Osu! is a simple 2D music and rhythm game.  Play against others in real-time or compare your scores online.  With customizable skins, two speciality modes and constant updates.

Before players can start playing, they must download separate files called beatmaps and manually place them in the folder the game was installed to. There are step by step instructions and even video tutorials for setting it all up on the official website.  A short tutorial explains the game basics; players must click on circles on the screen, slide balls across and spin their mouse pointer in circles when special spinners come up.  Besides this basic gameplay style, there are two additional special modes available:

Taiko – Taiko is a variant of the game that requires players to hit one of two keys (or both together) as circles move from the right to the left of the screen.

Catch The Beat - Catch The Beat is a simple mode where fruit fall from the sky according to the selected beatmap’s music.  Players must position themselves under the falling fruit and catch them all in their basket.

This is a rhythm game that is controlled entirely by mouse clicks and movements. The rhythm of the song is translated into numbered circles that appear on the screen which you must click on in the right sequence and at the right speed. Sometimes, however, more-so on the harder difficulties and songs, you will have to click, hold and slide your way through the song, or spin a virtual wheel to grab bonus points. I will say that there is a learning curve to the controls, but it’s mainly just getting used to being precise with your mouse. When the song is complete, the player will receive a grade based on their performance.

• SS – 100% accuracy
• S – 90% or more of the actions hit were worth 300 points and none were missed.
• A – 80% or more of the actions hit were worth 300 points.
• B – 70% or more of the actions hit were worth 300 points.
• C – 60% or more of the actions hit were worth 300 points.
• D – Anything else.

The official Osu! website boasts a large, friendly community who create their own beatmaps with a huge range and number of songs, which you can download and play.

Pros:

+Small file, fast installation.

+Simple controls and interface.

+Thousands of beatmaps (songs) available.

+Custom skins.

+Special modes & frequent updates.

Cons:

-Must download songs separately.

-Limited multiplayer aspects.

-Repetitive gameplay.

Osu! is a great game that is sure to consume hours of your time.