Review: Pulse for the iPad is a Gorgeous Rhythm Game

I must confess, I?ve never really played rhythm games. There are no plastic guitars at my house nor the virtual kind by way of the popular Tap Tap Revenge game for iOS. I understand their popularity, however, as rocking out to your favorite tunes and scoring points along the way sounds like a smashing good time. Wanting to see what the buzz is about, I took Cypher Prime Studios up on an offer to review an innovative take on the genre by way of Pulse: Volume One.

The first thing you?ll notice about Pulse is the minimalist and gorgeous aesthetic. Various concentric rings are displayed and a pulsing ring flows outward from the center. Dots form on the static rings requiring a tap at the right time when the pulsing ring intersects.

As with any rhythm game, the music will help you feel out when to tap. There aren?t points, bonuses or combos to achieve so there?s nothing really to distract from the primary game mechanic. It?s just you, the dots and the rings. Tap successfully and objects radiate out from where the dot had been. Miss and all you?ll hear is a little error sound in the background soundtrack.

I can imagine that any rhythm game is only as good as the music that comes along with it. This may be why I am in love with Pulse. The music is just as gorgeous as it?s interface. Featuring an original score, the music weaves between genres but in a way rooted in electronica.

Combined with the game mechanic, feeling the beat of the music or the meandering soft melody will easily lull you into a trance. Letting the visuals wash over you, you?re fingers begin to dance across the screen, hitting down beats and triplets, weaving from top to bottom, index to pinky finger.

As it ships now, the game is short. But each month the company plans to release new tracks by local musicians in Philadelphia. This is a pretty unique tie-in to help promote local Philly musicians, and one I find pretty exciting.

In short, Pulse is a great game. I?d imagine veterans of rhythm games to be right at home, and if you haven?t really gotten in to the genre, this is a fantastic app to get started with.

Wired: Gorgeous interface and unique spin on the rhythm game mechanic. Beautiful music draws you in.

Tired: Short, for now.

Pulse (iTunes $5)

Source: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/05/review-pulse-for-the-ipad-is-a-gorgeous-rhythm-game/

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