Audica

Harmonix’s finely tuned VR shooter sets its sights on rhythm heaven

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Perhaps we’d be inclined to play the piano more often if it involved shooting the bejesus out of the keys. But Steinways everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief: Audica, the new virtual reality rhythm shooter from Rock Band maker Harmonix, more than satisfies our murderous musical urges. Much like in its melee-focused contemporary Beat Saber, we’re given a pair of weapons with which to hit the targets flying towards our face in time with the beat. Only this time our tools aren’t laser swords, but twin pistols.

Blasting through a level in Audica is Baby Driver by way of Ready Player One. Splinter’s electro house, and explicitly videogamey chirps of ‘Round one!’ and ‘You win!’ suggest the latter, as we float in the VR void, our guns obliterating short notes with crisp shots or pushing targets away with crackling energy beams for bassy builds. But the overall feeling – of syncing our every movement to the beat, seemingly single-handedly moving the rhythm forward with well-placed bullets and perfectly-timed melee strikes – is pure Edgar Wright editing, playing out in realtime.