Just Shapes and Beats is heavily reminiscent of the ever-popular “bullet hell” genre. The demo’s various tracks lean towards the chiptune genre, though the bonus fourth stage, the Mortal Kombat theme, was a surprise throwback to old-school techno. The sound design is far from spartan the EDM-fueled soundtrack pumped up the four players as well as the audience watching the demo. The aftermentioned shapes that the players control are almost lost in the fast-moving backgrounds and obstacles the player must be careful to follow the correct shape while paying attention to the dangers of the stage. The game, as the title implies, is spartan in presentation, with a flat design aesthetic. Players have to survive long enough to pass all of the checkpoints and reach the end of the stage. If all of the active players lose all of their health, the game resumes at the last checkpoint. If the player hits an obstacle, they lose one of four health points, and once those are gone, they have to be rescued by a friend, restoring one health point.

Players control one of four shapes, which move and dash around the red, music-synced obstacles shown on-screen.

Just Shapes and Beats is a multiplayer action title where one to four players have to survive several minutes of a rhythmic onslaught. PAX East 2018 had many music games on display, but Just Shapes and Beats by Berzerk Games was the most minimalist of them all.

Just shapes and beats demo