Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands
Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands is a turn-based role playing game where you play as Deathbulge, a 3-piece band of dysfunctional goofballs who unknowingly stumble into a cursed Battle of the Bands contest, where all entrants can attack with music and must fight to the death.
Plot Summary
SPOILERS ahead!
To the persuasion of fellow musicians Platinum Scrumptious, rock band Deathbulge signs up for the demonic competition Battle of the Bands, not knowing it is going to be a fight to the death. When they happen to figure it out, they try to back out of the contract. Their best bet is to fight the competition's patron Pokalyps, but when it is revealed they have no say in the contract, Deathbulge's only chance for survival is to participate in the Battle of the Bands and fight an immortal demonic singing fish.
Game Mechanics
The game is a single player RPG with a turn-based battle system, based on Dan Martin's comic series Deathbulge. It is available on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam.
The game consists of two main parts:
- The main questline called Main Gigs leading the player through seven dungeons (each with their own thematic enemies) and one final arena.
- Side quests or Side Gigs which can be progressed through exploration, walking around and talking to NPC's. There are two towns without enemies, full of kickable doors and interactable locals.
Exploration
There are three playable characters – each with their own Field Ability – but only one selected as active while walking around in Bopstead, Hoho, or any dungeon.
During exploration, you can do the following things:
- Interact with environmental elements – to learn about the lore.
- Open treasure chests – some hidden, some seemingly unreachable.
- Kick doors – to meet the locals.
- Talk to NPCs – all these characters are unique with their own interactions which depend on your progress in the game. Most Side Gigs can be obtained from them.
Battles
In the game players fight through turn-based musical battles with two teams facing each other. During a fight all available members of Deathbulge are present, but there is always only one active character.
Both the player's and the enemy's team has their own Bar with an indicator moving through it which shows the characters' current position in the turn order.
Once the character's indicator reaches the end of the Bar, they can take the following actions:
- Attack with Beats – these are free, basic attacks collected by defeating enemies, and can be upgraded by MODPOD666-X.
- Attack with Mods – these are stronger, character-specific attacks, but lauching them takes Hype. Choosing the right mods helps you shape your characters into different classes.
- Use Merch – these are special items, using them costs Stock.
The intensity of your attacks is defined by your Stats that is calculated from your band level and worn Patches.
Besides the straight attacks, each bar is divided into four measures, and each measure can be filled with different positive or negative Measure Effects. Furthermore, there are some effects that are applied to the whole bar.
There are seven dungeons, each filled with their own specific (usually three or four) types of enemies, one story-indicated unskippable boss fight (some boss battles are band fights that have their own special rules) and an optional legendary fight. Winning all legendary fights unlocks a final secret boss.
Achievements
Even though the gigs in the game only reward useful items, there are 24 achievements unlockable through Steam.
| Icon | Name | Description | Type | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Absolutely Eclectic | Collect all mods | Completion | |
|
Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass | Story achievement | Story | Finishing Bass Basement |
|
Chuckridge Battleloser | Beat the third legend | Legendary | Defeating Chuckridge Cuttlebrander |
|
Completely Unhinged | Kick all doors | Completion | |
|
Concert Chaos | Story achievement | Story | Finishing Hellblivion |
|
The Diva Dance | Beat the second legend | Legendary | Defeating Madam Bouffant |
|
Exorcism Extravaganza | Beat the fourth legend | Legendary | Defeating Glamourella |
|
Extremely Battled Jacket | Collect all patches | Completion | |
|
Followed a Dream, Then Slapped It About a Bit | Beat the sixth legend | Legendary | Defeating Volmax |
|
Fully Stocked | Collect all stock expansions | Completion | |
|
Hype is for Chumps | Collect all beats | Completion | |
|
Is That REALLY How It Went? | Talk about your hot date | Story | Finishing Briff's date challenge in the Blue Horn Tavern |
|
Maximum Megachampion | REALLY beat the game | Completion | Defeating the secret boss |
|
Nice One | Beat the game | Completion | |
|
No Shrubs | Beat the first legend | Legendary | Defeating Shrubbanshee in Dreadhaunt Crossing |
|
Premium Passengers | Story achievement | Story | Finishing The Bus |
|
Professional Consumer | Collect all merch | Completion | |
|
Prove Your Strength | Story achievement | Story | Defeating Masstropod |
|
Relentless Helper-Outer | Complete all gigs | Completion | |
|
Sage Advice | Story achievement | Story | Finishing Claire's Hair (Lower Locks) |
|
Scratchin' Fancy | Fully upgrade all beats | Completion | |
|
Shampoo and Conditioner | Story achievement | Story | Finishing Claire's Hair |
|
Turn up the Brass | Story achievement | Story | Finishing TillaTek CYBERJUNGLE |
|
Work No Longer in Progress | Beat the fifth legend | Legendary | Defeating WIP |
