Great… backup dancers

Once you finally do manage to smack the right combination of keys in the miniscule amount of time you're given to do so, you'll be rewarded with some points, and your character will begin to dance on screen for you, horribly. You'll also progress to the next level of the song - adding an additional note to hit on the next round. Provided you're able to look away before your character begins dancing like a Backstreet Boy, then this part isn't so bad. But reach level 6 and above - and good luck sir, you're going to need it. I haven't a clue how the hell I'm supposed to hit 8 different arrow keys a second, but the other people in my dance room seemed to be doing fine, so perhaps it just takes time. Well, time and a hand made of iron.

F-f-f-f-freestylin!

For the few of you superheroes out there that manage to make it far enough, there are plenty more challenges to keep you busy once you do. Occasionally during a song you'll be able to enter Freestyle Mode - a mode that allows you to enter any combination of keys you like during the allotted beat frame. Putting aside my questioning thoughts (namely, what the hell is the point of this?) I soon learned that upon pressing the first key in Freestyle Mode the next 7 pop right up for you - effectively making this mode exactly the damn same as before. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it. So I'm not going to.

Spice up the mix!

Upon finishing a song you'll be presented with your next style, Finishing Moves. These are basically the same as regular moves, except they're longer, and one of the key presses will be coloured red - requiring you to press the opposite direction to what it says. Exciting stuff, I know. Additionally, you have 8-Key Mode which allows the use of the 4 diagonal keys in conjunction with the standard set. You do this using the numpad, and can activate it at any time by hitting the 'Insert' key. Finally, you have Chance mode which can be activated using the 'Delete' key. This mode simply adds more of the red coloured arrows from the Finishing Moves - thereby increasing the difficulty and rewarding more points for your trouble.

In the way of different game types, there are also a few to choose from, including the standard all against all and team battles, and also some more creative boy VS girl and licensed battles. License Mode is for the true pros - allowing them to sit a test that requires damn near perfect completion to progress any further, and charging through the nose to try. Make sure you have a nice pile of points before you even consider attempting this mode, as you'll soon be losing them all.

Which Backstreet Boy are you?

Speaking of points, they're pretty stock standard. You earn them by performing well in songs, and you spend them on new clothes to help your avatar ascend to the pop-idol that you always knew he/she could be. Naturally, there is a Cash Shop available for those that just can't wait to get into a new pair of flair-bottom jeans. My brain simply cannot even begin to fathom how a person could justify spending real-world dollars on virtual clothing - but hey, each to their own I suppose.

Justin Timberlake - eat your heart out

Is there actually a Justin Timberlake song in Audition Online? Probably not, I just needed a name to use for my header, and that's the one that popped into my head. There are however tracks by the infamous Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne, J Holiday, and Lifehouse. I don't actually know those last couple, but they sound popular. If you know them, then there may actually be a reason for you to play Audition Online - if you don't however, then I recommend you avoid this one until you do.

I've given Audition Online a 1/5 - there simply isn't enough game here to justify anything higher - just a few songs, dance moves and overpriced outfits. If that's enough for you then by all means dive right in, if not then I recommend you avoid like you would a pair of old socks found behind the couch - it's not worth the 1.6GB download, or your time.

Review Cody Hargreaves
October 9, 2009