While not the first game that bases itself entirely around your music collection (that would go to the kooky platformer Vib Ribbon on the PlayStation 1), these two games – Audiosurf and Beat Hazard – revive the idea for the PC. Both are available for download from Steam and both are dirt cheap. But which one is more worth your time?
Audiosurf – £5.99
Audiosurf been around for a few years now; starting out as a free download, and slowly gathering new features.
What’s the premise?
You’re a cool-looking hover-car, driving along a twisting, floating highway. The road pulses up and down to the beat, changing in steepness as the music becomes more or less intense. Obstructing you are coloured blocks also floating along the road. Collect blocks of the same colour, and score points for large clusters. You get to see the global hi-scores for a song once you beat it. Aim for the top!
Does it do my music justice?
It’s always fun to try out different kinds of music, and see how the road you’re driving on will turn out. Intense music will give you some thrilling speeds, but slower, gentle music will almost always make for an easy ride. Music with lots of tempo changes work amazingly. Breakbeat fans will be satisfied here.
Will this last me?
Having a wide range of genres to your music collection is a major factor; but there are a lot of gameplay modes on offer here. Different vehicles change the way the colour-matching puzzle works – my personal favourite being ‘Mono’, where you collect coloured blocks avoiding grey ones at all costs. They’ve even managed to put in a 2-player mode! There are leaderboards and competitions, but the game puts less focus on them.
Beat Hazard – £6.99
Beat Hazard is the new kid on the block. Released very recently, it capitalizes on using your music too – but in an entirely different way…
What’s the premise?
If you’ve played Asteroids or Geometry Wars, you’ll be familiar with this. You’re a lone spaceship, fighting for survival against asteroids of trash, and rival ships. Your firepower grows as the music you’re playing becomes more intense, and as you collect Volume and Power items. Collect enough and you become the Beat Hazard; a ship-wrecking destructive force!
Does it do my music justice?
The firepower of your ship is very much affected by the music, so in slow or quiet sections, you can become a sitting duck. This presents some interesting challenges, when large boss ships appear, and you’re left with little but a pea-shooter. Otherwise, the music you play doesn’t affect the game as much as it does in Audiosurf. The game is difficult enough in it’s own right though – your ship dies in one hit and the waves of foes can be very unforgiving.
Will this last me?
The game only has two modes – Free Play and Survival. But what it lacks in gameplay options, it makes up for in leaderboards and rankings. You can ‘level up’ as you complete more songs, unlocking in-game bonuses. There’s also a large emphasis in achievements, if you’re that kind of gamer.
Which is the Winner?
For me, Audiosurf wins out due to the larger amount of modes on offer, and better use of the tunes I feed it. It’s both a puzzle game and an action game that anyone can have a go at. Beat Hazard is a great arcade-type shooter and definitely the next port-of-call for those who want something more after Geometry Wars; but isn’t quite so accessible.
And just for fun, a few of my music choices: