ROBOBEAT, crafted by Simon Fredholm and Kwalee, brings an electrifying blend of roguelike rhythm shooting action to the PlayStation 5. With its high-octane gameplay, let’s delve into the ROBOBEAT experience.
In this title, you step into the shoes of Ace, a renowned bounty hunter embarking on a wild chase. Your target? The flamboyant robot-showman, Frazzer. His domain is a chaotic, beat-driven playground where every move must align with the rhythm if you want to stand a chance. Staying still is not an option—constant movement is your only lifeline in this procedurally generated world. Align your song choice to your rhythm style and dive into the musical mayhem!
Having previously explored rhythm shooters like Metal: Hellsinger and BPM: Bullets Per Minute, both of which left a lasting impression, I was eager to test ROBOBEAT’s spin on the genre. Excitingly, ROBOBEAT even includes extra tracks from BPM: Bullets Per Minute, as well as from other notable games like DUSK and ULTRAKILL, enriching the overall experience.
The control scheme is intuitive—navigating Ace around with the left stick and aiming with the right feels natural. You can dash, jump, and even perform ground slams with ease using the respective controls. Combat is a rhythmic dance, shooting in sync with the tempo using your left and right weapons. Parrying, weapon charging, and utility usage are equally immersive, keeping you on your toes as you maintain combos.
ROBOBEAT’s arsenal is varied and strategic. The trusty Revolver offers swift shots with potential for headshot criticals, while the Flux shotgun packs a mighty punch up close. The Contact weapon spreads damage to nearby enemies, and the Ping Pong gun causes explosive effects every third shot—perfect for rhythmic creativity in combat.
Success in ROBOBEAT translates to Blips, your in-game currency for unlocking new weapons, upgrades, and rooms. Whether you’re adding to your armament in the shop room, boosting stats in the data-chip room, refining your skills in parkour challenges, or quick-shooting in the target rush room, the variety keeps you engaged. But remember, blueprints are key to unlocking new areas, so find them and bring them back to the workbench.
Trophy hunters will find a comprehensive list to conquer here, complete with a coveted Platinum trophy. It includes tasks like unlocking new areas, defeating bosses, executing precise actions under tight timelines, and amassing in-game wealth. Feel free to consult a ROBOBEAT Trophy Guide for that extra nudge towards completion.
ROBOBEAT’s thrilling roguelike rhythm shooting on PlayStation 5 promises a pulse-pounding challenge. Take on Frazzer’s techno-playground where music dictates your every move and no two levels are the same. With 38 tracks available, alongside bonus songs from BPM, DUSK, and ULTRAKILL, you’ll find plenty of tunes to match your style. Ready to groove to the beat and blast through enemies? ROBOBEAT drops tomorrow for $19.99 on PS5—get ready for a musical showdown like no other.
(Review based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Kwalee.)