Beat Blast
- August 25, 2021
- Woolly Walrus Games
- 9h median play time
VR Rhythm fitness with an old school arcade fighter aesthetic.
Get on Steam"Beat Blast" is a rhythm-based bullet hell roguelite where you create your own abilities through music. Fight against big bosses, unlock items, and try to escape the MIDIverse, a virus-ridden technical realm with a soundtrack generated by you. Compete against other players in weekly high score and speedrun competitions, and see how far you can go with your own beats. No two runs are the same, offering a unique musical journey every time.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of music and bullet hell mechanics, allowing players to create their own soundtracks while battling enemies.
- The gameplay is engaging and addictive, with a satisfying progression system that encourages experimentation with different note combinations and builds.
- The minimalist art style and simple graphics enhance the gameplay experience, making it easy to focus on dodging and shooting without visual clutter.
- The game suffers from repetitiveness, with many runs feeling similar and lacking enough variety in enemies and levels to keep players engaged long-term.
- There are numerous bugs and issues that have not been addressed, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, including run-breaking glitches and unresponsive controls.
- The lack of meaningful content updates and the feeling of being abandoned by the developers have left players disappointed, as the game does not seem to evolve or improve over time.
- music196 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a unique blend of customizable soundtracks that enhances the gameplay experience, allowing players to create their own tunes while engaging in combat. While some players appreciate the chill and immersive nature of the music, others feel it lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of repetitiveness over time. Overall, the integration of music into the roguelike mechanics is praised as innovative, though there are calls for more diverse musical options and a stronger impact on gameplay.
“The music is fantastic and adds to the atmosphere.”
“The fact that you are building a song as you progress is amazing and such a brilliant idea for a game of this style.”
“It's a unique blend of bullet hell + roguelite + music that seamlessly works.”
“The music gimmick is neat but never sounds like more than a high-schooler's garage band project; it can still be appreciated for the unique spin it gives to combat.”
“I think for a game centered around music, this is a small letdown, a missed opportunity to create fantastic soundtracks that play along your carnage, but I guess the dev wanted to keep it simple to make single notes stand out more.”
“First off, the music has virtually no impact on the game other than the speed at which you shoot.”
- gameplay64 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a unique blend of rhythm, roguelike mechanics, and bullet hell elements, offering smooth and dynamic interactions that keep players engaged. While the core mechanics are praised for their fun and addictive nature, some players find the experience repetitive over time, particularly due to limited levels and enemy health balance. Overall, the game is seen as fresh and innovative, with potential for growth through updates, though some feel it could benefit from a lower price point to enhance accessibility.
“Beat Blast combines music, rogue-like mechanics, and bullet hell in a nice little package.”
“I've never seen a game in the roguelite genre before that managed to incorporate musical elements so well into strategy, combat, and overall gameplay.”
“The gameplay is super smooth, fluid, and dynamic, all while being serenaded with funky music.”
“The main mechanic of the game is fine, but once you understand how it works, the game becomes very repetitive and most runs feel the exact same, especially at the start.”
“The whole gameplay is just not really satisfying; enemies have way too much health compared to other roguelike titles like Nova Drift, and the visuals and music are just mediocre.”
“Last but not least, the length of the runs themselves is an issue; currently, only having 4 levels and charging a rather large sum (for an indie) of roughly 10€ seems like a bad idea. The developers should have made the base game itself cheaper, around 5€, and then charged for level add-ons down the line to allow players to experience the base game, get hooked, and then buy into more levels which would diversify the gameplay.”
- graphics33 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and simplistic art style that many players find charming and easy to navigate, particularly in the context of a bullet hell roguelike. While some appreciate the clean visuals and how they enhance gameplay, others criticize the graphics as basic or subpar, suggesting that they may lose their appeal over time. Overall, the aesthetic is generally well-received for its cuteness and clarity, though opinions vary on its depth and variety.
“Art style is really great, it does a lot with a simplistic style.”
“One of my favorite roguelikes of all time, very well made and the visuals are beautiful!”
“Secondly, the art style, it's simple, it's cute, and I've never felt visually overwhelmed, which, in a bullet hell like roguelike, is really appreciated.”
“Visuals lose their appeal very fast.”
“Atrocious artstyle.”
“Tldr; overall I just found it way too slow, has subpar graphics and there's not a huge variety in weapons and enemies.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be significant, as many achievements and unlocks require repetitive gameplay, leading to early runs feeling monotonous. While the game eventually offers more variation, the initial grind can be tedious, especially with the high difficulty level and the time-consuming travel between cleared areas. Overall, the grind is seen as a necessary but frustrating part of the experience.
“It is a little grindy to get unlocks for run variation (not a lot of run varying options unlocked at default), makes early runs feel very samey - but once you get there the variation is decent.”
“Despite the casual look, the difficulty is just off the chart; I can't even beat level 3 without some serious grinding.”
“Especially when a lot of the time is spent traveling from one cleared room to the next, which becomes very tedious.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is considered moderate, with some players noting that while it offers satisfying meta progression, it lacks the depth found in other roguelikes at a similar price. Updates have improved its replay value, making it more enjoyable over time, but there are concerns about the potential for future content. Overall, it provides enough content to justify its price, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking extensive replayability.
“It gets more replayable and enjoyable with each update, and the gameplay is fluid, fun, and not too cluttered with random projectiles.”
“Overall, I love this little game; it's a very good roguelike. Even if it sometimes feels mediocre, it still has some fun elements in it. Replayability is surprisingly not too bad.”
“I would also like to comment on its replayability: while it always feels satisfying unlocking meta progression, there isn't a lot.”
“There is enough content to validate the price, but it lacks the true replayability of other roguelikes in the same price range.”
“I bought this game while it was fairly new; it didn't have much replayability then.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, with many players noting that it does not provide a compelling narrative or motivation to progress. Instead, the focus is primarily on gameplay mechanics, making it more suitable for those who enjoy roguelikes and rhythm games rather than story-driven experiences. Overall, it appeals to players looking for fun gameplay rather than a rich narrative.
“There is barely any story and the game focuses on gameplay alone.”
“I liked this game, I enjoyed it, but I didn't bother beating it or getting too far since it didn't strike much motivation or urge in me to do so. There's no compelling story, so you can play without having to delve into lore to understand what's happening.”
“There is barely any story and the game focuses on gameplay alone.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging blend of dark themes and contrasting music, which immerses players and enhances the overall experience. Many players find themselves lost in the game's world, captivated by its concept and ambiance, despite some concerns about the high difficulty level. Overall, the atmospheric elements significantly contribute to the game's appeal.
“A fun roguelike, Beat Blast is one of those games that you throw a pair of headphones on and simply forget the concept of time, at least until you realize you lost track of it and today has become tomorrow... the music contrasts nicely with the dark atmospheric theme, the light of you, the player, pitted against your enemies; a quite literal display of light and dark.”
“The music is fantastic and adds to the atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express that the game amplifies feelings of inadequacy and disappointment regarding their performance, leading to a heightened sense of frustration and emotional distress.
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization is lacking, leading to frustration among players who feel their performance is negatively impacted by technical issues. This has resulted in a diminished gaming experience, exacerbating feelings of inadequacy.
