Title: Double Kick Heroes
Developer: Headbang Club
Publisher: Headbang Club, Hound Picked Games
Genre: 2D, Survival, Rhythm, Indie, Action
Release Date: August 13, 2020
Available On: Steam, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Tested On: Xbox One
Official Site: doublekickheroes.rocks
Since the introduction of Guitar Hero to the game scene, rhythm has been part of life. Many other similar titles have come and gone throughout the years. Despite the attraction that each had, the depth to their story stopped at performing. That’s all our characters did. But were they ever chased out of town by zombies? Combining rock music and zombies, Headband Club brings Double Kick Heroes to the table.
Zombies are scary enough. But what happens when they interrupt a show you tried so hard to schedule?
Double Kick Heroes Gameplay
Blasting zombies with a variety of projectile weapons is always a good time. And what better way to blast them than with powerful musical notes? It was a pretty hilarious way to battle the zombies. Before playing Double Kick Heroes, I had never considered zombie slaughter combined with rock music. It was a pleasant surprise.
It was great to see another rhythm game, considering I grew up with the Guitar Hero franchise. The gameplay was very similar. To “fight the zombies,” I had to hit higher and lower notes. Hitting a low note would blast the zombies towards the bottom of the screen. This I would do by hitting the A button. Hitting the enemies near the top of the screen required hitting the B button.
Sounds easy enough, right? I thoughts so too, and then I went into the arcade most. The first song was pretty easy. I had no problem keeping up with the notes. They got a little faster, and I missed a few, but I managed to achieve a 95% note rating. Feeling too great about that accomplishment was a hilarious mistake. The next song was a little faster, and the notes much closer together. I was disappointed in my lack of proper hand-eye coordination. But I managed another 90% or higher rating. The third one was ridiculously fast, for me, at least.
Storyline
There’s nothing like having an amazing rock show. Having friends who play regularly, I can see how exciting it is to land a show. The best part of every show is when the audience grooves with the music your band is playing. Our heroes start out simply playing a show they’ve been dying to land. Eventually, they manage to score time on-stage. It isn’t until the band’s in the middle of their set that they realize the audience is comprised of zombies. As cool as that is, it isn’t the music they’re hungry for, but the band members’ brains.
What’s the solution to this catastrophe? That’s right! It’s to blast their limbs and heads from their bodies through the power of rock! Defeating these zombies will be the biggest show they ever had. But will their power chords and cymbal smashes be enough to purge the undead from their world? To fight off the undead, the band has to travel through the city, defeating horde after horde of undead. Only by traveling to each area on the map and clearing them out can they hope to save the world.
A Nod to Classic Games
One of the biggest things to note about Double Kick Heroes is the artwork. The artwork is reminiscent of early to mid 90’s arcade games. Known for their 16-bit graphics and simple design, they remain some of the most popular titles to this day. Some might knock the game for its art style, but that is what may attract some players to Headbang Club’s title.
In addition to the retro-style artwork, the only audio comes from the music. Dialogue is also shown through traditional ‘dialogue boxes,’ and characters are not heard speaking. This may come as an aggravation to some, but others might appreciate the simplistic design of Double Kick Heroes. It is definitely something I appreciated about the title.
Verdict: Double Kick Heroes is a retro-style rhythm game by Headbang Club. With a simplistic art style and the only audio being music, the primary focus is on gameplay and the story themselves. Fans of titles such as the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series are sure to find something to love about it. If you loved either series, then this is definitely a title worth checking out. It’s also great for any gamer who has an affinity for hard rock and heavy metal music. Just make sure your hand-eye coordination is on point. You will definitely need it to defeat the undead. You can find the game on Steam, the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and the Nintendo E-shop. Jump into the makeshift stage and slay the hordes with your power chords!
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