Malaysian studio Metronomik brought NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 to Tokyo Game Show 2025, giving players a chance to experience the sequel’s blend of music-driven combat and colorful stage performances. The 16-minute demo showed that the team is building on what made the original game stand out while adding new elements to the rhythm-action formula.

Metronomik’s bold art style returns in full force. NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 features bright colors, high-contrast lighting, and energetic stage effects that make every fight feel like a live concert. The comic-inspired character designs are back with more polish and detail. Each moment looks like a music video in motion.

The connection between combat and music is spot-on. Every combo hit lands in time with the song, and enemy attacks follow the same musical beat. Players who dodge or attack precisely on rhythm can trigger powerful chain combos and “Perfect Dodges.” Successful counters create satisfying bursts of sound that match the intensity of the moment.

What Is No Straight Roads?

Metronomik, based in Kuala Lumpur, was founded in 2017 by Wan Hazmer (who worked on Final Fantasy XV at Square Enix) and Daim Dziauddin (a concept artist for Street Fighter V). The studio’s goal was to create a game where music shapes every aspect of the gameplay, not just the background.

The first No Straight Roads combined rhythm and action mechanics in a unique way. Players controlled two characters: Mayday, a guitarist with powerful melee attacks, and Zuke, a drummer who focused on rhythm timing and combos. Everything in the game moved to the beat — enemy attacks, stage changes, and player actions all synced up with the music. Players could turn objects in the environment into weapons using musical energy, and unlocking new skills required gaining fans.

NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 expands on these ideas with faster character switching, deeper rhythm mechanics, and more musical genres mixing together during battles.

Playing the Demo

The demo handled smoothly right from the start. Movement controls like running, jumping, and dodging responded instantly with no delay. Switching between characters felt quick and natural, making it easy to adjust to different rhythm patterns during fights. Combos flowed well even during the more rhythm-focused sections, keeping battles feeling tight and responsive.

While the original game only featured Mayday and Zuke, the sequel adds two new playable characters to the band. The demo showcased Casey, a keyboardist who attacks by shooting streams of musical notes. Each new character brings their own instrument, abilities, and combat style to the game.

Combat and Gameplay

Even in the short demo, it’s clear how much the music affects combat. Attack timing, enemy rhythm changes, and the background tempo all work together. Players who pay attention to the beat and act accordingly get rewarded. Using abilities at the right moment improves flow and may unlock special rhythm-based attacks, adding more depth to encounters.

The demo’s length made it difficult to judge the full range of stage designs and musical variety, but the core mechanics felt solid and closely tied to rhythm awareness.

Final Thoughts on NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2

The demo left a positive impression. The way rhythm and combat work together remains the series’ biggest strength. The controls are polished, the music is impactful, and the connection between sound and gameplay feels satisfying. Based on this demo, the full game’s soundtrack and boss fights should deliver strong moments.

The story cutscenes shown in the demo felt somewhat stiff, with dialogue pacing and character animations that could use more refinement. This might be due to the demo being an early build without full context. With improvements to narrative flow and character presentation, NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 could match its strong gameplay with equally strong storytelling.

NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 shows Metronomik continuing to refine the rhythm-action genre. The demo at Tokyo Game Show 2025 demonstrated that the Malaysian team’s creative vision remains strong. The game builds on the original’s foundation while adding new characters, tighter mechanics, and more musical variety to the mix.