Beat Hazard

About

Beat Hazard is a single player and multiplayer casual shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Cold Beam Games and was released on April 15, 2010. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Beat Hazard" is an arcade-style shooter game where your music drives the gameplay experience. Each song in your collection creates a unique ebb and flow, affecting the enemies and your ship's firepower. The game offers various modes, including Survival, local 2-player versus, and co-op. Your performance can earn you 25 Steam achievements and a spot on the leaderboards. Workshop DLC is required for creating and accessing workshop content.

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,056 reviews

music1k positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Unique gameplay that combines music with twin-stick shooter mechanics, providing a fresh experience with each song.
Visually stunning with vibrant colors and effects that sync to the music, creating an engaging atmosphere.
Endless replayability as players can use their own music library, making each playthrough different.

Overwhelming visual effects can lead to discomfort and difficulty in tracking gameplay, especially for those sensitive to flashing lights.
Gameplay can become repetitive over time, as enemy patterns and challenges may not vary significantly across different songs.
Some essential features and content are locked behind paid DLC, which can be frustrating for players seeking a complete experience.

music
4,420 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
75%
2%
The music aspect of *Beat Hazard* is highly praised for its innovative integration, allowing players to use their own music libraries to create unique gameplay experiences. The game's mechanics respond dynamically to the intensity and tempo of the chosen tracks, affecting enemy behavior and weapon power, which enhances the overall excitement and replayability. However, some players note that the synchronization between music and gameplay can be inconsistent, particularly with slower songs, and the overwhelming visual effects may not be suitable for everyone, especially those sensitive to flashing lights.
- “Beat Hazard is a twin-stick shooter that merges your music library with arcade-style combat.”
- “The gameplay, enemy patterns, and weapon intensity all react to the rhythm, volume, and tempo of the track playing, turning music into an unpredictable and personal challenge.”
- “The soundtrack system is the real innovation.”
- “The biggest limitation is that its gameplay depth relies entirely on your song selection—long tracks and diverse genres create more interesting experiences than repetitive or quiet music.”
- “The music starts off almost inaudible, and only reaches acceptable volumes after 3-5 volume power-ups (which you will lose when destroyed). Even then, the sounds of your guns and the other craft exploding will completely drown out the music.”
- “The algorithm that spawns enemies based on what music you choose likewise seems a bit questionable, and many songs I tried out didn't really elicit battles that I felt fit with the rhythm of the music.”
gameplay
488 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay in "Beat Hazard" is a dynamic blend of twin-stick shooting mechanics and rhythm-based elements, where the intensity and tempo of the player's music directly influence enemy behavior and gameplay challenges. While the core mechanics are simple and reminiscent of classic arcade shooters like "Asteroids," the experience can vary significantly based on the chosen tracks, with fast-paced songs leading to more chaotic gameplay. However, some players note that the integration of music with gameplay isn't always seamless, leading to repetitive experiences if slower or less intense songs are selected. Overall, the game offers a visually stimulating and addictive experience, particularly for fans of rhythm and shooter genres.
- “The gameplay, enemy patterns, and weapon intensity all react to the rhythm, volume, and tempo of the track playing, turning music into an unpredictable and personal challenge.”
- “The core mechanic is simple: you control a small ship, shoot enemies, collect power-ups, and survive waves of attacks.”
- “Its unique gameplay and stunning visuals make it a must-play for anyone looking for a fun and challenging experience.”
- “The biggest limitation is that its gameplay depth relies entirely on your song selection—long tracks and diverse genres create more interesting experiences than repetitive or quiet music.”
- “Gameplay should be the number one priority when designing games, and in this game, it's number four or five at best.”
- “Unfortunately, there is not much for gameplay, behind all the flashing graphics.”
graphics
437 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The graphics in the game are a major highlight, featuring vibrant, psychedelic visuals that sync dynamically with the player's music, creating an intense and immersive experience. However, many players note that the visuals can be overwhelming and even distracting, with some recommending to lower the intensity to avoid discomfort or potential health risks, particularly for those with photosensitivity. Overall, while the graphics are praised for their creativity and appeal, they may not be suitable for everyone due to their chaotic nature.
- “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and explosive effects that perfectly match the music's tempo.”
- “The visuals are out of this world :D”
- “The game's aesthetic is both chaotic and beautiful, turning each level into a unique light show.”
- “Although the graphics can be quite outdated.”
- “The graphics are terrible, it's just a constant barrage of lights and colors; enemy ships are impossible to pick out from the endless nonsense.”
- “The only major issue I have with this game is that the visuals are sometimes too distracting.”
story
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
80%
7%
The game lacks a traditional narrative, with players primarily engaging in missions that revolve around shooting enemies while listening to music. While there are no story elements, the introduction of "shadow missions" and various ship upgrades adds a layer of challenge and replayability, though many players find these missions to be frustratingly difficult. Overall, the focus is on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling, making it a casual experience for those looking to enjoy music alongside arcade-style action.
- “The basic game has a good sense of progression and the DLC missions added a great deal of focused replayability.”
- “These specific missions for spaceships add to the challenge of playing this old-school shooter while enjoying the rhythm of whatever song you are playing.”
- “Now expanded even further with the shadow ops DLC, more ships to choose from, separate leaderboards for each type of ship, and a shadow mission system adding missions to complete for each ship.”
- “There is virtually no story; you are controlling a spaceship, and you have to shoot asteroids and other spaceships from a top view perspective, just like the old arcade games.”
