BPM: Bullets Per Minute

Originally released in 2020, BPM: Bullets Per Minute found its way into the next generation on October 7th, 2021. The title was released, developed, and published by Awe Interactive and Playtonic Games and was received with generally positive reviews by critics and fans. Currently, the game can be played on the Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, and PCs.

Beats, Blood, Bullets

BPM: Bullets Per Minute is a one-of-a-kind game, it truly feels like a fresh and unique game. Conceptually at least, the game mixes roguelike features, music, and first-person shooters. At first glance, this might be reminiscent of older Doom titles, but once you get into the actual gameplay things become clearly different.

The game tasks players with the control of a Valkyrie, there are a total of ten different playable characters with unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. At first, players are given nothing but a pistol and a dash move, through progression players are able to purchase weapons, power-ups, health refills, and special abilities. Progression comes by defeating the randomly generated rooms which come as challenge rooms, treasure rooms, special rooms, and boss rooms.

Finally, runs are different each and every time, even if you start to recognize rooms and patterns BPM finds a way to throw you off-balance. Especially, with the different boss fights that come slightly altered each and every time. And of course, the different weapons, abilities, and Valkyries all ensure that this game is highly replayable.

Killer Tracks

The name BPM is clearly a reference to “Beats Per Minute”, so it makes sense that music would play such a big part in this game. And here we see a lot of Doom again, the angelical/demonic imagery, the enemies, the gruesome visuals and aesthetic, is complemented by the insanely powerful soundtrack. The soundtrack plays a major role gameplay-wise as your movements need to be executed to the rhythm of the beat. Miss a beat, and you will miss your shots, hit multiple beats in a row, and gain bonuses towards combat.

BPM: Beats Per Minute is a challenging game first and foremost. Players should come in expecting a fun, fast-paced, and action-packed game that is rooted in the unforgiveness of the roguelike genre. Runs can be easy, impossible, or frustrating, but newcomers might not be able to handle losing everything after reaching the third or fourth boss, just to see themselves back at the start without anything.

Summary

BPM: Beats Per Minute is a challenging, and unique game. It has everything needed to appease hardcore gamers while infusing the roguelike genre with unique twists. It isn’t visually stunning, and performance could be smoother sometimes. Level design is well-executed, and there aren’t dull moments basting things, however, enemies might get repetitive, and blend a little too well with the scenery.

PROS

• Action Packed
• Highly Replayable
• Fun Gameplay
• Unique Concepts

CONS

• Unforgiving
• Enemies Blend with Levels Sometimes
• Challenge Is Not For Everyone