Dead as Disco is a game that genuinely surprised me.
I'm normally not much of a fan of either beat 'em ups or rhythm games, but games like Hi-Fi Rush and now Dead as Disco have definitely started to pull me into both genres.
Despite still being in Early Access, Dead as Disco already does a good job of giving players a taste of what the full experience could become. The combat is satisfying, the presentation is stylish, and syncing your attacks and combos to the music makes fighting through enemies feel like you're part of an interactive music video.
One feature I particularly enjoy is the replayability. Players can upload and play along with their own favorite songs, giving the game plenty of variety beyond the existing music roster.
The story itself is fairly straightforward so far: Charlie Disco mysteriously returns after everyone believed he had died, and he must reunite his former band by confronting—and, naturally, fighting—its members. There's clearly more to the story that has yet to be revealed, so I'm interested to see where the full release takes it.
I also really enjoy the diversity of the band members and how each character represents their own musical genre. It gives the characters a distinct identity and makes each encounter feel a little different.
Overall, Dead as Disco is a fun and stylish way to beat up mobs while enjoying some great music and an interesting story. It has already managed to get someone who normally doesn't gravitate toward either beat 'em ups or rhythm games invested in what it's doing.
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what becomes of the game as development continues.
