Info about Just Shapes & Beats:

Official game description:
  
"Just Shapes & Beats" is a chaotic co-op musical bullet-hell based on three simple things: avoid Shapes, move to the kick-ass Beats, and die, repeatedly. It’s a new spin on the SHMUP genre, adding a layer of cooperation that’s at the core of the game: because everything is better with friends. Play alone or with up to four players, local or online, through the game’s Story Mode or Challenge Runs.  
You like music? **SO. DO. WE.** That's why we have 48 hand crafted stages with licensed tracks from over 20 chiptune and EDM artists.  
Hits like a ton of brick straight into your eardrums and your eyeballs; **BAM**.  
Gather up your squad and play up to 4 player co-op, drop-in drop-out, either all on your couch for a house party, or an online party!  
Don't have/like your friends? WE GOTCHU MY DUDES, make new or BETTER friends by playing a few quick online challenge runs. Let us pick your new best buds for the next hours; strangers are just friends you haven't met yet.  
Kind of a lone wolf, back hurts from carrying people, would rather play with yourself? **Do it**, the game is just as fun, just a different experience waiting for you; ain't nobody judging here yo.  
We have many different game experiences to offer! Story mode helps you learn the ropes with our intermediate-ish tracks and the optional Casual mode. When you think you’re ready, Challenge Runs is where you get to prove yourself: get judged on your skills by playing through randomly picked tracks.  
Need some kind of training montage to get better? Rip off your sleeves and practice the tracks you’re struggling to master in the Playlist.  
Literally the soundtrack for your party! Let the game play in Party Mode and light up your social gatherings, + you can even have people playing those cool party stages while the music plays if they're into that, because WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING.  
So yea, go ahead and throw the most epic party of your life thanks to us, _you are welcome_.

Release date: May 31, 2018

Categories: Bullet-hell, Cooperative Multiplayer, Rhythm Game, Music-based Gameplay, Action, Local Co-op, Online Multiplayer, Party Game


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent Music and Soundtrack (weight 0.95): The game features an outstanding soundtrack with a variety of music styles. Players appreciate the catchy and appealing music, which enhances the gaming experience. The music is synchronized well with the gameplay, making it a key highlight.
- Engaging and Fun Gameplay (weight 0.94): The game is widely praised for its engaging and fun gameplay. Players enjoy the variety of modes, challenging levels, and the overall enjoyable experience. The game is suitable for all ages and can be played casually or with a challenge.
- Beautiful Visual Style (weight 0.92): The game is noted for its beautiful and simple visual style. The graphics are appealing and well-designed, contributing to the overall aesthetic and enjoyment of the game.
- Well-Designed Levels and Bosses (weight 0.91): The levels and bosses in the game are well-designed and challenging. Players appreciate the creativity and variety in level design, as well as the satisfying boss fights.
- Emotional and Interesting Story (weight 0.9): The game features a story that is emotional, interesting, and well-represented. Despite its simplicity, the story is touching and can be understood without words, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Variety of Game Modes (weight 0.9): The game offers a variety of modes including story mode, challenge mode, and party mode. These modes provide different experiences and cater to various player preferences, enhancing replayability.
- Accessible and Inclusive Gameplay (weight 0.89): The game includes features like casual mode, photosensitive mode, and adjustable difficulty levels, making it accessible to a wider audience. This inclusivity is appreciated by players.
- Positive Community and Multiplayer (weight 0.86): The game has a positive community and offers enjoyable multiplayer experiences. Players can engage in cooperative multiplayer, online modes, and local co-op, adding to the game's social appeal.
- Good Value for Money (weight 0.85): Players feel that the game offers good value for its price, especially when on sale. The amount of content, replayability, and overall quality make it a worthwhile purchase.
- Low System Requirements (weight 0.77): The game has low system requirements, making it accessible to players with less powerful hardware. This is seen as a positive aspect, allowing more people to enjoy the game.

