Rush Bros
Review
An Off-Beat Platformer
by Christopher Coke
reviewed on PC
Music-Driven Levels: Good on Paper
The music underlying each level influences how they play out and can be changed at any time. Unfortunately, the impact of this design varies from the barely perceptible to game-breaking. At its least intrusive, background elements weakly pulse to the beat. At its worst, traps become almost impossible to pass or stop functioning entirely. Obstacles are a key part of any platformer and tying them to the music track seems like a clever idea to make gameplay more dynamic. When it works well, it is hard to notice and feels natural to the experience. The problem is a good beat isn't synonymous with good gameplay. Throughout, you will encounter instances where you need to wait for a break in the music for an obstacle to become passable. On slower movements, they become unnaturally easy. In the face of the extreme challenges above, it is hard not to justify skipping the current track just to make forward progress.
The game also allows you to import your personal music library. This option is a total bust. Tracks, while perhaps too long in the first place, are not dynamic and consistently cut songs short. This robs any sense of satisfaction from the experience; which is too bad, because platforming to levels influenced by your favorite group is a genuinely interesting idea. This problem isn't helped by the grating and unskippable finale music which finishes every level.
Overplayed A/V
With so much banking on the soundtrack, XYLA has delivered. The music underlying each level is diverse, catchy, and well-written. Even as a player who is not fond of techno, I found myself bobbing my head and replaying my favorite songs. Over the game's 40 levels, however, each of these songs will be played ad nauseam. While the soundtrack is very good, there simply aren't enough songs to last the length of the game. The Kickstarter campaign promised additional songs shortly after release, but it is unclear what the state of any DLC may be.
The visuals are initially appealing but soon become underwhelming. The game takes a minimalist approach. Solids colors make up the foreground, and darks contrast with neons to create an industrial, futuristic setting. Backgrounds are often much more detailed and interesting, featuring grand landscapes or rich works of art. If there is a unifying theme among these levels, it would be the use of neon, but it fails to make the world of Rush Bros. feel like a cohesive whole.
Multiplayer and Replayability
Rush Bros. features several options to keep you coming back but none of them provide much replay value. There are two multiplayer modes which allow for local and online split-screen but the experience falls flat. There is no interaction with other players, so racing feels no different than taking on your ghost in single-player. Which, coincidentally, is the other form of replayability. The online community is also bereft of players, so finding a game can be a challenge. Rush Bros. does feature of forty achievements however, so fans of badge-hunting might find some fun in gathering those, but the unfortunate truth is that the game offers a scant few hours of gameplay.
Final Verdict
With a music system that transcended the soundtrack, Rush Bros. would have been immediately appealing. Sadly, what looks good on paper does not always translate into great gameplay. Stretched out levels, punishing design, and imprecise controls make for an experience best avoided. It is a shame because there are some great ideas here, they just need a little more time and development to become consistently fun.
4.0
fun score
Pros
Interesting concept. Some genuinely well-designed levels.
Cons
Levels are too long. Imprecise controls. Punishing difficulty
