Beat Hazard 3
- June 22, 2024
- ColdBeamGames
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Beat Hazard 3" is a shooter game with various modes including local multi-player for up to 2 players, both co-op and PvP, with split screen. Its gameplay is based on your music library, with each song creating a unique ebb and flow of enemies and power-ups. The game boasts wonderful mechanics, outstanding visuals, and a stellar soundtrack, now presented in a 3D procedural ship generation system, allowing you to explore your music collection in a new galaxy format.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a vast array of new content, including a galaxy mode that allows players to explore and conquer music-based galaxies, enhancing the overall experience.
- The graphics have significantly improved, transitioning to 3D models that add depth and visual appeal to the gameplay.
- The core gameplay remains engaging, allowing players to use their own music to generate unique levels and ships, providing endless replayability.
- The user interface is cluttered and confusing, making navigation difficult and detracting from the overall experience.
- The game suffers from performance issues, including FPS drops and crashes, especially when many elements are on screen.
- Some features, such as the open mic for streaming music, are not functioning as intended, leading to frustration for players trying to use their music libraries.
- music393 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music aspect of "Beat Hazard 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the ability to use their own music libraries and streaming services like Spotify and YouTube Music to create unique gameplay experiences. However, some users have criticized the music synchronization and implementation, noting that the game often feels disconnected from the music being played, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, while the game offers a fun way to explore music through gameplay, it still requires improvements in its music detection and integration features.
“The ability to just listen to music and have it affect your game is pretty awesome!”
“Beat Hazard 3 is a fantastic game for anyone who enjoys doing something while listening to music.”
“The galaxy mode is a really interesting way to expand your music taste into other similar artists or bands of a genre.”
“Very shoddy implementation of music services here.”
“The music sync is laughable—imagine if instead of just ambiently and slowly plopping asteroids and other garbage fodder, the music algorithm actually recognized pivotal transitions, and could spawn waves suddenly, as though in time with the music?”
“The visual effects I feel are a let down as I would have expected more than just flashing whatever color is on the screen and the enemy waves sometimes spawn completely out of sync with the dynamics currently in the music.”
- gameplay105 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Beat Hazard 3 retains the core mechanics of its predecessors while introducing new features such as galaxy mode, enhanced ship customization, and the dark beam mechanic, which adds complexity to combat. While many players appreciate the improved visuals and the integration of music into gameplay, some criticize the repetitiveness and certain design choices that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a solid twin-stick shooter experience that is both engaging and visually stimulating, though it may require some adjustment for fans of the earlier titles.
“The gameplay is engaging and the bosses are cool and keep you on your toes, as do the asteroids and smaller enemies.”
“This latest installment takes everything that made its predecessors great and elevates it to new heights, delivering an exhilarating audio-visual experience that truly immerses players in the heart-pounding world of music-driven gameplay.”
“The core gameplay is fun enough as it is.”
“Having played the original Beat Hazard a long time ago, I wasn't expecting much more than a shiny twin-stick shmup vaguely synced to my music... but Beat Hazard is only barely that, and the core gameplay is so boring that it almost felt like just watching a visualizer instead of actually playing a game.”
“Core combat is boring; your ship has a tiny amount of time before it hits full speed, your hitbox isn't visible, and the visual effects during gameplay are flatly ridiculous.”
“This is a major downside to me as it messes with core gameplay in a fairly negative way by turning it into an attrition test, and the shield enemies feel like bullet sponges even after their shields are down, which feels like artificial difficulty and not a great fit for the game.”
- graphics55 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in Beat Hazard 3 have received significant praise for their stunning 3D visuals and vibrant neon effects, marking a notable upgrade from previous titles. Players appreciate the dynamic visuals that synchronize with music, enhancing the overall gameplay experience, although some express concerns about visibility and hitbox clarity due to the shift to 3D. Overall, the graphical improvements, combined with new content and features, contribute to a fresh and engaging experience for fans of the series.
“The graphics are stunning, and compared to its predecessors, the game has added tons of new content.”
“The new 3D graphics look great, and the style of the ships and tech is outstanding.”
“The game dazzles with vibrant and dynamic visuals that synchronize with the music, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of light and color.”
“These AI icons have a contrasting style with the overall Beat Hazard aesthetic, making the game feel cheaper than it actually is.”
