[b] Amazing soundtrack, (pretty) well-executed (but not quite) idea. [/b]
I haven’t played that long yet, but I think it’s enough to give my humble opinion on this game. And hey, somehow, it even gave me the urge to write a review (I know, I’ve got issues)—what else could I do?
As I said, the soundtrack is fantastic (like "mmmmmmmh that's GOOD" levels of fantastic), and the beat-based gameplay is very enjoyable. I personally don’t mind the graphics in terms of artistic direction (just check the screenshots, you’ll get the idea). And the way each level shifts in vibe to match the music is really well done. That said, the optimization is pretty rough, though low settings run fairly well and don’t look too bad compared to cinematic mode.
[b] Now, the cons [/b] (I know, I’m jumping straight to the negatives—I’m just that eager).
First off, while I don’t mind the art style, I do think the game struggles a bit with visibility. Sometimes it’s too dark, sometimes vegetation gets in the way, and too often, enemies just blend into the environment (the contrast isn’t high enough, and those little yellow highlights don’t quite do the job). The result? Taking what feels like unfair damage. And since you can’t take more than four hits unless you get a health upgrade, well... that’s kind of a big deal.
Also, in my humble opinion (again), the game is just too hard for its own good. When Easy Mode is what most games would call Hard Mode, maybe it’s time to reconsider the difficulty settings. And making Practice Mode lock you out of certain levels? Not the best choice.
In terms of RNG, I think there’s just a bit too much of it. The game gets even harder because, if you don’t snag a decent weapon or some OP items early on (we’re talking double damage, double shot, infinite ammo levels of OP), it can quickly turn into a slog. I imagine this gets better over time—it's already improving for me—but it's still a shame. New players aren’t exactly being coaxed to stick with it.
Of course, some people—deeply in love with the game (which I totally get, the core concept is great)—will dismiss these complaints with the wisdom of the ancients: “[i] Git gud. [/i]” Or, for those versed in the truly arcane texts, the sacred glyph whose meaning scholars still debate to this day: “¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ”.
But honestly, that’s what frustrates me. I don’t think I’m that bad at games—in fact, I’d say I’m quite okay. I even got a few friends (1) to try it, and after some very scientific testing, the results are in: the average player will likely hit a wall of frustration at some point (which, to be fair, happens in a lot of games, especially roguelikes). But this game? This game made me want to write about it. So... there’s that (it's not even that bad).
Seriously though, it’s a shame in terms of accessibility. It wouldn’t have taken much to make it more welcoming, and I just can’t imagine the developers didn’t notice this flaw (which, again, isn’t the end of the world—I like the game and will keep playing). But still, why? I wonder.
[b] Lastly, a few nitpicks [/b] that I can think of at the moment and that add up:
- The starting gun is just too bad, seriously. I’ve seen water pistols do more damage.
- Sometimes the beat just feels... off? (I know, groundbreaking critique. What else can I say?)
- Please, please add a confirmation button for the restart option in the menu. I tried to change my FOV during my best run to date and accidentally restarted. I am fine, don’t worry. (I’m not fine.)
- I firmly believe that the flying enemies of this game are the digital embodiment of spite, coded by developers who feed on human suffering.
-The difficulty scaling in this game makes no sense—one room is a relaxing picnic, the next is a live reenactment of Dante’s Inferno.
Anyway, I’ll keep playing until I beat the game at least once on Easy and, ideally, on Hard with at least 2-3 characters. Should be totally doable—my sadly erased god-run would have proved it (let me convince myself of that much for now, ok?).
Oh, and just a [b] quick note [/b] : this review took me forever to write (my bad I know). So, if you could... I don’t know, drop a like (I could really use some validation here), a comment, or even better, engage in a lively debate with me about [i] independent FPS rhythm roguelikes with a female protagonist [/i], or anything else really, that’d be great. You know, just a little scholarly exchange to make it all worth it. We're on Steam after all—what else could I ask for?
And really tho, the musics slaps harder than Thor's hammer at a drum solo competition. Well done to Sam Houghton and Joe Collinson!
