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Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action

92%Game Brain Score
music, story
grinding, stability
92% User Score Based on 242 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 5Playstation 5WindowsWindowsXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox

About

"Keylocker is a cyberpunk turn-based rhythm JRPG, where you play as the singer and songwriter B0B0. Fight enemies in real-time rhythm game style, using your music to control electricity for attacks and defense. Choose your own path with unique skill trees and storylines as you battle authorities and hack into the network to bring down a corrupt system."

Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action screenshot
+3

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 242 reviews
music92 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions

  • The game features an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, with diverse musical styles for each area.
  • Combat is engaging and innovative, utilizing a turn-based system with timing mechanics that rewards player skill and strategy.
  • The art style and character designs are visually stunning, contributing to a vibrant and immersive cyberpunk world.
  • The game suffers from bugs and technical issues, including broken quests and crashes that can hinder progression.
  • The timing mechanics for attacks can be overly punishing, making it difficult for some players to enjoy the combat without frustration.
  • The story can feel disjointed at times, with a lot of jargon and world-building that may overwhelm players.
  • music
    198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is universally praised as a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its exceptional quality and diverse styles that enhance the overall experience. Composed by Elektrobear, the soundtrack effectively complements the game's cyberpunk themes and is described as addictive, with tracks that players would enjoy outside of the game. While some players noted minor issues with gameplay mechanics related to music segments, the overwhelming consensus is that the soundtrack is a major highlight, elevating the game's atmosphere and engagement.

    • “Elektrobear did a fantastic job incorporating different musical styles for each area while keeping the soft synths consistent for a cohesive cyber feel.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic and really sets the mood of the dystopian cyberpunk world, and the way it's implemented into the story is very clever and fun.”
    • “The strongest of these three must be the music (game about music has great music surprise, surprise) which was composed by Elektrobear & features Psamathes really combining to create all sorts of powerful soundscapes fitting the game's cyberpunk dystopian themes.”
    • “For a game about music... the music is irrelevant.”
    • “There were also some guitar hero-esque sections in the game that I absolutely hated not being a person that enjoys that kind of content at all; it was a shame so many songs were ruined because it silences the music when you miss a note.”
    • “The presentation uses color extremely well, and the music, while not having the impact that I hoped, was still fantastic.”
  • story
    145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is engaging and features a unique cyberpunk setting, with class choices affecting quest availability and equipment. While some quests may remain unresolved and the narrative can feel disjointed at times, players find themselves intrigued by the plot's twists and humor, as well as the clever integration of music into the storytelling. Overall, the writing is well-received, though some aspects may come off as generic, appealing particularly to fans of JRPGs.

    • “The gameplay, story, and music are captivating just from chapter 1!”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic and really sets the mood of the dystopian cyberpunk world, and the way it's implemented into the story is very clever and fun.”
    • “The story is engaging and it's always a treat to see what will happen next.”
    • “A lot of the quests simply don't work/can't be progressed (even the ending is bugged....).”
    • “Having finished the game, I can safely say the story was pretty rough.”
    • “The overall story seems like there are branches available, but it's a simple 'overthrow the authoritarian power structure' story with a somewhat outlandish method of doing so through the power of music.”
  • gameplay
    111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Keylocker's gameplay combines rhythm mechanics with turn-based strategy, offering a unique and challenging experience reminiscent of classic RPGs like Super Mario RPG. While the combat is engaging and rewarding, particularly with its parry system, players may find the learning curve steep and some mechanics poorly explained, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative approach, captivating aesthetics, and satisfying gameplay, though it may not appeal to those who struggle with timing-based challenges.

    • “Combat always feels fresh with a large amount of enemy types and unique boss mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and innovative, and the characters, story, and cyberpunk setting and aesthetics are superb.”
    • “Innovative combat system blending rhythm gameplay with turn-based strategy.”
    • “It's half-baked since this mechanic is never explained (you have to notice the gift option appears in the bottom right) and the amount of interactions with these characters is pretty low.”
    • “In summary, the gameplay does not mesh at all with the aesthetics, and prevented me from enjoying the experience.”
    • “Game looks cool and has great mood but sadly gameplay is infuriating.”
  • graphics
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art, vibrant colors, and unique aesthetic that blends retro influences with modern design. Reviewers highlight the impressive variety in environments and character artwork, which contribute to an immersive and visually captivating experience. However, some critiques mention that while the visuals are exceptional, they do not always align with the gameplay, affecting overall enjoyment.