“It's just not for me; I don't like the new graphics the game has. The shift to 3D makes it hard to see if you're going to hit something, as you're not sure what your hitbox is (this wasn't a problem in previous entries).”
“The visuals are still a little same-y; maybe have a view of your solar system from your planet, and have that obscured by nebulae.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is minimal, with players noting a lack of a traditional narrative and focusing instead on gameplay mechanics like shadow missions and ship upgrades. While the game introduces features like the galaxy mode and procedural ship generation, some users express frustration with the reliance on online functionality for certain missions and the absence of meaningful rewards. Overall, the experience is enhanced by the integration of music, but the storytelling elements remain largely absent.
“The graphics have taken a huge leap compared to previous titles, and only adds to the great experience of playing your music as the storyline, not to mention the galaxy feature, introducing you to similar artists, genres, and songs that you enjoy.”
“Also, during a galactic campaign, you might even feel tempted to replay missions/tracks for a higher score to upgrade your mothership.”
“Not stopping there, if a song is at least two and a half minutes long, the song will generate a procedurally generated ship upon completion that you can bring to the next mission.”
“☑ no story”
“Some features from the previous games are still missing, like the perk upgrade system and ship modules, a couple of weapons, or meaningful rewards for completing shadow missions.”
“I don't like how you can't select difficulty levels on missions beforehand and the fact difficulty is set to the previous missions as it's a pain to get into the menu to change difficulty levels and then go to the mission choice.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly due to cumbersome menu navigation and the fuel mechanic in galaxy mode. The inability to easily play personal music playlists further exacerbates the experience, making it feel disjointed and requiring significant time investment. Overall, many feel that grinding demands an unrealistic amount of effort.
“The sheer act of moving through menus was tedious.”
“First, galaxy mode is fairly tedious with the fuel mechanic.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is significantly enhanced by its ability to incorporate personal music libraries and user-generated content, offering players endless hours of enjoyment. While some gameplay may feel repetitive, the vibrant online community and diverse features contribute to a highly versatile experience that encourages repeated play. Overall, players find it to be a worthwhile investment with infinite replayability potential.
“For starters, it's fun as hell, but adding in the ability to play your own music library... the sheer amount of time it would take to play through my music library alone, let alone the replayability of single songs chasing that personal best... well, to say I personally feel this was my best purchase of the last year sums it up.”
“Infinite replayability.”
“It becomes apparent that this game's internet features and niche community were its selling points; much of the gameplay is repetitive and depends on user-generated content to supply the game's replayability and return on investment.”
“It's a testament to the game's versatility and adaptability, providing endless hours of replayability.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by playful banter and lighthearted interactions among characters, with moments of laughter and teasing that enhance the overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the witty exchanges, which contribute to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
“Kenpachi: Laughing, this is getting good!”
“Hisagi: Chuckling, I’m betting on a total meltdown.”
“Yoruichi: Laughing, this is priceless.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game has improved significantly since the full release, with a more expansive galaxy system and fewer bugs. However, users still report persistent technical issues, such as problematic menus and framerate drops during intense moments.
“I'm sure you're aware of some of the technical issues that are still in the game, like the buggy menus in the galaxy mode and mothership editor, or the framerate dropping significantly when ships load in for the first time or when too many explosions happen at once.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the developer's genuine involvement and commitment to the community, fostering a sense of connection and support among players. This approach not only enhances the game's emotional resonance but also encourages a collaborative environment where feedback is valued and integrated.
“The developer is an amazing and wholesome person who is always involved in his community, has a Discord, and will even add you on Steam. He listens to all the feedback and does his best to keep his and everyone's visions aligned.”
“The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; it resonated with my own experiences and made me reflect on my life.”
“The characters are so well-developed that I felt a genuine connection to their struggles and triumphs, making the emotional moments hit even harder.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is currently in early access, with ongoing optimization efforts focused on the new galaxy feature, aimed at enhancing long-term enjoyment for players.
“The game is still in early access, and the new galaxy feature is a key addition that is being optimized for long-lasting enjoyment.”
“The optimization efforts have significantly improved performance, making the gameplay smoother and more enjoyable.”
“I appreciate how the developers are continuously optimizing the game, ensuring that each update enhances the overall experience.”
