Fuser is the latest game in the music genre from Harmonix, creators of hits such as Amplitude, Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Dance Central. It’s an attempt to bring the genre back to prominence, and a bloody good one at that! I have always listened to mixtapes and wished I had the ability to put something together myself, but Fuser really can take a rookie such as myself and me cutting tracks together like a pro.
The campaign should be your first port of call, as it acts as a tutorial for the game, giving you lessons along the way. Diving straight into other modes will leave you lacking some fundamental skills needed to get the most from your experience. You start as a new DJ on the scene, looking to build fame and notoriety.
The base game comes with 86 tracks with the bulk leaning towards R’n’B and Hip-Hop, but there is a little something here for everyone. Variety is the spice of life after all. The Weeknd, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Coldplay and The Clash are just a few of the artists on offer (a full list can be found here). At launch, there is also the option of the rather pricey VIP Edition, which adds an extra 25 tracks to the mix – literally.
Before each set, you fill your deck with tracks and get to work. You start by matching instruments from different songs and slowly get introduced to more advanced techniques like altering volume levels and stacking tracks to keep the flow going. Progressing through the campaign you really get the sense that you are gaining a feel for the music. The game does an excellent job of making you feel like a pro mixer, certainly massaging some transitions to make the choices you have went with work. I admit I don’t fully know how the under-the-hood sweetening is done but it is super impressive.
The scoring system is a little confusing. Doing the basics right will wield a good score, but if you are a stickler for cracking five stars you may find yourself scratching your head on how to obtain that. Variety seemed to work best for me, but in some of the stages where you are being taught a new technique you aren’t thinking about that in the moment, so going back and playing these sets again is advised if you are a completionist.
You earn money throughout your career to spend on new tracks and cosmetics. Unfortunately by the time you finish the campaign, you will still have quite a few songs to unlock, leaving you to grind for beats. This provides a good reason to stick around and play other modes, but I did feel like the unlocks could have been better balanced.
Battle mode strips some of the more advanced features and techniques you learn throughout the campaign and instead focuses on the basics. This creates a tighter, more streamlined experience but it does hamper your creative flair. Timing song drops is the key to victory, with different songs having unique point values.
None of the multiplayer modes are playable locally, which is a bit of a missed opportunity. Sure, there may not be much need for it just now with us all locked away, but hopefully, in an update, we get the option as it would be a great party game alongside a few drinks. There are both public and private lobbies though for the time being, which is great for creating music with friends.
Freestyle mode is, as you would expect, a free-for-all where you can take everything you have learned and mash it together. As I alluded to earlier, starting with this mode would be like jumping in the deep end when you can’t swim, but post-campaign this is where you will put together your finest work.
Discussing the value proposition of Fuser is difficult. The base game is a full-priced title and with 86 songs, it offers great value if the gameplay does click with you. The VIP edition is currently £100, which despite providing quality additional songs and some cosmetic gear feels like just too hefty a price tag to recommend over the standard release.
If you are a streamer or content creator you may be wondering if broadcasting footage from the game is going to land you in a spot of hot water. According to developer Harmonix, you should be ok, with a few caveats. Firstly, you cannot monetise the content and secondly, you aren’t allowed to just post the audio mixes. You can have to post both the video and audio, presumably as it promotes the game.
Fuser comes packing a varied and challenging list. The campaign will take you around 8 hours, but if you are looking for the platinum trophy you can expect to spend considerably longer with the game. Getting 5 stars on every campaign set, taking snapshots and a healthy dose of co-op trophies are just some of the activities to keep you busy. As things currently stand, according to PSN Profiles, no-one has yet obtained the platinum.
-Terry 🦊
VERDICT
Fuser is a great addition to the music genre. It has so many great tracks and does an excellent job of making you feel, and sound, like a pro. Given the full retail price, it is possible that the game fails to find an audience long term, but I hope that isn’t the case because Harmonix has created something kinda special here.
A code for this game was provided by the publisher for review purposes. Reviewed on a base PS4.
Fuser is currently only available digitally on the PSN store. You can purchase it here.
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