Replay: Rez

Mar 11 2008

Rez is an interesting blend of rhythm, on rails shooting and trippy graphics. It was released by Sega of Europe in 2002 and has just received a re-release on the Xbox Live Arcade.

The father of this unique game is Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who also created Lumines and Space Channel 5.

Hit the post-break for our Replay retrospective review.

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Story

Rez takes place in the ‘K-Project’, a large network where data flows to a central AI called Eden. Eden receives so much information that she can’t handle it and begins to question herself and her existence. With the overwhelming amount of data coming in she begins to shut down. This is where you come in. You are a hacker who logs into K-Project to reboot Eden, fighting firewalls and viruses on the way. Unfortunately Rez isn’t a story intensive game, and explains little of the story while you’re actually playing. On the other hand, who needs stories anyways?

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Gameplay

Rez is a single player experience divided into 5 sub-networks, each containing 10 brief levels ending with a boss battle. You take control of an Avatar who, when collects blue power-up items, levels up into a different avatar. Every time you get hit by an enemy you devolve, making evolution your health bar. You can also collect red power-ups which give you “overdrive”, which shoots all enemies on the screen at once. You have a small square reticule which you drag over enemies to target them and when you release the fire button you launch a few shots at those pesky viruses

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Graphics

Rez is one of the most graphically impressive games in the last decade, not for being extremely realistic but for being extremely surrealistic. This game has single-handedly convinced me that Video Games are art. Rez takes pleasure in stimulating your brain with its colourful wire-frame graphics which in combination with its great music can be one of the best gaming experiences ever.

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Music

The music in Rez is obviously one of the strong points of the game, possibly even the main point. Rez has only a few sound effects and almost no spoken dialogue. The game is set in Techno music which is enhanced by your playing. When you shoot an enemy it contributes to the beat and melody of the song. You won’t feel bad listening to this game’s soundtrack in public, because it sounds so awesome. The most notable song being the final stage, it’s hard to forget how good Rez’s soundtrack sounds.

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Final Word

Rez is not your typical game, and if you haven’t played it yet you should probably stop what you’re doing and go buy it. Rez was welcomed by overwhelming good reviews, and has a cult following. Rez will stimulate all of your senses and pretty much makes you feel high. The pleasure this game provides is truly an experience you need to have.

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