Developed by ShadowRage
Released for XBLIG (10/2009)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC
Beat Hazard is a twin-stick shooter featuring levels that are randomly generated by the music track playing in the background. It also allows you to use your own music, making for some hefty replay value. The controls are good other than the ship's movement being a tad loose, where you kind of drift rather than come to a stop when letting off the stick. It's not a game-breaker and once you get used to the handling it's not a major issue. Beat Hazard's graphics are impressive and flashy, though anybody who experiences seizures from flashing images should steer clear of this one. The background contains a visualizer that pulsates to the beat of the music and the intensity of enemy waves ramps up with the music. The fact that you can load your own music into the game in addition to several tracks provided in the game from the get-go really makes Beat Hazard a sweet deal, even considering it retails for $4.99. However, you may want to get it on PC for easier access to your files. On the Xbox 360 version, if you don't have your music on your hard drive you'll have to link up with your computer via Windows Media Player, which is a program that has been discontinued in Windows 10 (but you can still download the old program if you search around).
Beat Hazard is a nice take on the twin-stick shooter genre and it would have been cool to see it ported over to XBLA. The game would see an updated version titled Beat Hazard Ultra for several systems in 2011, but due to the developer struggling to release the title to XBLA with no luck, it took the game until 2013 before it was finally released for XBLIG. Beat Hazard Ultra adds new enemies, bosses, weapons, tighter controls and a new boss rush mode as well so you would probably be better off just getting that version.
Final Verdict: Beat Hazard is an excellent twin-stick shooter with levels generated from music. The game allows you to load your own music for massive replay value.
Related Links:
Beat Hazard - GameFAQs
Beat Hazard on PC - Steam
Beat Hazard Ultra on PC - Steam
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