A bit of critique

[LeonserGT]

So, lemme share a bit of thoughts after playing this demo. For reference - I beat BPM for each character on hardcore, except the most masochistic one + I'm a game designer.

Not like my aim is bad (I'm an average coinshot enjoyer in ULTRAKILL), I got used to it, but kept thinking about built-in aim assist in BPM, that helped to focus on rhythm and movement, basically if the target inside your rhombic crosshair - it's a hit. Maybe worth considering? Or maybe there's already aim assist, I just didn't notice...

Not sure the point of the skull (paz?) as a weapon? I've read in youtube comments that it helps keep the 'rage' meter up even without hitting targets, but overall it kinda feels weak and useless. A sword is a much better alternative for the 'default first weapon' role. Speaking of...

Might sound strange, but probably consider nerfing the sword? It's so good that I could just play the entire game as a melee action and not use firearms at all :D
Quite powerful for a starting default weapon. But speaking of firearms...

I like BPMs approach more, where you _have_ to get in the beat to even shoot it, clicking off-beat won't even shoot it. So, basically, keep the damage the same, but make it so it fires only when you get in the rhythm. Also, maybe consider being able to shoot per half-beat? Double revolvers really feel like it was meant for that, if you don't care keeping the rhythm, they can shoot so much faster. I liked that in BPM it was basically a rate of fire measure - how many beats per shot - half, one, two, etc.

Speaking of what else I liked in BPM - reload, which often have several phases, each manually triggered by the R button, of course should be pushed to beat as well. So, you're considering your weapon choice not only because of damage and rate of fire, but also how hard it is to reload it, so comfort of use. Just a tiny issue is that it was sketchy reloading on R specifically. However, when I rebinded it to RMB, it felt so good. So, consider this complex reload system rather than your simplistic one and move reload to RMB? Ultimate ability does not require such easily accessible button as RMB, so you can move it to E/Q/F, whatever is close to WSAD.

Regarding beat - there were several moments in the songs where beat audibly doubled during chorus or something, but in game you still have same old beat limitations. Maybe consider allowing half beat actions in these moments, because it would really amplify player's power fantasy and would just be cool, its not happening so often, so it will be additional reward for either fast reaction to a song part or just song knowledge.

By the way, glory kills... oh come on, didn't you get the memo? Glory kills is last century, nowadays BLOOD IS FUEL! Oh well, you clearly invested into those animations and obviously now it's too late to implement ULTRAKILLS blood system, especially when you have a sword as a default weapon. But maybe consider raising the skill bar and requiring player to equip a sword and LMB in a beat to perform a glory kill, rather than dedicated button?

I would also recommend, just like it was in BPM, add a 'beat tolerance' setting, so that more people could get a hang of it and enjoy the game. I'm fine personally, but can imagine many people suffering with this. You can figure out some multipliers for total score leaderboards to accomodate this and reward skill.

On a less serious note, in a game like this, how could you make it mute when not in focus AND its not an option?! Couldn't leave the music playing and game running, had to find OST on youtube :P

But if it sounded too negative and since you've read that far, I'll speak freely - this game ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ rocks, I'm throwing money in the monitor, but nothing happens :(
I guess I need to wait till september... but I'm already spamming all my friend chats with this game :D

Also how COULD you make such a cool track for TUTORIAL and never let us replay it again?!?! I'm now playing this track on repeat...

[Klepto]

plus on the beat tolerance and not shooting when off beat, apparently i suck at reading rhythm and am finding it a little hard. idk how you would even fix it but having to watch the beat meter while playing is pretty hard. maybe not for those who arent as rhythmly disinclined.

[LeonserGT]

If its your first game of this kind, either try more or go play BPM while waiting for full release of Hellsinger - it has great onboarding to rhythm-shooters when you set beat sensitivity to low, it took me like 1-2 hours to finally get used to it for the first time, so maybe demo duration is not enough, but once you're on it, it's so good

[LeonserGT]

Ok, got another run today, so update:
- Scrap aim assist part or at least just have it as an accessibility option for those who really struggle (with penalties to leaderboard scores)
- I definitely miss BPMs reload system! Shotgun should require manual racking, per beat, the hardest weapon to stay on beat without it so far, both firearms' reload makes it hard to keep the rhythm
- Regarding Paz - I see your issue, in the tutorial, you introduce it before you explain what is fury and how to keep it up - should be the other way around, enable the fury earlier, tell the player about multipliers and vocals at x16, then after some arena where player notices the bonus deteriorates, introduce the Paz and explain how it can be used to keep the multiplier even without enemies
- On a second thought, you sure Paz is the best solution to your problem of "some way to keep the music kicking while no enemies can be found"? Maybe consider something more elegant, something that doesn't take the weapon slot?
- Definitely weird when the music doubles the tempo occasionally but you can't follow its rhythm and has to still click at the same slow pace

Overall, my spam already spreads without control, colleagues showing other colleagues trailers, playing demos, etc. 😬