Turn up the volume on Amplitude (Amplitude (PS2))

Member Name: Luvlylana

Product:	Amplitude (PS2)
Date:	13/01/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great multiplayer party game

Disadvantages: Dangerously addictive!

I first heard of amplitude when I spent Easter with my boyfriend's family in 2007. Four years after Amplitude was initially released, the family were still playing it as a party game, so I was intrigued as to how it had managed to keep it's appeal for so many years.

Amplitude boasts fast, addictive gameplay, in which up to four players can battle against each other to test their reflexes and beat matching skills. Using the L1, R1, and R2 buttons, the aim is to complete a combination of notes in a particular pattern, before moving on to the next combination as quickly as possible. Each combination reflects a different instrumental element in the track, i.e. drums, bass, guitar, synths and vocals.

You begin the game by creating your Freq - a character that represents you as you play the game. There are several to choose from that have been previously created, or you are free to make your own, and when you complete songs you can unlock new faces, clothes and styles.

There are three main modes available to play: solo, multiplayer and online. Solo allows you to practise and perfect your scores, whilst multiplayer game mode gives you the opportunity to use power-ups on your opponents to set them back a little.

Multiplayer duel mode allows one player to pitch a track whilst the other player has to copy the notes, and they then take it in turns to carry this out until one player has more points than the other. Remix mode allows all players to remix a track which can then be used in normal gameplay, or uploaded to the playstation network for others to play. Online play allows you to play with other players online, if you do not have a second player with you at home.

There are four levels of difficulty, going from easy to normal, then brutal to insane, so you can ease yourself in gently and get some practise in before progressing through the difficulty levels. I have to say I'm still somewhere in between normal and brutal, but my boyfriend's sister has incomprehensibly achieved near perfect scores on insane.

The game features over 25 music tracks, including The Rock Show by Blink 182, Dope Nose by Weezer, Respect by Pink, Cherry Lips by Garbage and Everyone Says Hi by David Bowie. The range of songs means that the game appeals to different age groups, and the originality of the game will get all your relatives having a go at it too.

I'm now just as hooked on the game as my boyfriend's family, even though I am constantly thrashed (which I always maintain is down to their extra 4 years of practise!). I had to invest in a copy of the game to quench my desire to play it when I wasn't at my boyfriend's, and I tend to play it on and off, but more often when I have friends over. I bought mine from an eBay seller, and though I can't remember the price I paid, it was not too expensive and the game arrived in fantastic condition - possibly never even played before.

Amplitude is often compared to it's predecessor, Frequency, which I have never had the opportunity to play, so unfortunately I cannot compare the two. However, the company who produced Amplitude are also responsible for the initial Guitar Hero games, which became Amplitude's successor. I have to say that as I fan of both games I would be happy to play either, but although Guitar Hero has the advantage of the guitar controller, I think amplitude wins in terms of multiplayer activity, as a second ps2 controller is much cheaper than a second guitar controller.

I would definitely recommend anyone with an interest in the game to have a look on eBay or other well-known sites on the internet to get a copy of it, as it really does keep it's longevity and therefore it's value as well.

(As written for Ciao.co.uk)

Summary: Fantastic game from the creators of Guitar Hero