Following this week's PSVR 2 launch, Beat the Beats gets a Quest App Lab demo today.
Created by Parallel Circles, Beat the Beats is a VR rhythm game with minimalist visuals. Inspired by Beat Saber and Tetris Effect, it uses real boxing moves like jabs, hooks, uppercuts, rolls and blocks to hit incoming objects. Featuring global leaderboards, daily challenges, unlockable new genres and an "extra challenging" b-side for songs, you can see gameplay below:
We enjoyed Beat the Beats in our PSVR 2 review. Believing it "could become one of VR's best new rhythm games," we had high praise for the gameplay and presentation, though we criticized its lacking extras.
By using boxing moves, Beat the Beats' core mechanics make great use of VR's physicality, and I'm enjoying it more than Synth Riders. Instead of simply moving your arms toward a specific area, making those swings as you hit targets feels more satisfying... the developers have a big canvas to build on in the future and there are strong core mechanics here for very satisfying active VR sessions.
Beat the Beats is out now on PSVR 2 for $19.99. PC VR and Quest releases are coming "soon," though Steam and App Lab demos are available now.
Notice: This article, initially published on February 19, 2024, was edited on February 29 to reflect the game's PSVR 2 launch and subsequent Quest demo.