Rez

"Go to Synaesthesia"

Written By Tyltyl and Hurricane Jesus

Controls 10/10

The controls in Rez are very simple, consisting of only the X and O buttons, and the analogue stick or directional pad. The simple controls allow for the game to enjoyed more fully without getting confused about which buttons to press. The analogue stick or Directional pad move your cursor around the screen. The analogue stick is easier to use then the directional pad and doesn't cause blisters. The X button is use to lock onto the 'viruses' that appear. You hold down the X button and move your cursor over the enemies to 'lock' onto them. You can lock on up to eight enemies at once, and when you release the X button your player will release the shots. A beam will shoot at the virus', destroying them. Although you can go through the game tapping the X button over all the enemies, this will not work in score attack. You have to think about how you are going to get the maximum lock on the enemies. Larger lock-ons lead to a larger score multiplier. The O button is used to release an 'overdrive'. Overdrives destroy all of the enemies on-screen for a shot time while making you invincible. You collect overdrives by destroying enemies. The controls feel perfect for this type of game.

Graphics 10/10

Rez is an absolute pleasure to look at. Each area has a certain visual theme color and concept. The first area's visual theme is red and orange and the concept is Egyptian culture. Area two is made up of beautiful blues and purples, and the concept is based on the Indian culture. Area three is a lush mix of green and cyan with the design concept being based on the Mesopotamian culture. Area 4 is a rush of yellows and greens, then concept is based on the Chinese culture. Each area was designed by a different artist, and therefor looks completely different from the others.

The game is made up of wire frame areas divided up into layers. Each area had 10 layers and ends with a boss encounter. The bosses are the area firewall, and must be destroyed in order for you to pass. Each boss goes through different forms. The bosses look amazing. The area 1 boss looks like a giant disco ball and changes form into a spinning top-like thing. The lighting and color are used so well to convey emotion and beauty in the different areas. When an enemy is destroyed it leaves behind a shimmer of color that changes the way you see the background. Upon entering a new layer the background contorts and shifts it's shape to take you deeper into the area. The game always moves at 60 frames per second, and is very smooth. It is quite impressive because of the amount of enemies and effects taking place on-screen.

The beams are another part of the game that shows of its graphical beauty. Each for has a different beam that is shoots out at the enemies. For example, one of the beams shoots out at 90 degree angles. Each beam is meant to mirror your evolution into a new form. Truly incredible to watch.

Gameplay: 10/10
Rez does everything perfect, the controls are simple, effective and functional. It's hard to describe it in words, everything is part of the gameplay : graphics, music and vibrations. Your senses are part of the gameplay too, if you fail giving Rez your senses then the Rez will fail giving you a great experience. Everything action you make in the game will you different responses. If you hit a enemy it will make a sound in sync with the background music, graphically it will make some great lightning effects that perfectly melt with the background. The vibrations are in sync with music too. Every aspect of the game comes together to make the gameplay, and gives the player a true synaesthetic experience. Each of the first 4 areas are divided in 10 layers. The first layer is usually plain and simple, the lines in the background are straight, the enemies are few, and the music is simple, not yet evolved. As you proceed through the layers everything becomes more complex. So you can see how the game changes as you proceed through it. As said before, the gameplay is very simple, just move and shoot. What makes this game so great is how it involves your senses, it makes you feel like part of the game. Area 5 is special, it explains a great deal about the plot of the game, but there is more......it has something to say about reality and evolution and the last boss is like a revelation. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I will say that Area 5 is my favorite. The game makes me to feel sad at the end, and during the last level I feel curious to proceed, it's like the game wants to reveal a secret and makes you want to know the truth. I have to say that Area 5 is a true TRAVEL through history, time and evolution. Rez is original and particular, and for that reason some people won't like it, but it asks only to be played a little to reveal it's true depth. I hear people complaining about its simplistic gameplay, but it is anything but simplistic! Rez changes every time you play it, it adds something for you, every Area could look the same but what you take in is different. Different moments, different sensations, different feelings. The game itself changes, it becomes a little harder as you play better, more enemies, faster missiles, etc. I have the strange feeling that this game wants to live, not only in our PS2 but also inside us, our mind and our heart. The last boss has a lot to tell you, you have to find your own truth, there are a lot of relationship metaphors to discover, it's up to you to discover them. Its music and atmosphere bring out my emotions, It makes me want to discover more about what the game is trying to tell me.

