Who needs drugs when you got REZ!?
Who needs drugs when you got Rez?
Rez came out for the Dreamcast and PS2 on November 21st 2001. The PS2 version came with a Trance Vibrator which would vibrate along with the beat of the music. If you do some research you'll hear a lot of stories about girls using the vibrator for “unique” purposes. Enough of that aspect of Rez let me tell you what it's about.
Rez is an on-rail shooter similar to Panzer Dragoon, Star Fox, Ikaruga, galaga, etc. The unique thing about this game is that it has a very healthy mix of music and trippy visual effects. You can literally lose yourself in the game and get high. The first time I played it it was very trippy I felt high and all my stress was gone. If you're looking for a game to relax then read on.
Graphics-10/10
The graphics in this game are amazing, you know the visualizer in Windows Media Player? Well imagine seeing that every time you destroy an enemy. Your main character is a polygon but as you get some power-ups your look updates and you get more powers. The best thing about this version is the HD graphics; I've never seen a game looks so amazing the graphics are a very important part of this game. Everything is nice sharp and clear. This is what you'll see when you play it on the HD mode but if you choose the Rez Original mode then prepare to be disappointed. You'll see jaggies left and right and two black bars on the side since it will display on 4.3 and it's just an eye sore. But this is an option and you can play the entire game in HD or Original mode. I assume that Original mode is for Standard Definition TV's. It's nice that you have both options tough and it ads more value to the game.
Story-3/10
The story of this game is also interesting. Apparently you are a thing called “The K project” which is sent into a huge cybernetic world to prevent eden from shutting down. Eden is a huge computer AI program that manages all the data in the cybernetic world but something happened that it/she was overwhelmed by the data and decided to shut down.
So in short you're a hacker that needs to hack into eden to override her shutdown sequence after she freaks out and questions her existence. If you don't then the entire cybernetic world will be destroyed.
I give this a 3 because unless you read the story of the game somewhere YOU WILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S ABOUT! I played the Dreamcast Version and the PS2 version and I loved them but never knew the story. I give it a 3 for effort but I can't give it much else since you don't really discover it playing the game so that's why it is so low.
Music and Sounds-10/10
This is the best part of the game; most of the music is techno/trance music. If you're a fan of this type of music then you will love this game. Every time you destroy an enemy you get some different sound effects that really tie you into the whole atmosphere of the game. All in all the music is a really important part of the game and without it this game wouldn't be all that great. I wish I could tell you more but you have to see it to believe it. Look at some videos on youtube or play the demo.
Game play: 8/10
The gameplay in this game is really simple. The A Button shoots if you hold it down you'll charge a shoot up and it will shoot about 6 or 7 shoots at the same time, the B button allows you to use the overdrive. Overdrive is basically a red blob you collect when you destroy enemies; once you use it you're invincible and it will destroy all on-screen enemies. The analog stick moves the cursor around you can't move your character just the cursor so that sucks a little bit.
The controls are very simple and anyone can pick up the game and play it without having too much difficulty. Remember that red blob I was talking about and the power-ups? Well there is also a blue one and as you collect them your character will get more powerful and will also be able to with stand one more hit and it will also give you a different kind of overdrive.
The game is incredibly easy and short. So short that it can be completed in about an hour and a half, maybe even less then that if you're really good at beating the bosses. You have 5 levels and each level is about 10 minutes long and the last one could be around 20. I haven't really timed it but I know that they aren't too long it all depends on how fast you beat the bosses. At the end of each level you have one boss and the music and theme in each level changes according to the music. You controller also vibrates along with the music but only if you turn this feature on.
Which reminds me remember that trance vibrator I was talking about for the PS2? Well it made it back to the 360. You can use up to 3 more controllers and put them anywhere you like and these will vibrate to the beat of the music. This isn't that compact as the PS2 one and is a little more difficult to do what the female gamers used to do with it but it can still be achieved. I like this feature because you can put it in a pillow and lay on it and it will give you a massage as you zone out to the music giving you the ultimate relaxation method.
Once you beat the game you can play score attack or traveling. Score attack is simply playing the game all over again and trying to get the best score possible. Traveling is what you'll probably use to relax since you are invincible and you can do anything and everything. It's very fun to just relax and not worry about dying and just get that massage you wanted and forget about what you did that day and just relax and get “high”.
The reason I gave the gameplay an 8 is because the game is to easy. This is a nice thing because you want to relax with this game but for gamers who want a challenge they will be disappointed since it's so short and easy. But I myself don't mind the difficulty but I know how this could make or break a game for you. Since this game has no real option to make it harder or more challenging.
Replay Value-10/10
This game will have you coming back for more. After a hard days work or a frustrating gaming session just start this game and you will be completely zoned out and happy in no time at all. You can also try to beat your score and try to get on the leader boards on xbox live.
Should you buy it?
Well try the demo out if you like it then buy it. It's only 10 bucks and if you're looking for something unique and relaxing then this is the best possible $10 you will ever spend. Hell you could do so much worse with 10. This game is like a drug. A safe legal drug! SO WHO NEEDS DRUGS WHEN YOU GOT REZ!?
