Take A Voice-Driven Journey Through A World of Symphony in One Hand Clapping
Discovering one’s voice is not an easy task. One Hand Clapping, a voice-driven 2D platformer from Bad Dream Games and HandyGames, can inspire almost anyone with confidence. In this adventure, your voice is your most powerful asset. Sing or hum the way forward, removing obstacles with the right notes. Build your confidence with vocal training, even if you are new to the experience.
Before beginning anything, I quickly realized that hitting the notes required messing with the settings in the pause menu. Under settings, look for “range calibration.” Spend some time practicing with these notes. It will make the vocal sequences much easier. And you’ll be able to brag that you know your vocal range. Had I not been aware the game was voice-driven, I wouldn’t have thought to explore that part of the menu. After doing so, however, the game felt much smoother.
Playing through the game, I quickly realized there wasn’t much of a written story. While the visuals keep one’s eyes entertained, the game leaves the story up to a little interpretation. The main point, it seems, is to sing away the demons that are giving chase.
I can’t say that I’ve experienced anything similar to One Hand Clapping. It was an interesting adventure, using my voice as both a puzzle-solving tool and a defense mechanism. Finding the right path, though, can be a struggle, even with a magical voice. If playing an instrument is more your speed, dust off the mic stand and have at it. Having studied the basics of piano, I felt right at home. Vocals, however, are a whole other story. Practicing vocally is important so that one doesn’t strain their throat. One must have a warm-up session before dedicating their time to the routine.
Using one’s voice to sing away darkness was interesting. One Hand Clapping conveys the message that simply singing can brighten the world around you.
One Hand Clapping is certainly an entertaining adventure. While there’s no written dialogue or omnipotent narrator, the music and environment weave a beautiful story together. Like the cartoon Samurai Jack, the game’s art is presented without black outlines.
Just when I thought this was a solo adventure, I was greeted by a motherly bird. She became my instructor for a great deal of the game. And I’m genuinely glad she came about. Because without her, there was no way I was advancing through any level. It did a lot to relieve the sense of loneliness first presented in the game.
No level I encountered was traditionally ‘easy’ to get through. Throughout the title, I was chased by what appeared to be a shadowy tentacled mass. This shadowy figure provided a nice element of danger. And it ensured I recognized the notes I needed if I wanted to survive. If the notes weren’t hit just right, at the proper speed, I was completely done for. Walking through the level wasn’t too fun. No ability to jog through the stage seemed present. While it wasn’t a huge bother, I can see it bothering other people enough to stop playing it.
The majority of the game is voice-driven. But it isn’t the only thing that I had to practice. In addition to singing, I had to follow certain rhythmic patterns. The rhythm section for One Hand Clapping was a tad frustrating. Whenever I hit the wrong pattern, it was back to the starting point.
Aside from having to repeat patterns, the large ‘drum people’ giggled at my mistakes. It was initially a point of frustration, but I eventually began to laugh. It was a good way to break up the repetitive pattern of practice. And it wasn’t so bad that I wanted to quit playing.
It was unexpected, but I loved the addition of a rhythm section. Drums are almost alien to me, but this section gave me a little more understanding of the instrument.
This section also provided some awesome environmental details. Bridges could be built in sections by singing the note, abruptly stopping, and then continuing. Drastically changing the pitch of the note would create some wild-looking traversal structures.
While One Hand Clapping does provide practice, it’s simple compared to what musicians practice. It’s also important to practice with the “do, re, mi” scale. Just like working out, I’d recommend a lengthy warm-up session before starting the game. It was easy to understand, and eventually, I became adept enough to continue through the story.
I found that if I did not warm up beforehand, I would end up feeling light-headed. One of the most important parts of vocals is proper breath control. Breath control practice can simply be done by using the settings to figure out one’s range. If I found myself struggling, I would take a few minutes to check my range.
One Hand Clapping is probably the first game of its kind I have encountered. I’ve played other games that required just a mic to play. But no title has come close to using a system as this title does. It would be fascinating to see the game used as a teaching tool.
Combined with a structured music class, I think the game might be an excellent study tool for students.
One Hand Clapping is the first project released by Bad Dream Games. What the game sets out to do, it accomplishes. And it does so extremely well. The team that worked on this deserves a great deal of praise. Other than a handful of minute criticisms, I have nothing negative to say about it.
As a puzzle-platformer, the game has the potential to attract many new players. Some of the achievements are also easy to get. So if you’re looking for something to easily increase your gamerscore, this might be it. Those who are into super casual games should steer clear.
Since the game was just released recently, there are likely still improvements to come. Subscribe to their newsletter and keep up-to-date on future developments.
One Hand Clapping is available on Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 4. Don’t forget to check out our other game reviews. And take a look at our news section to stay up-to-date on all things gaming.
