A Circuit of an Electrifying Partnership: Bytebond Preview | The Gamerheads Podcast

Steph and Trina are partnering together in this captivating co-op puzzle adventure to save a PC from the ultimate virus! Come join us for our thoughts on the latest demo of Bytebond.

Steph’s thoughts:

Couch co-ops will always be a special experience for two players to bond and needlessly argue over. Bytebond is no exception to that. Rolling around as a virus-fighting, power-transferring, BYTE-sized robot adds a certain element of fun to this game. I was surprised at how the physics of rolling around felt controlled yet chaotic at the same time. We definitely spent most of our time bumping into each other, and I might have accidentally deactivated a lift that sent Trina into the abyss, but it never felt frustrating. In fact, it only added to our giggling as we progressed through the demo.

This was my first time playing Bytebond, and to be quite honest, I was impressed with how seamless the transition from tutorial to main gameplay was, even within a demo. Initially, I was separated from Trina, forced to learn the ropes on my own. But the moment I saw her little robot, I was happy to be reunited with her and ready to tackle anything that came our way. I initially started playing with my keyboard and mouse, but as I suspected, using my controller felt more natural. The controls were displayed clearly as I learned new mechanics, and the only issue I encountered was purely user error that resulted in connecting my wireless controller directly to my computer.

Throughout our playthrough, we solved creative puzzles involving transferring power to each other or from one source to another. This allowed us access to other areas of the computer that needed to be saved. I, honestly, highly enjoyed the critical thinking that was required to progress. I couldn’t be too swollen with power because then I can’t fit through the door to help Trina. Or what about that lift that needs to be activated so both of us can cross? Moments like these, added to the puzzles that Bytebond presented to us and surely didn’t create scenarios of solving them in a more complicated way than it needed to be. Nope.

Beyond the mechanics, I really enjoyed the art style of the game. In the beginning, everything was clean, and I was able to quickly identify where the power was located and where we needed to take it. Additionally, the moment we encountered any area where the virus had taken hold, the stark difference between the colors brought a sense of urgency to my heart.

Overall, Bytebond satisfied my love of couch co-ops. It's mixed with imaginative puzzles and an underlying story that drives you further into the depths of a computer infected with a virus. It releases in 2025, and it's certainly a game to keep a lookout for if you’re searching for a new co-op game to play with someone. I cannot say enough about how much fun I had playing this demo with Trina. It will be a game I add to my library when it releases, so I can help delete that pesky virus from the computer! Be sure to check Steam and other social media platforms for updates from the developer, so you, too, can join the Antivirus Special Forces!

Trina’s thoughts:

This is my second time getting a chance to preview Bytebond, and I’m happy to see that there were some visual improvements and more depth to the story since the last time I played it at PAX West 2024. Of course, the adorable, colorful robots that are reminiscent of BB-8 from Star Wars continue to add whimsy to the overall gameplay. Getting to roll and “bumper car” collide into each other was one of both Steph’s and my favorite part of the game.

In contrast to my first experience, this demo began a little differently by showing us a cutscene of where we were and what our job was. I thought that having a little bit more context around the narrative of the game provided us with more emotion when bad things started to occur within the PC. Like when the cooling system exploded, we both felt a similar feeling of dread because if that happened in a real PC, it was probably unfixable. 

When I played at PAX West 2024, I experienced some small controller issues, which didn’t crop up again while playing the newest demo. I think that some tutorial prompts were added which were helpful as a reminder, but also for Steph, who was playing for the first time. While I could remember some of the early puzzles, it wasn’t always super clear to me right away what some of the solutions were, which was fun to troubleshoot together. It made me wonder if they made some of the puzzles a little more challenging than the last time I played. My favorite part about solving a new puzzle was that the floor beneath our robots would light up with a burst of electricity in a circuit pattern. It provided an electrifying sense of accomplishment.

I also got to experience the new winter biome, which ended up being the cooling system. I loved the small details like being able to draw in the snow, knock over snowmen, and even virus snowmen! They continue to bring that playful whimsy to the game, which makes it significantly more enjoyable. If you’re seeking a new co-op game, I highly recommend keeping Bytebond on your radar. With a release date of 2025, the developer continues to share updates on Steam and social media about upcoming enhancements. I am looking forward to more biomes and being able to continue to save the PC in Bytebond.