Bezier
- March 3, 2016
- Thalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Bezier" is a single-player Science Fiction arcade game with a thought-provoking narrative. As the player character escapes a vast underground computer, the game explores themes of evolution, family, and reality, with an original 80-minute soundtrack and fifteen zones. Over 90 enemy types, voice acting, and multiple game modes make Bezier a simple shooter with depth and replayability.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a charming aesthetic with vibrant colors and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- It offers a unique blend of gameplay mechanics and storytelling, making it stand out among other twin-stick shooters.
- The controls are smooth and responsive, providing a satisfying gameplay experience for fans of the genre.
- The visual effects can be overly flashy and confusing, making it difficult to distinguish between harmful and harmless projectiles.
- The game lacks significant replayability, with a relatively short campaign and limited content beyond the main levels.
- Some design choices, such as the auto-fire mechanic and unclear enemy behaviors, can detract from the overall enjoyment and challenge.
- music21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its memorable and well-mixed tracks, enhancing the vibrant and colorful gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to build tension and complement the action, with a variety of styles that avoid being distracting. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many expressing a desire to purchase it separately due to its quality and appeal.
“The music is phenomenally mixed, and I've found that the variety of songs are mostly memorable, though I absolutely love the more glitchy-sounding tracks.”
“What makes this a clincher is that heavenly soundtrack that plays.”
“The action can go from measured and precise in one moment to sheer manic panic in the next heartbeat, all to the beats of a pretty sweet soundtrack.”
“A lot of indie games or arcade-style games will make the mistake of having music that's loud and distracting and only having a small amount of it.”
“Endurance mode features 1 music track.”
“The music certainly has a presence in this game but it's balanced in a way so as to not be distracting and there's a great variety of it.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming and unique aesthetic, featuring a polished neon art style that enhances the overall experience. While the visuals are fluid and engaging, some players may find the control mechanics a bit loose. Overall, the combination of visuals, audio, and gameplay creates a captivating atmosphere that stands out in the gaming landscape.
“The 'mix' of gameplay, audio, and visuals really deserves praise, and I wish that every game released from now on would understand what makes a worthy product as well as Philip Bak does.”
“I like this game for a few primary reasons - it's challenging without being frustrating, has entertaining and unique visuals, and has great audio (music and sound effects and overall sound design) to go along with those visuals.”
“If you really hate inertia in your controls or need to see all the action crisply, know that the graphics are loose and fluid.”
“The audio and visuals are very unique and quite polished.”
“The neon art style is appealing, but the overall graphics lack depth and detail.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a well-executed twin-stick shooter format enhanced by an auto-fire button, allowing for fluid combat mechanics and pilot progression through upgrade points. While some players found the combat feedback lacking, others praised the stylish presentation and the seamless integration of various gameplay elements, making it an enjoyable experience overall. The game effectively combines rapid-fire mechanics with strategic objectives, creating a dynamic and engaging environment.
“The mix of gameplay, audio, and visuals really deserves praise, and I wish that every game released from now on would understand what makes a worthy product as well as Philip Bak does.”
“Combat provides pilot experience which, on each new pilot level, opens up an extra upgrade point that can be used to augment various ship systems or game mechanics -- and they can be completely reset at any time the player wishes, even in the middle of a level.”
“Bezier is great fun, it's presented in a superbly stylish way, and the gameplay is well done.”
“The feedback from firing and hitting enemies, the design of the enemies themselves, and the mechanic of destroying the shields... none of that felt remotely pleasurable.”
“Tasked with the job of hunting down 3 or 4 shields before a timer runs out, this asteroids-inspired game has a rapid-fire mechanic that fires a fairly short-ranged stream of missiles out of three points from your ship.”
“The gameplay uses a basic twin-stick shooter configuration with an additional twist: an auto-fire button.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its innovative approach, drawing inspiration from 70s British prog and integrating unique storytelling elements within a twin-stick shooter format. Players appreciate the engaging narrative, atmospheric presentation, and the meaningful challenges that enhance the overall experience, even from someone who typically dislikes game stories. The thoughtful design and earnest background storytelling contribute to a refreshing take on the genre.
“It feels like it was influenced by 70s British prog and does some really neat innovations with story and abilities that I haven't seen in other games like it.”
“From the amazing menus and layout, to the cool unique style and way the story is told - and I hate stories in games.”
“Help tips are shouted out with purpose and the background story is told in earnest.”
“I'm a sucker for twin-stick shooters, and this tried to bring something different to the market with the story.”
“How did it take this long for someone to notice you can do a twin-stick shooter with story, atmosphere, and more than just skin-of-your-teeth survival?”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with some players noting it feels a bit short in this aspect. However, the well-designed upgrade system introduces a strategic layer that enhances replay value for those who enjoy making tactical decisions.
“Not a lot of replayability here, but I greatly enjoyed this.”
“Fun game, charming aesthetic, maybe a bit short on replayability.”
“Nicely designed upgrade system adds a fun layer of strategic decision-making and increases replayability.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by a commanding male voice with a thick English accent, which adds intensity and depth to the experience. Players appreciate the combination of engaging storytelling and immersive survival elements, highlighting the unique approach to the twin-stick shooter genre.
“The atmosphere is dominated by a towering male voice with a thick English accent, giving the game its intense kick.”
“How did it take this long for someone to notice you can do a twin-stick shooter with story, atmosphere, and more than just skin-of-your-teeth survival?”
