City of Beats

About

City of Beats is a single player arcade role playing shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Torched Hill and was released on May 1, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "City of Beats," a rhythm-based rogue-lite shooter, players must navigate the rooftops of a city, shooting down hostile robots to the beat of the music. Weapons, enemies, and environmental hazards all move and attack in time with the soundtrack, requiring players to listen closely and time their movements and attacks accordingly. With an emphasis on flow and dynamic gameplay, "City of Beats" offers a unique twist on the twin-stick shooter genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

music8 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a great art style and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The rhythm-based mechanics are engaging, allowing players to create music through their actions, making gameplay feel unique and satisfying.
Despite some balance issues, the core gameplay is enjoyable and addictive, especially for fans of roguelikes and rhythm games.

The game suffers from repetitive gameplay due to a limited pool of enemies and upgrades, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the pause screen and upgrade visibility, are poorly designed, which can detract from the overall experience.
There are balance issues with upgrades and weapons, making some feel ineffective or situational, which can frustrate players.

music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
60%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and integration into gameplay, enhancing the overall experience with a unique rhythm-based mechanic that allows players to create music through their actions. While the soundtrack is enjoyable and even available for purchase, some players find that certain gameplay elements disrupt the flow of the music, leading to frustration. Overall, the combination of solid music, engaging mechanics, and vibrant visuals makes it a standout title in the rhythm genre.
- “The music is really solid, and when things are flowing, it feels great - I actually completely Tetris effect'd myself with this game, playing enough in a short time that I'm constantly hearing the music (especially the dodge time cues) in my head, lol.”
- “Super satisfying music mechanics and loved the overall neon style, really enjoying it.”
- “The game has amazing music and rhythm to it; sure, you can just click left and spray and pray, but you can also try shooting in rhythm and even sort of create your own music in a way. Every weapon will sound different to generate different sounds, I've been enjoying it!”
- “There's a number of things in the game where the main idea (the aforementioned shooting/dodging in time with music cues) makes you specifically not play in time to the music, which is really frustrating.”
- “Feels like there's got to be a way to introduce challenge without ruining the flow of the music.”
- “Other note - those flower-looking shield enemies that shoot a single high damage laser at you in the 1st act really disrupt the flow of the music and dodging; it just feels really awkward to dodge those things if you're trying to really groove to the music.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The gameplay of "City of Beats" is generally praised for its satisfying mechanics and unique integration of rhythm into combat, creating a fun and engaging experience. However, some players note issues with the progression system and repetitive gameplay, suggesting that more diverse upgrades and improved mechanics could enhance the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game's balance of challenge and enjoyment, along with its appealing music and atmosphere, make it a recommended choice for indie game enthusiasts.
- “City of Beats is a fairly simple semi-rhythm roguelite at first glance, but the more you play, the more its satisfying game mechanics grow on you.”
- “The game's mechanics are easy to pick up (even for me), but the challenge ramps up quickly, making it a perfect balance of fun and difficulty that wants you to become better and better over time.”
- “Really like how combat and sound work together in making the gameplay flow.”
- “There are few temporary upgrades that truly alter your gameplay.”
- “The pause screen blocks the view of the gameplay area and there's no countdown when you resume, meaning you will either surely lose health or you just can't pause whenever you want.”
- “The game provides a small bowl of content before you start to feel full and put off by the continuous repetitive gameplay, with the same powerful upgrades, rather than feeling like you would want to waste an extra 10 minutes trying out vastly inferior components that make it harder to actually hit targets.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their great art style and aesthetic appeal, contributing to a visually stunning experience that enhances gameplay. The combination of impressive visuals and a fitting soundtrack creates a soothing atmosphere, making it stand out in its genre. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, although some players feel the gameplay may not sustain interest for long periods.
- “Very nice aesthetic and a pretty soothing game to play as well (for the most part).”
- “With its visuals, soundtrack, and to-the-beat auto-shooting, this game sticks out among the genre.”
- “The art style/direction is really solid all the way through, the levels look great, and mostly play great too.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding mechanics to be repetitive and unsatisfying, as they often feel trapped in a loop of earning permanent currency to reach milestones, only to return to grinding again. While the humor initially adds charm, it quickly becomes tedious, especially when frequent character deaths lead to prolonged waiting times, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The intention here is understandable, but the unfortunate effect is that it creates a rather unsatisfying loop; grind permanent currency so you can get to the next milestone, and then switch back to grinding permanent currency.”
- “The humor is amusing at first, but after the third or fourth time the game murders you in the 'safe' hub and you have to wait for your character to stop ragdolling and revive, it becomes tedious and more of a time waster.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the funny dialogue and charming trolling from the developers, which enhances the overall experience. While it shares some comedic elements with other titles like Ballhalla, it is noted that the humor is not as prominent. Overall, the game's lightheartedness contributes positively to its fun atmosphere.
- “Massively recommend this if you're looking for a fun indie game to play. The music and atmosphere are top tier, gameplay is good fun, and the dialogue is funny. Plus, you get your very own robotic dog!”
- “The devs have a nice sense of humor and will troll you every now and then with something they came up with, but in my eyes, it just adds to the charm!”
- “If you liked Ballhalla's humor, this game has it too, but not nearly as much.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Many users express concerns about the game's replayability, noting that it significantly diminishes after just a couple of hours of play. This suggests that while initial engagement may be strong, the long-term value may not sustain player interest.
- “I will update my review as I spend more time in the game, understand all the mechanics better, and can comment on the replayability, which is important for games like this.”
- “However, I will update my review as always once I have spent more time in the game, understand all the mechanics better, and can comment on the replayability, which is important for games like this.”
- “Lacks replay value after 2 hours”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its top-tier music and engaging environment that enhances the overall experience. The combination of fun gameplay, humorous dialogue, and the addition of a robotic dog contributes to a delightful indie gaming atmosphere.
- “Massively recommend this if you're looking for a fun indie game to play; the music and atmosphere are top tier.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world with every detail.”
- “The combination of stunning visuals and an enchanting soundtrack creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is complemented by a nice soundtrack, which players can purchase as an original soundtrack (OST) after completing the story mode.