Three ideas, two people, one game. That’s the essence of City of Beats, Torched Hill’s rogue-like, rhythm-action, twin-stick shooter, where musicality governs everything. Don’t fret about sloppy timing – this cyberpunk cityscape means feeling the groove, not becoming a maestro.
Your initial blaster locks to quaver beats, and everything else falls into time, from enemy charge-ups to exploding barrels, to your dash mechanic. ‘When’ is as important as ‘how’ you kill android aggressors. Downed foes drop loot to spend in the Hub. Boost your spec through a graphic EQ, unlock better guns, or just sit ‘n’ chill on the bench.
It’s a novel mix of styles that’s more Soulsborne than Bemani, given the unforgiving, relentless action. Never stop, never blink, and always listen for cues. You will die. You will grind. But if you achieve that elusive Zen ‘flow’, you’ll become conductor to a symphony of destruction.
