Rez

"Rez requests your senses. Bring them..."

I went into my local game dealer and I asked for the video game called Rez, a new ''shooter''. Luckily I got the last and ONLY copy they had. I had been looking into it for quite some time and decided to pick it up. Let me say this before hand: this game is like no other.
The story line of this game takes us into the future. The world is greatly overpopulated and crime rates are high. A super-mega-wamma-jamma computer name Project K (which is what the game was called in early development stages). It has a central intellegence core named Eden. Too much info has been sent to Eden, however, and questions the meaning of existing and the paradoxes of life, so it shuts itself down. Sound screwed up? You bet. And as a hacker, you must find a way to bring her back online. My kind of stuff.
Now without further ado, let's get to the review.

Gameplay- 10/10
Wow. I usually don't like shooters. I never got into Gradius or Phanlax or Panzer Dragoon, but this hooked me and would not let go. It may seem a little unsatisfying for the shooter buff, but everything is just plain wonderful.

Visuals- 10/10
This and the music are the main highlights of this game. The visuals go so well with everything and they are true eye candy. The levels start out almost blank, but as you work into the computer system, things start popping up and flow nicely. Plus, it runs a great 60 fps the whole time, no matter how frantic the action gets. Awesome.

Music- 10/10
The music is techno which I love, but it isn't for everyone. But that doesn't matter because this is some of the BEST techno I have ever heard. It blends so nicely with the visuals, you'll wonder how in the heck they did it. I sure did.

Sound effects- 10/10
Jeez. I want to know how the development team did this. Every shot you take and every enemy you hit has a sound effect, which makes it seem like it is already in with the music. Link more shots and the better it goes with the beat. Excellent.

Replay value- 9/10
I personally think this will have plenty of replay value. There are so many unlockables. There is a hidden stage and plenty of hidden modes. After you beat a level, you are going to want to master it. Good deal.

Overall- 10/10
I love everything about this game. If you are looking for a music game, forget Frequency and Parappa 2, get this baby. Looking for a new shooter? Here it is. If you consider yourself a gamer in any way, you deserve to play this game. You'll love it. I can safely assure it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/11/02, Updated 01/11/02