REZ HD (X360)
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Publisher: Microsoft.
Developer: Q Entertainment; HexaDrive. Released: January 2008. Genre: Rhythm/Music; Shoot 'em up. Posted 5th December 2012. By Shane Battams © 2012 |
As early as 2001, Rez hit store shelves for the Dreamcast, and around a year later as a PS2 port. Directed by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, it was a one-of-a-kind experience which relied on the concept of ‘Synesthesia’. However, distribution of Rez was ballsed-up, with no Dreamcast release in America and limited distribution of the PS2 version. This means that it has become near impossible (or at least very expensive) to grab a copy, placing this classic under cult status. That is, until Mizuguchi and his development team Q Entertainment managed to snag the rights from SEGA and completely upgrade the game for Xbox Live Arcade. It’s almost identical to the original, albeit with a much prettier exterior and a cheaper price tag, and anyone who has yet to experience Synesthesia should do so urgently.
Describing Rez is still tricky. At its most basic, you could call it an on-rails sci-fi shooter, where you take the role of a hacker attempting to prevent the shutdown of the Eden core. Only three commands are in place – aim, shoot and a special power up called Overdrive. There are a total of five levels, with the first four lasting about ten or so minutes apiece and the last taking a little longer. The main objective is to shoot anything on the screen, and you can do this by either repeatedly pressing A or holding the button down, which locks on to a maximum of eight targets. Levels then culminate in boss fights, each widely different from the last and requiring special tactics compared to standard enemies. You gain levels of defence with more health, but one hit from anything will reduce your health level until death. Overdrives let you destroy anything on-screen, clearing more heated encounters. It’s simple, but quite a good fit for the casual XBL arcade market.
In artistic criticism, this would be a lemon sorbet mixed with a car park
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And this? Very chocolatey.
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But there is so much more to Rez than it being a simple shooter. The key difference is that it is part shooter, part music game. Each virus you destroy emits a different sound, and destroying them in combos creates new rhythms. As you progress to a new level, another layer of music is added on top, culminating with Level 10. The beauty is that each added sound, be it drum or trill effects, matches up perfectly in time with the overall beat, creating genuinely catchy music and immersing players in the idea of Synesthesia. Perhaps more striking is how different each level feels, containing a different song and visual aesthetic on each with vibes from India and East Asia. The difficulty starts off relatively easy at first, but the latter levels are devilish, and it all climaxes with the final haunting level that really tests your skills.
Coming in at a sweet 800 Microsoft points, Rez HD is a steal, especially compared to the expensive Dreamcast and PS2 retail versions. It comes packed with modes, ranging from your standard play mode to more skill-based ones. Score Attack tests your ability to survive while racking up points by targeting multiple foes. You start at the first health level, adding a layer of challenge. There’s also Beyond Mode, which is divided into several other modes. Direct Assault tasks you with completing the entire game without dying, which is a gruelling challenge; Boss Rush pits you against all the game’s bosses in a row while Trance mode lets you immerse yourself into the aesthetics without the threat of attack. These modes easily extend gameplay time long beyond completion, and Rez HD’s bite-sized, albeit challenging, modes are a perfect fit for causal play.
Coming in at a sweet 800 Microsoft points, Rez HD is a steal, especially compared to the expensive Dreamcast and PS2 retail versions. It comes packed with modes, ranging from your standard play mode to more skill-based ones. Score Attack tests your ability to survive while racking up points by targeting multiple foes. You start at the first health level, adding a layer of challenge. There’s also Beyond Mode, which is divided into several other modes. Direct Assault tasks you with completing the entire game without dying, which is a gruelling challenge; Boss Rush pits you against all the game’s bosses in a row while Trance mode lets you immerse yourself into the aesthetics without the threat of attack. These modes easily extend gameplay time long beyond completion, and Rez HD’s bite-sized, albeit challenging, modes are a perfect fit for causal play.
Changing Rooms takes a turn for the weird. Er, weirder.
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The hacker sports the world's most useless umbrella
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What ultimately makes the experience is the presentation. Everything pulsates to the beat of the music, from your character to enemies and the environments. The extravagant bosses are incredible and feel like a perfectly climatic end to what essentially are layers of increasing tension, as each new level brings more beautiful dangers. The music is sublime, consisting of foot-tapping trance music which fits into the computer dimension flawlessly. Listening to each Level, as new sounds are added and the tempo increases, is joyous. And the level of work that has been put into polishing the graphics is incredible; all the jaggies are gone, colours pop even more and objects look more detailed. Just take a peek into an included Standard mode, and you’ll see the difference quickly. Some things look a little ugly still, but most of Rez HD looks excellent – a case study on how to update a game to the HD era.
When released on the PS2, many have argued that Rez’s audio-visual experience is incredible, but it didn’t quite feel deep enough to warrant its hefty price tag. With Rez HD, UGA’s experience fits like a glove on the XBL Arcade: it’s easy to learn yet hard to master, it comes with a good deal of content for 800MSP and the graphical overhaul looks great. But Rez HD also keeps close to heart what made it stand out back in 2002 - the combination of audio and visual presentations unlike anything we’ve seen, even now years later. Those who are used to running through dingy corridors killing waves of samey goons may be left shellshocked, but those who go in with an open mind will find a transgressive, immersive and haunting experience well worth revisiting.
When released on the PS2, many have argued that Rez’s audio-visual experience is incredible, but it didn’t quite feel deep enough to warrant its hefty price tag. With Rez HD, UGA’s experience fits like a glove on the XBL Arcade: it’s easy to learn yet hard to master, it comes with a good deal of content for 800MSP and the graphical overhaul looks great. But Rez HD also keeps close to heart what made it stand out back in 2002 - the combination of audio and visual presentations unlike anything we’ve seen, even now years later. Those who are used to running through dingy corridors killing waves of samey goons may be left shellshocked, but those who go in with an open mind will find a transgressive, immersive and haunting experience well worth revisiting.
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VERDICT
Visual: 9/10
Audio: 10/10 Gameplay: 9/10 Longevity: 9/10 OVERALL: 9/10 |