With the music game genre exploding
overnight and some recording artists deriding the genre for supposedly taking
kids away from actually learning to play real instruments, it’s refreshing to
see a publisher come out with a title that encourages players to create their
own songs. It has been done previously with the Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS,
and now Rockstar Games is putting out a similar title that gives players a
sand-box platform for creating their own works – Beaterator for the Sony PSP.
A collaborative effort between
Rockstar and ubiquitous hip-hop producer Timbaland, Beaterator is a less of a
game and more of a program that allows users to mix together their own samples
and loops into a cohesive musical piece. Beaterator is a unique title that gives
PSP owners many possibilities for creating their own music on the handheld.
While the interface may be a bit overly complex for many users not conditioned
to similar PC-based music creators, there’s a lot to love here for would-be
mixers.
Beaterator is divided into two
different parts, the Studio and Live Play. The game’s studio is where most
advanced players will get the majority of their mixing done. In the studio,
you’re able to cut loops together into one cohesive mix, and use the drum and
loop creators to craft your own beats. You’re also able to import samples from
your computer and add effects to them in the game, as well as use a headset in
order to record vocals. There are countless possibilities within Beaterator for
creating great music, and the process is an addicting and engaging one.
For those who might not want to
tinker around around with the advanced studio features, the game also features a
Live Play option. Offering a preset group of loops, players can easily combine
and switch loops to create their own mixes on the fly. This is dirt simple to
do, and players should be mixing their own tracks quickly with this feature.
You’re able to mix up to eight different loops and beats in the Live Play mode,
changing the loops by selecting the individual track and pressing one of the
face buttons in order to switch to a new one.
If (or rather, when) you get bored
of the preset loops, you can import your own loops and use them in Live Play,
which is a great touch. Songs can be recorded in Live Play and traded via
Rockstar’s Social Club, just like songs from the studio.
The main issue with Beaterator’s
"gameplay" (if you can consider it that) is the interface. Whereas other music
generator titles like Korg DS-10 can use the DS’s stylus for navigating menus
and selecting sounds, Beaterator doesn’t have such an option, meaning that all
navigation must be done with the D-pad and buttons, which doesn’t feel all that
good when you’re trying to craft music. Also, while the Live Play feature is
very easy to get into, the Studio is pretty overwhelming and tough to figure out
unless you’ve had experience with similar PC music creators.
Beaterator’s aesthetic is pretty
barebones. Granted, a music creation suite doesn’t really need to look like God
of War or anything, but the menus tend to run together and can be hard to read.
Those who approach Beaterator as a
music game like Rock Band Unplugged will be disappointed. The title doesn’t
offer much in the traditional gaming front, and instead gives players a sandbox
to create their own songs and share them with other players. So, if you’re into
creating your own music and sharing it with others, then Beaterator has what
you’re looking for.
Gameplay: 8.0
Not much to be said here on the traditional gameplay front, as Beaterator
isn’t exactly a game. However, the game provides tons of options for creating
your own music and features an easy drop-in type mode in the Live Play feature.
The interface can be a little overwhelming and unintuitive to navigate, however.
Graphics: 6.0
Not much to look at here. The game has a nice visual theme, but the majority
of what you’ll see is nondescript menus and text.
Sound: 8.5
The game sounds pretty good for a PSP game, quality-wise, even if the sounds
can be a little tinny at times. The pre-loaded beats and loops (some of them
from Timbaland himself) are a varied mix and give the player plenty of options
for crafting a mix.
Difficulty: N/A
Concept: 8.0
Beaterator provides ample means for players to mix loops and beats together
to create songs, or even import their own loops into the song, making for a
pretty comprehensive musical suite for PSP owners.
Overall: 8.0
If you’re a fan of hip-hop or electronic music and interested in creating
your own tracks, then Beaterator is definitely worth a look.
