NOISZ Demo

Music is a quintessential part of video games, and some have even received awards for the quality of the soundtrack. The atmosphere depends a lot on the music, since it’s important for the players to feel as immersed in the action as possible. RPGs usually do this a lot better than most other genres, but it really depends on the dedication of the developers.

NOISZ is a rhythm-based shoot ‘em up in which the goal is to survive a clash with powerful alien spaceships and do it all in the rhythm of the music. Keeping up with the beat is very important, because only by doing so you are able to shoot your weapon. The energy pulses and laser beams depend on the music as well, so it’s a pretty engaging experience.

There are multiple songs to choose from when you start a new game, each one of which features a certain BPM, which in turn dictates the difficulty level. It may take you a while to get used to the controls and the mechanics, but it’s a lot easier to get accustomed if you happen to be an audiophile. Granted, it’s not a requirement, so everyone can enjoy the game if you are not aiming for a high score from the first try.

The music that plays in the background is mostly electronic, and not the kind that helps you relax. There are all sorts of dubstep tracks in there, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they are certainly right for this type of game. The beats raise your adrenaline levels almost instantly, which makes it easier to concentrate on being as precise as possible.

Thankfully, the controls are snappy enough not to hinder your progress, since it would be quite frustrating to fight the controls at the same time. Your input is immediately picked up by the ship, although its movements are rather sluggish, which makes it important to think ahead and predict your next few moves. Lastly, the graphics are not bad either, but don’t expect too much in this regard, given the retro style and the basic artwork.

All things considered, NOISZ still has many flaws at the moment, the most important of which is the fact that the levels are rather empty and repetitive. However, this is but an early demo at this point, so the final version is bound to be more polished. You can support the development process by participating in the game’s Kickstarter project.