One of the best things about rhythm games is how they captivate through a potent mix of sensory and psychological hooks. Syncing music, visuals, and player input into a flow state, where tapping or moving to the beat feels instinctive and rewarding. The brain craves pattern recognition, and these kinds of games deliver it in spades, activating dopamine hits when landing precise inputs, triggering audio/visual feedback.
Most rhythm games rely on a keen mix of kinesthetics and a strong soundtrack to carry the experience. The song selection will typically be pop songs that most people know, or commit to a specific genre or style to convey a theme. You’d never know it, but there is an entire movement of post-punk in Russia and it happens to be excellent fodder for a rhythm game
Kovox Pitch
Developer: Calvares
Publisher: Redblack Spade
Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Price: $6.99
Batting baseballs in time to Russian post-punk and shoegaze tracks is like an underground take on Guitar Hero. Players swap between two lanes to hit balls synced to the beat, with mechanics like held notes, color-coded hits, and lane-switching adding depth. The 2.5D visuals, with anime-inspired art and vibrant backgrounds, create a striking sense of place, evoking nostalgic memories of small-town Eastern European summers.
The soundtrack, featuring bands like End of Sunny Days and Satrru, is a standout, pulsing with raw energy that makes each level a toe-tapping thrill. The experience is less like strumming and more like tapping a drum kick pedal, which cross-symbolizes the batting strikes. For a basic rhythm game, it’s powerfully effective at sucking you into the zone.
Daniil and Misha were close but now estranged. Daniil, the older brother, is depicted as introspective and burdened by responsibility, while Misha, the younger, is more rebellious and emotionally volatile. Their shared love for baseball and music becomes the catalyst for reconciliation, as they’re drawn into a local tournament that doubles as a rhythm-based challenge.
The boys learn forgiveness and the power of shared passions. Baseball and music serve as dual metaphors: the former represents discipline and teamwork, the latter raw emotion and individuality. The rhythm mechanics tie directly to the narrative, as syncing to the beat mirrors the brothers’ need to reconnect. The post-punk soundtrack, with its moody, nostalgic, introspective tone, underscores their emotional isolation.
Some levels, particularly in the middle chapters, spike in difficulty with little warning, as the game shifts focus between musical elements like drums or vocals, making patterns hard to predict. Missing a few beats can quickly drain the small health bar, making songs become like a tug-of-war while trying to keep health levels high and keeping misses to a minimum.
Kovox Pitch’s story is a heartfelt attempt to weave a tale of reconciliation through an unconventional blend of baseball and rhythm gameplay. The brothers’ fractured bond, set against a podunk Russian small-town backdrop and pulsing soundtrack, creates moments of genuine resonance. However, awkward dialogue and dissonant voice acting keep it from fully landing.
The gameplay is a standard rhythm game that works as promised and is made exceptional due to its eccelctic music choices. For its price, you are at least getting an impressive album of a style of music you probably would have never heard before. Kovox Pitch may not hold interest for long, but now I’m curious about this style of rock.
Kovox Pitch was reviewed on Nintendo Switch using a code provided by Redblack Spade. Additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy is here. Kovox Pitch is now available for Windows PC (via STEAM), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
