Created by independent developer Dylan Fitterer, Audiosurf is a combination of a block-matching puzzle game and a rhythm game that generates tracks using music supplied by the player from their computer.
Released via Steam in 2008, Audiosurf is a game that combines the block matching of a puzzle game with some rhythm-based features. The game allows players to import music in a variety of formats. A level is generated based on the tempo and intensity of the selected track. The levels flow at the screen, similar to what you'd expect from Rock Band or Harmonix's other rhythm games, but include more dramatic rises, falls, twists, and turns.
How one plays Audiosurf is further determined by the vehicle selection. There are different ships to choose from, each with different abilities. The Mono set of ships--Mono, Mono Pro, and Ninja Mono--have players collect one type of tile while avoiding grey tiles. The other modes add more colors and turn the game into more of a match-three sort of puzzle game. Players can avoid tiles with no penalty, which is key for preventing overfills of any of the columns.
Audiosurf was the winner of multiple 2008 Independent Games Festival awards, and is also the first game to use Valve's Steamworks technology, a freely-available development suite that allows developers to integrate Steam's networking code, achievements, and statistical sharing.
Tiles
Tiles are the coloured blocks scattered all throughout the track. They are different colours ranging from blue, red, orange and more. When combined together in columns, they will earn you points and in some game modes such as Mono picking up just one tile will earn you points. Not all tiles are friendly though, some tiles will clog up your columns. What tiles should I hit and not hit then? Well these are the only three you should really watch out for.
Grey: These tiles will block up your columns and stop combos from being created. Once in your columns they will break after 20 seconds or so however you lose a lot of points for picking them up. Avoid every grey tile in a track and earn a bonus reward.
White & Black: These tiles can be friendly sometimes. But only when they are at the bottom of your columns as this will earn you 2,500 points. However, these tiles are useless unless you are able to place them at the bottom of your columns.
Game Modes
Audiosurf has many different classes to choose from, all with unique abilities.Mono
The mono class is the most basic of the classes because the only two varieties of blocks are colored and grey. The goal of playing as this class is to collect all the colored tiles and avoid the grey ones. The main weakness of this class is that it doesn't score as high as some of the more complicated classes. The class specific bonus is a 30% bonus for not hitting a grey block. This class is a lot more relaxed.
Mono : This version has no power ups. It's the most basic class, simply hit the colour tiles and avoid the greys.
Mono Pro: This has a widen ability which allows it to pick up tiles in all three lanes. It also has the ability to jump over tiles for a few seconds, it takes a few seconds to recharge. Just like mono, avoid the greys and hit the colours.
Ninja Mono: The ninja has the previously explained widen ability, and it has the ability to break up any grey tiles that are collected. This recharges after a few seconds. Once again, avoid the greys and hit the colours.
Pointman
Pointman: It can pick up one tile at a time and drop it into another column to form big clusters. Hold space for hint arrows.
Pointman Pro: The same as the Pointman class however hint arrows are displayed automatically.
Pointman Elite: The same as Pointman Prop but with a thinner lane and more complex tracks.
Double Vision
Double Vision: There are two cars to control, you can either play by yourself and control both or play with a friend and control one each. One car can only move in the 2 left columns whilst the other can only move in the 2 right columns. Simply combine the same coloured tiles to earn points.
DV Pro: The same as Double Vision but more complex tracks.
DV Elite: The same as Double Vision and DV Pro but yet again more complex tracks.
Eraser
Eraser: Holding left click or Right click enters eraser mode which will erase all of a colour if it hits that tile(e.g. if it hits a red block, every red tile in your columns will be erased). Simply combine the same coloured tiles to earn points.
Eraser Elite: The same as Eraser however on more complex tracks.
Pusher
Pusher: Holding left click as you hit a tile will push it left and holding right click as you hit a block will push it right. Simply combine the same coloured tiles to earn points.
Pusher Elite: The same as Pusher however on more complex tracks.
Vegas
Vegas: This has a Shuffle option which shuffles the tiles in your columns when you move to either shoulder of the track. It will also randomly generates a powerup which can be used by right clicking.
Ironmode
Ironmode isn't an actual gamemode, it's just an extra layer of difficulty for the hardest of hardcore Audiosurfers. It increases the speed, allows no overfill and contains a lot more tiles. There are more points available in Ironmode though, so those who want to get on top of the most crowded leaderboards should try this.System Requirements
- OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP/Vista
- Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics: 32 MB NVIDIA GeForce® 2 (support for Pixel Shader 3.0 recommended)
- DirectX Version: DirectX® 9.0 or higher
- Sound: DirectX® 9.0c-compatible sound card
Minimum:
iPhone Rumors
With the addition of the 3.0 firmware for the iPhone comes the ability for apps to access the iPhone's music library, which has lead to rumours of a possible iPhone version of AudioSurf.
| Game Name | Audiosurf |
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| Original US Release |
Feb. 15, 2008
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| Original US Release |
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