The follow-up to the original Audiosurf, Audiosurf 2 pretty much does everything right.

Audiosurf has a pretty simple concept: use your favorite tunes to generate a track and bumps and dives along to the music and ride it as you collect colored blocks to fill a grid and earn points. It's simple enough that anyone who played the original might wonder what makes AS2 different and, in many ways, it's not different so much as improved. New graphics, the ability to stream music direct from YouTube, some new game modes including puzzles & wakeboarding and easy mod/skin support. The track generation seems better than before and its integration with the placement of the blocks and obstacles was subtle enough that I originally was going to criticize its lack but, after a few hours, realized just how tightly intertwined they were. Blocks appear to the music while crystal barriers pulse like equalizers and form walls during long notes or extended vocals.

The improved graphics are great. My favorite by far is the "Stadium" mode where mercury-like globlets pulse and bounce to the music but there is also a bright pastel "Mystic" mode, 80s inspired neon and a "Dusk" mode that feels like Atari's old "Night Driver" game on acid. If those aren't enough, player-created skins abound adding starscapes, snow and more to the scenery.

Audiosurf is a rather *ahem* one-note game so it's likely not something you'll be playing for hours at a stretch. But for short periods its captivating and a strong game for short periods. If you enjoyed the original or if the idea of racing along to your music sounds good, Audiosurf 2 is going to please.

The follow-up to the original Audiosurf, Audiosurf 2 pretty much does everything right. Audiosurf has a pretty simple concept: use your favorite tunes to generate a track and bumps and dives along to the music and ride it as you collect colored blocks to fill a grid and earn points. It's simple enough that anyone who played the original might wonder what makes AS2 different and, in many ways, it's not different so much as improved. New graphics, the ability to stream music direct from YouTube, some new game modes including puzzles & wakeboarding and easy mod/skin support. The track generation seems better than before and its integration with the placement of the blocks and obstacles was subtle enough that I originally was going to criticize its lack but, after a few hours, realized just how tightly intertwined they were. Blocks appear to the music while crystal barriers pulse like equalizers and form walls during long notes or extended vocals. The improved graphics are great. My favorite by far is the "Stadium" mode where mercury-like globlets pulse and bounce to the music but there is also a bright pastel "Mystic" mode, 80s inspired neon and a "Dusk" mode that feels like Atari's old "Night Driver" game on acid. If those aren't enough, player-created skins abound adding starscapes, snow and more to the scenery. Audiosurf is a rather *ahem* one-note game so it's likely not something you'll be playing for hours at a stretch. But for short periods its captivating and a strong game for short periods. If you enjoyed the original or if the idea of racing along to your music sounds good, Audiosurf 2 is going to please.