Dead as Disco Review

Dead as Disco: Dancing through the afterlife.

There have been times when rhythm games and beat-'em-ups have come together, but few games have managed to create something truly stylish, fun to play, and full of personality. That's exactly what Brain Jar Games' first game, Dead as Disco, tries to do. Unlike just adding music to normal fighting, the developers created an experience where music is the heartbeat of every fight, every animation, and every level change.

The end result is a bright, neon-filled action game that looks like Sifu ran into Hi-Fi Rush head-on and tried to channel the over-the-top energy of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Dead as Disco tries to be both easy to play and deep, unlike many other independent rhythm games that rely on strict timing windows and punishing rules.

Players take on the role of Charlie Disco, a famous drummer and music star who seems to have returned from the dead after 10 years.

When Charlie wakes up in the Encore, a strange club that looks like purgatory, he finds that his old teammates, who are now called the Idols, are hostile performers in weird music-themed arenas. His goal is easy in theory but hard to carry out: get the band back together for one last show, even if it means dancing, punching, and kicking his way through hordes of enemies.

What makes Dead as Disco stand out right away is their confidence. The game is stylish from the moment the main menu loads. As the music plays, Charlie snaps his fingers and taps his foot in time with it. Neon lights pulse across the screen. It makes it clear right away what mood the creators are going for. This isn't a stable action game. It's loud, flashy, silly, and doesn't say sorry for any of those things.

In terms of plot, Dead as Disco feels more like the first act of a bigger show than a full story right now. The story and world-building are disjointed, but since the game is in early access, there’s enough mystery to keep gamers fascinated. The game is purposefully shrouded in mystery over the return of Charlie Disco. Who shot Charlie? Why is he having trouble with his old friends? What does Encore mean? Unanswered questions make the world seem like a dream, reality continuously shifting.

Worlds are fantastic ways for games to tell stories. Each stage is like a strange music video run by fame, vanity, and celebrity culture. One minute, players are fighting enemies in a bright metro stop; the next, on fast-moving trains or in strange cosmic arenas with shifting music and ambiance. The Idols’ personalities make each level unique and memorable.

The setting is interesting, yet the plot is at times confused and unfinished. Dialogue and graphics can give you the feeling that you missed the first season of a TV show. Characters communicate as if players should already know their pasts and relationships, undermining the drama. The game has issues, but its style and mood make up for them. The tale needs further development, as the game is still in development.

Despite current issues, the tone is great. Writing may be insane without losing reason. The game knows it's silly and plays on that energy with ease. Charlie is a charismatic main character whose movements, poses, and swagger make him likable right away, even before the story fully explains what drives him.

Dead as Disco is a rhythm-based beat 'em up game where almost everything you do is timed with the music. Combat is all about keeping up with the beat and keeping your pace while destroying enemies in a stylish way. In most rhythm games, missing a note stops the game, but in Dead as Disco, players can hit whenever they want, no matter what the timing is. But landing strikes exactly on beat makes them more powerful, more impressive to look at, and more likely to score.

This design choice makes the game surprisingly easy to get into.

New players can enjoy the spectacular combat without worrying about failing, while experienced players can aim to earn high scores and polish their rhythm chains to maximize them. Fighting feels like planned dance routines since every punch, kick, dodge, parry, and finisher is timed to the music. The fighting method itself is based on ideas from Sifu and the Arkham series.

Charlie can use light attacks, alternate strikes that are based on his Fever meter, dodges, counterattacks, takedowns, and special moves. When enemies are about to attack, they send out prompts that require quick responses. This keeps players alert while keeping their beat. You'll feel really good when you successfully counter or dodge on beat because the game reinforces those times with powerful sound and visual effects.

Fever Rush is one of the most unique ideas. By attacking and staying angry, players build a meter that can temporarily improve all their actions. During Fever Rush, battles move faster, are easier, and look even more disorganized. It makes those thrilling times when everything comes together, and the player feels like they are one with the music.

The custom music system is another great tool. Players can add their own songs to the game and change the beats per minute by hand. This lets them pretty much make their own battle experiences by using their own playlists. Surprisingly well, the game can be played while listening to heavy metal, synthwave, hip-hop, or pop.

This alone makes Dead as Disco a very fun game to play again and again, setting it apart from most other rhythm-action games on the market. Aside from battle, players go back to the Encore hub area between rounds. Here, the fans you earn while playing are like money that you can use to buy upgrades, skins, and fix up the lounge.

