holoz0r’s A-Z of Steam: Synth Riders - a new virtual reality obsession

I won’t do it. I won’t buy Beat Saber. I now have two virtual reality music games in my steam collection: Audio shield, and of course, Synth Riders. We’re gathered here today to discuss that game in some considerable depth, because it took me by surprise.

I read several reviews prior to locking in the purchase button, and the many that promised a more exhausting gameplay experience than Beat Saber, along with one that would involve more of my human body lead me to make the choice to purchase.

What I totally desire is for my favourite rhythm game of all time, Audiosurf to be available in virtual reality, but .. that isn’t a thing. However, Synth Riders comes remarkably close, with the exception of Dylan Fitter’s magical algorithm that changes any waveform into a repeatable game level.

If Synth Riders had this functionality, it would probably be the only rhythm game I would ever want to play in VR. Thankfully, there’s an enormous number of community maps that are created. The level editor is also included, and it is simple to use; but the creation of high quality gameplay is certainly something that would take a very long time to craft.

In Synth Riders you take your left and right hands and wave them maniacally at an oncoming onslaught of music notes, in the style of a 3D dimension guitar hero; which sees you dodge obstacles, sweep across a spectrum of light, as you’re conveyed forward through the music in an abstract, pumping synth-wave inspired digital world.

You play, and you play and you play. Your arms grow sore, sweat drips from your face, and you have fun. I wasn’t wearing a fitness tracker while playing, but I’m pretty sure I burned a rather significant sum of calories. One thing is for sure, in the more advanced levels of this game, you’ll be building not only manual dexterity, but core strength as you duck and wave to avoid obstacles.

Now for the elephant in the room. I’ve never danced. I’ve got a poor sense of timing, both when it comes to moving my feet, beating a drum, or awkwardly shuffling about a room of strangers on a collection of wooden planks arranged in a square.

The magic in Synth Riders, or at the very least, the custom level representing No Doubt’s song “Hella Good”, made me feel like I was dancing. It put me in a flow state, and something within me just told me that “this is what dancing feels like” - the coordinated, choreographed balls of digital energy being deflected by my hands, made me perceive my body outside of the headset to be moving in what would be described by passing strangers as a “dance”.

My arms are still sore as I type this, but for VR to give me an experience that I’ve not had before (not that I’ve had any dancing lessons, ever) - is humbling and represents another element of personal growth. This is truly going to be my “workout” VR game, and I am so excited to play more and get good at this.

The only shame is that the included musical tracks are not really to me personal liking. I’m a metal head, and the majority of the soundtrack is EDM / Dance / Trancey sorta stuff.

I did purchase a single piece of DLC, the Lindsay Stirling / Halestorm collaboration “Shatter Me”, and for an official piece of stuff - it is very well done, however the difference between the included songs and the fan-made ones is minimal.

That’s a testament to the community of this game, which has had four years to mod and provide feedback to get it into its current state, which is indeed, excellent.

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Thanks as always for your time!