Introduction

Within the first 3 minutes of the Beat Slayer demo, I found myself bobbing to the beat, slashing through robots in time with the music. Beat Slayer turns music and rhythm into a power-up in this rhythm-based roguelike hack’n’slay game.

Set in a dystopian Berlin of the ’90s, releasing in 2024, and developed by ByteRockers’ Games, it offers rhythm-based gameplay where players battle against hordes of robots. Available on Steam for PC, more information and the game link can be found on Steam.

Gameplay Overview

We’re taken back to the ’90s, in a Berlin overtaken by Dietrich. Through his apparently terrible music, the villain has turned all human brains to mush. A small group of rebels, moving underground, counteract with headphones and good music. Mia, the protagonist, declares war on Dietrich, not just to free humanity but also to rescue her brother Toni, held captive in the broadcasting tower. After a brief story intro, we’re immediately up against the first robot.

Equipped with a cleaver and headphones, we’re introduced to the innovation of beat and flow. The more we stay in rhythm with the in-game music, the faster our ultimate ability charges, and our attacks become more effective. With the first robot, I started bobbing in front of my screen to “feel” the beat. After clearing the stage, we’re given the choice of permanent upgrades to take to the next stage. Defeated enemies sometimes drop bonuses like double damage, though these are, understandably, temporary for the stage.

Upon defeat by the robots, we retreat to the underground, our main base, where we find quests, upgrades, slushies, weapons, and Botty, our training dummy, for me, “dance teacher”. The initial quests double as a tutorial, guiding us through the systems and various station’s in the base.

After familiarizing ourselves with everything and everyone, we start the classic roguelike gameplay loop: emerge to the surface -> smash robots in rhythm -> die, upgrade, rinse and repeat. For the rhythmically challenged among you, worry not; the options include a “Rhythm Assistant” so you can dismantle robots without a sense of rhythm.

Graphics and Audio

The characters are outlined, giving off a Borderlands vibe, with a comic style that’s subtly fitting and unobtrusive. The artwork of Beat Slayer is impressive, showing attention to detail and creativity in each character and enemy.

For a music-centric hack’n’slay, the music must be good. Oddly, the music fades into the background, focusing only on the beat until, when in the flow, the music isn’t really noticed. The voice acting and lines are humorous, again showing the care ByteRockers has put into the audio aspect.

User Experience

Beat Slayer can be played with both a controller and mouse/keyboard, with simple controls. The UI is clear, featuring a “metronome” as an indicator for hitting or missing the beat. Combos are displayed, as well as health and ultimate charge bars.

Personal Experience and Opinion

All mentioned relates to the demo version, so changes are expected. However, the core concept and flow of the game are palpably evident. The courage to innovate and create unique assets is commendable. If you enjoy hack’n’slays, flow states, and music, Beat Slayer will likely appeal. The attention ByteRockers’ team has given the game is apparent, and I look forward to the full version. I recommend downloading the DEMO VERSION and experiencing the flow state for yourself.

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