Music 10/10
I will start by saying that I never liked the trance or techno genre, and I don't like it now even after playing Rez. I give it a 10 because the music fits perfectly with the game. Each Area has it's own music track, it's just a background music that evolves every layer, and sounds are added while you play. Every sound you make should associate to a shape, a color or a graphic. This is called synaesthesia. Rez can give it to you perfectly, it's like a gift for you just for playing the game. No other game can offer such a gift just for playing it. The music in Rez is more not simple music, it goes even beyond tastes, it's made for the sole purpose of being part of the game. You don't have to listen it, you have to feel it in the form of vibrations or shapes and colors. Area 5, the last boss and end credits are in my opinion the best music I've ever heard in a game. The ending credits song makes me feel secure and comfortable and I know that lot of people love it too. It reminds me of a bright gray place with something white that bounces around...not easy to explain.

Overall 10/10
As said before Rez is not a simple game, so you can't pick it up randomly off of the store shelf, you would be best off trying it before buying it. Rez calls out to the player, you decide whether or not you are going to answer. If you are into it you will probably make it part of your daily life for a long time. Others won't like it at all and will think that it's no more than a ''on rail shooter'' with some good special effects. It probably will look like that if you don't get into it, but if you take a close look at it, it can give you a great experience that you will remember for a long time. I play it once a day, I HAVE to play it, I HAVE to listen to the music, I HAVE to watch the colors and lines, I HAVE to beat it once a day to see the final boss, to hear it's call and to listen to the ending song. It makes me feel good, the same thing doesn't happen if I listen to the music alone on my stereo. You know why? Because I miss the visuals. I never had such a gaming experience, Rez cannot be compared to any other game, it has good graphics, good sounds, good plot and everything. You will have fun while you play and you can talk about it with your friends. Rez has great graphics (although very particular), but it gives you something that you carry on through your day out. I go to work with the ending song in my head, when it rains I feel the sound of the drums of the ending song. It makes me feel happy, secure and works like something that purifies me, clears my mind from bad thoughts and stress. When I hear a particular sound I associate it to an enemy in Rez or a part of the music in it. When I see a particular form I can associate it to a sound, or the same happens with a color and a sound too. This is what Rez gives you, synaesthetic experience and deep feelings. I'm not sure about what I'm going to say, but I'll say it anyway. Rez could be an important step in gaming history. If UGA intentions were to create a living game that involves physically and mentally the player and that will give him something special, then they perfectly succeeded. Just think about how this concept will work for future games, they can manipulate your ideas how you want, you can discover your own thoughts while playing, rediscover your senses etc. I knew that Rez was special, I heard about it, but I thought it was ''only'' a good game, it's not just that, it's more. Now I can see and feel the difference between Rez and another game like MGS2, FFX or GTA3. These games are fun and entertain you. Rez not only gives you fun and entertainment, but shows you how deep a game can be and how deeply it can touch your mind, your heart and your senses. It could be a travel someday, another day just a game to beat to better your score, another day a game to play to listen to the music and watch some good visuals and another day to feel something within the music, the visuals and the story. Like everything good on this planet, the best things are underrated, so is Rez, truly underrated by most gaming magazines but a great deal of people love it. I feel like i could say that Rez is the best game ever, but it's not, that would be unfair. I don't think there is a best game, Rez could be but it's not a simple game, it would be unfair and could destroy any other game below it. I think Rez is opening a new way in the gaming world, and is far from the ''old'' games. That's what I feel...and feels so sweet.

Go to synaesthesia.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 04/26/02, Updated 04/26/02