diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/UI/Cursor/GameplayCursor.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/UI/Cursor/GameplayCursor.cs
index 35146dfe29..4d6722b61b 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/UI/Cursor/GameplayCursor.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/UI/Cursor/GameplayCursor.cs
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ public GameplayCursor()
 
         private int downCount;
 
+        private const float pressed_scale = 1.2f;
+        private const float released_scale = 1f;
+
+        private float targetScale => downCount > 0 ? pressed_scale : released_scale;
+
         public bool OnPressed(OsuAction action)
         {
             switch (action)
@@ -46,7 +51,7 @@ public bool OnPressed(OsuAction action)
                 case OsuAction.LeftButton:
                 case OsuAction.RightButton:
                     downCount++;
-                    ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(1).ScaleTo(1.2f, 100, Easing.OutQuad);
+                    ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(released_scale).ScaleTo(targetScale, 100, Easing.OutQuad);
                     break;
             }
 
@@ -60,7 +65,7 @@ public bool OnReleased(OsuAction action)
                 case OsuAction.LeftButton:
                 case OsuAction.RightButton:
                     if (--downCount == 0)
-                        ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(1, 200, Easing.OutQuad);
+                        ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(targetScale, 200, Easing.OutQuad);
                     break;
             }
 
@@ -72,13 +77,13 @@ public bool OnReleased(OsuAction action)
         protected override void PopIn()
         {
             fadeContainer.FadeTo(1, 300, Easing.OutQuint);
-            ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(1, 400, Easing.OutQuint);
+            ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(targetScale, 400, Easing.OutQuint);
         }
 
         protected override void PopOut()
         {
             fadeContainer.FadeTo(0.05f, 450, Easing.OutQuint);
-            ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(0.8f, 450, Easing.OutQuint);
+            ActiveCursor.ScaleTo(targetScale * 0.8f, 450, Easing.OutQuint);
         }
 
         public class OsuCursor : Container
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseKeyCounter.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseKeyCounter.cs
index a20f67e336..b98875cd6a 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseKeyCounter.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCaseKeyCounter.cs
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ public TestCaseKeyCounter()
             {
                 Origin = Anchor.Centre,
                 Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
-                IsCounting = true,
                 Children = new KeyCounter[]
                 {
                     new KeyCounterKeyboard(Key.Z),
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCasePlaySongSelect.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCasePlaySongSelect.cs
index 0ec7dd059d..3fbf5417a8 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCasePlaySongSelect.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/TestCasePlaySongSelect.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 using osu.Game.Screens.Select;
 using osu.Game.Screens.Select.Carousel;
 using osu.Game.Screens.Select.Filter;
-using osu.Game.Tests.Platform;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
 {
@@ -28,6 +27,7 @@ public class TestCasePlaySongSelect : OsuTestCase
         private RulesetStore rulesets;
 
         private WorkingBeatmap defaultBeatmap;
+        private DatabaseContextFactory factory;
 
         public override IReadOnlyList<Type> RequiredTypes => new[]
         {
@@ -59,10 +59,11 @@ private class TestSongSelect : PlaySongSelect
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
         private void load()
         {
-            var storage = new TestStorage(@"TestCasePlaySongSelect");
+            factory = new DatabaseContextFactory(LocalStorage);
+            factory.ResetDatabase();
 
-            // this is by no means clean. should be replacing inside of OsuGameBase somehow.
-            DatabaseContextFactory factory = new DatabaseContextFactory(storage);
+            using (var usage = factory.Get())
+                usage.Migrate();
 
             factory.ResetDatabase();
 
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ private void load()
                 usage.Migrate();
 
             Dependencies.Cache(rulesets = new RulesetStore(factory));
-            Dependencies.Cache(manager = new BeatmapManager(storage, factory, rulesets, null, null)
+            Dependencies.Cache(manager = new BeatmapManager(LocalStorage, factory, rulesets, null, null)
             {
                 DefaultBeatmap = defaultBeatmap = Beatmap.Default
             });
diff --git a/osu.Game/Beatmaps/BeatmapManager.cs b/osu.Game/Beatmaps/BeatmapManager.cs
index 3bd5c440c1..67f02c8ac4 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Beatmaps/BeatmapManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Beatmaps/BeatmapManager.cs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ protected override void Populate(BeatmapSetInfo beatmapSet, ArchiveReader archiv
 
         private void validateOnlineIds(List<BeatmapInfo> beatmaps)
         {
-            var beatmapIds = beatmaps.Where(b => b.OnlineBeatmapID.HasValue).Select(b => b.OnlineBeatmapID);
+            var beatmapIds = beatmaps.Where(b => b.OnlineBeatmapID.HasValue).Select(b => b.OnlineBeatmapID).ToList();
 
