Beaterator Review

Beaterator was released for the Sony PSP in September 2009. It is also available on the iPhone as of October. This game requires system 5.55 to run, so may sure you update your PSP accordingly (that is, if you want TO). This game functions as a music mixer, allowing you to customize track loops with a variety of options. You can also customize your own songs via uploading from a memory stick.

First, I must tell you that this game bewilders me. I understood very little about how to play it or even what I was doing at most times. Usually the manual helps in these situations; there was no quick fix there, as it seems just as complicated. This is clearly the kind of game that is best for people who are fans of music mixing, and that's not me when it comes to this genre.

The graphics are functional as presentation and only seem to exist to help users identify one part of the program from another. Visual flair is clearly not the standard of mixing, nor the goal in Beaterator.

Being that music is the main theme of the game, both in style and presentation, how much mileage you get out of the game depends on your music preference. Being produced by Timbaland, the music in this game is slanted toward the hip-hop/rap genre. Not being a fan, I was glad for the ability to import your own songs via the PSP memory stick and then be able to customize such songs in the same way as any of the songs already present in the game.

Unfortunately, it doesn't say much for the music mixing genre when you can make Michael Jackson's "Beat It" sound considerably worse, and that's with a complete novice doing the mixing.

There is no gameplay to speak of, no rewards to earn, nor costumes to unlock. The truth of the matter is that Beaterator is not a game, but rather budget priced sound production software. All else aside, it does what it advertises. Rockstar has always been at the forefront with music in their games, be it with the full 1980's nostalgia fest present in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City or the incredible musical variety present in the Need for Speed series.

Even though Beaterator doesn't appeal to me, I was thoroughly impressed by all that one can do with the game, especially for a portable game priced as it is. As someone with no production experience, I still recognize Beaterator's features as being quite extensive; I imagine that with some passion for the skill, it would take a long time to discover all that one could do in this game. Your mileage depends on your interest, but I can still recommend this game to music fans, especially those interested in producing. Hell, maybe you'll be inspired by posting a random mishmash of yours on Rockstar Social Club and suddenly find yourself with a calling.

- Ugly Bob

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