No Straight Roads is a musical action-adventure recreation that has you going up in opposition to an Digital Dance empire. Can the NSR (that governs vinyl metropolis) have their monopoly taken down? Will EDM and Rock ever co-exist, outdoors of this recreation’s high-quality soundtrack that straddles a number of style strains? Will you get the celebrity you need? The solutions to those questions (and extra) get answered as you play this rhythm brawler.
You play as Mayday and Zuke, the rockin’ members of indie band Bunk Mattress Junction. They’re larger-than-life characters in some ways (Mayday particularly), and the identical could be stated for the empire’s “musical megastars” they face. Earlier than they will do this, they have to first hijack EDM live shows.
This primary half of those boss battles have you ever breaking via safety ranges in a collection of action-platforming sections in opposition to weaker enemies. I’m unsure if it stems from how the characters are animated, however the platforming might be extra fluid. When leaping onto or previous transferring platforms, I’d typically discover myself tumbling in methods I’m satisfied didn’t correlate to my motion. Apply makes excellent…effectively virtually.
The smaller life bars and lack of checkpoints make the above greater than a minor situation. Despite the fact that you’re a duo, if both fails, you’ll must restart, not less than when enjoying solo. It wasn’t the correct alternative, and I’ve a tough time understanding the pondering behind it. I nonetheless like these sections, however they actually might be higher.
The checkpoint points prolong to the bosses. These are lengthy encounters damaged up into phases, and they’re entertaining. However for those who fail on the final section, you must restart from the primary. So, what initially impressed quickly wears out its welcome. These devs appear afraid of checkpoints (presumably resulting from size issues), nevertheless it’s sadly to their detriment because it makes the gameplay really feel dated.
Please don’t get me fallacious; I wish to reemphasize the leisure provided right here. However the checkpoint scarcity is extra vital than it must be due to the fight points. Even just a few hours in, I nonetheless felt like I used to be studying the gameplay, for higher or worse. The weak digicam will want a lot of adjusting when you’ll be able to. The collision detection with among the threats could be charitably described as subpar, making seemingly simple sections flip into spikes. There are unnecessary visible distractions to the fight that typically has a broad intention when a slim one would serve it higher. Generally much less is extra.
In case you have one other enjoying with you, a few of No Straight Roads’ cheapness appears to dissipate. You may even co-op as a trio, with the third enjoying because the pet alligator (Elliegator), normally confined to the storage room. It’s a disgrace that, with stay-at-home restrictions, there’s no possibility for AI-controlled companions to carry the dullness. Maybe in an replace?
What do I do when frustration and tedium set in? When you can enhance your rank in opposition to already defeated bosses throughout a number of parameters, I’ve been returning to the sewers. The decision is likely to be a bit fuzzy, however there’s loads of areas to take a look at within the literal underground music scene. Your residing quarters – full with a rhythm-shooting arcade recreation that saves excessive scores – could be embellished. The technique room provides you briefings (through your number-one fan, Kliff) for upcoming boss battles and allows you to take a look at your collectibles. Zuke’s workshop allows you to improve – I want some had been longer lasting. Underground gig means that you can develop your ability tree and see your rising variety of followers. These and extra are gratifying diversions.
Exploring Vinyl Metropolis is extra enjoyable than I anticipated. The digicam is way much less of a priority right here. The collectathon gameplay serves to brighten up the town as you energy up machines with transformed vitality strewn from one finish to the opposite. I’ve had fairly a little bit of enjoyable simply working round, taking in Vinyl Metropolis’s creative factors of curiosity, and listening to the music.
Talking of, whereas the music-based fight could also be a bit meh, the tunes themselves are actually not. I’ve stated it repeatedly, however any recreation the place I take heed to the soundtrack by itself wants commendation. It has names you would possibly acknowledge from different titles. The music is alluring and efficient in protecting me enjoying via some drab gameplay.
The music isn’t the one audio asset, as the quantity of voice appearing is trigger for commendation. Sure, Mayday’s voice actor might often distract with sure phrases having extra a pronounced dialect, however total, the vocals succeed. They convey a lot character to the characters and are essential contributors to their depth and larger-than-life auras. I particularly benefit from the gravitas of DJ Subatomic Supernova.
Contemplating that is the primary recreation from a relatively small indie improvement studio Metronomik, No Straight Roads is a surprising debut in some ways. Sure, some gameplay selections appear a bit careless, resulting in an expertise that’s much less user-friendly, however you’ll nonetheless wish to plug away at it. Positive, the story has some predictable cliches, nevertheless it’s additionally amusing and filled with enjoyable surprises that I received’t spoil. The musical revolution left an impression for certain.
No Straight Roads typically has a irritating problem that stems extra from developer decisions and fewer from participant ability, making for flawed enjoyable. This rhythm brawler is finest performed as an in-sync duo or trio. However a slicker, extra fashionable toe-tapping ardour product, you’re not more likely to discover. I hope to see extra of Bunk Mattress Junction. 
For those who missed the late summer season digital launch, take a look at the bodily collector’s version that adopted. Moreover the sport in a flowery field, it additionally comes with a 64-page artwork guide, an LP document, a digital mini-soundtrack, and a set of NSR drumsticks.
