$20 Game of the Week: Beat Hazard (PC, Xbox Live Arcade)

Like Audiosurf, Beat Hazard’s gameplay is driven by music. You can load a song, or go through a whole album in survival mode, and the gameplay syncs up to your music. You can use any MP3 in your sound collection, but PC gamers have to download an $1 update that allows them to play with non-protected Itunes tracks, AAC files, and MP4s. You pilot your ship while avoiding enemy fire and asteroids. You gain powerups that upgrade your weaponry, and volume powerups that turn up the volume. While the track isn’t very loud at first, the volume powerups make it louder. However, as the track gets louder, the action gets more intense. Its gameplay is familiar to anyone who has played Geometry Wars. The left analog stick controls movement, the second stick controls the weapons, and the right trigger activates bombs. PC gamers can use a mouse and keyboard, but you’ll definitely want to use an Xbox 360 control pad. Although there isn’t much variety in game modes or enemy types, you can rank up and compete on online leaderboards. If you or someone you know is epileptic, you may want to keep as far away from this game as possible, as the flashing strobe effects get intense. Even if Beat Hazard doesn’t break much new ground, It’s fun and addictive, and it’s a great new way to experience your music collection.