    • “Stunning pixel art visuals that bring the dystopian world to life.”
    • “There's a lot to love with this game with the artwork and the style that oozes from every area and character.”
    • “The graphics are, to put it simply, some of the most beautiful I have seen in an indie game with bright vivid colors and detailed sprite work all around.”
    • “Art style is neat, almost seems EGA-like; I don't know if this was what they were going for.”
    • “There is a certain track that is a remix of a song from Virgo, which is possibly the only track I didn't like, but the vast soul and personality the tracks from this game display really pumps this game, alongside its art style, to high grounds.”
  • humor
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its clever and cheeky humor, with well-written characters and engaging dialogue that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance between comedic moments and serious themes, contributing to a unique and immersive world. The humor, combined with a strong soundtrack and stylish presentation, makes for a memorable gameplay experience.

    • “The characters are funny, the music is to die for, the action timing and prompts are just as good, if not better, than what Virgo vs the Zodiac offered (playing hardest mode available and I can reliably pull them off), and the level of detail woven into the universe is amazing.”
    • “There's some cheeky writing and humor, and the music is pretty cool too.”
    • “Sometimes the characters and situations in the game are funny and sometimes they are deadly serious, but all this just adds to the experience, giving the game a unique flavor unlike any other.”
  • character development
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is highly praised for its stunning pixel art and unique designs, which contribute significantly to the overall storytelling and worldbuilding. Reviewers note that the characters feel more fleshed out and integral to the narrative compared to previous titles, enhancing the game's ambitious RPG experience. The combination of beautiful character designs and a captivating soundtrack further elevates the emotional connection players have with the characters.

    • “The character designs, the music, the story, and the gameplay all just feel perfect to me.”
    • “The art is all super gorgeous, the character designs are beautiful and inspired (I especially love Tethys and Telesto), the music is appropriately banging; every track in this OST is straight fire.”
    • “It feels like this is a bigger, more ambitious RPG than Virgo Versus the Zodiac; it feels like there is a lot more story focus, more villains that are constantly in the game, and much more character development and focus than Virgo.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game, with some finding the difficulty frustrating, particularly due to inconsistent mechanics. However, many appreciate that the game allows for enjoyable repetition and strategy refinement without the need for traditional grinding, distinguishing it from other JRPGs that often rely on tedious battles. Overall, the design encourages skill development rather than grinding for levels or resources.

    • “The game was designed to make repetition enjoyable and satisfying in fights, similar to Dark Souls, as players have an infinite number of retries in all combats. This allows them to carefully hone their strategy and eventually take down tough opponents without any grinding necessary.”
    • “I have one complaint about this game and that is its teeth-grinding difficulty, mostly due to the inconsistency of the parry mechanic.”
    • “Forget about the grinding of Final Fantasy and the damage sponges of Persona, as Keylocker integrates neither into its core gameplay, which I'm sure will be a breath of fresh air to many JRPG fans.”
    • “If you have a similar gaming history as me, the battle grinding won't be a big deal at all.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by excellent music, engaging writing, and a vibrant world filled with fun characters. Players appreciate the immersive experience enhanced by weather effects, which contribute significantly to the overall ambiance, particularly in a 2D pixel art context. Despite some minor bugs in the final zones, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that elevates the gameplay experience.

    • “This game has great atmosphere, great music, great writing, great characters, and a very challenging combat system.”
    • “A lot of the locations also feature various weather effects which might seem silly to mention but adds to the atmosphere and immersion of the game, which I think is very important, especially for 2D pixel art games like Keylocker.”
    • “The soundtrack is excellent, and the overall atmosphere is very well executed.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its engaging writing, enjoyable turn-based combat, and good music; however, it suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs and crashes that hinder gameplay. Many users find the instability severe enough to prevent them from recommending the game.

    • “Unfortunately, the game is really buggy.”
    • “It's a bit buggy with many crashes and times when combat just didn't progress.”
    • “It's too buggy to recommend.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find that class restrictions on quests create a mixed experience for replayability; while it encourages multiple playthroughs to explore different classes, it can also be frustrating for those who prefer to experience all content in a single run.

    • “Being class locked out of quests sits somewhere between added replayability and being annoying because you want to do it all in one playthrough.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly on both desktop and Steam Deck without any reported performance issues.

    • “Performance-wise, I didn't have any problems. I played mostly on my desktop but also quite a bit on my Steam Deck, and it runs just fine there.”

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