Cyberpunk Goes Turn-Based In New Rhythm JRPG ‘Keylocker’

Rocking out on Switch eShop right now

by Jim Norman 10:45am

Developer Moonana Games and publisher Serenity Forge have officially launched Keylocker — a cyberpunk JRPG all about keeping to the beat — on the Switch eShop.

This one takes place in the dystopian cityscape of Saturn (cyberpunk enough for ya?), where a corrupt government has banned all music. You’ll play as B0B0, a singer/songwriter determined to dismantle this system through the power of turn-based rhythm battles, be that on the isometric battlefield or in falling-note sections à la Guitar Hero.

It looks pretty sweet, with the pixel art visuals complementing the cyberpunk aesthetic rather nicely. The developer cites the Mario & Luigi series and Chrono Trigger as inspirations — big shoes to fill, but a fantastic place to start.

Here’s a list of the game’s key features and a handful of screenshots so you can see what we’re dealing with:

– Choose your path as a cyberpunk rebel, each with their own unique skill tree and storyline

– Control electricity with you music! Transform it to attack or defend as needed, swapping between different movesets and tactics.

– Classic turn-based combat with a twist: Real-time execution of moves in rhythm game style — aim your shots, time your attacks, parry, and block your enemies!

– No random encounters: fight your enemies head-on with seamless in-world battles

– Befriend citizens, or betray them: Hack into profiles to acquire resources or to change the course of the story with multiple endings.

– Play with your band in the Music Show minigame: Featuring compositions by Elektrobear (Momodora, Virgo Versus The Zodiac), voiced by Psamathes.

– Keep an eye on the Danger Meter! The all-ears church-police will pursue devious denizens who disrespect the Law of Silence.

– Completely customize your characters with a wide variety of equipment

– Unlock special Talents using Keys harvested from enemies you’ve DELETED in combat.

– Unique interactions with every object in the world: Exploring Saturn can lead to secrets, rewards, or bits of lore about the planet.

Keylocker is now available on the Switch eShop for £15.99 / $19.99, with a tasty 10% discount available for its first month on the store.

What do you make of this one? Think you’ll be checking it out? Let us know in the comments.

Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since.

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