BPM:
Bullets Per Minute Review

BPM: Bullets Per Minute (2020) is a shooting game where shots and attacks must be timed to the beat of the music. The gameplay is focused on motion and shooting, like the Doom games, only here you can only shoot, dodge and reload on the beat. It's repetitive and requires considerable practice - not unlike learning a real instrument.

You play the game through in a run at each series of levels. You progress by clearing areas of enemies and then taking on the boss creatures. It's designed to be difficult, but as you grow to understand the rhythm and weapon system, things become more achievable.

As you play, enemies perform a dance-like sequence of attacks in time with an epic rock opera. You can choose different characters with different stats, abilities and items. These combine with the weapons you find in the game to add another layer of variety. These characters can be upgraded by completing runs with them.

Like the motion-shooting game of the 90s, you need to learn the movement as much as the shooting. Things are fast and frantic. You can double jump, dash, rocket jump and bunny hop to evade your opponents.

Where BPM comes into its own is as you become an expert at the levels and weapons. This enables you to work on perfecting scores, and creating character builds that suit your style of play. It takes the shooting genre in a new direction -- or maybe it's the rhythm-action genre it innovates.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked BPM: Bullets Per Minute 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 8 weeks ago.