Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians

Beatbuddy features some initially great and well-executed ideas and as a whole is generally entertaining despite a few annoying bugs and missed steps. The ideas on show are undeniably overused however, meaning that the repetitive nature of things does scuff the polish of an aesthetically pleasing package. This is a way off being number one with a bullet, but it will still provide a few hours of enjoyment if you decide to stick with it.

69%Game Brain Score

music, gameplay

stability, grinding

69% User Score Based on 715 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a single player casual action adventure game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Threaks and was released on August 6, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians" is an action-adventure game where music is incorporated into every aspect of the beautiful hand-painted world. Players interact with the environment and creatures to open paths and solve puzzles as they journey through six unique levels, accompanied by an original soundtrack featuring songs from notable artists. The game follows Beatbuddy, an ethereal creature on a quest to save his sisters and his own immortality.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians screenshot

+15

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 715 reviews

music337 positive mentions

stability29 negative mentions

The game features a visually stunning underwater world with hand-painted artistry that enhances the overall experience.
The soundtrack is exceptional, with contributions from notable composers, creating an immersive musical journey that syncs well with gameplay.
The rhythm-based mechanics offer a unique challenge, rewarding players for timing their movements and actions to the beat of the music.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including game-breaking glitches that can force players to restart levels or lose progress.
Controls can feel imprecise and floaty, making it difficult to navigate obstacles and complete puzzles effectively.
The gameplay can become repetitive, with similar puzzles and mechanics throughout the levels, leading to a lack of engagement over time.

