Osu!

osu! is a tablet-based rhythm game with a huge amount of user-created content.

osu! has been around for a long time, and in that time it's cultivated a huge community that loves it. Whether looking for a challenge, or just to play a game that works in tune with their favourite music, osu!'s players seem to talk about the game frequently and play it frequently, not just as a game but as a way to relax or express themselves.

Part of this may be that osu! favours artists, who will already own the tablet-pen peripherals that are so useful for playing it: although you can try to play it with a mouse, you won't get very far. osu!'s rhythm system works off of specific motions, keypresses and movements from node to node, and it's only really possible to win in the game by having your wrist to the desk, directing each of your pen strokes.

As the introduction to this review says, osu! is a rhythm game. That means that each feat of dexterity you accomplish is accompanied by, and made both easier and harder by, its background music. But a good osu! "beatmap", where the player is challenged but can still make the necessary motions to finish it, cannot be made out of thin air. Most songs that are playable in osu! – and there's probably a song you like playable in the game – were made by users, using very intuitive in-game tools to create their own beatmaps.

Overall, osu! is a unique experience. It is unlike other rhythm games, and has both a notable barrier to entry and a wonderful community created by its parameters. If you own a tablet, and haven't already heard of osu!, you might find the game to be very fun. It's an acquired taste!

Pros

• A wide variety of gameplay, and hence, difficulty options
• A thriving community that creates tons of content

Cons

• Virtually requires a tablet to play
• Many beatmaps will be difficult or impossible for most players