[Game website] As an online gamer, I have not necessarily spent much time in casual titles, including rhythmic games such as Audition Online. However, they are really popular in Southeast Asia, with publisher Asiasoft currently holding a live Alpha event for World in Audition over in Singapore.
World in Audition is the 3rd game in the Audition franchise, and carries on the tradition of testing players on their accuracy at mashing the right buttons at the right time, along with modern and hip music. There are a couple of gameplay modes here, which are separated by difficulty levels.
Fans of musical online games may be familiar with the play system, though it is really easy to pick up by first time players. Thing is, World in Audition is really hard to master, and going up the difficulty modes may cause trauma for “noobs” like myself due to the incredible speed of accuracy required.
The main addition for World in Audition must be the extra features aside from the core gameplay. Each player is a superstar in training, with a full agency system guiding players on fashion, moves and more. It is sort of a tutorial mode, but veterans can certainly still test themselves and earn medals.
World in Audition is a Free to Play title and the cash shop sells mainly cosmetic items such as costumes, hair styles and accessories. Players may also pay to rent their own game rooms, which is similar to a player housing system. Items can be bought to decorate the map, and friends invited over.
A popular feature found in Audition Online, the Couple System has now been upgraded with more exclusive content, as seen in the image below. I have yet tested each and every function, but it is certainly advisable for players to grab a virtual friend, become a couple and try them out.
I am not really sure about the seemingly overwhelming (or confusing) user interface (UI). Though bright and colourful, it feels everything is clustered, hence becoming quite an eyesore when finding the right button to click or to wander around. The additional smartphone UI isn’t really needed.
As for the music, I was informed the tracks will come along with the game client and updates, though Asiasoft can request for certain songs from the developer. Players will not be able to upload their own songs, though I could certainly see some of the more recent ones in the in-game playlist.
To conclude, the core gameplay for World in Audition is easy to pick up, but definitely a high order to master. The side features could really make up about 50% of the game, and brings a nice balance and variety to the content. Asiasoft mentioned Closed Beta is “coming soon”, so stay tuned for updates!
