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Just Shapes and Beats
Just Shapes and Beats is a rhythm-based survival game where the player navigates a geometric shape through a field of moving patterns synced to music. The main goal is to avoid contact with any of the visual hazards, which appear and move according to the structure of the audio track. The player has access to a dash ability that provides temporary invincibility and helps escape tight formations. Movement is free within the play area, and all progress depends on staying alive until the end of each music-driven level.
Game Modes and Cooperative Features
The game features multiple modes, including single-player, local co-op, and online multiplayer. Each mode presents the same core mechanics but introduces different pacing and interaction depending on the number of players. In multiplayer, fallen players can be revived by others through collecting fragments, adding a layer of group coordination. The game’s structure includes a series of levels organized in a fixed progression path and a separate challenge mode that presents randomized stages with escalating difficulty.
Music-Centered Level Construction
Each level is built around a specific electronic music track, and the patterns that players must avoid are synchronized with that track’s beat and rhythm. Shapes and beams appear, rotate, pulse, or sweep across the screen in response to musical elements like tempo changes or drops. Visual cues often anticipate motion, but the music serves as the main guide for predicting hazard behavior. The result is a system where survival relies on both listening and watching closely.
Progression System and Retry Design
Players are not expected to clear every level on the first attempt. The game allows for frequent retries, with short transitions between attempts to maintain flow. Some levels are structured in segments with checkpoints, so partial progress is saved. Over time, patterns become more familiar, and players learn how to respond to certain musical signatures. There is no penalty for failure beyond restarting, which encourages trial-and-error learning without added frustration.
The visuals in Just Shapes and Beats are based on contrasting colors and simple geometric forms that shift in time with the soundtrack. Hazard indicators, player movement, and background effects all move together, giving the screen a rhythmic flow that matches the music.
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