Super Street Game Reviews
One perk of being a game reviewer (other than the new games), is previewing games almost ready to launch but that are still in last stages of development. We were lucky enough to get a visit from Sony and play a version of their upcoming title called Amplitude. Sony is billing Amplitude as "a unique extension" to their wildly popular Frequency title. Amplitude promises to be bigger and better by expanding the musical genres and packing in more than 20 songs.
Ever wanted to be a rock star? DJ? Music producer? Amplitude Gives you a chance to not only re-create the featured songs, but to create custom mixes too. Some of the artists you'll find in the game are David Bowie, Weezer, Garbage, Quarashi, Logan 7, and other big time bands. One thing we noticed about gameplay is you don't have to be a musician to sound like a musician. Basically, your goal is to turn on each musical track (drums, bass, guitar, etc.) by using your controller buttons to beat out the notes that appear on the screen. After hitting a certain number of notes correctly, the musical track begins to play on its own. Turn on one track, a few tracks, or all the tracks, it's up to you. Gaming features include the ability to play solo or up to four players on the same screen--no split screens here. Amplitude also offers online gameplay using a network adaptor. Online gameplay will also support one to four players, and includes full chat capabilities, a ranking system, and the ability to post your remix and let others hear it. If you think your remix rocks, upload it, and it might even win a spot as a top remix in the online lobby for all other online players to see.
The graphics are mind-blowing. This game is like taking a psychedelic roller-coaster ride with streaming mpegs and music videos thrown in along the way. The controls were easy to learn and we had some cool mixes going in no time. There is a wide range of skill levels so beginning gamers and pro gamers will be able to find a level to challenge their skills. One thing's for sure, you'd better get your fingers limbered up and ready to go. There was one heavy metal song that we thought would be impossible. We were wrong. The guy from Sony pulled it off, no problem, but damn he must have practiced. Even from the limited preview we were able to play, Amplitude certainly looks like it will be a hit, no pun intended. We're definitely looking forward to playing the final version and rockin' the office with our tasty remixes.