Beat Hazard

 PC
Beat Hazard Image
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 185 Ratings

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  • Summary: Experience your music collection like never before with this intense music driven arcade shooter. Each of your songs will have its own unique ebb and flow based on the music. Power up your spaceship and watch as the music boosts your firepower. Unleash hell on the enemy ships when you maxExperience your music collection like never before with this intense music driven arcade shooter. Each of your songs will have its own unique ebb and flow based on the music. Power up your spaceship and watch as the music boosts your firepower. Unleash hell on the enemy ships when you max out with weapon pickups! Beat Hazard seamlessly mixes the love of gaming and music. Together they become greater than the sum of their parts.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. AtomicGamer
    80
    With some new social features, online play, or even some adjustments that more closely tie in the arrangement of enemies with the pace of the music, Beat Hazard's value could ascend well beyond the $10 asking price.
  2. IGN
    76
    Beat Hazard is a short and sweet ten-dollar investment that is given solid longevity as long as you like the tunes in your music library.
  3. PC Gamer UK
    76
    A slog that's worthwhile for arcade and music lovers alike. [July 2010, p.76]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. GameSpot
    70
    This dual-stick shooter gives you a fun new way to listen to your favorite bands.
  5. PC Zone UK
    69
    There's not enough reason to come back after the initial wow factor from the visuals wears off. [July 2010, p.90]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Gamervision
    68
    The best thing Beat Hazard has going for it is the price. At $9.99 it's easy to recommend the title to anyone with the means to play it, as it provides a new way to experience music.
  7. PALGN
    60
    Beat Hazard has a brilliant premise, which is sadly let down by uninspired gameplay and lacklustre presentation. Still, if you're a fan of twin-stick shooters and love music, then this game is for you.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 42
  3. Negative: 2 out of 42
  1. blizbiggy
    Jan 18, 2011
    10
    This game is awesome. It is similar to asteroids but the gun fires at the beat of the music making it very challenging. The lights areThis game is awesome. It is similar to asteroids but the gun fires at the beat of the music making it very challenging. The lights are trippy at night and the overall gameplay is great.… Expand
  2. iEatwe
    Nov 2, 2011
    10
    This game is worth the buy. Visual effects are gorgeous. A must play if you like these types of games. I hope you like to upgrade thingsThis game is worth the buy. Visual effects are gorgeous. A must play if you like these types of games. I hope you like to upgrade things because in this game you got a lot of choices to choose from at the start.… Expand
  4. Dyer
    Apr 29, 2010
    9
    If you like old school arcade style games like Asteroids, Galaxian, and Galaga, this is a great new take on the genre. Waves of enemies that If you like old school arcade style games like Asteroids, Galaxian, and Galaga, this is a great new take on the genre. Waves of enemies that are determined by the music you choose as well as the power of your weapons make a cool addition to this play style.… Expand
  5. rodny220
    Sep 30, 2011
    8
    Yes this game is really awesome .A perfectly game the multiplayer have small bugs but this is nothing . AudioSurf vs Beat Hazard = Beat hazard win :D
  6. ChosenUndead99
    Apr 29, 2018
    7
    This bullet hell shooter has a unique feature that keeps me coming back for more! This feature is the ability to use your own songs in aThis bullet hell shooter has a unique feature that keeps me coming back for more! This feature is the ability to use your own songs in a level. The enemies that spawn depend on what song is played.… Expand
  7. JonesR
    Jul 19, 2011
    7
    If you like listening to music while inducing photosensitive seizures, this is likely the right game for you--it is seriously visuallyIf you like listening to music while inducing photosensitive seizures, this is likely the right game for you--it is seriously visually intense. Combine Asteroids and Robotron together and you've summed up the game play of Beat Hazard. In addition to achievements and perks, the game offers single player, coop, and versus elements to keep it from getting stale. Music is typically supposed to be relaxing...this game is anything but.… Expand
  8. IanHeres
    Aug 10, 2011
    4
    Beat Hazard is a neat idea that hasn't quite pulled it off. I like this kind of 2d-space-shooter thing and I love music, so I thought I wouldBeat Hazard is a neat idea that hasn't quite pulled it off. I like this kind of 2d-space-shooter thing and I love music, so I thought I would like this a lot more. But it ends up feeling like AudioSurf's rambunctious little brother.

    The biggest problem is that it's too damn bright and flashy. As in, it actually hurts my eyes to play this thing for more than a few minutes. Everything seems to have bright white sparkles and bursts. It's ridiculous. Even with the brightness settings turned all the way down, it's annoying. I shouldn't need sunglasses to play a video game.

    Once you get past that, it's just not that great at mapping the gameplay to the music. Audiosurf does a good job of making fast songs fast and crowded while slow songs are more leisurely. Beat Hazard just doesn't seem to differentiate the songs as much. Maybe it depends on what sort of music you put into it, but it wasn't working for me.

    On a positive note, the "earn points to unlock things" is kind of neat and one way to make players want to come back for more.

    Long story short, if you can get past the obnoxious flashing of the screen and really, really want to shoot some spaceships and asteroids while listening to your music, it might be worth the $5 or so it costs when it's on sale. I personally don't recommend it, though.    … Expand

See all 42 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Best PC Game of 2010
51
#51 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010

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