Beat Hazard Ultra

We continue reviewing the fun-but-cheap gaming branche with this (relatively new) game.

Beat Hazard is the perfect proof of how you don't need to make a high-tech game for it to be amusing and engaging.
I believe many of you played Audiosurf. That game was using your own music to create a track for your "car" to ride on. While it was very innovative and... colorful... it simply did not make that much of an impression on me.
It was a mess, the way I see it. Now, that is a very subjective opinion and I don't need a hundred comments (like I have that much traffic here) of how I'm deluded and wrong. The game is not my style. Period.
Beat Hazard (Ultra) is a very different game that uses the same level creating mechanics. You load a track in the game and play it. Literally.

It's the old Asteroids, but on steroids (a rhyme dawg). Basically, you control a small spaceship in the middle of the screen and have to evade/obliterate asteroids and enemy spaceships.
It would've been very repetetive and boring without the music loader. The level (it's background, lightning effects, dynamics et cetera...) is created by numerous factors read from the loaded track. Enemies spawn in rhytm with the song, background can dynamically change, even your weapon's fire rate and damage can be affected by the track.
This leads to epic dogfights where you can really enjoy in this game.
Seriously, try playing Requiem of the dream. EPIC.

If Audiosurf was colorful, this is f*cking psychodelic. Colors blast from every corner of the screen and can change in a moment. This makes you stay on your toes for the entire level because you can never know where is that Reaper gonna jump out now.
This effect is enhanced by the music itself and blinking details throughout the entire game. It just makes your heart beat faster... but that could be hazardous for your health if you are not ultra careful (get it?). Gamers who suffer from epilepsy might wanna skip this game.

While the original Beat Hazard was very fun and addictive game, an upgrade was imminent. Here's a small size comparison: Beat Hazard = ~30 MB, Beat Hazard Ultra =~220 MB.
Yeah... quite an expansion, eh?
The Ultra added perks, more achievements, two-player co-op, patched some bugs, increased the loading speed... too much improvements to list here, honestly. And yes, Ultra is an expansion.
Meaning you will have to get Beat Hazard first, and then install Ultra. However, the price is not steep even if you intend to get them both in one run. 3.49 euros for the original and 1.29 for Ultra (Steam prices). And, if you want, you can buy iTunes and m4a files support, but I think that's a bit of an overkill. MP3s will do fine for most.

Currently, there are four game modes. One makes you face bosses only (my favourite), one is classic (load a track and play 'till it ends), survival and an awesome Chill mode (unlimited lives, enjoy).
Not to forget the interesting leveling sytem that keeps you blasting for hours.