![]() ![]() It’s one of the more creative rhythm games I’ve seen, with a number of fun twists on the basic format (although one person’s creative is another person’s “gimmicky”!)Īnyway, the Steam page says it’s out next Friday, and the game’s own website says “EARLY ACCESS COMING TO STEAM FEBRUARY 2021“ so I’ve made this little thread in the hope that it doesn’t slip! The website also has a “demo” link but this goes to the original Flash concept. The one-button format sounds like it would get easy, or boring, but the amount of variety on display makes me keen to see what the full game will offer, and trying to complete songs in the demo without making mistakes is pretty challenging. The dev linked me to a “preorder demo” a while ago after I sent a donation (because I had played the browser demo so much and wanted to give back) and to me it feels like a Rhythm Paradise minigame that never existed, and one that has been iterated on enough times to make a whole game out of it. Every patient has a unique rhythmic ailment and their own storylines.” The video also explains the two-player mode and the concept of boss levels. It’s one of the best quality rhythm games I have seen in a very long time, and it is my favourite game of the year thus far.For those who can’t watch YouTube videos: “Rhythm Doctor is a one-button rhythm game where you save patients by hitting your button on the 7th beat. Having said that, I still think this an absolute top-shelf game in its current state. ![]() I am excited for more content, and a conclusion to Rhythm Doctor’s story. As of writing, Rhythm Doctor intends to be in Early Access for around a year. Further work is being done to bring the co-op side of the gameplay up to speed. There is also a level editor, allowing you to make custom levels that will gain features, including an in-game tutorial, over the Early Access period. I’d guess two more acts remain based on the percentage completed. There isn’t an explicit line about the amount of remaining content. As of writing, there are four acts of the game’s story mode. It is worth keeping in mind that Rhythm Doctor is still in Early Access. A lot of work has put into everything you see and hear. It’s a weird, wonderful, Elite Beat adjacent feel to the narrative meshing with the music. These range from cheesy love EDM tracks to acoustic narrative pieces about the stress of working a hospital shift. This all wonderfully complements the stories on offer. The songs are phenomenal with a lot of different styles and moods. The pixel visuals are a sight to behold, but the audio is the centrepiece. Suffice to say, as straightforward as the game may seem, there’s a lot of tricks on offer that Rhythm Doctor can challenge you with.Īll this doesn’t even touch on the production values. Each level also has a “night shift”, an unlockable challenge version of the level. Later levels have you take on multiple patients, requiring you to track multiple rhythmic lines simultaneously. Beats may skip or “swing”, meaning the beat lengths vary. ![]() Gameplay works on establishing similarly simple rhythmic gestures and then throwing you off the scent. ![]() But of course, this makes it all the more challenging to your internal metronome. Firstly, hot damn this is crazy glitchy music so that’s a plus. Under the pretence of a “WiFi blocking virus”, the game glitches out the audio and video. But the work to distract, to confound and to throw off isn’t just set dressing, it’s where the game shines. Most of the gameplay levels are this basic. The first iteration is simple: Here are six beats, tap out the seventh. The entire gameplay is single button taps, space for solo play, and the shifts for co-op. The developers took inspiration from the work of Rhythm Heaven’s simple tap, life and flick approach to gameplay. It’s astonishing that a game so stripped back would shoot to the top of my GOTY radar. In a year that many predict will be rather empty, Rhythm Doctor is a game that in any year would be a true standout achievement. Such is the case of the recent Early Access debut: Rhythm Doctor. It can be the foundation of something spectacular. Indie projects of all mediums need this, the ability to do a lot with only a little bit of work. The mark of a great independent title is core gameplay that is simple but effective. It almost feels like too simple of an idea to get off the ground. In fact, if I didn’t stumble upon Rhythm Doctor in one of the many Steam Demo Events, I would have missed it entirely. There are so many quality independent titles, that its invariable that some may slip past the radar. 2021 is definitely a year for indies to shine. ![]()
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