Abstract
Backbeat is now out there for buy on XboxExperience a contemporary mashup of the puzzle and technique genresRelive a homage to basic Nineteen Nineties ensemble dramedies
That is my second title launching on Xbox and it’s actually cool to see how a lot our firm has grown since Hexagroove: Tactical DJ in 2020. The primary time round was an amazing expertise however there was a lot extra I wished make extra accessible and welcoming. In Backbeat we designed the interface from the bottom up for 4K and scalable throughout all members of the Xbox gadget household. The video games we design at Ichigoichie are constructed on mashing up genres and deriving our gameplay mechanics from musical idea. This was at instances a little bit overwhelming in Hexagroove, so I labored onerous to portion out new mechanics in Backbeat by way of a wider portion of the sport. A lot in actual fact you’ll nonetheless be studying new methods greater than three quarters by way of the principle marketing campaign!
Backbeat is at first look a turn-based sokoban puzzle sport. You have got a band of as much as 4 characters and should get all of them to the aim inside a restricted variety of turns. Every character strikes in another way presenting distinctive challenges. After some ranges we introduce time mechanics to the combination, and also you’ll must synchronize every character’s timeline with the others, working collectively to unblock obstacles on the trail to the aim. Lastly, we add 4 shared sources you could handle whereas navigating house and time. Which turns you select to vary course or work together with the setting trigger these sources to extend or lower. Maximize the sources and also you get a excessive rating. Run out of sources, and also you’re in a failure state. Thankfully, rewinding the turns of every character individually is feasible to permit incremental enhancements to your puzzle options.
One factor I wished so as to add to Backbeat was a narrative to inspire your decisions and set the stakes. The setting is 1995 in suburban Washington, D.C. and has lots of callouts to the final days of the analog period earlier than the arrival of the web. The narrative is a homage to ensemble 90s dramedies like “With Honors”, “The Commitments”, and “College of Rock”. Heroine Watts is doing her greatest to carry collectively a band of novice funk musicians and contending with all of the struggles of collaborative creation: inflated egos, clashing character varieties, and exterior obligations to work and household. A various forged of characters exists in every of the 2 major bands, and I hope you will discover one which speaks to you.
When you’re a fan of puzzle video games, turn-based technique, or story-rich retro experiences, then I feel there’s one thing so that you can respect, and plenty of extra novel options to find. Begin with the free demo of Backbeat and I hope you could have some funky enjoyable!
Backbeat
Ichigoichie
$29.99
$26.99
A mashup of puzzle and technique video games. Manipulate 4 threads of time to information your band by way of sokoban-style puzzles. Handle squad sources over a set of restricted turns. Expertise a homage to Nineteen Nineties ensemble dramedies. Customise the dynamic soundtrack with audio results.
=== STORY ===
Stephanie “Watts” Watson, an aspiring bassist, bounced from audition to audition by no means discovering music that actually resonated along with her, that’s, till she found the magic of funk. Caught up within the groove, she recruits a gaggle of hometown amateurs to tackle artwork college darlings La Tormenta on the Battle of the Bands.
=== MECHANICS ===
Every character in your band strikes by way of the map in several methods, encountering distinctive options and obstacles. Advancing a personality consumes a flip and a part of the timeline, organising interactions with different characters and enemies at totally different deadlines. Rewinding a flip undoes your transfer, permitting you to seek out improved options and new methods to sort out issues.
Manipulate every character individually, rewinding or fast-forwarding alongside the timeline within the course of to achieve her present cut-off date. Modifications in time are mirrored within the progress and actions each previous and current of every character, creating some prospects and eradicating others.
Every character has his personal resource-limited tremendous transfer which may be triggered below sure circumstances. Tip toe by way of tight areas together with your bassist, slide by way of guards together with your keytar participant, break by way of partitions together with your drummer, or blow enemies out of the best way together with your mighty tremendous sax. Strategic use of your tremendous strikes improve the variety of options to every puzzle and are the important thing in gaining a most rating.
4 resource-based musical metrics govern how and when you may transfer and work together with objects within the ranges. These can fully block progress if used inefficiently, and create wonderful musical chains and excessive scores when regulated artfully.
=== MUSIC ===
Be a part of Watts as she grows on a musical journey rooted in funk and fusion. Soulful grooves and scorching licks are composed by Pete Fraser, session saxophonist to the The Pogues, Pleasant Fires, and Subject Music! Twenty musical motifs are recorded by a stay ensemble of seven funk masters, offering the inspiration for the dynamic music within the sport. Distinctive songs are generated relying on what instructions and paths you soak up every puzzle. Customise your efficiency with alternate enjoying kinds, devices swaps, and realtime audio impact pedals.
=== CONCEPT ===
Backbeat is a homage to the 16 and 32-bit story-driven video games of the Nineteen Nineties, recreating the challenges and victories of the final days of analog life and the start of the web. The suburban Washington D.C. space is mirrored in diner parking heaps, procuring malls, and dimly lit arcades.
A colourful forged of supporting characters each good friend and foe be a part of Watts as she struggles with management, success, and holding collectively a band.
