Roguelikes have been growing in popularity for around about a decade now, and the humble FPS has been in the limelight since its inception way back in 1992. Heck, rhythm games took off in 2005 and have waxed and waned over the years, but still hold a special place in many people's hearts. Three genres; three stories; three unrelated things, right?
Well, someone, at some point, looked at all of that and decided it was a good idea to grab some super glue and stick them all together. BPM, or Bullets Per Minute, is the culmination of that wild idea. Procedurally generated dungeons, RNG, rhythm-based gameplay, and some good old-fashioned ripping and tearing — how does one approach such a medley of mayhem?
5 Explore Everything
Not much is explained in Bullets Per Minute - not that it has to be. The core gameplay is pretty straightforward, after all - you just shoot stuff. One thing that is of vital importance, however, is exploring each room you conquer. Hidden in corners, along walls, or even behind pillars can be all manner of gubbins. The most important of these are shrines.
A big gun is a simple solution to the complex question: "How do I get stronger?" Another way around this is by spending resources at shrines to gain stats. They come in all flavors, and all of them are powerful. Early on, one coin can nab you a powerful damage upgrade, or a useful range boost. Investing in Luck is always a good idea too. You may be stuck with a basic pistol for a floor or two (if you're unlucky), but that doesn't mean you can't put down Asgard's enemies with extreme prejudice... and ease.
4 Experiment With The Options Menu
Like Crypt of the Necrodancer before it, almost everything you do in Bullets Per Minute is linked to the beat. Whilst you can move freely regardless of what the rocking metal tracks are getting up to, practically everything else is restricted. Want to fire your gun? Gotta fire on the beat. Out of ammo? Reload on the beat. Double jump? Dash? Beat and beat. It takes a good ear, timing and practice to "git gud", that's for sure.
Another way to ease this process is to check out the options menu and change how strict the game is when it comes to your timing. It defaults to normal, but you can bump it up to strict for a more hardcore experience, or loose for a more relaxed romp. There is no penalty for experimenting with the settings, so have a fiddle and get that balance just right. If you have the rhythmic acumen of a rampaging toddler, then the game even allows you to turn the system off, which is an appreciated accessibility gesture.
3 Bank That Cash Early And Often
Just like in real life, opening a bank account and putting some money aside for when Ragnarok decides to crop up is a good idea. Not every room in Bullets Per Minute is out to kill you, and the Bank is one of the more pleasant locations. Within you can deposit any gold you aren't using. The downside is you're going to be a bit strapped for cash on this run. This can lead to issues such as being unable to buy a better gun at the shop or not having the funds to invest in shrines.
Thankfully, it's a short-term issue. The benefits of being frugal are many. If you die with a pocket full of cash, that money is lost. There is no guarantee you are going to make it to the end of the game on any run, let alone your first handful. Sometimes it's wiser to throw some change at the bank gremlins, come back another life, and start fresh with a distinct monetary advantage.
2 Buy, Buy, Buy
When you first start Bullets Per Minute, shops are a tad naff. They have one item, that item is underwhelming, and then you die not spending your pocket money. Like your local grocers, a shop won't expand its range if customers don't buy their wares. The more you buy, the more options you have later on. Inventories will quickly grow from one questionably useful item to a handful of varied items of equally questionable value.
It's a win-win. You buy a health potion, and maybe, if you're lucky, the next time you visit there might be TWO health potions. Or some armor. Heck, maybe some boots. Upgrading shops is a permanent thing, so even if you die and come back, your progress will be saved. One thing to note, however, is that shops won't upgrade until you visit them on a different floor or run. So it's not an instant return on investment.
1 Keep Moving In Circles
Strafing is a common tactic in first-person shooters. It keeps you mobile, it throws off enemy aim, and with some tight stick discipline, you can keep your target in your sights with ease. Rapidly strafing left to right in Bullets Per Minute will probably get you killed. Unlike most modern shooters, enemies don't utilize hit-scan weaponry. Instead, they fire projectiles of varying speeds. If you are going to dance left to right, you are going to end up running into every projectile the game has to offer.
If you want to succeed, you will need to adopt the classic "boomer shooter" technique known as circle-strafing. Instead of going back and forth, you pretend the world is a merry go round and do laps of the arena, keeping every enemy herded like a flock of sheep. From here, you can unleash your boomstick and clear the room. This won't keep you alive indefinitely, especially against some bosses and later attack patterns. But it's a valuable skill to learn, and it will do wonders even in the late game.