An unlikely combo of first-person shooter and rhythm games with roguelike elements has just been announced in the form of BPM: Bullets Per Minute. United Kingdom-based developer and publisher Awe Interactive has declared that BPM will be launching for the PC via Steam in Summer 2020 and for the Xbox One later this winter.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute will have players assuming the role of a mighty Valkyrie tasked with repelling demonic forces from the underworld and halting the invasion of Asgard. What separates BPM from your run-of-the-mill first-person shooter with themes of “Good Vs. Evil” is in its very name: BPM. This usually stands for beats per minute, used to signify the speed and pace of musical compositions, but now stands for Bullets Per Minute.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute's core gameplay revolves around its soundtrack. All of the player’s actions, whether it be jumping, dodging, shooting, or dashing, is tied to the game’s hypnotic and almost operatic heavy rock themes. The enemies’ actions, whether it be minions or one of the seven bosses, will also depend on what tunes the player is currently rocking out to. BPM's Steam page currently has a 1 minute 20 second trailer showcasing its flashy and frenetic gameplay. An array of weapons can also be seen, such as pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, and even a minigun that dances to the beat of the music.
Aside from its music-centric gunplay, BPM: Bullets Per Minute will also utilize randomly generated dungeons, which guarantees a different experience for each playthrough, as well as over 40 items and five different characters to choose from, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. These types of games definitely are a purist’s dream, especially with the addition of extra challenge modes.
Currently, BPM: Bullets Per Minute is only confirmed for PC via Steam and Xbox One. According to an interaction between the game’s official Twitter account and gaming news outlet Gematsu, a PS4 version is currently in the works. A Switch has also been eyed, but currently Awe Interactive is focused on releasing the game for PC and other consoles first.
