April 2023 indie developer Dan Da Rocha posted on the social network Twitter a short video with an interesting concept of a shooter in which you have to shoot at a certain rhythm to the music. The video turned out to be very popular, he even noticed it himself Cliff Blesinski, father of series Unreal and Gears, who called the enthusiast’s idea the most innovative in the FPS genre since SUPERHOT… Dan decided to bring his idea to life and began to develop the project Gun jam, but what was his surprise when, literally a month later, another game in the same style was announced – BPM: Bullets Per Minute, and a little later and one more – Metal: Hellsinger… Despite the fact that Gun Jam was announced earlier, it was BPM that managed to hit the jackpot and shoot the very first.
BPM Developers from Awe Interactive wanted not just to create a rhythm shooter, but also to cross it with roguelike elements. As a result, in a genre where it is now very difficult to compete, BPM has managed to stand out both in mechanics and in its original appearance.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute is a rhythmic shooter that looks unusual and at the same time expressive, which may even scare off some players. The screen here is filled with acid colors, and the stylization is made in the spirit of the ancient representatives of the FPS genre.
Despite the sometimes unhurried beat of the melody (90 beats per minute), BPM: Bullets Per Minute is very dynamic, and sometimes it is difficult to perceive clearly what is happening on the screen. And concentration here is the most important thing, since you need not only to be in time, but also to keep the bar without getting lost.
And to the music you have to not only shoot accurately, but even reload, make jerks and use abilities. There are many types of weapons in the project, and they all reload in their own way. Not hitting the beat, the player not only loses the accumulated combo points, but can also get into a hole when the shot is not counted. You will have to dodge without stopping.
The levels of the game are divided into randomly generated rooms, in each of which you will be met by a bunch of enemies who also move and shoot, obeying the will of the soundtrack. As you progress, the resistance becomes stronger, enemies appear that need to be killed in a special way, not to mention unique bosses. Not only different types of weapons, but also pumping help to overcome the latter. Almost in every room there are special altars that improve one of the characteristics of the hero for the currency dropped from enemies, or for the sacrificed health – from increased damage to the range of defeat. Plus, for clearing a room, they give out a chest, which can contain a weapon, an item of equipment or a bottle that restores health.
