GUN JAM
- April 19, 2023
- Jaw Drop Games
Get on Steam"Gun Jam" is a rhythm-action FPS game where players shoot to the beat of the music to survive against hordes of enemies. With a custom music importer, four battle arenas, and multiple characters and weapons, players must master shooting, dashing, and kicking to defeat enemies and bosses to the beat. The game features an original soundtrack with three different genres.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a fantastic soundtrack that spans multiple genres, enhancing the overall experience.
- The core gameplay mechanics of combining rhythm and shooting are addictive and provide a unique twist to the FPS genre.
- The option to import custom music and edit beatmaps adds a layer of creativity and personalization to the gameplay.
- The game feels incomplete and lacks substantial content, with only a few levels and no clear progression system.
- The transition from the demo to the full release has led to a loss of engaging level design, replacing structured missions with repetitive arena battles.
- The automatic beat mapping often feels off, disrupting the rhythm and making the gameplay less satisfying compared to the demo.
- music118 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as phenomenal and diverse, spanning genres like metal and EDM, which enhances the overall experience. However, players have criticized the poor alignment of the music with gameplay mechanics, particularly the auto-mapping of beats that often disrupts the rhythm of shooting. The option to import custom songs is a highlight, but the effectiveness of this feature is hampered by inconsistent beat mapping and a lack of engaging gameplay, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience.
“If you want a fresh take on the rhythm shooter sub-genre with one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard, then give this a try.”
“The most defining aspect, however, has to be the soundtrack which, whilst spanning multiple genres, sounds massive and explosive and delivers a great beat-driven shooting session.”
“It's extremely satisfying to blast enemies away and jump and dodge in perfect time to the music while trying to beat the song to the next checkpoint.”
“This game has no substance, the soundtrack kinda sucks, and overall it's not fun to play.”
“The other major issue I have with this game is the auto-mapping of the song beats; basically those colorful cues for when you're allowed to fire your gun.”
“Now, the songs in the game aren't fun to play.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a fast-paced and chaotic experience that remains manageable and enjoyable, with a satisfying difficulty level. Players can customize their pace through song selection, enhancing replayability and incorporating a rhythm dynamic into the FPS genre. However, some users found the demo misleading and criticized the gameplay loop for lacking direction, leading to a less engaging experience in smaller levels.
“The gameplay feels fast and chaotic yet never overwhelming, and it has a satisfying difficulty to it.”
“The controls are as simple as they come and you can tailor how fast-paced you want the gameplay to be with your choice of song, allowing you to go in all guns blazing to smash your previous high score or take a more leisurely stroll and chill out with some good tunes.”
“I think it does a good job of incorporating a rhythm dynamic into an FPS, and the core gameplay elements of Gun Jam are quite addictive!”
“The gameplay demo for this was so misleading.”
“It's almost a slap in the face and outright lying to still have the gameplay trailer from the demo up on the store page.”
“This issue led to a weak sense of gameplay direction and left players empty-handed.”
- story16 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect has been heavily criticized due to the absence of a promised story mode, which was initially hinted at in the demo but ultimately removed from the final product. Players express disappointment over the lack of narrative depth and progression, feeling that a story mode could have significantly enhanced replay value and overall content. The current structure, consisting solely of single-room arenas, leaves many feeling that the game lacks meaningful context and engagement.
“Also, if the game had a story mode which possibly gave more depth and background to the main characters, I think this could enhance the game's replay value even further.”
“I thought there was gonna be a story mode but I guess they removed it.”
“Edit: it's now been confirmed by the devs that development on the game is halted and they never even added the story mode that was promised in advertisements.”
“No more levels, no progression, no story even.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a sleek and minimal UI complemented by vibrant colors that enhance its charm, though some players find the overall visual presentation lacking in impressiveness and distinctiveness. While the aesthetic may not be the main draw, the design choices contribute positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The compact and minimal UI is sleek and uninhibited on the action frame, while the general graphic design, with pulsing and vibrant colors on all levels, is fantastic and gives the game a certain charm.”
“The graphics are not impressive, but we already knew that's not why we're here, so we can ignore that.”
“No visuals or sounds or effects that really stand out.”
“More distinctive graphics.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse playstyles in combat and movement, which keep the gameplay engaging. However, many believe that the addition of a story mode could further enhance its replay value by providing more depth and background to the characters.
“The gameplay is rather fun despite my lack of knowledge in the genre and feels extremely replayable due to the different playstyles of combat versus movement.”
“Also, if the game had a story mode which possibly gave more depth and background to the main characters, I think this could enhance the game's replay value even further.”
“If the game had a story mode that provided more depth and background to the main characters, I believe it could significantly enhance the game's replay value.”
“The lack of a compelling story mode really limits the replayability; without a deeper narrative, there's not much incentive to play again.”
“Once you've completed the game, there isn't much left to draw you back in; the gameplay feels repetitive without new story elements to explore.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Many users express concerns about recommending the game due to the absence of its most optimized version, suggesting that the current state may not provide the best experience.
“Is it fair to recommend a game that doesn't even have its most optimized version out yet?”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism, particularly due to the developers halting further development and failing to deliver promised features, such as a story mode, which has left players feeling misled.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game engaging, as it allows for continuous improvement in high scores and song mastery. The introduction of new maps and characters keeps the experience fresh and motivates ongoing play.
