0-D Beat Drop Review for Xbox 360

System: X360 (XBLA)	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Cyclone Zero	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: ArcSystemWorks / Aksys	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 11, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

You can also add your own music with Beat-O-Matic, a feature that's amazing but a bit too time-consuming. To use it, you have push the Guide button, play music from either your hard drive or a USB device, and wait through the whole song while the game analyzes it (you can push a button in time with the song to help the process along). You can use your songs at any time during the game, but to do so, you have to hit the Guide button in the middle of a match and pick a track manually. The game's analyzer worked on our songs for the most part, but we found the beat didn't sync quite as well as it did with the built-in songs. The freedom the feature allows you is remarkable, but one wonders if it's really worth the time. If you do use it, try to pick songs with strong beats and steady tempos.

0-D Beat Drop screenshot

In addition, there are many different ways to play. You can increase the difficulty, which also increases the number of different colors you have to deal with, and work your way through more than 100 stages. You can choose between three different game modes: standard matches with AI competitors (one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-one), Task Mode (in which you have to accomplish various feats), and the self-explanatory Time Attack Mode. There's even local and online multiplayer, allowing you to duke it out with friends and family this holiday season. We didn't have much luck finding other gamers online, but our local matches ran smoothly.

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0-D Beat Drop isn't a revolutionary game, but it is a clever and fun one. The learning curve is steep for the first hour or so as you figure out the rules, but from there it's a matter of getting just a little better with each playthrough. With addictive gameplay and lots of different ways to play, 0-D Beat Drop makes itself a worthwhile buy for puzzle fans with a sense of rhythm.

By Robert VerBruggen
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.4

Graphics
The default look is a little cliché, but you can choose between a bunch of different themes.

4.5

Control
When you add in your own music, sometimes the beat doesn't seem to sync up quite right, but otherwise, no complaints.

4.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The default techno tracks are acceptable, and the ability to add your own music is great (even if the process is a little too time-consuming).

4.1

Play Value
Four difficulty levels, 100 stages, several modes, local and online multiplayer… sure, the basic puzzle gameplay isn't all that groundbreaking, but people who get addicted to these kinds of games won't leave this alone for days.

4.2

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Tons of gameplay: The single-player game features four levels of difficulty, over 100 stages, and three game modes, including Task Mode, in which you must meet certain goals, and Time Attack Mode, where you try for the best clear time.

Multiplayer: Battle with another opponent, play Survival Mode with up to four players, or try co-op team matches. Compete to see who can be on beat the most!

Beat-O-Matic: Analyze your music and play the game with your favorite songs.

Customize: Play with diverse backgrounds and pieces, and play the game with any look you want.