Muse Dash is a rhythm action game from PeroPeroGames, pairing two-button lane play with a bright anime presentation. The base game ships forty-two songs at a budget price, with the DLC packs roughly tripling or quadrupling the library.
The two-button rhythm play splits between air and ground lanes, with difficulties from easy to master and charts running past level eight. Keyboard controls handle the fast sections cleanly, and the leaderboards give the runs a clear goal.
Boss encounters close each stage, with several bosses dancing along to their tracks in the standout moments of the game. The dancing sequences make the fights a showcase for the soundtrack rather than a simple obstacle.
The characters carry distinct traits, from the little devil’s risk-reward health drain to the dragon girl’s bonus on boss attacks. A constant drip of unlocks, from characters and costumes to collectible illustrations, keeps the progression steady.
The soundtrack earns high praise, with nearly all of the song library landing well. A streaming mode opens up the wider list for broadcast, and the bright, energetic presentation carries the whole experience around the songs.
The upper-level charts on master difficulty turn ridiculous, with the dubstep sections a particular pain. Any distraction costs a full combo, finger strain builds during long sessions, and the steep DLC pricing sits awkwardly beside the cheap base game.
Overall, the soundtrack, the boss-dance moments and the constant unlocks make this well worth the base price alone. The master-difficulty charts and the DLC pricing are the main caveats.