Rhythmer_, from developer Sixteen Up, is not like other rhythm games.
One of a handful of finalists at Google Indie Play Festival 2022, Rhythmer_ shakes up the rhythm-platformer genre with some invigoratingly tough gameplay and a novel musical score.
Novel how? Well, while most rhythm games are built around pumping soundtracks with regular beats, Rhythmer_ uses a cosmopolitan variety of musical styles and genres to underscore its platformy action.
You’ll hear bluesy acoustic guitar, jazzy piano, poppy electronica, and so on.
More importantly, the music dictates the layouts of the stages, with each obstacle corresponding with a note on the keyboard. The music and the level design are intimately intertwined.
Your goal is simply to make it through these levels. The playing area in Rhythmer_ is split vertically down the middle, and you’re in control of a little ball clinging to the line that separates the two halves.
It’s Just a Hop to the Left
Tapping on the right-hand side of the screen places the ball to the right of the line, while tapping on the left-hand side sends it to the left. Whatever side you’re on, another tap in that direction makes you hop into the air.
And hop you must, because on either side of the line are numerous different hazards, including geometric shapes, walls, and spikes. The slightest contact with any of these obstacles will bring your run to an abrupt end.
There are also gems dotted throughout the stages. Collecting these allows you to unlock new levels, and because they appear on both sides of the line you’ll need to complete each stage more than once.
Outside the standard gameplay there’s a Zen mode, which you play without music, and a Time stage, which ramps up the speed until you mess up.
There are two versions of Rhythmer_ available right now. Rhythmer_Lite contains two stages, and it’s totally free, with no ads or IAPs.
The premium version, meanwhile, contains five unlockable stages, a Zen mode, and a ton of content in the pipeline.
You can download both on the Google Play Store.