Common complaints:
- Game difficulty issues (weight 0.4): The game has varying difficulty levels, with some levels being too hard and others too easy. Players report frustration with certain bosses and levels, while others find the game overall not challenging enough.
- Short game length (weight 0.39): Many players feel that the game is too short, with the story mode being completed quickly. This leaves players wanting more content and feeling that the game lacks depth.
- Lack of updates and support (weight 0.37): Players are dissatisfied with the slow update speed and feel that the developers have abandoned the game. This includes the lack of new content and major updates.
- Missing features (weight 0.36): The game lacks several features that players desire, such as a level editor, workshop, and chat system. These missing features contribute to a feeling of incomplete gameplay experience.
- Visual and auditory strain (weight 0.36): The game's visuals, particularly the flashing lights and vivid colors, can be straining and potentially harmful to some players. Additionally, the music and sound effects may not appeal to everyone.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.34): The gameplay can become repetitive, with players having to replay the same levels and tracks frequently. This repetitiveness can lead to boredom and a lack of engagement.
- Specific level and boss complaints (weight 0.32): Players have specific complaints about certain levels and bosses, finding some particularly difficult or frustrating. This includes issues with hitboxes, controls, and the design of certain levels.
- Technical issues (weight 0.3): There are reports of minor bugs and technical issues, such as lag during phases and problems with hitboxes. These issues can affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Misleading game tags (weight 0.01): The game has been tagged as a rhythm game, which some players find misleading. This can lead to disappointment and frustration for players expecting a different type of gameplay.

Gameplay feedback:
- Music and Rhythm Integration (weight 0.49): Music plays a central role in the gameplay, with levels and enemies reacting to the beat of the music. The game features a variety of tracks and requires players to dodge obstacles in sync with the music.
- Challenging Difficulty (weight 0.47): The game offers a range of difficulties, from casual to hardcore modes. The gameplay is initially challenging but becomes easier over time as players get familiar with the mechanics and timing.
- Achievements and Replayability (weight 0.46): The game includes an achievements system that encourages replayability. Players can unlock new levels and songs by completing challenges and achieving high ranks, adding depth and longevity to the game.
- Cooperative Multiplayer (weight 0.45): The game supports up to 4-player cooperative multiplayer, both online and offline. Players can enjoy the game together, reviving each other and earning extra bonuses, which adds a social and strategic element to the gameplay.
- Minimalist Art Style (weight 0.45): The game features a minimalist art style with vibrant and artistic visuals. The use of geometric shapes and simple graphics creates a unique and visually appealing experience.
- Intuitive Controls (weight 0.44): The game features easy-to-understand controls and intuitive mechanics. The movement and dash mechanics are simple to learn but require skill to master, making the game accessible yet challenging.
- Varied Game Modes (weight 0.44): The game offers multiple modes including story mode, playlist mode, challenge mode, and multiplayer mode. Each mode provides a unique experience, catering to different player preferences and enhancing replayability.
- Boss Battles (weight 0.42): The game includes boss battles that are challenging and can take 10-20 minutes to complete. These battles are a highlight of the game, offering unique and intense gameplay experiences.
- Nostalgic and Unique Gameplay (weight 0.08): The game combines elements of rhythm and bullet-hell genres, creating a unique and nostalgic experience. The gameplay is synchronized to music, offering a fresh take on traditional bullet-hell mechanics.
- Adrenaline-Pumping Action (weight 0.02): The game features adrenaline-pumping action with intense levels and challenging obstacles. The combination of music and fast-paced gameplay creates an exciting and immersive experience.

