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
- Beat Hazard 3 offers a visually stunning experience with improved graphics and 3D models, enhancing the overall gameplay.
- The new Galaxy mode allows players to create and explore unique campaigns based on their music libraries, adding depth and replayability.
- The integration of streaming services and the Open Mic feature makes it easy to play any song, providing a personalized gaming experience.
- The game suffers from visual clutter and can be overwhelming, making it difficult to see projectiles and navigate during intense gameplay.
- Many players have reported bugs and issues with the Galaxy mode and Open Mic feature, leading to frustration and a less polished experience.
- The removal of the perks system from previous games has disappointed some fans, as it limits customization and strategic gameplay options.
- music314 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music aspect of "Beat Hazard 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the integration of personal music libraries and streaming services like Spotify and YouTube Music, allowing for a unique gameplay experience that adapts to the rhythm of the songs. However, some users have criticized the game's music recognition system and the tedious process of managing playlists, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the visuals and gameplay mechanics are praised for their vibrant synchronization with music, there are concerns about the clarity of the audio-visual experience and the balance of gameplay, particularly in higher difficulties.
“Beat Hazard 3 is a fantastic game for anyone who enjoys doing something while listening to music.”
“The game dazzles with vibrant and dynamic visuals that synchronize with the music, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of light and color.”
“If you enjoy music and games at the same time, this is the game for you.”
“Streaming music in the background and having the game spend 15 seconds to figure out what it is just kills the experience.”
“The open mic system they're using is a mess, and even trying to play from my local library of music was a headache.”
“It just seems that the game spawns enemies seemingly at random and just flashes a bunch in time with the music, which just isn't what I was looking for.”
- gameplay89 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest installment in the Beat Hazard series retains the core twin-stick shooter mechanics while introducing new features like galaxy mode and enhanced ship customization, which add depth and variety. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive and criticize certain mechanics, such as the shadow beam and navigation issues, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the integration of music into gameplay remains a highlight, creating an engaging and immersive audio-visual experience.
“The gameplay is fast and snappy, bright and loud.”
“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 attention to detail and the seamless integration of music into gameplay make for an engaging and addictive experience that keeps players coming back for more.”
“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.”
“The shadow beam to destroy enemy shields is a horribly thought-out mechanic and it adds a layer of complexity that does not work well given how chaotic this game gets.”
“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.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in Beat Hazard 3 have received widespread praise for their vibrant and dynamic 3D visuals, which enhance the gameplay experience by synchronizing with the music and creating a mesmerizing spectacle. While many players appreciate the improved detail and customization options, some have noted that the transition to 3D can make hit detection more challenging. Overall, the game is seen as a visually stunning evolution of its predecessors, offering a fresh and engaging aesthetic that complements its core gameplay.
“The game dazzles with vibrant and dynamic visuals that synchronize with the music, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of light and color.”
“Its stunning visuals, challenging enemies, and seamless integration of music create an electrifying gameplay experience that will have you hooked from the very first beat.”
“The new 3D graphics are really nice and refreshing; the enemies and randomly generated ships all look cool, and the new boss fights are awesome.”
“It's just not for me, I don't like the new graphics the game has; it goes against this kind of gameplay as making everything 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).”
“Graphically, apart from the strobing effects, it looks nice.”
“Eyeball melting visuals that are so intense my mother-in-law won't enter the room; still there.”
- story13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a significant narrative, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics like ship upgrades and mission challenges. While there are elements like shadow missions and weapon unlocks that add depth, many features from previous installments are missing, leaving players wanting more in terms of story and meaningful rewards. Overall, the emphasis is on gameplay rather than a cohesive story experience.
“Also, during a galactic campaign, you might even feel tempted to replay missions/tracks for a higher score to upgrade your mothership.”
“Beat Hazard 3 also includes the dark beam to take out shields and slow/destroy those projectiles which were unavoidable in the first and second game.”
“☑ 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.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly in galaxy mode, where the fuel mechanic and the navigation of personal music collections create a disjointed experience. Many express that the lack of a straightforward playlist mode exacerbates the grind, making it feel like a time-consuming task rather than an enjoyable activity. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the game's enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“First, galaxy mode is fairly tedious with the fuel mechanic.”
“God, that makes the galaxy mode tedious and disjointed.”
“Overall, trying to play with your own music is extremely tedious, and there doesn't seem to be a mode where you can start playing a playlist from your PC and just vibe out for an hour.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's replayability largely hinges on its internet features and user-generated content, which foster a niche community and provide a versatile gameplay experience. While some players find the core gameplay repetitive, the adaptability and continuous influx of new content contribute to its perceived infinite replayability.
“It's a testament to the game's versatility and adaptability, providing endless hours of replayability.”
“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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have several technical issues, including buggy menus in galaxy mode and the mothership editor, as well as significant framerate drops during ship loading and intense explosions. Overall, stability remains a concern for players.
“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. His responsiveness to feedback enhances the overall emotional experience, making players feel valued and heard.
“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 vision and everyone's vision as aligned as possible.”
“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-written that I felt a genuine connection to their struggles and triumphs, making the entire experience incredibly moving.”
- 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 to enhance player enjoyment.
“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 developers are continuously working on optimization, ensuring that performance improves with each update.”
“I've noticed significant improvements in loading times and frame rates since the last patch, making the gameplay experience much smoother.”
