feel distinct and has some nice similarities and differences between them.

Sing For You (ian)
The song felt pretty short, but the steps aren’t bad. Hell, it’s pretty fun. It has a nice flow and variety to it. Perhaps a 13 would be a more appropriate rating for Challenge, but that’s a minor nitpick for me.

The Blue (talkion)
A little bit surprised that there are mines near the end of the Challenge chart, though I guess that’s what the warps were used for. Really, the charts in this are pretty good. I like the steps and how it varies with the different sounds in this song. I especially love how it ends in each of the charts. Feels like a nice descent to the end of the song.

TO THE CLUB (tamtamino)
Would’ve started the chart when the vocals kicked in at measure 4, but honestly it was really fun to play through the song. Steps feel appropriate and retain the classic DDR patterning and rhythm motifs in this one.

Toy (Oni-91)
Funnily enough, I did have a WIP of this song and honestly considered finishing that one up to submit in this one, but I decided to go with another song. The intro did throw me off, mainly because that’s not how I remember the song goes lol. That has nothing to do with the steps, though. The steps are really fun and it flows nicely. Nothing else to say about it, really.

Yeah Oh Ahh Oh! (DJXYZ)
It’s alright. Felt pretty repetitive, but that’s just the nature of the song, so I can’t complain too much about it. The last stop was really evil, though. Don’t really have any problems with the two other stops, those are fine. Honestly, if you just end of with a long hold note and perhaps another note at the end of the hold note instead of a long stop, it would elevate the charts more.