Performance notes:
- Low system requirements (weight 0.05): The game has very lightweight system requirements and can run on low-end hardware, including older laptops and systems with less RAM than specified.
- Incredible general performance (weight 0.02): The game is praised for its amazing performance, running smoothly on various systems.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for various gamers (weight 0.23): The game is recommended for a wide range of players, including those who enjoy rhythm games, bullet hell games, electronic music, and engaging stories. It is praised for its visual style, catchy music, and variety of modes, making it appealing to different types of gamers.
- Recommended for music and rhythm game lovers (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for those who enjoy music and rhythm games. It is praised for its unique experience of dodging projectiles and discovering good music, appealing to both casual and competitive players.
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.08): Many reviews suggest that the game is worth buying, particularly when it is on sale. It is considered a good value for its visual and audiovisual experience, and it is recommended for chaotic parties and for its level editor and community levels.
- Good for relaxation and various age groups (weight 0.03): The game is suitable for relaxation and is enjoyed by various age groups, including kids, teens, and adults. It offers a variety of music that caters to different tastes.
- Casual mode for beginners (weight 0.03): The game offers a casual mode that is recommended for beginners or those who prefer a more relaxed gaming experience. This mode makes the game accessible to a wider audience.
- Story mode and photosensitive mode (weight 0.02): Players recommend completing the story mode first and toggling photosensitive mode for those with eye conditions. These features enhance the gaming experience and make it more accessible.
- Desire for more content (weight 0.01): Some players express a desire for more songs and an official level editor, indicating that they enjoy the game and want additional content to extend their experience.
- Playing with friends can be intense (weight 0.01): Playing with a friend might be a bit nerve-wracking, suggesting that the game can be challenging and intense, especially in multiplayer mode.
- Wants more visibility for the game (weight 0.01): Some players want more people to know about the game, indicating that they believe it deserves more attention and recognition.
- Recommendation for similar games (weight 0.01): Players recommend checking out similar games like The Pink Corruption if they enjoy this game, suggesting that fans of this game might also appreciate other titles in the same genre.
- Mental health benefits (weight 0.01): The game is worth picking up for its mental health benefits, indicating that it can be a positive and therapeutic experience for players.
- Stress-free introduction (weight 0.01): The game offers a great and stress-free introduction, making it accessible and enjoyable for new players.
- Long game time (weight 0.01): The game provides a long game time, indicating that it offers extensive content and replayability.

Other player notes:
- Epilepsy warning needed (weight 0.02): Players report potential issues with flashing lights or visuals that could trigger seizures. This suggests the game may lack sufficient warnings for photosensitive individuals.
- Controller recommendation (weight 0.01): Some players suggest using a PS5 controller for an optimal gaming experience. This indicates potential advantages in gameplay or comfort with this specific controller.

Emotions:
- Joy (weight 0.22): Players experience joy from the game's engaging multiplayer modes, both online and with friends, which create fun and hilarious interactions. The exceptional music, combined with enjoyable gameplay and a visually appealing art style, also significantly contributes to this positive emotion.
- Excitement (weight 0.18): The game's unique and challenging gameplay, combined with its excellent music and multiplayer features, generates excitement among players. The anticipation of potential updates, a level editor, and the desire for more story mode content also add to this excitement.
- Frustration (weight 0.09): Frustration primarily stems from the game's difficulty, including tough levels, boss battles, and a steep difficulty curve. Additional frustrations include game lag, difficult achievements, and the lack of cross-play.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players enjoy the game due to its fun and challenging gameplay, complemented by an amazing soundtrack. The combination of engaging mechanics, enjoyable music, and a casual yet rewarding experience contributes to this enjoyment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Satisfaction comes from the game's challenging yet rewarding gameplay, where players feel accomplished after completing difficult levels or achieving flawless runs. The high-quality graphics, gameplay, and audio also meet or exceed player expectations.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): The game evokes nostalgia through its music and gameplay, reminding players of past experiences and other games they have enjoyed. Long-time followers of the game also feel nostalgic as it brings back memories from earlier years.
- Love (weight 0.04): Players love the game for its exceptional art style, soundtrack, and the effective combination of story and rhythm gameplay. The community and overall qualities of the game make it a favorite among many.
- Disappointment (weight 0.02): Disappointment arises from the game not meeting expectations in terms of difficulty and value for money. Players also feel let down by the lack of updates and the perception that the developers have abandoned the game.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Sadness is felt due to the game no longer receiving major updates and the cancellation of the level editor. Players also express sadness over the game's lack of popularity and its perceived abandonment by the developers.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): The game surprises players with its depth and mechanics, exceeding their expectations. The story, with its plot twists and fourth wall breaks, also adds an element of surprise.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): The game provides an enjoyable and relaxing gameplay experience, allowing players to unwind and have fun in a casual setting.}