- “Shadow missions and perk unlocking add a mild sense of progression to the game, but otherwise no storyline or plot exists.”
- “The game has no storyline whatsoever.”
replayability
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its integration with players' personal music libraries, allowing for virtually infinite gameplay experiences. Users highlight the dynamic gameplay, vibrant visuals, and the ability to play any song, which significantly enhances replay value. Overall, the game's design ensures that each session feels fresh and engaging, making it a standout choice for fans of rhythm and twin-stick shooter genres.
- “With the ability to play any song from your music collection, the game offers virtually infinite replay value.”
- “Its dynamic gameplay, stunning visuals, and endless replayability make it a must-play for fans of both twin-stick shooters and rhythm games.”
- “The ability to play practically any song in most major audio formats makes the replay value on this game virtually endless, and the 'suicidal' difficulty will present a challenge even for the most seasoned spaceship shooter-style gamers.”
- “These modes are exciting in their own way, but it feels like there aren’t too many other modes to further increase replay value.”
- “But it's rather boring without the ultra DLC, which gives you more replayability, co-op, and enemies/bosses.”
- “This game’s replayability value is similar to that of Audiosurf; it’s totally dependent on whether or not you have anything better to do.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark and absurd, often eliciting laughter through its quirky mechanics and unexpected interactions, especially when players use their own music. While some find the humor engaging and entertaining, others caution about its disorienting visuals and potential seizure risks. Overall, the game is seen as a hilarious and dynamic experience, particularly enjoyable in co-op mode.
- “Tasteless and dark humor aside, this game slaps, as the hip Gen-Z kids would say.”
- “Hilariously fun... careful if you're sensitive to flashes, though.”
- “It's just funny to play with your own music =)”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often viewed as excessively tedious and unenjoyable, with players feeling it requires an unrealistic time investment. While some appreciate the quick, casual gameplay, many find the need to grind for upgrades and resources detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding money for all the upgrades was extremely not fun.”
- “They helpfully point out 'gameplay powered by your music!', as if your taste in music is the reason this game is a boring, shitty slog of tediousness.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mix of intense feelings, with some players experiencing discomfort due to visual effects, while others find a nostalgic and engaging connection to classic arcade shooters. The game evokes a range of emotions, from queasiness to joy, highlighting its ability to create a visceral and memorable experience. Overall, it resonates with players on different emotional levels, from frustration to wholesome fun.
- “A little less simply though is that there is something about the game that makes songs more emotionally investable.”
- “Primordial, savage, pure emotional and wild.”
- “Imagine the experience of sitting really close to the TV, so close you're almost touching, for the entire time you're playing.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized for its intrusive advertising, including frequent in-game ads and promotions for DLCs that disrupt gameplay. Players feel overwhelmed by the constant reminders to purchase upgrades and bundles, likening the experience to that of a low-quality mobile game. Overall, the aggressive advertising detracts from the enjoyment of the game, overshadowing its creative aspects.
- “Played through the first level, thoroughly enjoyed progressive advertising to me for two of the three minutes I was playing.”
- “Additionally, there are a lot of advertisements for DLC stuff, on basic things like upgrading from the starting ship, online play, and the boss rush mode in single player.”
- “Stop advertising your DLC to me at every single opportunity you get; this feels like playing a mobile game.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The game is highly optimized, delivering a visually rich experience with a consistently high framerate and no performance issues such as crashes or FPS drops. Players appreciate its lightweight design that allows for smooth gameplay, even with heavy effects, and the ability to sync with various music tracks enhances the overall experience. Overall, the optimization ensures a seamless and engaging gameplay experience without technical hiccups.
- “It’s lightweight but visually rich, and the performance rarely dips despite the heavy effects.”
- “Awesome game - runs smoothly, can sync with most everything, plenty of modes and variety!”
- “Although intentionally confusing at times, graphics are fantastic, colorful, and with a level of optimization such that you would never experience a drop in frames, glitch, or hang.”
- “Performance-wise, no crashes (I tried to and failed), no FPS drops (I am using a beastly computer, however), and I haven't run into any music tracks that refused to play. The graphics are pretty solid.”
- “Although intentionally confusing at times, the graphics are fantastic, colorful, and with a level of optimization such that you would never experience a drop in frames, glitch, or hang.”
- “The game evolves around your performance and the beat of the music, and it's nothing short of epic!”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs, particularly during alt-tabbing and in multiplayer modes, while others have experienced smooth gameplay without glitches. Overall, while the visuals and gameplay mechanics are praised, the presence of bugs detracts from the experience for many users.
- “Alt tabbing freezes the game until I come back.”
- “Buggy game based on worn-out concepts implemented in an awful manner.”
- “Really good game, makes a lot of fun, but the multiplayer is a little bit eh, buggy.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its bold and memorable presentation, creating an energetic environment that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the ability to upload their own music, which syncs well with the game, contributing to a welcoming and immersive atmosphere from the start. Overall, the polished execution and unique features foster a comfortable yet challenging gameplay experience.
- “Despite being a small indie project, the presentation is bold and memorable, standing out for its energy and atmosphere.”
- “You can upload your own music, and it syncs quite well with the game's atmosphere.”
- “While your overall enjoyment and replayability may differ, the game is well polished and provides a comfortable atmosphere and challenging gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere of the game welcomes you from the first minutes of your in-game time, because it automatically starts a random song from your computer instead of using special music for the menu.”