Trombone Champ: Unflattened
| Trombone Champ: Unflattened | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Developer | Flat2VR Studios, Holy Wow Studios |
| Publisher | Flat2VR Studios |
| Platform | SteamVR, Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2 |
| Device | Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, PlayStation VR2, PC VR headsets |
| Operating System | Windows, PlayStation 5 |
| Type | Game |
| Genre | Rhythm, Comedy, Indie |
| Input Device | Tracked motion controllers |
| Play Area | Standing, seated |
| Game Mode | Single-player |
| Release Date | November 26, 2024 |
| Price | US $14.99 |
| App Store | Steam, Meta Quest Store, PlayStation Store |
| Website | https://flat2vrstudios.com/projects/trombone-champ-unflattened/ |
Trombone Champ: Unflattened is a virtual reality rhythm game developed by Flat2VR Studios in partnership with Holy Wow Studios, the creator of the original 2022 flatscreen game Trombone Champ. It was released on November 26, 2024 for SteamVR and PC VR headsets, Meta Quest (Quest 2, 3, and 3S), and PlayStation VR2 at a price of US $14.99.[1][2][3] Players mime a trombone with two tracked motion controllers, holding the instrument to the mouth with one hand and working the slide with the other to match notes scrolling across the screen.[4][5]
The game was the debut release of Flat2VR Studios, a studio formed in 2024 to produce official VR conversions of existing flatscreen titles.[6] It won the "Excellence in VR Adaptation" award in Road to VR's Best VR Games of 2024.[7]
Background
The original Trombone Champ was released for Windows on September 15, 2022 by the American studio Holy Wow Studios, directed by Dan Vecchitto.[8] In it, players use a virtual trombone to play along to public-domain and licensed tunes, moving the mouse to set pitch and clicking to toot. The game went viral after clips circulated online, climbing the Steam charts, and it later received nominations for the British Academy Games Award for Debut Game and a D.I.C.E. Award for Family Game of the Year.[8][9] Holy Wow later ported the flatscreen game to macOS, Nintendo Switch, and (on the same day as the VR version) PlayStation 5.[8]
Holy Wow is not a VR developer, which is where Flat2VR Studios came in.[7] Flat2VR Studios grew out of a community of modders who had built unofficial VR mods for flatscreen games. An unauthorized VR mod called BaboonVR appeared within weeks of the original game's launch, made by the modder known as Raicuparta, whom the studio confirmed it would partner with when Flat2VR Studios was announced.[6] The official VR adaptation was announced on August 15, 2024 for a fall launch on Quest, Steam, and PSVR2.[6]
Gameplay
Trombone Champ: Unflattened keeps the structure of the original rhythm game but replaces mouse-and-click control with physical motion. The player holds a virtual trombone, bringing it to the mouth with one hand and extending or retracting the slide with the other to reach the correct pitch as a note chart scrolls past.[5][4] Notes can be configured to approach from both sides at once or from a single side, the latter staying closer to the original game's single-lane layout.[4]
There is no fail state. A song plays to completion regardless of missed notes, and the on-screen audience reacts to poor playing without stopping the performance.[5] Scoring uses letter ranks with a combo multiplier for accurate runs.[4] The base game shipped with over 50 tracks, a count the developers said would grow through post-launch updates, and Steam lists more than 58 tracks with additional downloadable song packs.[2][1]
Players collect more than 25 trombone designs, several with novelty sounds such as a cat trombone that meows and a pool-noodle variant.[2][1] The game also includes 50 collectible Tromboner Cards (a feature carried over from the original), a campaign mode with unlockable challenges, online leaderboards, and 30 Steam achievements.[1] UploadVR's coverage described the mode set as including a Classic mode close to the original, a two-lane Double mode, a Free Play track selector, an Improv mode, and the campaign.[4]
Release
| Platform | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SteamVR / PC VR | November 26, 2024 | SteamVR or Oculus PC; US $14.99[1] |
| Meta Quest (2, 3, 3S) | November 26, 2024 | US $14.99 on the Meta Quest Store[2] |
| PlayStation VR2 | November 26, 2024 | Requires PSVR2; uses both Sense controllers[3] |
The release coincided with Holy Wow's own PlayStation 5 port of the original flatscreen Trombone Champ; the VR title is a separate product built by Flat2VR Studios.[8][2]
Reception
On Steam the game holds a "Very Positive" rating, with 97% of 88 user reviews positive.[1] Road to VR reported user scores of 4.9 out of 5 on Quest (251 ratings), 100% positive on PC VR (43 ratings), and 4.9 out of 5 on PSVR2 (120 ratings) shortly after launch, calling the early reception a good sign for the port-focused studio.[10] Push Square scored the PSVR2 version 8 out of 10.[3] Engadget's hands-on called it "wildly fun and easily one of the most delightful gaming experiences of 2024" and recommended it as a VR introduction.[5]
Road to VR named Trombone Champ: Unflattened the winner of its "Excellence in VR Adaptation" award for 2024, describing it as the first of several planned official ports from Flat2VR Studios.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Trombone Champ: Unflattened on Steam". 2024-11-26. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3151670/Trombone_Champ_Unflattened/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Trombone Champ: Unflattened Brings Absurd Rhythm Game Antics to Meta Quest Today". 2024-11-26. https://www.meta.com/blog/trombone-champ-unflattened-meta-quest-vr/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Trombone Champ: Unflattened (2024) PS5 / PSVR2 Game". 2024-11-26. https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps5/trombone_champ_unflattened.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Trombone Champ: Unflattened Is An Absurdly Funny VR Rhythm Game". 2024-11-26. https://www.uploadvr.com/trombone-champ-unflattened-full-release/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Trombone Champ in VR is some of the most ridiculous fun I've had all year". 2024-11-26. https://www.engadget.com/gaming/trombone-champ-in-vr-is-some-of-the-most-ridiculous-fun-ive-had-all-year-161811221.html.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Trombone Champ: Unflattened Is One Of Flat2VR Studios' First Licenced VR Ports". 2024-08-15. https://www.uploadvr.com/trombone-champ-vr-announcement/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "The Best VR Games of 2024 - Our Game of the Year Picks". 2024-12-31. https://www.roadtovr.com/best-vr-games-2024-awards-quest-3-pc-psvr-2/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Trombone Champ". 2026-06-16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombone_Champ.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ "Well-received Release of 'Trombone Champ' Bodes Well for Port-focused VR Studio". 2024-11-27. https://www.roadtovr.com/trombone-champ-release-flat2vr-studios/.