How far are you willing to go to prove this is a one button rhythm game?

[trapinch]

After playing a bunch of levels in the workshop, I found myself having to use not only both my hands, but also multiple fingers on each hand at times. It was at this point I thought to myself "wait, isn't this supposed to be a one button rhythm game?"

So I challenged myself to play and beat as many official levels as I could using only one button. For me this also meant one finger, as I use the JKL keys on my right hand, but the space bar is big enough to be used with both hands if needed. But that's baby mode and you're not a baby, right?

The first few worlds

Obviously the first few worlds are some of the easiest you'll encounter.

Worlds 1, 2, and 4 are so simple a child could do it.

World 3 picks up the pace but still easy.

World 5 has some sharp bends, but otherwise you should still be okay.

Nothing too hard, so no need to sweat yet.

Stepping it up

After the first 5 worlds, the difficulty starts steadily climbing. With practice though, it shouldn't be too hard.

Worlds 6 and 7 are almost on par with each other at a nice easy-medium.

World 8 has those sharp bends in abundance, so don't take it lightly.

World 9 introduces simple triangles, but I found it easier than world 8 due to having more square angles.

With some practice, these shouldn't be too hard to handle.

The final three

This is where it starts getting quite difficult. These levels are decently hard to begin with, so one button just adds to the difficulty.

World 10 once again has the sharp bends, but at a much faster pace. It's need to have corners at almost every section and skewed stairs scattered about everywhere, it's not unlikely to take multiple attempts at it.

World 11 may have a slower beat, but being in abundance of tri-beat turns and square loops makes it just as difficult as world 10. Not to mention the starships and square hearts near the end, just for added flavor.

World 12 is where I struggled the most, as it's littered with right triangles everywhere, from corners to climbs and everywhere in-between. The fast 3 hit of the triangles can crush you if you're not ready for them. I recommend practising just to get the timing down better.

If you managed to get this far, my hypothetical hat is off to you. These are some of the hardest levels in the game. Beating them with one button is definitely quite the feat.

Extra worlds

You thought I was done? Nope, there's still a few more to cover.

World XF is somewhat like world 6, so there shouldn't be too much of a struggle there. Just has a couple square knots here and there.

World XC is moderately fast paced, but besides the ladder section, has pretty simple patterns. You should be fine if you managed to beat at least world 9.

World XH is fast, has quick turns, and is highly distraction based. It's a level you will definitely struggle with at first. Now add on the fact you're using only one button. Yeah.

World PA is my personal favorite level, not just for the music, but design as well. It's got a slower pace to keep from overdoing yourself, but the midspins and climbing patterns keep you on your toes. It's so very well balanced, I just enjoy everything about it.

World XR has the tightest turns of any level so far, as well as having quite a few right triangles. Despite that, having a slightly slower pace makes it a bit easier to handle, but you shouldn't let that catch you off guard.

But wait, you missed some!

No I didn't. The last two worlds are extremely high difficulty, and I don't recommend doing them in this challenge.

The bonus world is insanely fast, despite its patterns not being that hard. I tried to do it, but I could barely manage with both hands when I beat it the first time. I wasn't gonna be able to do it with one button. I definitely think it could be possible, but I'm just not fast enough with one finger.

World XO, I'm not even gonna attempt to try. It's one of the fastest is the game, with insane amounts of back to back loops at the same fast pace. It took all my willpower and so many checkpoint resets to beat it the one time I did, and there was no way I could do that one button style. If you can beat this with one button, you are officially a demigod.

World XT is also extremely high difficulty, with more insane speeds and funky patterns. Maybe I've gotten better, or maybe it's just because it seems easier, but it took less overall attempts for me to beat this normally than world XO. I still don't think it's quite possible for me to do this with one button though.

Summary/level ratings

World 1: baby mode

World 2: baby mode

World 3: easy

World 4: baby mode

World 5: easy

World 6: easy-medium

World 7: easy-medium

World 8: medium-hard

World 9: medium

World 10: hard

World 11: hard

World 12: hard

World B: insane

World XF: easy-medium

World XC: medium

World XH: hard

World PA: easy-medium

World XR: medium

World XO: impossible

World XT: insane-impossible

Conclusion

Almost every level you can access on the main menu is possible to be done with just one button, as long as you believe in yourself.

This is my first community post ever so if there's formatting problems or other things that I could do to make it better, feel free to let me know

[Arras]

Since you posted this this recently, there's two more levels now! XR is hard but doable with one finger, and XT is... I think it might be more feasible than XO just because it doesn't have the super long sequence of squares near the end, but not by much, and the overall patterns are much harder. XT and XO are both doable with one button if you're not above using two fingers on the button, but then that's basically the same as using two buttons.

[Ereene]

I did the game 100% with only one button, started at launch with an arrow key on my keyboard, then switched to controller with the R1 button and to finish I now use the left mouse button. I definitely had an hard time with the bonus level the most and XO being most likely impossible with only one button, it's true that the game was supposed to be one button and I tried many times to play with 2 or more but I just can't

so yea, it is a one-button game for sure but some levels push it further away, but at least it's not the content required to get all achievement so that's okay i guess

[trapinch]

Originally posted by Arras:

Since you posted this this recently, there's two more levels now! XR is hard but doable with one finger, and XT is... I think it might be more feasible than XO just because it doesn't have the super long sequence of squares near the end, but not by much, and the overall patterns are much harder. XT and XO are both doable with one button if you're not above using two fingers on the button, but then that's basically the same as using two buttons.

Thank you for letting me know! I will try those levels and add them as soon as I can

[blueflow]

This sounded like a fun challenge that I wanted to try, so here's B-X and XT-X passed with one finger:

https://youtu.be/k3OBNOTPYZ8

https://youtu.be/DuvfpuZ4n_0

I had to use checkpoints for XT-X, but I might try to pass it without checkpoints in the future.

I tried XO-X as well just for fun, and I managed to get to 49%. I think that XO-X could be possible if you're fast enough, but it would still be incredibly difficult.

[Muri]

I completed all maps with 1 finger, except OX
I tried to complete the OX but it is really very complicated
(I just tried the XT world, and I did it, my hand is aching and shaking, I will never do it again in my life)

[Ereene]

ah yes there was a thread about difficulty that i replied to with a list i just remembered about it, can find here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/977950/discussions/0/2914346777810067469/