Music Catch
Platform: Download (Mac, Windows)
Music Catch is a full-featured downloadable version of the previously released Flash game also titled Music Catch. The name describes exactly what the game is all about: catching music. Well, catching shapes, to be more accurate, but the shapes are generated according to the music being played, quite literally dropping you inside each song you listen to/play. It's a subtly simple experience that's almost trance-like in nature. That is, unless you crank up the volume and rock out to Smashing Pumpkins.
The mechanics are so simple I can describe them in two words: collect stuff. Your cursor is an orb and all you have to do is move around touching every shape you can. Yellow shapes increase the points multiplier and make your orb grow, red shapes do just the opposite, and purple shapes initiate a temporary vortex that sucks in all the good shapes. The higher your multiplier the more points you rack up, but it also becomes more difficult to avoid the dangerous red shapes.
The rate and intensity at which shapes pour out of the bar varies depending on which song you're listening to. The songs that come with the game do a great job showcasing the program and how it reacts to what's being played. They also make Music Catch a little more "game-like" as opposed to an interactive visualization tool. Your mileage will vary with your own mp3 collection, however, as some songs produce little more than a constant deluge of shapes.
Now available:
Music Catch for iPhone/iPod Touch!
Analysis: The downloadable Music Catch is identical to the Flash version of the game in terms of gameplay and mechanics, but there are a few upgrades worth paying attention to. The key difference is the inclusion of unlockable tunes culled from Reflexive's library of games (such as Airport Mania and Build in Time) along with the ability to play using your own mp3 collection. This opens the door to a massive variety of music catching experiences, from the slow and soft to the fast and harsh. You'll also catch a bigger variety of shapes during gameplay, which is a subtle but welcome addition.
Music Catch is a very simple, bare-bones sort of game that blends two forms of entertainment — music and games — for an excellent hybrid experience. The result is a captivating title that's as interesting and varied as your own music collection. And the fact that it carries a budget price tag doesn't hurt, either!
Windows:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Avenged Sevenfold FTW
Thank you God
Yay! I never buy games but I had to get this one. I loved the original music catch. Uploading your own mp3's is a nice feature.
This is tempting me to pay for it and buy it despite that going against my normal dislike of buying games.
Hmmm....
I loved the original game but did not like playing the same song (beautiful song nonetheless) over and over. I'm definitely getting this one.
High-score-war time!
2993246 on March of Mephisto by Kamelot
2518618 on Love & Hatred (Neuroactive Mix) by The Cruxshadows
2376349 on Tanz Mit Dem Teufel by Melotron
1594787 on Red Light Go by Mea Fisher
1157490 on Nightmare King's Dream, remixed from the Little Nemo game soundtrack (available on OCReMix)
You know what this reminds me of? Bullet Philharmonic Orchestra without the bullets and needing an MP3-OGG converter.
Also, OCRemix's free songs (that is, all of OCRemix's songs, for those unfamiliar) are great to play with this.
So this game looks pretty cool, and I may even buy it, but it makes me wonder:
When the heck is someone going to review Audiosurf? That game has got to be one of the ultimate casual games, in my opinion.
Now with moons! Stars! Hammers! Tee-hee, it reminds me of being young and getting cereal with new marshmallow shapes.
I got a nice score on mine.
Reel Big Fish-(S.R) The many versions of.
3117008
It's like a 13 minute track from their concert cd. lol.
Just finished Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick part 1 with a score of 58170776. I'll try part 2 later.
I didn't think the gameplay was that great, but I really liked the online version mostly for the music, so I ended up playing it quite a bit.
they really should make this into an ipod app. it would be perfect!
They did:
http://bit.ly/MusicCatch
Except that with the current iPhone OS, it is not possible for apps to analyze the data coming from your own music library, therefore you cannot presently use your own music with it.
Still, it's the same great piano music from Isaac Shepard here, and they promise more updates to it.
Update