Mini-Review: SUPERBEAT: XONiC (Nintendo Switch)

Sometimes you don’t want to play a video game. Sometimes, you just want to get your groove on.

SUPERBEAT: XONiC lets you spin a song and play it too. Unlike the Dance Dance Revolution games of old, you won’t need to get on your feet to play. Like Dance Dance Revolution, the arcade aesthetic couldn’t be painted on thicker. You may even find yourself reaching into your own pocket for loose quarters before you recognize you’re in the comfort of your own home and not some sticky, run-down coin-op in an abandoned strip mall.

The music in XONiC is at the forefront from fantastic Japanese and Korean composers. With almost 70 tracks, the game spans every genre from jazz to techno and even dubstep to play as the backdrop of serious beat making.

The gameplay will be familiar to anyone that’s ever watched someone play a rhythm game before. Notes flow from the center void and you must tap, push and, on occasion, drag with every beat with perfect timing. At the start, tapping along with the beat comes easy enough. My rhythmically challenged fingers were nearly tangled by the time level two came around.

If you’re not familiar with the genre, XONiC may be a little daunting. Even at the start, the sensory overload of music, lights, colors, and beats could easily be a culture shock. At the same time, it’s a great baptism by fire.

Still, the challenge is welcome in a genre like this. You’re never tossed into any level difficulty you’re not ready for. The difficulty is infinitely manageable, while encouraging you to challenge yourself with every new track.