Bass Defense

Bass Defense is a rhythm game in which you defend your base from NMYs, enemies that attack as soundwaves and are part of the music. You hit the correct buttons in time with the soundtrack to clear them, using your sense of rhythm and upgradable offensive or defensive power-ups. The soundtrack adapts to your gameplay, and using offensive power-ups too often in Soundwave mode can take you out of rhythm.

Game modes

Soundwave mode combines rhythm-focused play with strategy. From a top-down view, you choose a loadout and use power-ups or your timing to protect the base. The rhythm complexity, number and speed of NMYs vary by difficulty.

Fingerton mode is a quicker, rhythm-focused mode played with one button. From a top-down view, you time your presses to the music and clear speedy NMYs. It is available in the full game and is exclusive to Hard mode.

Levels and difficulty

The game has 20 levels with different challenges and visual styles, rhythm-sensitive destructible objects, secrets and easter eggs. Three difficulties let you choose between a more casual pace in Easy and Normal or a challenge against more and faster NMYs in Hard.

Power-ups and upgrades

There are nine power-ups, divided between passive abilities and active choices for each run. Your Base helps you survive longer, Regeneration speeds up healing, and Power Shield gives you some time. Active abilities include Electric Trap, which deals area damage when timed correctly; Turret Reload, which supplies ammunition to the two turrets on each level; and Sonic Boom, which deals heavy area damage and automatically activates passive abilities.

Sub Wave, Shock Chain and Bombing Run are also active power-ups available in the full game. Sub Wave creates a multi-layered wall that detonates NMYs, Shock Chain sends an electromagnetic pulse along a lane, and Bombing Run deals moderate area damage across a carpet-bombed area.

Using power-ups earns energy capsules. Between levels and difficulties, you can spend them to upgrade your gear, reset upgrades at any time and try different setups.