             // ensure all IDs are unique in this set and none match existing IDs in the local beatmap store.
             if (beatmapIds.GroupBy(b => b).Any(g => g.Count() > 1) || QueryBeatmaps(b => beatmapIds.Contains(b.OnlineBeatmapID)).Any())
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Objects/Legacy/ConvertHitObjectParser.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Objects/Legacy/ConvertHitObjectParser.cs
index 48512a71c2..dc1cd5ed3b 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Objects/Legacy/ConvertHitObjectParser.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Objects/Legacy/ConvertHitObjectParser.cs
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ public HitObject Parse(string text, double offset)
             {
                 string[] split = text.Split(',');
 
+                Vector2 pos = new Vector2((int)Convert.ToSingle(split[0], CultureInfo.InvariantCulture), (int)Convert.ToSingle(split[1], CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+
                 ConvertHitObjectType type = (ConvertHitObjectType)int.Parse(split[3]) & ~ConvertHitObjectType.ColourHax;
                 bool combo = type.HasFlag(ConvertHitObjectType.NewCombo);
                 type &= ~ConvertHitObjectType.NewCombo;
@@ -41,15 +43,13 @@ public HitObject Parse(string text, double offset)
 
                 if (type.HasFlag(ConvertHitObjectType.Circle))
                 {
-                    result = CreateHit(new Vector2(int.Parse(split[0]), int.Parse(split[1])), combo);
+                    result = CreateHit(pos, combo);
 
                     if (split.Length > 5)
                         readCustomSampleBanks(split[5], bankInfo);
                 }
                 else if (type.HasFlag(ConvertHitObjectType.Slider))
                 {
-                    var pos = new Vector2(int.Parse(split[0]), int.Parse(split[1]));
-
                     CurveType curveType = CurveType.Catmull;
                     double length = 0;
                     var points = new List<Vector2> { Vector2.Zero };
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ public HitObject Parse(string text, double offset)
                         readCustomSampleBanks(string.Join(":", ss.Skip(1)), bankInfo);
                     }
 
-                    result = CreateHold(new Vector2(int.Parse(split[0]), int.Parse(split[1])), combo, endTime + offset);
+                    result = CreateHold(pos, combo, endTime + offset);
                 }
 
                 if (result == null)
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs
index d68afdfedc..ee34e2df04 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/UI/RulesetContainer.cs
@@ -89,6 +89,14 @@ protected RulesetContainer(Ruleset ruleset)
             Ruleset = ruleset;
             playfield = new Lazy<Playfield>(CreatePlayfield);
 
+            IsPaused.ValueChanged += paused =>
+            {
+                if (HasReplayLoaded)
+                    return;
+
+                KeyBindingInputManager.UseParentInput = !paused;
+            };
+
             Cursor = CreateCursor();
         }
 
@@ -120,6 +128,11 @@ protected override IReadOnlyDependencyContainer CreateChildDependencies(IReadOnl
 
         public Replay Replay { get; private set; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Whether the game is paused. Used to block user input.
+        /// </summary>
+        public readonly BindableBool IsPaused = new BindableBool();
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Sets a replay to be used, overriding local input.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUDOverlay.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUDOverlay.cs
index f920b20649..4f3fe15211 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUDOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUDOverlay.cs
@@ -195,7 +195,6 @@ protected override bool OnKeyDown(InputState state, KeyDownEventArgs args)
 
         protected virtual KeyCounterCollection CreateKeyCounter() => new KeyCounterCollection
         {
-            IsCounting = true,
             FadeTime = 50,
             Anchor = Anchor.BottomRight,
             Origin = Anchor.BottomRight,
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounter.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounter.cs
index 2a0587133b..2c31e61114 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounter.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounter.cs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ public abstract class KeyCounter : Container
         private Container textLayer;
         private SpriteText countSpriteText;
 
-        public bool IsCounting { get; set; }
+        public bool IsCounting { get; set; } = true;
         private int countPresses;
         public int CountPresses
         {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounterCollection.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounterCollection.cs
index 114ea83ba6..721d925d63 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounterCollection.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/KeyCounterCollection.cs
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ private void load(OsuConfigManager config)
             configVisibility.BindValueChanged(_ => updateVisibility(), true);
         }
 
-        //further: change default values here and in KeyCounter if needed, instead of passing them in every constructor
-        private bool isCounting;
+        private bool isCounting = true;
         public bool IsCounting
         {
             get { return isCounting; }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PauseContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PauseContainer.cs
index e2f133dde3..d9677e5daf 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PauseContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PauseContainer.cs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Linq;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Configuration;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Framework.Timing;
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
     /// </summary>
     public class PauseContainer : Container
     {
-        public bool IsPaused { get; private set; }
+        public readonly BindableBool IsPaused = new BindableBool();
 
         public Func<bool> CheckCanPause;
 
