Amplitude: Information from Answers.com

Release Date: March 26, 2003
Genre: Simulation
Style: Musical Instrument/Band Sim
Similar Games: Gitaroo Man (PlayStation 2), Frequency (PlayStation 2), Mad Maestro! (PlayStation 2)

Game Description

This sequel to Harmonix Music Systems' Frequency is designed to propel players through new levels of on-rails, rhythm-based shooting, to the tunes of top Sony recording artists including Crystal Method, Orbital, David Bowie, Weezer, Garbage, and others. As in the original, players ride a "loop" of music, triggering drum, bass, guitar, and other tracks with well-timed button taps.

With new backgrounds and graphical effects in a flashy, pulsing, neon-dreamlike style similar to that of the original game, Amplitude brings the rhythm-based play online through the PS2 Network Adaptor. In addition to chat modes and a ranking system, musically inclined gamers are able to post their favorite remixes online for others to access and enjoy.

~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

Rhythm-based games could almost be considered a dime a dozen as of 2003, but this sequel to 2002's Frequency infuses enough energy, style, and twists on the genre to make it one of the standout titles on PlayStation 2. Featuring 25 licensed songs covering such varied music styles as hip hop, electronica, rock, and rap, Amplitude hits a high note for its clever use of colorful, 3D graphics to depict a song's six tracks as actual, physical tracks -- sending players on a roller coaster ride through futuristic, Blade Runner-like environments. Some will dismiss the game because it looks intimidating, especially when flipping through the lengthy manual or watching someone play for the first time, but those who give it a whirl will be entranced by its careful balance of rhythm and reflexes.

Players never have to look at the manual to learn how to play Amplitude, which is a testament to the simple design and helpful in-game tutorial. Like Frequency, the action involves tapping one of three buttons to the beat of the music, whose notes appear along the track as orbs positioned in one of three locations: left, center, and right. Unlike Frequency, which took place entirely in a tunnel, Amplitude looks and feels like a futuristic racer in the vein of Wipeout or F-Zero (complete with checkpoints). Players are automatically propelled down a color-coded track with a default view from behind a laser-equipped spaceship. Players literally blast each note as it passes over the circles displayed in front of the vessel, the act of which earns points and prevents the ship's energy meter from depleting.

The six colored tracks in each environment represent distinct parts of the song, transforming the guitar, drums, bass, vocals, synthesizers, and special effects into a distinct path running parallel with the other five instruments. Players are challenged to complete a string of notes (called a phrase) to activate each part of the song. They must then quickly steer the ship to the next track and repeat the process. The tracks constantly disappear and reappear as players complete phrases until the finish line is reached, signifying the song's end. Each missed note depletes a portion of the ship's energy meter, which ends the game if emptied, but players can salvage performances using one of four power-ups. Power-ups automatically complete phrases, double scores, slow phrases down, or send players on a shortcut above the track for a chance to earn bonus points.

Amplitude's hook is that it's not easy to master, often requiring nimble fingers to complete a particular song's intricate drum beats or bass lines. It also has a high replay value thanks to its online and multiplayer capabilities. Each song can be played on one of four difficulty levels, which increases the complexity of phrases. At its best, Amplitude feels like the coin-op title Guitar Freaks: hitting a series of riffs in perfect sequence breathes life into a particular song and will make players feel like virtuosos, for at least one brief shining moment. The pulsating colors, swirling backdrops, and throbbing beats can almost render players in a hypnotic state, which will either have them become one with their controller or lead to an epileptic fit.

Amplitude also feels like a puzzle game at times, something unusual for the genre, as players must quickly think of ways to maximize their score once they get a handle on the basic premise. Players earn multipliers by stringing together successful phrases and then jumping lanes to the next track without missing a note -- something that's not easy to do and requires split-second decision-making. There is a degree of freedom in Amplitude that is atypical of most rhythm-based games, in that players are free to jump tracks and begin phrases at different points in the song; that same drum riff giving you problems at the beginning of the tune can turn into a simple combination in the middle or at the end, so it may be beneficial to switch to another instrument or wait to get a phrase-busting power-up for assistance.

While the game improves on Frequency in many ways, there are still issues that make Amplitude sound a bit flat. The lineup of 25 songs may seem like a sizeable number, but they can get repetitive, and many of the featured bands are rather obscure. The online capabilities, while fine for multiplayer contests, do not allow players to download additional songs, which is a big disappointment. Nor can players slip in their own CD and have the game automatically decipher songs into playable phrases, which would have made the title a must-have. Other disappointments include meaningless avatars called "FreQs," which are onscreen personas that just dance to the beat instead of influence play. The silly thing is these extra characters and their equipment (such as sunglasses and hats) are designed to be an incentive for replaying the single-player mode on all difficulty levels.

Online competition entertains as an extension of the main game, and an excellent rating system rewards players who defeat other top-ranked players as well as those who complete more challenging difficulty levels. Some may complain about the multiplayer-exclusive power-ups, which can disrupt an opponent's track or have them bumped off a phrase before they finish it, but the optional power-ups do keep things interesting. Other variants like Duel Mode (HORSE) are entertaining for a few games but are not deep enough to be revisited often. Amplitude is a great looking and playing game that is ultimately hampered by a limited selection of songs. While players can create remixes and sample others online, the game could use an additional 25 selections to keep things fresh and lively. Fans of other rhythm-based games shouldn't be dissuaded however; what Amplitude lacks in song selection, it makes up for in style and sheer fun.