Amplitude

Electric slide.

Despite its improved HD veneer and tweaked controls, I just didn’t find the Amplitude of 2016 to be as addictive or long-lasting an experience as the Amplitude of 2003. I had some fun with it for as long as it took to play through its hypnotic campaign and unlock all its tracks in the quickplay mode, but the samey soundtrack and meagre selection of modes meant that I had little motivation to return to it thereafter. Committed high score-chasers will probably stick around in an effort to top the online leaderboards since the challenge is most certainly still there, but for everyone else Amplitu...

Overall Amplitude’s return is an enjoyable one, though the game’s campaign set-list has just as many tracks that would clear the dancefloor as fill it. Thankfully, the additional tracks that you unlock through play are much stronger, and will particularly appeal to fans of indie game soundtracks and their composers. However, fans of the original will likely still hanker after more variation to the included styles and genres no matter how hypnotic the action is.

Those that played Amplitude back on PlayStation 2 may be able to gleam some nostalgic enjoyment from its modern offerings, but unfortunately, in a world where Rock Band and Guitar Hero rule the music rhythm game genre there isn’t much room for a little spaceship and its collection of repetitive techno tracks. Had the game included a wider selection of music it might have been a different story, but unfortunately fans of Amplitude are probably best sticking to the original.

Last year we saw the two titans of the music genre resurrect. Now, this early in 2016, we get the chance to take a look at another, longer lost, legend of the music genre: Amplitude. Although it might not be as well-known as Guitar Hero or Rock Band, Amplitude does have a niche audience from its glory days. For you might not have heard of it before, but this isn’t Ampiltude’s first outing, as it once existed back in the humble days of the PS2. It was a bit of a cult hit, and after a successful Kickstarter is now back to recapture the hearts of everyone who can handle the bright lights and neon...