Billie Bust Up: A Musical Platformer That Will Leave You Singing Along

Billie Bust Up is an upcoming 3D platformer that combines the excitement of gameplay with the joy of a Disney-style cartoon musical. I had the opportunity to try out the demo at EGX 2023’s Rezzed Zone, and it immediately became the standout game of the show for me.

The controls of Billie Bust Up are familiar to anyone who has played a 3D platformer in the past two decades, with the exception of a shorter but faster “goat hop” as an alternative to the main jump. After a brief introduction to the controls, the game wastes no time in launching into a rousing opening number. The protagonist, Billie, finds herself crashing a ghosts-only party and must find a way to gain entry. The host, a shapeshifting beast, suggests that Billie needs to be fashionably deceased before she can join the party.

The demo primarily consists of a genre-standard chase scene where the player runs towards the camera. However, what sets Billie Bust Up apart is the quality of the accompanying alt-orchestral song and how it seamlessly integrates the playable action with the delightfully bloodthirsty lyrics. As the host suggests various methods of death, the player sees corresponding actions on the screen, such as slashing with a giant combat knife or triggering a series of bombs to explode on the beat. The dark and humorous nature of these actions deviates somewhat from the traditional Disney style, giving the game a unique edge.

Although Billie Bust Up is not a strict rhythm-action game where the player must time their jumps and attacks to the music, the prominent placement of the song adds a captivating flow to what could have been a standard gauntlet level. The absurdity of the lyrics is reflected in the progressively more ludicrous hazards that the player encounters, such as booby-trapped bicycles, dangerously spinning kebabs, and excessive amounts of bread. These hazards consistently keep Billie on her hooves and contribute to the overall entertainment value of the game.

While the musical moments in the demo were incredibly enjoyable, I am curious about their frequency throughout the full game. It makes sense to have one musical moment per boss fight, but I am concerned that the regular platforming and minion-bashing sections in between may pale in comparison. However, as a debut indie game, Billie Bust Up demonstrates remarkable attention to detail. The developers at Giddy Goat Games have clearly invested a significant amount of time and effort into designing, modeling, animating, and implementing even the smallest details, such as a brief appearance of goat-eating lobsters for a single gag in a song. This level of dedication adds depth and charm to the game.

Overall, Billie Bust Up is an absolute blast to play. It successfully combines the thrill of a platformer with the infectious joy of a musical. With its clever integration of gameplay and music, charming art style, and attention to detail, this indie gem has the potential to captivate players and leave them humming along to its tunes. I eagerly look forward to the full release of Billie Bust Up and experiencing all the musical mayhem it has to offer.