UNBEATABLE Review — BEAT ’em Up

As the year comes to a close, my review schedule has slowed down a bit. Most of what I have scheduled to cover are January releases, with fewer and fewer companies reaching out for coverage as they settle in for the holiday season, a relatively slower one for the gaming sphere at that. This allows me to go out of my way and select games I personally have an interest in reviewing, and of the options presented, UNBEATABLE stood out to me.

Even though I knew, or thought I knew, what I was getting into with this charming title, UNBEATABLE was still a remarkable surprise. More than just a clever adaptation of the rhythm game genre, UNBEATABLE was pleasantly surprising with its deep message, phenomenal characters, and incredible art, both visual and auditory. After playing through the game’s roughly six-hour story, I was left with a new favorite, one that I would unironically call one of the best games of the year, even if I don’t think everyone is going to get it.

But enough introduction. If you are totally unfamiliar, UNBEATABLE is a story-driven adventure game that features rhythm game elements and an overt focus on music. The game features a story that takes place in a post-music apocalypse, where rhythm itself is a conduit for monstrous beasts that threaten the safety of regular people and warrant the creation of walled communities and what is blatantly a police state. More than that, though, the story is about losing track of yourself, feeling stuck in place, and finding out that you have what it takes to change.

With no exaggeration, I found the story in UNBEATABLE to be incredible. It touched me, and that is not something that I can say about all of the games I take the time to review. Sure, I might be a bit weak to emotional stories paired with song, but I would be lying if I told you UNBEATABLE did not get a few tears out of me as I played it.

That being said, I do not think the story is going to appeal to everyone who plays it. Not because of the message, as the message is clear, and I think it is something everyone can relate to. Rather, the game’s pacing is unconventional, jumping from place to place at times with little context or preparation, moving quicker in some areas and slower in others. It is not bad, per se, but it is not traditional, which I think will put off some who would otherwise enjoy it from fully appreciating it.

I also think that this is part of the game’s nature. Everything about UNBEATABLE is punk, from the music and the story to the blatantly anti-cop, anti-conformity messaging, which I cannot get enough of. Everything about it defies convention, so it does not surprise me that the game’s storytelling works the same way. At the end of the day, you either get it or you do not, and that is simply the culture UNBEATABLE falls into.

The actual gameplay is a mix of a point-to-point, story-driven experience where you interact with the characters and narrative as it unfolds before breaking out into rhythm-based fight scenes. As the developers brilliantly explain, “Half the game is walking around and taking things at your own pace. The other half is trying to keep up with ours.”

These rhythm segments can be anything from fight scenes to epic car chases, and the game is not afraid to mix up the formula for the sake of presentation. That is because the game’s art, which features an incredible hand-drawn, 2D anime look, is just as important as its music. The gameplay, which is undeniably fun and will feel delightfully familiar for any rhythm game player, takes a back seat to the game’s style and artistic substance. UNBEATABLE, which looks like a dirty fusion of Scott Pilgrim, Fooly Cooly, and Guitar Hero, feels like playing through an interactive music video. The visuals and music will reach out and grab you just as much as the story does.

If you do not vibe with the game’s story mode, the arcade offers a different experience that focuses on the game’s stylish rhythm mechanics. This is an optional way to play and one that the developers did not need to include, but the game is better for having it.

Without trying to sound pretentious, I honestly believe UNBEATABLE is a game not everyone is going to get. The story can feel roughly stitched together with its nontraditional approach, where the messaging and characters matter more than a clear explanation of how someone got from point A to point B. The rhythm segments are great, but are so packed with visual flair that I can see some players preferring to play with them turned off. Not me, though, and I think doing so would mean missing out on a large part of what makes the game work.

UNBEATABLE surprised me. It reached into my emotional core and tugged on my heartstrings with its incredible characters and beautiful message, and then got my head banging with its awesome soundtrack and exciting rhythm segments. Like the punk culture it is built on, I do not see everyone being a huge fan of it. For those who can appreciate it, though, there is a ton here to love, and I cannot recommend it enough.

UNBEATABLE was reviewed on the PC. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page! UNBEATABLE is available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.