The area is a nice break between stages that are too chaotic, and it also fits in with the game's theme of the music business. The fight is Dead as Disco's finest feature. The game is all about its rhythm-driven approach, and that seeps into everything, creating an addictive flow state that you will find yourself in once you get the hang of it. Awesome battles have a melodic frame. Players blend assaults, dodges, counters, and finishes against a rhythmic backdrop.

Boss fights are awesome when everything works.

Each Idol has its own attack routines and stage stunts, so players must be versatile and keep up with the music. Learning their counter windows and patterns makes bouts fascinating duels that feel more like spectacles than boss clashes. Still, the fighting system isn't flawless. Some balancing flaws keep it from reaching its full potential.

Some bosses drag out fights because they have enormous pools of life. The developers probably did this so the music plays all the way through, yet facing the same opponent with no advancement could get boring. Some encounters are paced in a weird way, where some bosses may wait between attacks to listen for musical cues.

Sometimes these parts delay or stop the flow of water. The combat with Profit can result in too many enemy hits because visual signals occur off-screen. Combos are a pain in the ass. Cinematic transitions or finishes can break up bouts, and combo streaks can be reset. Even worse, enemies may wait to attack during long movements. This means players can lose combos or take damage while unable to control Charlie.

In terms of balance, some moves currently control the loop of the game.

For example, the windmill attack builds up score increases and the Fever Rush meter so quickly that it often takes attention away from the other attacks. This permits the repetition of games rather than the invention of new ones. These problems, fortunately, seem small. The base is solid, and any weak parts can be easily fixed in future updates.

Dead as Disco needs more fans to get over. Fans = money and experience. As players complete chores, high-score goals, and levels, they collect fans for the Encore hub. The skill tree is basic but functional. Charlie can unlock upgrades that improve his fighting, punching, and playstyle, eventually unlocking new moves.

The progression mechanism is limited compared to full RPGs, but it’s enough to keep you progressing through stages and trying out different tactics. The Infinite Disco mode adds extra pleasure to the game through challenges and the competitive nature of the rating system. Players can tackle score challenges, survival-style fights, and their own playlists, all while still cultivating fans for upgrades and cosmetics.

Since levels can be played again on harder settings, there is always a reason to get better and improve your speed in battle. It's important to note that growth never feels too much like grinding. Since the main loop of the game is already fun, getting friends just happens when you play it over and over again.

The upgrades improve combat without totally changing it. This means that mastery is still more important than stat boosts for reaching the highest level of skill. Dead as Disco is beautiful to look at. Comic book-inspired neon hues, over-the-top motions, and odd locales define the game's art style. Each level feels like it was created to complement the music as the songs progress. Ever-changing and developing.

Stage change speed is one of the game's greatest features.

Fights feel like real-life music videos because the environment changes. Subway stations become fast-moving trains, colors explode on the screen, and lighting changes as the music plays. Disorganized, stylish, and always lovely. Character designs are amazing. With his extravagant dance skills, cheeky attitudes, and silky glides, Charlie Disco has plenty of personality. The Idols' odd, dramatic forms match the game's over-the-top tone.

Despite the reduced graphics, the game performs well on small devices like the Steam Deck. Crashing and screen tearing don't detract from the presentation. Music is crucial in rhythm-action games, and Dead as Disco delivers. Game music is a dynamic combination of pop, synthwave, hip-hop, and metal. Each tune seems tailored to the combat and stage design.

The sound is also great. When strikes hit, significant audio feedback is given, and on-beat actions lead to pleasant advancements that make rhythm games worthwhile. Charlie's hits sound like percussion instruments added to the song, supporting the impression that battle and music go together.

Praise the voice acting, too. The game's wacky, over-the-top tone is reflected in most characters' full voices. The players know what kind of over-the-top enthusiasm the game wants, making even routine talks more entertaining.

Dead as Disco is one of the best independent rhythm-action games recently. Despite being unfinished, the game features a solid foundation of thrilling action, breathtaking visuals, and an addictive music-driven gameplay cycle. It has a unique personality that sets it apart from other rhythm games because it's okay with absurdity, style, and player expression through custom music.

It is not a perfect experience. The story can move at a sluggish pace, boss fights can drag on, and there are some balance issues that make gameplay less smooth than it should be. It's hard not to get caught up in the experience, though, because of how much energy and creativity are on show. More importantly, the game understands something that many rhythm games don't: making players feel good is just as important as playing perfectly.

During a flow state, every successful combo, perfectly timed dodge, and powerful finisher adds to a state that feels great from beginning to end. Dead as Disco has a lot of potential to be one of the best independent action games of its age if Brain Jar Games can keep working to make it more balanced, expand the story, and add multiplayer and customization features planned for the full release.