"Auditorium" Mixes Light, Sound and Casual Games
Saying there are some good casual flash games out there on the internet is like saying there are some good fiction novels out there in libraries. Without turning this into a philosophical debate on internet flash games, my point is that it's hard to wade through the stacks of flash games on websites like JayisGames, Kongregate, and AddictiveGames and have any sense of what to try and what to ignore. Usually, I just give up and stick to mainstream titles, preferring a smaller, targeted selection to the cheap-as-free price-point. But every once in a while, one of those obscure titles manages to land itself in plain sight on a reshelving cart right next to the entrance, and that's when I get a chance to experience some of the amazing innovations that independent game developers are producing everyday. This time, the experience took the form of a glowing fountain of light particles that slowly sing out a symphony of minimalist mood music as you guide them around the screen in a free demo to the Cipher Prime game Auditorium.
The demo itself, depending on your puzzle-savvy, will only take you about 30 minutes or less to get through, but it will be some of the most memorable, relaxing, and visually captivating minutes you've probably spent all day (unless, of course, you've been playing my number one game of 2008...mysterious pause...). The gameplay mechanics are simple: funnel a stream of particles through different targets on the screen in order to advance to the next level, and as the particles pass over a target, they activate an instrument in a musical chorus that builds into complete ensemble as you progress through the levels. The puzzle component enters through the limited supply of pieces which direct the particle fountain and force you to find the right configuration to reach every target on the screen. Auditorium chooses to use the recent fad of "discovery gaming" in that it doesn't tell you how to play, but slowly lets you figure out the gameplay by presenting small challenges which force you learn how the game is played. But don't let that intimidate you. The mechanics are easy to grasp, allowing you to focus on the puzzle aspect, rather than staring slack-jawed at the memorizing whirl of colors, trying to divine intent from the tiny dots of light.
I am a sucker for "atmosphere" games, where providing mood is as important as providing challenge and reward, much like last year's independent sensation fl0w. As far back as Myst, I can remember booting up a game, turning off the lights, turning up my SoundBlaster 16 speakers and letting a game immerse me in its digital landscape. I'm especially fond of games that slow the pace down and choose to stand in direct opposition to the red bull infused, adrenaline twitch play so prevalently the mind of politicians and angry mothers. In Auditorium there's no time limit, no neon horde of invading geometric shapes, no corpse-humping eleven-year old demon children, just stimulating challenge paired with a relaxing swirl of musical color and a heart warming reminder why I love independent games.