The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor

A lot of games play like cover bands, copying a hit genre's formula with mixed results, but sometimes, one manages to pull off a rare remix that sticks in your head like a catchy pop tune. The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor definitely falls into that latter category. The game deftly mashes up rhythm-based gameplay with classic RPG elements for a surprisingly fresh experience. Players string together directional cues to the beat of the music in order to build up and execute attacks. Longer combos equal more powerful attacks, but those attacks also leave characters exhausted for a short time and in need of a rest. This means players need to constantly switch out between party members in order to keep the flow of the action rolling. Admittedly, it's not the easiest game to learn right off the bat, but before long, it starts to feel almost like second nature.

While The Metronomicon is a game that moves to the beat of its own drum, there are still a couple of notes here and there that fall a bit flat. For example, the musical tempo isn't the only thing that's repetitive. Despite having multiple modes and stages, there's not a lot visually to differentiate one mode or area from another. At times, it feels like the party members aren't the only ones just going through the motions. Luckily, that's where the RPG elements come in, breaking up the monotony with story beats (as cheesy as the plot may be) and party management. Matching character strengths to enemy weaknesses, trying out new skills and spells, and mixing up the party members is like tuning an instrument, and when it all comes together, it's music to the player's ears.