@@ -39,9 +40,6 @@ public class PauseContainer : Container
         public Action OnRetry;
         public Action OnQuit;
 
-        public Action OnResume;
-        public Action OnPause;
-
         private readonly FramedClock framedClock;
         private readonly DecoupleableInterpolatingFramedClock decoupledClock;
 
@@ -84,9 +82,8 @@ public void Pause(bool force = false) => Schedule(() => // Scheduled to ensure a
 
             // stop the seekable clock (stops the audio eventually)
             decoupledClock.Stop();
-            IsPaused = true;
+            IsPaused.Value = true;
 
-            OnPause?.Invoke();
             pauseOverlay.Show();
 
             lastPauseActionTime = Time.Current;
@@ -96,7 +93,7 @@ public void Resume()
         {
             if (!IsPaused) return;
 
-            IsPaused = false;
+            IsPaused.Value = false;
             IsResuming = false;
             lastPauseActionTime = Time.Current;
 
@@ -105,7 +102,6 @@ public void Resume()
             decoupledClock.Seek(decoupledClock.CurrentTime);
             decoupledClock.Start();
 
-            OnResume?.Invoke();
             pauseOverlay.Hide();
         }
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
index fc439a48c5..f28ddb09a2 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
@@ -162,15 +162,10 @@ private void load(AudioManager audio, APIAccess api, OsuConfigManager config)
             {
                 pauseContainer = new PauseContainer(offsetClock, adjustableClock)
                 {
+                    Retries = RestartCount,
                     OnRetry = Restart,
                     OnQuit = Exit,
                     CheckCanPause = () => AllowPause && ValidForResume && !HasFailed && !RulesetContainer.HasReplayLoaded,
-                    OnPause = () =>
-                    {
-                        pauseContainer.Retries = RestartCount;
-                        hudOverlay.KeyCounter.IsCounting = !pauseContainer.IsPaused;
-                    },
-                    OnResume = () => hudOverlay.KeyCounter.IsCounting = true,
                     Children = new[]
                     {
                         storyboardContainer = new Container
@@ -227,6 +222,8 @@ private void load(AudioManager audio, APIAccess api, OsuConfigManager config)
             hudOverlay.HoldToQuit.Action = Exit;
             hudOverlay.KeyCounter.Visible.BindTo(RulesetContainer.HasReplayLoaded);
 
+            RulesetContainer.IsPaused.BindTo(pauseContainer.IsPaused);
+
             if (ShowStoryboard)
                 initializeStoryboard(false);
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/Platform/TestStorage.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/Platform/TestStorage.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index a6b6b5530d..0000000000
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/Platform/TestStorage.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
-// Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
-
-using osu.Framework.Platform;
-
-namespace osu.Game.Tests.Platform
-{
-    public class TestStorage : DesktopStorage
-    {
-        public TestStorage(string baseName)
-            : base(baseName, null)
-        {
-        }
-
-        public override string GetDatabaseConnectionString(string name) => "Data Source=" + GetUsablePathFor($"{(object)name}.db", true);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/OsuTestCase.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/OsuTestCase.cs
index fcbab5b8f5..8e09ec849c 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/OsuTestCase.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/OsuTestCase.cs
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2007-2018 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
+using System;
 using System.Linq;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Audio;
 using osu.Framework.Configuration;
+using osu.Framework.Platform;
 using osu.Framework.Testing;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets;
@@ -20,6 +22,9 @@ public abstract class OsuTestCase : TestCase
 
         protected DependencyContainer Dependencies { get; private set; }
 
+        private readonly Lazy<Storage> localStorage;
+        protected Storage LocalStorage => localStorage.Value;
+
         protected override IReadOnlyDependencyContainer CreateChildDependencies(IReadOnlyDependencyContainer parent)
         {
             Dependencies = new DependencyContainer(base.CreateChildDependencies(parent));
@@ -33,6 +38,11 @@ protected override IReadOnlyDependencyContainer CreateChildDependencies(IReadOnl
             return Dependencies;
         }
 
+        protected OsuTestCase()
+        {
+            localStorage = new Lazy<Storage>(() => new DesktopStorage($"{GetType().Name}-{Guid.NewGuid()}", null));
+        }
+
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
         private void load(AudioManager audioManager, RulesetStore rulesets)
         {
@@ -50,6 +60,9 @@ protected override void Dispose(bool isDisposing)
                 beatmap.Disabled = true;
                 beatmap.Value.Track.Stop();
             }
+
+            if (localStorage.IsValueCreated)
+                localStorage.Value.DeleteDirectory(".");
         }
 
         protected override ITestCaseTestRunner CreateRunner() => new OsuTestCaseTestRunner();