Amplitude

"A new twist on a new genre"

Ok, Being a fan of the original Frequency, I was very eager to play Amplitude, and although overall I was pleased, the game does have it's downfalls......read on...

Gameplay: The single most important part of any game, of course, is how it plays. This version plays a lot better than its predecessor, the controls are virtually identical, but seemingly tighter response than the first game. Also, insteead of having the musical ''phrases'' all around you, they are in more of a track formation, so you dont get as dizzy from zooming around the arena.
Its the same as before, create the beats to the song as you zoom through arenas of techno-colored glory.
One nice addition is the new powerups, like Slo-Mo, and the score doubler, (there was a version of this before, but it only added to your multiplyer, instead of directly doubling the base score)

Online play: the game can get somewhat laggy with people jumping on your tracks when they shouldnt be able to, but overall its a BLAST online. The biggest fault of the game was the removal of the ''stamp system'' to create your Freqs. (your avatar) now you have a 3d character that jams along with you instead. So now most players look very similar, while the stamp system you could go nuts and never see someone identical!

Sound: Sound effects are standard, and well placed.
Since the real showcase is the music, the sound effects dont matter that much, which is actually a GOOD thing, they don't interfere with the music.

Music: This here is all personal preference....I am not a fan of Garbage, Papa Roach, Pink, or Quarashi, but their tracks are tolerable. Thankfully, purists get a returning favorite, Freezepop, to add to the mix.
Weezer, David bowie, and Pink on the same cd may sound strange, but it keeps the game going at a good pace.
The music is varied enough that anyone can enjoy, not just hardcore technophiles.....

Graphics: HUGE improvement here! the tracks are 100% easier to see, the arenas are really beautiful, and with the way the tracks bend and twist, its like a roller coaster ride! The colors are vibrant and really show what the PS2 can do! Very few jaggies and glitches, and it sails at a smooth framerate, never slowing......

Replay value: Moderate to high.
The games music can get old, but the INSANE mode will challenge even the best FreQs out there. The unlockables are challenging but not impossible to attain, and you always wanna see what that bonus song is in each arena, so you are compelled to play...

Rent or buy: If you were a fan of Frequency, You should already own it! but if not, Its a solid rental.

overall 9/10, The removal of the stamp system, and sometimes laggy online play makes this game one star short of 10.....

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/03, Updated 03/31/03