Animators Jon Baken and Brian Tessler, known as Cool 3D World, have released their debut game Ultimate Drummer. The title blends soulslike elements with drumming mechanics in a story about reuniting a divine band. Players navigate treacherous landscapes on a drum set while maintaining a continuous drum loop.
Cool 3D World, the creative team behind surreal animation shorts from the Vine era and an episode of Smiling Friends, entered the gaming space with Ultimate Drummer. Jon Baken and Brian Tessler, real-life musicians, crafted the game where players control a hero wielding drum sticks with divine powers. The hero aims to rescue exiled band members of a supergroup of gods after their drummer returned vengeful and banished the others. The kingdom now faces blight that players must eradicate. ⏎ ⏎Gameplay involves gliding across landscapes on a customizable drum set through platforming challenges, deathtrap dungeons, speed boost rings, and mountains of white plastic lawn chairs. Boss battles and enemies like janky cave perverts and exploding vultures demand rhythmic precision, as the hero plays an uninterrupted drum loop. Players can customize loops, save presets, unlock samples, and use extra arms for actions like throwing battle axes. ⏎ ⏎Additional features include a character creator, unlockable fashions for the hero, and new skins for the drum kit. The game emphasizes manic action with surprises, drawing comparisons to elements in Elden Ring and Sonic.
