Beat Hazard 3

We've seen rhythm games come in various forms and factors over the years, but I'm not sure there's been anything like Beat Hazard 3. The predecessors were met with raised eyebrows, but there's been a growing fanbase for this musically-based sci-fi arcade game. It seems to be getting to a point where the casual gameplay elements are becoming a complete experience.

The upcoming game certainly provides a few thrills and has continually pleased the audience who enjoy the challenge. However, the concept is still peculiar and may have trouble selling its ideas to the less abstract-inclined audience. Beat Hazard 3 has released a demo to attempt to woo a new demographic, but does it succeed?

The Soundtrack to Your Galaxy

So let's go over the general gameplay of Beat Hazard 3 before we delve into the nuances of the new version. You'll control a spaceship tasked with defeating the galaxy's weird and wonderful enemies in the time it takes for a song to complete. There are points awarded to how well you synchronize combat to the music playing. Your ultimate objective is to rack up the highest score possible.

Anyone who hasn't enjoyed playing the Beat Hazard franchise would understandably find this ridiculous. However, there's a certain charm to floating around the universe, destroying everything to the beat of a few tunes. Mechanically simple enough that everyone could get on board and start blasting.

So what's new about Beat Hazard 3? The visual improvements are the most noticeable aspect of the game. However, the most striking feature is that you can now sync your music with gameplay. Any avant-garde sound library you have can now be the soundtrack to your destructive nature, creating the space opera of your dreams.

The humorous aspect of that feature is that you can make gameplay infinitely more difficult for yourself, pending on the musical style. It's an attractive prospect for players looking to customize their arcade game experience with self-inflicted challenges. That and the other improved features of PvP, Co-Op, procedurally generated enemies, and a couple of other tweaks combine to make Beat Hazard 3 an entertaining game.

Don't Stop the Beat

So will Beat Hazard 3 win over the masses? In all honesty, probably not. However, that's not to say that it won't excite existing franchise fans. It will also be an attractive prospect to anybody who enjoys more wild arcade games and those who revel in the idea of a challenge.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Visuals are outstanding and supplement the fast-paced experience
• Great fun adding your music to gameplay
• Improved and upgraded features refine the game's core mechanics.

Cons:

• It won't attract a new player base
• PvP and Co-op feel unrefined at the moment
• Not much added in terms of gameplay from its predecessor