music
805 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The music in "Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians" is a standout feature, intricately woven into the gameplay, where every movement and interaction is synchronized with a vibrant soundtrack. Composed by notable artists like Austin Wintory and Parov Stelar, the electro-swing and jazzy tunes enhance the immersive underwater experience, making players feel as though they are part of the music. While the soundtrack is generally praised for its catchy and dynamic nature, some players noted that the repetitive loops and gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about the game's longevity and engagement.
- “Every movement, enemy encounter, and environmental element is synchronized with an original soundtrack, creating a seamless blend of music and gameplay that sets it apart from conventional platformers and provides a highly immersive experience.”
- “Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a music rhythm puzzle game that has some fantastic music and fun puzzles.”
- “The music is great, the graphics are sharp and beautiful, and the engine is responsive with excellent player control.”
- “The music is too reliant on loops in order to turn a 50 second clip into the only thing you will hear for 30 minutes.”
- “The soundtrack becomes just the backdrop as the game progresses instead of a major gameplay element, with a few exceptions of course.”
- “The music, while not the type of stuff I usually like, also fits very well.”
gameplay
265 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The gameplay of "Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians" is characterized by its innovative integration of rhythm-based mechanics with traditional platforming elements, creating a unique experience where actions are synchronized with the game's soundtrack. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and simplistic, with puzzles that lack depth and a tendency for mechanics to become tedious over time. While the visuals and music are praised, the overall execution of gameplay leaves some players feeling frustrated due to control issues and a lack of variety in challenges.
- “Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians, developed and published by Threaks, is a distinctive action-adventure platformer that skillfully fuses rhythm-based gameplay with a visually striking underwater world.”
- “The gameplay emphasizes a combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, all intricately tied to the rhythm of the game’s music.”
- “What sets Beatbuddy apart is its innovative approach to gameplay, which seamlessly integrates rhythm-based mechanics with traditional platforming elements.”
- “The gameplay is rather tedious and I feel as though I am wandering around aimlessly.”
- “The game has a tendency to introduce a mechanic and then repeat it and puzzles involving this mechanic for far too long, which makes the mechanic overstay its welcome and starts feeling rather tedious quickly.”
- “Boring, frustrating, repetitive, and unimaginative gameplay that punishes you for the slightest error and sends you back to the start of a puzzle.”
graphics
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
33%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant, hand-drawn art style and visually stunning environments, creating an immersive underwater world. Many reviewers noted the beautiful animations and attention to detail, which enhance the overall aesthetic experience, although some criticized the graphics for being less impressive compared to modern standards. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they are often accompanied by mixed feelings about the gameplay and technical performance.
- “Set in a vibrant underwater world, the game's unique art style and visually stunning environments are a feast for the eyes.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, music is great, controls are easy to use.”
- “The game's hand-painted visuals are a feast for the eyes, with vibrant colors and detailed animations that bring the underwater world to life.”
- “The gameplay is okay, but I find the art style to be uncanny and it honestly looks like a polished-up Flash game.”
- “This isn't necessarily a damning epitaph as the visuals are reasonably well polished, but they're also low resolution and don't really look great in 2024... and definitely compare very badly to professionally made, cutting-edge PC games.”
- “While this is on PC, it has all the hallmarks and deficiencies of a console game, from the clunkier than needed control scheme to the less than cutting-edge graphics.”
story
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The game's story is generally perceived as minimal and simplistic, often serving merely as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players found the characters and premise charming, many criticized the plot for being forgettable, underdeveloped, and lacking depth, with a few noting that it could be easily ignored. Overall, the story is seen as a weak aspect of the game, overshadowed by its engaging gameplay and music.
- “The story is engaging, and I found myself really enjoying this game all the time.”
- “The right amount of drama and humor, plus it has a good storyline.”
- “The way music is used to both create and let you create the world, atmosphere, and story, is so simple, so basic, but executed so effectively.”
- “The narrative, while charming, is relatively minimal, with the story serving mainly as a framework to support the gameplay rather than as a deep or complex plotline.”
- “The story of the game is also very basic and there wasn't a lot of it.”
- “The game's story is dull, and the ending truly unsatisfying.”
stability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
6%
91%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking issues, such as softlocks and the need to restart levels. While some players appreciate the music and visuals, the frequent technical problems significantly detract from the overall experience, leading many to advise against purchasing the game until these issues are resolved. Despite updates from the developers, players feel that the stability has not improved sufficiently.
- “The game has good visuals with almost no glitches and has good game mechanics (with a mouse anyways).”
- “Sadly, it breaks and glitches all too often.”
- “I'm up to the last chapter of the 5th level, and I've had to go back to the menu and restart a chapter three times so far due to glitches preventing me from proceeding.”
- “This entire game is a buggy mess.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with simplistic puzzles that quickly lose their charm. While the game starts off enjoyable, it often devolves into a frustrating experience due to long levels, imprecise controls, and the need to repeat sections due to bugs. The appealing graphics and music are overshadowed by the lack of engaging gameplay, leading many to feel that the game is more of a chore than a fun experience.
- “The gameplay is rather tedious and I feel as though I am wandering around aimlessly.”
- “Starts off as a fun game but then the puzzles quickly become very tedious.”
- “This game looks like it could be a lot of fun, and it was fun at first, but eventually the puzzles became tedious rather than fun since you frequently have to navigate hazards with somewhat imprecise controls and the game ends up being fairly repetitive.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quirky characters, clever dialogue, and amusing scenarios that enhance the overall experience. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with engaging gameplay and a charming storyline, although some players felt that the humor could become repetitive or lose its impact over time. Overall, the game is praised for its lighthearted tone and entertaining comedic elements, making it a fun and enjoyable adventure.
- “Great arts and animations, solid gameplay with clever and never frustrating puzzles and funny action and time challenges and an outstanding OST. Beatbuddy is an indie game project that deserves many prizes and should be a good example for every newbie game developer.”
- “The game has some decent humor in the way your companion, Clef, dismisses the very clearly falling apart vehicle you both ride in, and the prince character does some very tongue-in-cheek villain things.”
- “A nice, fun, rhythm adventure game, with a great sense of humor.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating soundtrack, artistic design, and immersive graphics, which collectively enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate how the music not only complements the environment but also aids in puzzle-solving and navigation, creating a relaxing and engaging ambiance. Despite some frustrations with gameplay, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm.
- “Each level is designed around a captivating soundtrack that not only enhances the atmosphere but also plays a key role in puzzle-solving and navigation.”
- “The graphics and general atmosphere are really nice to look at, and it's clear that a great deal of care went into the game design.”
- “This game's atmosphere is easily the best part about it; it's a joy to watch the elements of each song flow in and out while exploring each level.”
- “What charm is gained from the atmosphere, the art style, and the music is undermined by the overall frustration of actually playing the game.”
- “The atmosphere is artistic.”
- “The house/jazzy soundtrack is really nice to hear while playing; it creates a relaxing atmosphere.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is rated quite low, with many players noting that once the main story is completed, there are few incentives to replay. While some hidden collectibles offer minor rewards, they do not significantly enhance the experience, leading to a general sentiment that the game lacks substantial replay value. Despite its short length, a few players express a desire for more content to encourage repeated playthroughs.
- “It is good for 5-6 hours of fun with possible replay value.”
- “It is a rather short game, but the behind-the-scenes extras give it some replay value.”
- “Limited replayability once the main story is completed.”
- “You get rewards if you catch all the gems hidden in each level, but it's mostly sketches and artwork, so you don't have much replay value. Once you finish the game, you have no remaining objectives or bonus levels that justify replaying the same levels from which you wanted to leave as soon as possible.”
- “I sort of wish it had better replayability because I want to play more and more.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing occasional stuttering issues, which detracts from the overall experience. Some users suggest that removing certain rhythmic elements could alleviate these performance problems. Additionally, the voice acting has been noted as particularly problematic, contributing to the game's optimization concerns.
- “The game occasionally experiences some weird stuttering.”
- “You could remove the rhythmic pulses from the game and have almost the same experience with less stuttering.”
- “Also, the stuttering voice is quite distracting.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by charming and personality-filled designs, particularly that of the character Beatbuddy, which complements the whimsical and adventurous tone. The vibrant world and stylish character aesthetics contribute to a light-hearted and enjoyable experience.
- “Character design, especially that of Beatbuddy, is full of charm and personality, further enhancing the whimsical yet adventurous tone of the game.”
- “The music is fantastic, the world is pretty and vibrant, including some stylish character design, and the game is light-hearted and great harmless fun.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as heavily focused on promoting well-known artists, with the soundtrack serving more as an advertisement for these musicians rather than enhancing the gaming experience.
- “It's a very electro swing heavy OST by some big names, but overall I felt that it's more of an advertisement for the artists than anything.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Sound Shapes" to be an emotionally impactful experience, praising its beautiful visuals and musical elements that evoke strong feelings, even leading some to tears. The game's engaging platforming mechanics further enhance its emotional resonance.
- “If you want to play a fun platformer with musical elements, you need to check out Sound Shapes on PSN. It controls much better, sounds better, and is so beautiful that it made me cry!”

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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4h Median play time

3h Average play time

1-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a casual action adventure game with fantasy theme.

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Xbox One and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians.

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians was released on August 6, 2013.

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians was developed by Threaks.

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its stability.

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians is a single player game.

Similar games include Nihilumbra, Contrast, Seasons After Fall, Inside My Radio, 140 and others.

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians

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