Just Shapes & Beats Reviews

Just Shapes & Beats is ranked in the 98th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9.2 / 10.0
May 31, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats is a great game to have at parties! While the game has taken a few years to be developed the team has really shown how much love they’ve put into Just Shapes & Beats.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2018

I never knew I wanted a bullet-less shoot-'em-up that was dripping with rhythm game style, but that's exactly what Just Shapes & Beats is. It's a thoroughly unique game with a myriad of options that can be played in a variety of ways. It's awesome.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2018

Overall, it’s extremely hard for me not to smile while playing Just Shapes and Beats, even when some of the boss battles are absolutely kicking my butt. With some experience under your belt or simply some practice through remembering the major patterns in general all levels can be conquered, just some are definitely harder than others. An absolutely game-changing revelation I had while playing in Online mode, and would watch players who were obviously much more experience than I was, is that in many cases life can be easier simply staying still if you know the right spot in the right map. If done successfully this can mean simply hitting the button to dodge periodically rather than trying to move and keep track of everything going on around you. It takes some practice and discipline but there’s no arguing with the results they got. If you enjoy great music, a load of surprises, and just a bit of craziness Just Shapes and Beats is a unique and very worthwhile experience on Switch!

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9 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

Whether you're a bullet hell aficionado who blasts through the main campaign in a few hours, or a fumbling novice preserving through each level by sheer luck, Just Shapes & Beats is the whole package.

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GameSpace
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats allows some simple ideas to blossom into an inventive, engaging challenge that proves a tiny cluster of well-proportioned pixels can contain more personality than the mightiest action hero.

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9 / 10
Jun 6, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats is the best EDM compilation album you can play, and assuming the music floats your ear-shaped boat, it's an absolute treat.  Challenging, engrossing and exhibiting a purity we so often forget, this is a genre mash-up where everybody wins.

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9 / 10
Jun 7, 2018

The sheer verve of Just Shapes and Beats is infectious. True to its name, the elements are simple, but Berzerk Studio explores and executes on its modest premise with an exceptional level of polish. It injects pure joy into the oppressive, pulsing panic of Super Hexagon and creates a celebratory explosion of the audio-visual in video games. Challenge mode and the hectic multiplayer will keep you occupied after you've conquered the refreshingly breezy story. Grab some decent headphones or, better still, some friends and hook your Switch up to the hi-fi. The neighbours will love you.

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85 / 100
Jun 7, 2018

Just Shapes and Beats is a simplistic, entertaining game to play alone or with friends, but is held back somewhat by performance issues and lack of level variety.

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Jun 8, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats is an audio-visual masterpiece, and I give serious kudos to the talented artists and designers who blended their crafts in such a tight display. With a staggering variety of options for gameplay, fun party modes, and a thoroughly catchy tracklist, developer Berzerk has delivered a standout rhythm title.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 8, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats shapes up to be a perfect party music game for the Switch. It may be short, and not the best solo experience, but it’s still a fun ride with plenty of replay value.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 8, 2018

This is about as pure as a game can be. You learn how to play it in a few minutes, but can sit with it for hours. Its stylistic visuals and awesome soundtrack draw you in and keep you hypnotised, while addictive and challenging gameplay teases you with frantic block-dodging mayhem, great multiplayer modes and weird, surprisingly emotive "characters." In a time of incredible looking, but often flabby titles, it's nice to be reminded that, sometimes, Just Shapes & Beats is all you need.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 9, 2018

Switch owners looking for an entertaining indie game should pick up Just Shapes & Beats. Not only is it a fantastic game on the console, it's one of the best indie games of the year.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 15, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats is a unique combination of rhythm and arcade games that's fun and accessible. There's a lot of visual and audio stimulation, but it works well and makes for a fun party game.

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9 / 10
Jun 16, 2018

Just Shapes and Beats is gaming filtered into its purest form. While E3 may have treated us to immense cinematics, bigger worlds and even bigger promises, it’s great to be reminded that not every video game needs to be this. Sometimes it’s enough to just be able to sit down, pick up a controller and play.

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9 / 10
Jun 19, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats is an enjoyable rhythmic bullet-hell experience, best played with others either online or locally, but still a great deal of fun alone. It's a different take on the genre and a refreshing experience that will have you up and moving with the beats. The developers have covered just about everything they could in the game, from a local and online multiplayer to a more straightforward easy/casual mode.

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8 / 10
Jun 29, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats is an inventive, creative, and memorable experience. It takes a simple concept and does so much with it, causing each level to feel wholly special, even if the lag issue can sometimes dampen the moment. The story mode is a joy to play, and the online mode offers hours of entertainment, as well. That said, the relatively small amount of content and grinding required to unlock extra songs may turn some people off, but if you can get past that, you will find a great time waiting.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 4, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats' excellent soundtrack spawns intricate levels in a stylish aesthetic that is sure to challenge even the most dedicated players.

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Shacknews
Top Critic
9 / 10
Jul 10, 2018

Just Shapes and Beats is a hidden gem in this year's long list of video game releases. Its appeal transcends fans of specific genres as it borrows inspiration from various iconic game franchises.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jul 18, 2018

Overall, this is everything I’ve wanted in a new music game. When Sound Shapes hit the Vita a long time ago, it instantly became my favourite music game and I’m glad to add a new entry to my favourite music games of all time list with Berzerk Studio’s Just Shapes & Beats. It is frustrating in some areas with the skill required but every second I’ve put into it has been more than worth it.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 29, 2018

Just Shapes & Beats isn't bursting with content, but the execution, level of polish and number of options here makes it well worth picking up.

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