Introduction
Rhythm games are a popular choice for VR enthusiasts, challenging players to keep the beat to everything from hard rock to down-home country music. In Smash Drums, one of the hottest VR rhythm games available on PICO, you'll become a hero who "defeats to the beat" in an immersive environment.
Smash Drums VR Rhythm Game: Overview
Smash Drums is much more than an exercise in beat-keeping. This wild journey combines chaos, flames, and great tunes to create an exciting adventure.
It all starts with the game's unique drumming mechanics. This game was tested by recreational gamers and professional drummers to perfect this piece of the experience. Just like in real life, timing is crucial while playing Smash Drums. Players must also control how hard they strike each drum, adding a novel challenge to the adventure.
Many say the best parts of VR music rhythm games are the immersive environments, and Smash Drums definitely delivers in that department. This rhythm game was carefully curated with experiences that alter and adapt to your movements before your eyes, creating a visually exciting backdrop for gameplay.
Did you know that in Smash Drums, anyone can get into the game? Players only need to love music and have the energy to keep up with the ever-changing beats. No rock band experience is required!
Gameplay and Mechanics
Immersive 3D Environment
Smash Drums offers multiple unpredictable environments that players must escape by smashing drums to the beat. These environments include a prison, a city, the moon, and several others. There is even a concert environment for those who want to unleash their inner rock star!
Intuitive Controls
When professional drummers do their thing, it isn't just about reactions and reflexes. Precise timing is a big part of drumming as well. That's why Smash Drums works best on a VR system with state-of-the-art optical sensors and highly intuitive controls, like the PICO.
Rhythm-Based Gameplay
Unlike other rhythm games in VR, Smash Drums requires players to hit some drums harder than others. These hard hits correspond with high notes in the song. This isn't an accident—while perfecting the game, developers noticed that players would naturally hit the high notes harder, so they incorporated this element into the final design.
Multiple Tracks and Difficulty Levels
Smash Drums is for gamers of all skill levels. In fact, players can select from four difficulty levels for each song. And speaking of songs, this game features more than 50 selections! No matter what you like to jam to, you'll find a tune that inspires you to keep the beat.
Scoring and Leaderboards
Seeing your skills improve with each trip to the metaverse is part of the fun of Smash Drums! In this game, see how you compare to other wannabe rock stars on a real-time leaderboard. In addition, as you complete songs, you'll earn points that unlock new tunes, drum skins, and other fun extras.
How VR Transforms the Rhythm Game Genre
Rhythm games have existed since the late 1990s, several years before VR took the world by storm. However, without an immersive way to play, they quickly became dull, all resembling one another very closely. Once VR entered our living rooms, rhythm games made a comeback that isn't slowing down soon.
VR music rhythm games take the genre to the next level by correlating energetic beats to lifelike immersive experiences. In other words, these games are where rock and roll meets intense gaming. When you step into the metaverse, you are no longer limited to concert-type settings. Nearly any environment or challenge can be set to music and encourage players to accomplish specific goals to a beat.
Games like Smash Drums also bring a social aspect to rhythm games. While rhythm games of our youth were popular at parties, VR rhythm games allow players to engage in friendly competition with others who are rocking out across the globe. Many games, if not most, offer multiplayer modes that allow gamers to work together or go head-to-head and see who comes out on top.
Is Smash Drums a Workout?
In addition to being a fun way to experience the metaverse, Smash Drums offers a great physical workout. From a strength standpoint, your shoulders, forearms, biceps, and triceps will reap the most benefits. In addition, the movement intensity required to maintain the beat provides a cardiovascular workout equivalent to a tennis match.
While there isn't any official data that measures calories burned while playing Smash Drums, many people equate this game to the ever-popular Beat Saber. According to a 2018 report conducted by the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise, Beat Saber burns between approximately 390 and 450 calories per hour. We can safely assume that the calories burned while playing Smash Drums would be similar.
Tips and Tricks for Novice Drummers in Smash Drums
Smash Drums is easy to learn yet tough to master. That said, you don't need to be an experienced drummer to enjoy the game! If you're new to Smash Drums, here are a few tips to make the most of your experience:
Start with Tutorial and Easy Mode
Before you begin gameplay, head to the tutorial to understand the movements you'll need to master to be successful in the game. Remember to test out the no-fail mode! Even if you're having trouble keeping the beat, this mode will let you continue until the song is over so that you can gain some momentum.
Focus on Timing
If getting your timing right is a struggle for you, no worries! You can easily adjust the speed of the drums so that you can master this aspect of the game. Putting the game in forward-facing mode might also help you improve your timing.
Understand the Drum Layout
Smash Drums offers four difficulty levels per song. As the difficulty level increases, more drums are added. To understand the drum layout and prevent frustration with the game, start on the lowest level. Remember—even experienced drummers report difficulty with the drum layout on beginner levels!
Move Naturally and Use Your Wrists
When playing Smash Drums, don't overthink your movements. You're holding drumsticks, not weapons! While the burning drums will require more force to hit than the crystal ones, natural movements from your wrists will help you get your timing right. Before you begin competitive gameplay, practice your technique in no-fail mode.
Practice Regularly
Practice makes perfect! If you want to climb the real-time leaderboard, enter the metaverse a few times per week. As you're practicing, don't feel pressured to compete with others. You'll have just as much fun checking out the different environments in single-player mode while prepping for a showdown against other gamers!
Conclusion
Not only does Smash Drums offer the immersive fun that we've come to expect from the best VR games, but it also provides a way to sneak in your daily workout! With a selection of songs that will make you feel the beat, it's no wonder Smash Drums is becoming one of the most popular rhythm games in VR. For the ultimate experience, check out Smash Drums on a PICO VR headset!