It's easy to take the piss out of watching people play Guitar Hero and Wii Fit in the office. But until you're sat in front of a computer monitor with a trio of vibrating controllers shoved inside your coat, you just don't know how much of a prat you can look playing a game.
Rez HD Gameplay 2
Gameplay footage
2:05Creation!
Rez HD Gameplay 2
Gameplay footage
2:05Creation!
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This, in case you're wondering, is a baffling new feature of the head-spinning cult shooter Rez, which has been polished up and re-served via Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft points (about £6.50).
The PS2 original came with a Trance Vibrator - a small vibrating block that shook to the rhythm of the music, which you place, well, wherever you saw fit.
Rez HD goes one better (or three better) by using any additional connected controllers in replacement for the vibrator. Yes, even if you connect four.
Using carefully-placed pads you can "feel" the beat of the music form all angles. It's wrong, gimmicky and even slightly uncomfortable, but it makes one of the most absorbing shooters even more immersive. Which is exactly the idea behind this even prettier and louder Xbox Live Arcade upgrade...
Bargain synaesthesia In 2001 we paid a full-whack fifty quid for Mizuguchi's awesome shooter on Dreamcast and haven't regretted it since.
Veterans of the PS2 and Dreamcast versions can expect crisp, upgraded hi-def visuals (which, given its wire-frame nature, we couldn't imagine being improved further), bloom and colour scheme options plus the obligatory online leaderboards.
Unfortunately the addition of 5.1 surround sound seems to have been applied more to the sound effects rather than the music itself, but we're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Short and Sweet As a Matrix-style computer hacking program, you're mission is to break through the firewall of a rogue AI called 'Eden'. It's locking down her systems, become self-aware and has gone a bit mental. By shooting down hordes of baddies and defeating massive bosses, you endeavour to put things right.
In essence it's a straight-forward on-rails shooter. Using the on-screen cursor you can 'lock-on' to up to eight enemies at once, unleashing your attack to all targets simultaneously and collecting combos in the process. The more enemies you lock on to, the more your score will be multiplied. Remember Panza Dragoon Orta?
It's a solid and addictive set-up with a large variety of enemies, levels and awesome boss battles, but what makes Rez truly unique is Mizuguchi's obsession with Synaesthesia, which, in case you're not a massive art geek, means to "hear" visuals and "see" sound.
Thanks to plenty of work tinkering with animation and sound effects at original developer UGA (ex-Sega), Rez's distinctive wireframe world syncs almost perfectly with the beat of the soundtrack, pulsing and thumping with every beat.
Interaction is minimal; you're actions aren't making a unique song. Instead Rez sticks to predefined tracks which sync everything, from the shooting sounds and explosions to the backgrounds and flashing colours, together.
The idea sounds gimmicky at first, but as you progress deeper into the game the synergy of sounds and on-screen action totally absorbs you, particularly if you're a fan of pumping house music.
Every so often during your cyberspace combo-ing, a small cube of light will be whisked onto the screen. Upon shooting it you'll be shot a "level" deeper into the system, which is basically a way of building up both the action, visuals and adding to the Trance and Electro soundtrack layer by layer.
As well as keeping your attention, this makes for a really immersive experience - especially if you got a beefy subwoofer and a big telly.
It's obvious that a great amount of detail went into Rez's five levels, which is most of the reason why it's such a short lived experience - but extremely replayable.
In fact, it'll only take you an hour to play through most of what Rez's core game has to offer, but with the right set-up it's likely to be one of the most unforgettable (or head-rattling) hours of you've had in a shooter.
Approach it knowing that the sound is important; turn the big speakers off and the magic is lost. In this way the gameplay isn't quite up to the standard of genre kings like Starfox or Panzer Dragoon, but Q will be keen to remind you that your Microsoft Points are buying you an "experience" - and its right.
Kick out the missus, get on the big telly and turn the bass all the way up and you're in for an hour chock-full of some genuinely iconic gaming moments.
Shooting down an army of space ships to Adam Freeland's perfectly synced "Fear" and chasing a running man of blocks and colour as the wailing guitar of "Rock is Sponge" blazes on the soundtrack really raises those neck hairs. There's plenty more, but in such a small and well-crafted gaming package it'd be a shame to spoil what's there to experience. We'll leave that for you to discover...
Turn the speakers up for a shortlived but standout shooter full of genuinely awesome gaming moments. Unplug the sub and the magic's lost to the silence...
Uppers
Incredible integration of visuals and music One of the best hours you'll have in a shooter 800 points is a bargain Get off with extra controllers
I downloaded the trial, and I must say I was very impressed. Lovin' the look and the sound/music. It's my first time playing it - though I do remember it way back when I owned a Dreamcast. Might end up buying the full game soon.
I downloaded and had a quick go on it morning and all those Dreamcast memories came flooding back in Hi-Def & 5.1 sound, It Is Awesome. This is got to be the best release on XBLA to date. Cant wait to get on it tonight.
This is an awesome game. I bought it on PS2 as a christmas present for my sister's boyfriend (I've never owned a PS2) - just so I could play it myself! I don't own a 360, but this alone tempts me towards the dark side...
Just played this what a complete load of crap. No wonder the dc bombed with games like this.
Its because of games like this that made the dreamcasts death such a loss to gamers. Playing dross like Smackdown versus raw says it all about your taste in games.
Just downlaoded and Rez is still as perfect as ever. Even though ive got it on the ps2 (would rather have the dc version) the price was a steal, specially considering i got 2100 points for just over a tenner at work
Y'know, I really loved the Dreamcast, and this was one of the only games I missed for it. So I was looking forward to this a lot.
After playing the trial last night though, I can't help feeling a bit underwhelmed by it all. It's like playing Afterburner through a Media Player Visualisation. There appears to be little or no skill involved and the music is the sort of uninspiring techno drivel played in the clubs I actively avoid when I'm out with my mates.
I'm loathe to say it - because it goes against all my Sega Fanboy instincts - but had this game never been released previously it would be just one more neon-coloured XBLA shooter.
awesome game. Played the trial version after hearing all the hype for this game and the whole 5 minute experience was superb. I think i'm gonna go on an xbla spending spree as there's no full games I want much at the moment. Anyone got any arcade reccomendations? All i got so far is undertow.
burnout paradise and smackdown vs raw 2008 actually.
Hmm, you should try something a bit purer like Burnout 2 rather than the EA bastardised/SSX'd (delete as appropriate) Burnout Paradise. Until then, I'm sorry to say, I've had dumps with more taste in games than you.
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Incredible integration of visuals and music
Just played this what a complete load of crap.
