It's the end of another year, and that can only mean one thing: it's list season. Inevitably, you're going to see top ten lists by the thousands; and, as an official member of the enthusiast press, I'm afraid I can't violate my directive. But, to make things a little more interesting, I've decided to assemble my 10 favorite games of this year in non-hierarchical form because--let's face facts--it's hard to pick a favorite. And unlike other top 10 lists, this one will be doled out to you in piecemeal over the next ten excruciating days! Please enjoy.
So, what is there to say about Audiosurf? Unfortunately, I already wrote extensively about the game for a former blogging gig, and since part of my bridge-burning policy involves insulting all of my former employers, I'm going to go ahead and call that website awful. But, as an entertainment writer, it's my job to be repetitive. My job. My Job. Repetitiveness is my job. So I must solider on by informing you of how amazing Audiosurf is--as if you didn't know.
And if you didn't know, Audiosurf turns any non-DRM protected MP3 file (I'm looking at you, iTunes) into a puzzle/racing hybrid rollercoaster. And the most amazing part of this is that it actually does a good job of transforming audio into a physical construction; admittedly, the game is kind of simple, but there's really nothing like experiencing your favorite songs via Audiosurf's Tronlike trappings. And, if you came of age in the 1990s like me, the whole quiet/loud alternarock thing is perfect for the virtual architecture of Audiosurf--as are any songs with tempo changes and strong beats.
The "game" part of Audiosurf is nothing more than simple color matching (think high-intensity Klax), but there are quite a few different modes of play available for almost any kind of hardcore or casual temperament. Audiosurf is no Guitar Hero or Rock Band; but the ability to "ride" any song in the world for the low price of ten bucks more than makes up for the intricately-designed note tracking of the modern plastic guitar genre. The game has unexpectedly become a major part of my life; whenever I buy a new album, I immediately start listening to it by playing the tracks in Audiosurf. Nerdy, but amazing. And an essential part of my 2008.
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