Beatbuddy is a psychedelic music action-adventure game in which the gameplay and the music are one in the same
Beatbuddy is billed as the first music action-adventure game ever. This may or may not be true. I can’t say for certain because I’m not exactly sure what constitutes a music action-adventure game. The music action-adventure market is not exactly oversaturated at the moment.
Which is a good thing! Beatbuddy is not just a cheap clone or another piece of shovelware designed to cash in on the App Store. This title looks unique — and I mean that literally. I can’t think of a single game quite like it. Sure, there are a ton of rhythm based games out there, even some rhythm based action games. Remember Rez for the PS2? But as you can see from these screenshots, this is not Rez, and it’s not some cheap Guitar Hero knock off either. Beatbuddy’s ambiance and graphics are somewhat reminiscent of PixelJunk Shooter for the PS3, and yet that doesn’t make for a decent comparison either.
Exactly what is Beatbuddy then? Well, imagine Super Metroid, but instead of exploring tunnels in a suit of armor, you float around in them as funky little spectre who wears headphones. As you traverse these groovy caves, you’ll encounter different obstacles and creatures, all of which are musically inclined.
These in game elements combine to make a beautiful techno song when you move close to them, and they move to the beat. Stone disco balls throb and play kick drum beats. Blue bubbles pop and cause snare hits. Fungal horns toot out jets of air and electro-synth bass lines. And when your funky spectre interacts with these elements, you alter the song… essentially making it your own. You have to see it to believe it. Each level is a song that unfolds as you progress through it, solving puzzles and avoiding baddies along the way.
There’s no official word on which platforms Beatbuddy will hit quite yet, but a playable demo is already on Steam for PC owners. Keep an eye (and ear) out for this one. It should be out next year, and from the looks (and sounds) of it, it will be worth the wait.
