Auditorium HD
by Burbie52, HSM team writer
I, like most people, love music. I like a lot of different genres, from country to rock, symphony to Broadway show tunes. I was raised by parents who exposed me to a lot of different kinds of music and I consider myself lucky to have had that kind of broad education in it. Growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s I was able to watch rock and roll emerge from its cocoon and grow into a movement, and as I was raised doing drama and musicals all of my life, I was able to learn to appreciate music that I still consider the some of the best ever written.
I have gone to many concerts in my time, seen everyone from John Mayall to Sarah Brightman, and was privileged to see people like Janis Joplin, Blood Sweat and Tears and Rod Stewart in their heyday. These are memories I will always cherish — even that Monkees concert back in 1967.
The other day I went into the PlayStation store on the XMB looking to see what was new, cheap or even free using my Plus membership. While I was there I discovered a new game called Auditorium HD by Zoo Games. It was designed by a company called Cipher Prime and it really piqued my interest. Not only was the price right — only $.99 — but the gameplay was about using light particles to make music.
When it comes to gaming, I tend to lean toward role playing games. I have always loved a good story and seeing one played out with a game attached is just icing on the cake for me. This game has really grabbed me, though. It is a puzzler — not something I do often, as for me gaming is something I do to relax, even if I am fighting a dragon. I have a tendency to put my games in easy mode if it is available so I don’t have to struggle too much, at least at first, until I get the hang of it.
This game is one of the most unique games I have ever played. It has no rules, no instructions and no time limit. You are given a set of tools to use to accomplish your goal, which is to light up a series of graduated bars of various colors. Each bar you light creates a different sound, electronically created musical tones that can sound like violins, piano or bass. You progress through the various sections of each song, and as you complete each task, you are allowed to go to the next section. There is no set pattern to use. It is up to you to figure out how to achieve your goals each time. Once all of the song sections have been created, you get to hear the complete song at the end.
Some of the controls
Some songs are five sections long, and others get longer as you level up and unlock new songs to play. They also get harder to complete. Your tools also change, as do the screens you use to accomplish your task. Obstacles are added, and there are bumpers or pins placed that divide the light stream.
There are also a huge set of different tools that appear as you unlock each part. Each tool looks like a button with a symbol on it. There are arrow signs in the four cardinal directions. There is a rabbit, which makes the light stream very fast and with more intensity. There is a button with a swirl on it that creates a whirlwind when placed, and one that reverses the direction of the light stream. Several variations of these different tools appear as well, and they can all change their size, which changes how the light streams react.
This game is harder than it looks at first glance. You really need to think outside of the box with it many times in order to progress. What seems like the right way is sometimes the wrong way to do things, so be prepared to rethink the task when things don’t appear to be working. I would suggest you approach it after a good nights sleep, especially when you start getting into those higher levels.
Your goal — the finished song
There are trophies attached to the game for those who seek them, but I think that the gameplay is reward enough. It saves wherever you stop, so you don’t have to redo something you have been working at already.
Auditorium HD is a fun game that makes you think, yet it is relaxing as well, though you might get a bit frustrated with the harder levels at times. There are two playlists of songs to choose from — the original ones called “Classic”, and a new set called “Modern”. There is also another version of the game, simply called Auditorium, for the PSP, at same price.
You get a lot of bang for your buck with this game. So add Auditorium HD to your gaming playlist, and let the challenging fun begin.
- Innovative and intuitive play
- Colorful environments created
- No way to "lose"
- Challenging, yet relaxing
- None I could discover - love this game!
June 2nd, 2013 by Burbie52 | 4 comments
Burbie52 is a 62 year-old published author and founder of the Grey Gamers group within Home. Born and raised in Michigan, she has lived there her entire life, with the exception of a twelve-year residency on the Big Island of Hawaii. She enjoys reading and writing, as well as video games, especially RPG's. She has one son in his twenties.
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I have a confession to make, Burbie. While I was copy-editing this piece, I found myself thinking, “Hey, I would really enjoy this!” So I turned on the PS3, went to the store, and started the download while I continued working on the article. And I can confirm your assessment — this is a unique and enjoyable game for those of us who don’t need fast action and danger to appreciate a gaming experience. Thank you for pointing us toward this.
I think we’re definitely going to start to cover more of these independent, off the beaten path type of games.
More on that… soon.
Nice one, Ive had the demo for this on my HDD for like, 2 months now! I figured it was for use with the Move controller, so I’ve been waiting until I feel “energetic” enough before I try it out -- I’m starting to think I’m just a little bit lazy lol!
After reading this though, I’ll give it a go when I get home tonight for sure.
You can use the Move controller, but it works perfectly well with the regular controller as well. Give it a try!