
I hope that the soundtrack can be released on a compilation someday, because I’d buy a copy and then more copies for friends it’s just that good. You have everything from techno and dubstep to lo-fi and even swing music, and there were times when I played a stage again just to listen to the featured song. The best part of Rhythm Doctor lies with its soundtrack, which features a mix of indie licenses and original tracks to make an eclectic mix of tracks that feel refreshing and unique. Rhythm Doctor won’t hold your hand, but it will throw you a bone here and there. It’s a difficulty curve that might seem unreachable to the uninitiated, but there are a few accessibility options that will ease you into the game. You’ll deal with backbeats and syncopation with swing tempos, and while I only failed a couple songs from my normal playthrough, the Night Shift versions (alternate routines that act as extra stages) will challenge even the most grizzled veteran. It might seem like a lot of the stages feel unusually difficult, but dig deeper into the weeds and you’ll find some serious ideas within this silly game. The challenge here isn’t with hundreds of notes coming at you in the span of seconds, but rather a true test of rhythm with music theory. While I don’t play at the godlike level of most arcade rhythm games, I still can hold my own with the harder gameplay of the genre, and in that aspect Rhythm Doctor delivers. Thankfully, doctors Paige and Ian will help you acclimate to different rhythm patterns every few stages. This is easier said than done as you’ll have to deal with different time signatures, music styles, and even visual distractions throughout each of the over 20 stages. While the game references the recent pandemic as a reason for this, the premise was actually the same back in the 2017 demo a remarkable coincidence! The patients that come in have irregular heart patterns, which must be constantly checked by pressing the Spacebar once every seven (or two) beats. Due to current situations, you’re working in a remote setting helping patients from afar. Rhythm Doctor hosts a unique idea where you’re an intern at Middlesea Hospital, which currently hosts the titular Rhythm Doctor initiative. Unfortunately, the only problem with a small taste of greatness is that the wait is excruciating, but over three years later (and nearly seven years of development!), the Early Access build of Rhythm Doctor is here and, to quote some recent vernacular, it slaps. After getting contacted by 7th Beat Games and playing a demo back in 2017, I was hooked immediately at the deceptively simple and wacky premise. We like talking about long AAA development cycle times, but my most anticipated game still in the cooker is actually the indie music game Rhythm Doctor.
