Yes, the soundtrack of GRIDbeat! is profoundly entertaining, with a versatile mix that both guides and aids you!

The soundtrack has an easygoing attitude that’s fun to follow, with clear downbeats, defining paths through the labyrinthine maps. There’s a fun combination of nostalgia and cyberpunk ideas, both thematically and musically—a proper fit for the arcade-style gameplay.

Music permeates even the smallest elements of gameplay in GRIDbeat! to terrific effect. This extends from basic movement to mini-game style hacking for enemies and obstacles.

In fact, health itself is measured by your synchronization with the music. Anything off-beat “damages” the sync bar, and you can’t even progress at times unless you’ve taken enough steps in sync. Everything is completely integrated in a way that feels (ironically) totally organic!

This does make any technical hiccups pretty noticeable, though. At least on Switch, GRIDbeat! had some trouble responding when “hacking” an enemy. In high-pressure levels, like scrolling stages, it can be frustrating to lose progress this way.

The game also introduces a lengthy auto-scroller level pretty early on. This causes a fairly sudden leap in difficulty, which isn’t so friendly to genre newcomers. I found the first “boss fight” that followed this level to be significantly easier.

GRIDbeat! evolves at a surprising pace, constantly layering on new mechanisms, explained via accessible cyber jargon. There’s some really neat synergy, not unlike musical layers, as the game barrels forward.

The minimalist, geometric art design is a wise decision, filling the screen without causing cumbersome visual noise. It leaves more room for level design and puzzles, and somehow, the results often reminded me of platformers.

It is a little off-putting when the exposition pop-ups break the flow, every time they emerge. The bonus challenges also feel somewhat arbitrary, and could be more interesting. The emails you collect do build out some fun lore though, so there’s plenty of design space here.

Final Thoughts

GRIDbeat! boasts outstanding flow, as music connects even your smallest gestures with old-school, arcade-style flair and inspired beats. The streamlined look and frequent escalation just feel right, thematically.

I do feel there are some balancing issues. This can be a tough game for newcomers, between minor technical hiccups and swift leaps in difficulty. Still—you’ll want to revisit Tron immediately. GRIDbeat! packs a lot into a small package, and fans should be pleased with its creative twists on genre.

Score: 7.5 / 10