BPM: Bullets Per Minute

 Xbox One
Metascore
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No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. TheXboxHub
    Oct 20, 2021
    70
    I don’t mind a challenge, but the difficulty is mind-blowing, the mechanics are hard to get used to, and BPM: Bullets Per Minute is just so unforgiving, both in terms of rhythm and combat, that it’s hard to find much enjoyment. That said, the concept is great yet whilst the idea seems like a good one, in execution it’s tougher to sell.
  2. Pure Xbox
    Oct 5, 2021
    70
    Despite its shortcomings, we were always drawn to come back for 'one more run'. It nails the roguelite gameplay hook and has a unique gameplay mechanic to support it all. While it at times feels as though the game's fighting against you when everything comes together, there's nothing quite like it. Clearing a room of monsters in time to the guitar shredding soundtrack never gets old and the constant progression of unlocking new characters and skills is an incentive to keep trying. It's not a home run, but those who buy into BPM: Bullet Per Minute's charm will certainly have a good time.

User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 3 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Xbox_Alive
    Oct 7, 2021
    8
    BPM: Bullets Per Minute had Doom as an influence from the vibe i get, something that becomes increasingly obvious the further I progress inBPM: Bullets Per Minute had Doom as an influence from the vibe i get, something that becomes increasingly obvious the further I progress in the game. Constant movement is useful and almost necessary as the rooms are often be crammed full of enemies with many lunging or shooting projectiles. The problem is that Doom has a rhythm all of its own. A constant, urgent rhythm that keeps you on edge until danger has passed. Forcing this into the middle of an entirely different rhythm dictated by music is disorienting at first. The result is that the player is required to dance to two different beats simultaneously, making the game perfect for those seeking a challenge. I truly struggled with this style gameplay. The game was best (for me) when the heart of the rhythm mechanic is taken from the experience. Turning on auto-rhythm unshackles my weapons from the soundtrack. Suddenly, I am a master of disaster and mowing down everything in sight. I can really appreciate the variety in the weapons and lore to be found. Boss fights become challenges I enjoy rather than dread to the beat. Game modifiers that BPM identifies as "challenges" can be unlocked, but the game doesn’t explain how. One I accidentally gained access to is "full auto", which truly brings the game to life. Difficulty defaults on Hard, but all weapons have auto fire, and there’s no worry about the rhythm mechanic. The rogue-like design is a much more powerful influence on the experience than the rhythm shooting. There are no permanent advantages to earn. No shortcuts, no new starting weapons, no increased health, no increased base stats. There are stats in BPM by the way. Elements such as range, damage, and movement speed can be increased by offering coins to the randomly placed statues scattered across each dungeon. Coins, with which you can also purchase weapons and items from the two shopkeepers, are a good example of how BPM struggles with the concept of ordered chaos so integral to the rogue-like experience. The one thing you can transfer between runs is coins, by a very randomly generated bank. While each dungeon will feature both shopkeepers, the bank seems much rarer. It’s almost never there when I see to have plenty of gold, and usually not seen when I need to withdraw. The weapon distribution and abilities could do with a little more randomization themselves. There are some fantastic things to buy and find, but the best stuff tends to be distributed on an all or nothing basis. Bosses have more dangerous variations that can be generated, too. Fighting two at once with the base pistol isn’t ideal, that I promise you. The dungeons themselves have variations, and these should be lumped in with the challenges as well. I don’t mind being surprised, but suddenly having enemies take and deal extra damage thrust into the fray seems a bit unjust. That’s something you should choose to take, not stumble into partway through your great runs. For all its flaws, there’s many more wins in BPM: Bullets Per Minute, even though most of it is detached from the central rhythm mechanic in play. There’s a lot of rock-infused riffs to fire away to, and i actually like everything thats good here even if it is insanely difficult. If BPM sounds like your cup of tea hen head on over to the Xbox digital games store and give it a download today. The price may seem a bit steep at a glance but there’s plenty of game here for the price of admission so don't fear the reaper.… Full Review »