Once upon a time, I took a stab at audio production. Very quickly, I realized something crucial that defined my identity for the rest of my days: I suck at audio production. Sound design and music have always fascinated me, but when it comes to mixing even simple tracks, I am overwhelmed.

Now, OFFBEAT offers me a second chance. Developed by Whetstone Games and published by Pantaloon, OFFBEAT is a groovy blend of video game and actual audio production tool. As the player completes jobs and expands their kit, they will be introduced to real-world skills in producing music.

A Cat Piano and Me

In the beginning of the demo, all I had to my name was my humble cat piano. My only source to the outside world was a telephone, which my uncle used to inform me that I am now a proud owner of a mysterious sequence-o-matic 4-track. Uncle also bequeaths to me my very first task: compose a ringtone for Uncle.

Now, as I mentioned, this game is a real audio production tool. The songs you make are downloaded to your computer. If you’ve never taken a look at an audio production tool, it can be complicated. What is nice about OFFBEAT is that it starts you off simple, as the cat piano has a limited scale. For those who know nothing about music, I may have already lost you. But basically, you start with simple options, which makes composing a short little jingle more straightforward.

For those who are more musically educated, the beginning of the game might be frustrating. I myself have some limited piano and guitar knowledge, so straining against the bonds of my trusty cat piano felt restricting. Plus, I made the mistake of trying to compose existing songs, which is impossible with the cat’s piano options at the start.

Keep in mind, OFFBEAT is designed for audio production beginners. And no offense to my beloved cat piano, but additional instruments are available for purchase pretty early on. Plus, your faithful piano will evolve to keep up with your own developing expertise.

Make That Kitty Sing

Admittedly, I took longer than I probably should have perfecting these little tunes. A bit of OFFBEAT is self-taught in certain aspects. For example, if you’ve never learned the names of notes, you’ll have to click through the notes to identify what you’re looking for. Likewise, the timing and rhythm of the notes was difficult for me to figure out. I like to think I have a good sense of rhythm, but translating this into a visual format is something I am still getting used to. Part of me likes the challenge; it helps me learn. The other part of me would have liked music-intro tips, but I understand that isn’t really in the spirit of the game.

Sink Into the Music

Just to wrap up my thoughts, I want to shout out the vibes of OFFBEAT. Taking place in the 80’s, the whole game is set in your apartment, and the team’s creativity shines through the visuals, writing, and, of course, the music.

The dialogue options in the game surprised me. Choosing between tones (my favorite being “hungry”) allows you to add personality to your character. What I search for the most in games is immersion: sinking into the environment and my character. I came into OFFBEAT expecting a fun audio tool with educational quests, so the immersion that it offered through the writing and vibes was an awesome treat.

Compose Your Way to the Future

Though OFFBEAT made me realize that I am woefully less talented than I thought, I’m glad I picked it up for Steam’s Next Fest. I hadn’t any interest in music production before, but now I’m thinking it would be a cool hobby to pick up. And with OFFBEAT, that hobby now feels achievable. OFFBEAT eases you into the system but challenges you enough to build skill. OFFBEAT’s demo is available to play as of this publication, so check it out now! An Early Access launch is planned for a future date.