The best rhythm games are "combo mad." They allow players to express themselves, alter their playstyle, and match the beat to their unique tools. The truly great titles—the ones that understand music is more than just playing the right notes in the right order—share more DNA with Devil May Cry or your favorite fighting game than you might expect.
Dead as Disco, a literal beat 'em up from developer Brain Jar Games, fits into that high-octrical space like a well-worn leather jacket. Even in its Early Access launch, the game possesses the sick licks, fancy footwork, and consummate style to be a serious contender. While there are a few notes in this "album" that don't quite hit, it is about as close to all killer, no filler, as an in-progress release can get.
A Resurrection of Rhythm and Mystery
The premise is simple: Charlie Disco was dead to begin with. You must remember that, or the mystery loses its weight. However, Charlie has risen from the grave to reunite his band for one last show.
Following a fatal incident on a world tour, the rest of the band sold their souls to "Harmony" to become mega-idols. Guided by Vice—a floating German skull-as-disco-ball acting as your contract enforcer—your mission is to convince the former bandmates that they were better off as a quintet and uncover who actually killed Disco.
While Dead as Disco isn't heavy on plot, the narrative hooks are effective:
- The mystery of Charlie's death remains central.
- Interactions with characters like Prophet raise compelling questions about betrayal.
- The world-building explores a decade of change following Charlie's demise.
While we won't see the end of this story in Early Access, there is enough intrigue to keep players invested in the fate of the band.
Mastering the Beat: Combat and Gameplay
The real power behind the chords in Dead as Diso is the moment-to-moment joy of beating up enemies to the beat. If you have played Hi-Fi Rush, you will feel right at home. The combat marches to the tempo of the track; if you have the rhythm, timing your attacks, dodges, and counters feels like headbanging to a favorite song.
Every attack lands on the beat, ensuring the combat feels good even if you aren't perfectly in sync. However, playing in time offers massive advantages:
- Increased Damage: Hits land harder when synced with the music.
- Enhanced Defense: Better dodging and countering capabilities.
- Fever Meter: Syncing moves builds a meter for special abilities like Fever Rush, allowing you to use drumsticks as weapons.
The combat system is deep yet accessible. You can chain combos, pull off counters, use takedown tokens to remove enemies from the field, and cancel almost any action into another. While regular enemies are manageable, others require specific tactics, such as breaking shields or watching for lasers.
Boss Fights and Content Variety
The most impressive moments in Dead as Disco are the multi-stage boss fights against each "Idol." These encounters feature wild stage transitions and unique mechanics tailored to the music. Whether it's a punk-rock skull fighting to a version of "Maniac" or a hip-hop battle against Prophet that moves from city streets to a sold-out arena, the presentation is cinematic and stylish.
Currently, the Early Access build offers three primary ways to play:
- Challenges: Tasks designed to teach mechanics or test skills under modified conditions.
- Free Play: Access to 30 available tracks (both licensed and original), with support for user uploads.
- Story Levels: The main progression where you face your former bandmates.
The boss fights aren't without flaws; they can feel unforgiving before you have enough upgrades, occasionally leading to repetitive loops toward the end of long encounters. However, the sheer style and energy of these battles make them a highlight of the experience. As strong as the combat is, the game is still expanding its scope beyond the rhythm-action core, but for now, the "music" is more than enough to keep you playing.
