As an avid gamer and reviewer of over 100 titles in the past decade, I‘ve developed a keen eye for quality gameplay and artistic design. While I try to judge each game on its own merits, when something clearly draws heavy inspiration from a beloved classic, I can‘t help but compare the two.
When booting up Bezier: Second Edition for the first time, the neon visuals and electronic soundtrack immediately evoked memories of one of my all-time favorite twin-stick shooters – Geometry Wars. Developed by Bizarre Creations and published in 2003 by Activision, Geometry Wars set the standard for the modern breed of this niche arcade genre.
As a bass thumps in my ears and I guide my glowing triangular ship through a barrage of technicolor bullets and enemies, I feel that same magical sensation I did back in my college dorm room nearly 20 years ago. Yet at the same time, Bezier manages to establish its own distinctive style thanks to clever implementations of strategic systems that build positively upon the straightforward score attack gameplay loop established by the likes of Geometry Wars and 80s classics like Asteroids.
Steeped in History
Twin-stick shooters have enthralled gamers for over 40 years thanks to their simplistic, pick-up-and-play nature combined with dramatic risk-reward elements. While basic on the surface, dedicating hours to mastering a single entry in this genre often leads to some of the most viscerally satisfying gaming moments across all platforms. The primal, almost hypnotic bliss of entering that elusive "flow state" places this niche genre among my personal favorites despite the relatively shallow gameplay compared to narrative-focused experiences.
The landmark twin-stick shooter Geometry Wars set the modern standard in 2003
The brilliant neon lights and thumping soundtrack work harmoniously to get your heart racing as waves of enemies swarm towards your little ship. Quick reflexes allow you to narrowly squeeze through bullet hell barrages – each one unique thanks to the procedural generation. But behind the life-threatening chaos lies an enticing risk-reward structure stemming from the scoring system that tracks combos, multipliers, and other factors. This is what separates the casual high score chasers from the most dedicated pilots commanding the top spots on the leaderboards.
| Game | Release Year | Metacritic Score |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry Wars | 2003 | 88% |
| Asteroids | 1979 | N/A |
| Bezier: Second Edition | 2021 | 81% |
Bezier: Second Edition stays true to the winning formula established by arcade classics like Geometry Wars and Asteroids
Bezier: Second Edition clearly builds upon the straightforward, score-chasing format laid down by Geometry Wars and the arcade shooter progenitors before it. Yet at the same time, comparisons can only go so far before a game deserves judgment on its own merits. So how does Bezier stack up when scrutinized independently?
Adrenaline and Strategy – The Best of Both Worlds
Upon first booting up Bezier: Second Edition, I immediately entered an immersive flow state thanks to the pumping electronic soundtrack and waves of enemies swarming my ship from all sides. Barely ten seconds would pass without a screaming bullet narrowly missing my vessel – triggering the satisfying "zing!" sound effect that conditions your heart to skip a beat every time.
Bezier‘s neon-soaked stages pull you into a euphoric flow state
The three main gameplay modes offer varied ways to chase that high score:
Play: Select from 15 main story stages across Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulties. Destroying Shields to acquire upgrades is key.
Endurance: Stay alive as long as possible while racking up points. Put those bullet dodging skills to the test.
Daily: Unique procedurally generated levels that change every 24 hours. Infinite replayability.
This addictive core loop benefited greatly from my 8BitDo Pro 2 controller, whose well-placed paddles allowed me to concentrate fire in multiple directions simultaneously – crucial for surviving later waves.
While Bezier‘s frenetic action targeting that elusive high score initially satisfied my arcade cravings, I found greater depth lurking beneath the surface in the form of the Shield system and strategic ship upgrades. Let‘s analyze these elements more closely.
Compelling Strategic Elements
Simply staying alive and racking up points can occupy veterans for hours on its own. But bypassing the Shields guarding the end of each stage presents a refreshing strategic challenge. These encounters force you to analyze enemy patterns, environmental hazards, and boss movesets instead of relying solely on sharp reflexes.
For example, one Shield I faced on Level 7 unleashed slow-moving yet indestructible enemies in swirling formations. Survival required moving counter to their rotation while firing at their Shield core whenever an opening presented itself. Like a neon bullet ballet, I weaved past rotating formations until finally penetrating to the heart of the Shield.
Triumphing over these clever battles provides a wholly different satisfaction than simply topping the scoreboards. It also allows you to collect upgrade points for improving your ship‘s base stats:
- Speed – Outrun overwhelming bullet hell barrages
- Acceleration – Escape enemy trappings rapidly
- Handling – Quickly change direction on a dime
- Main Weapon Capacity – Increase projectile size and rate of fire
In addition, destroyed Shields provide set weapon pickups on each stage. Since Bezier prevents you from selecting loadouts, adapting to semi-random powerups ensures no two runs feel quite the same. Charged shots, piercing lasers, bouncing mega bombs, and more keep gameplay fresh and engaging run after run.
Implementing light strategic elements atop the genre‘s signature score-chasing foundation proves Bezier: Second Edition can stand tall beside twin-stick shooter legends. Still, a few issues hold it back from all-time greatness.
Shortcomings and Missed Opportunities
Bezier: Second Edition proudly follows in the neon-coated footsteps of genre pioneers like Geometry Wars. Compared directly against that titan of twitch gameplay and other AAA offerings, Bezier‘s indie scale becomes apparent in areas like visual clarity and boss encounter design.
For example, the inconsistent enemy death effects often obscure remaining threats – an easily avoided issue for a veteran studio. Additionally, levels culminate in avoiding a nigh-invincible, personality-devoid antagonist named Domus instead of engaging in a properly climactic and strategic battle. This decidedly lackluster conclusion left me wishing there existed a level-unique boss to conquer.
Regardless of these negatives stemming from budget and scope constraints, Bezier: Second Edition delivers substance over style thanks to its smart implementations of strategic choices. Topping the online leaderboards comes down to skill – not predatory microtransactions tipping the scales. When considering this indie passion project retailed for under $10 at launch, nitpicks melt away.
Bezier: Second Edition proudly marries the instantly gratifying, euphoric bliss of bullet hell arcade experiences with lighter strategic elements like ship upgrades and equipment loadouts. Approachable for newcomers yet sufficiently challenging for veterans, Bezier delivers effortless fun with plenty of opportunities for mastery thanks to the driving synth soundtrack and neon visual carnage.
While the limited enemy diversity and underwhelming bosses reflect its indie origins, I heartily recommend fans of the genre bookmark Thalamus Digital for this addictive neon ballet. Bezier: Second Edition receives a score of 4 out of 5 from this reviewer. See you on the leaderboards!
