Just Shapes & Beats

Just Shapes & Beats is just that - shapes and beats. You are a specific square. Your goal is to get a specific triangle. Avoid other shapes to the beat of the beats in a bullet hell fashion for a while to reach your beloved tri-angled friend. It's a simple concept, and a simple game.

Not much to say, but I suppose I could make a few disjoint statements about this game.
  • It seems to be designed as a party game. It basically lists every single form of possible multiplayer option on Steam, and it has a literal party mode, where you can leave it running as background music, and people can go play to the tune of the currently running track, if they wish to. There is no actual gameplay difference to multiplayer though, at least as far as I understood. Couldn't really test.
  • The beats are pretty good.
  • I feel the attacks/hazards aren't telegraphed well enough. On one hand, this lengthens the game by making you have to somewhat memorize a level, and both forcing and allowing you to spend more time listening to each of the tracks. On the other hand, it feels kind of shit to get hit by something you couldn't see coming at all. All the time.
  • It is kind of just a downgrade from regular bullet hell games, because it lacks attacking back, most forms of score measurement, any sort of upgrades, and possibly more. Your movement isn't really tied to the rhythm either, only the enemies' attacks, so the advantage of the music aspect is mostly, but not entirely, lost as well. A-and, well, further... Regular bullet hell games often have pretty good soundtracks anyways, so...

Overall verdict - not recommended. The music is good, but the gameplay is very basic and uninteresting. Might be a bit more fun with friends, but I'd recommend some other bullet hell game instead of this.

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