Beat City

Lore & Background

Production on Beat City took place in mid-to-late 2009 and early 2010. Its release was confirmed for April 2010 on January 12, 2010. The game stars a resident of Beat City named Synchronizer, who loves music. He meets a whale-like alien named Groovy, who gives him a special rhythm device. Synchronizer's hometown is being taken over by an evil music-hating organization called the Cacophony, led by failed opera singer Dame Isolde Minor. With the help of Groovy and his love interest, a girl named Beatrice, he must bring life, color, and happiness back to the city and start a 'rhythm revolution,' while also helping Groovy return to his home planet.

Reader's Guide

Beat City is played with the DS turned sideways, similarly to Rhythm Heaven on the same platform. The action takes place on one screen, while the player uses the stylus on the other. The player proceeds through several stages, each with its own rules. In most games the player plays as Synchronizer, but a few feature other characters. There are three controls: tap, swipe (also known as flicking), and hold. Each stage begins with a black tutorial where the player must figure out what to do. As the player progresses, the stage becomes increasingly colorful and upbeat based on performance. At the end of every day, the player can build a set of stairs to help Groovy Whale get closer to his home planet. Each stage measures quality as a percentage; achieving 80% or higher unlocks a character in the 'Beat Album,' a short profile of characters in the game. The game received mixed to positive reviews. Some called it 'bland' and 'pointless,' and others criticized it for being short or a 'ripoff of' Rhythm Heaven, while others praised its unique plot and characters. One critic said its 'delightful presentation and super catchy chiptune soundtrack will get your toes tapping and your head banging in no time.' NintendoWorldReport gave it an average rating of 7.5/10.

Did You Know?

• Beat City was the first and only video game developed for a handheld system by Universomo.
• The game's plot involves a whale-like alien named Groovy who gives the protagonist a special rhythm device.
• The game is played in standard horizontal orientation on the Nintendo DS.