Negative Space Games

 First Impressions: Audiosurf 

Release Date: 2/15/08
Developer: Dylan Fitterer
Genre: Puzzle/Music
Prognosis: I'm three hours in and things are looking good.  There are some small flaws, but at 9.95$ I really don't think you can loose.

Audiosurf is one of the finalists at the Indpendent Games Festival next week, and if what I've seen so far is any sign the other games had better be really good.  I wasn't sure what to expect going into the game, although I knew that it had something to do with music.  If you're sitting on the fence and wondering if this game is for you then pull up a chair.

The game uses your music to create a race track that looks like something out of the Wipeout or F-zero franchises.If you're used to games like Guitar Hero and Rockband, you may be wondering what the soundtrack to the game is like.  The answer my friend is as simple as opening up the music folder in your computer or rolling your chair over to your towering collection of CDs.  Audiosurf supports the ever popular MP3, along with M4As (iTunes), WMAs, CDs, and even OGGS.  Chances are if you have it Audiosurf can incorporate it into the game.

Gameplay is a mix of different genres with the base of a collect three puzzler along the lines of Bejeweled.  The game uses your music to create a race track that looks like something out of the Wipeout or F-zero franchises.  The speed and shape of the track is completely determined by the musical selection you choose.  Pick something acustic and you'll get a leasurely trip up a hill.  Choose a fast paced punk song and you'll find yourself racing down a hill faster then you can say 'splat'.  

This race track is populated with a variety of colored squares in four lanes.  Collect three of one color and they'll vanish off the track and give you points.  Bigger groups equals a bigger score.

This can be a lot of fun with the right song, but some songs work better with the game then others.  It can also be really overwhelming at times with colored blocks flying by so fast, and in such large numbers, that you rarely have any real time to think through your combos as well as you'd like (although, again, a slower song makes this problem less pronounced). Not since Meteos on the Nintendo DS has there been a puzzle game this frenzied and twitch bassed.

If that sounds good to you then by all means give it a shot.  Even if it doesn't there is a free demo avaliable.  And if you're really lazy and wanting a better idea if the game is worth your time I'll be posting a full review within the comeing week.