Gaming in a Post-Rez World
February 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 am
I downloaded this little gem to my desktop right around the same time that I was talking about Audiosurf, but just finally got around to installing it. The timing for me to start playing Synaesthete couldn’t have been any more perfect.
Like Audiosurf, Synaesthete is a music-based game that’s up for awards at this year’s Independent Games Festival. But aside from that and the way both games have that cyberspacey Rez/Tron look to them, there aren’t too many similarities. But I bet if you liked one, you’d probably also like the other.
Synaesthete is a pretty simple concept that sounds sort of crazy, but works surprisingly well. What if you took a dual-joystick shooter, like Roboton: 2084 or Smash TV or Geometry Wars, but you replaced the right stick with a three-note Bemani-style setup? Download this free Digipen project to find out.
I say "Post-Rez" in the title because Synaesthete has what looks like a bit of Rez homage in it. Between rooms, the game gives you a sentence or two. It reminds me of the way Rez’s fifth and final area gives you a brief parable about evolution and the cycles of life before you go try to put the misunderstood computer lady back together again. Mentioning synaesthesia right up front–just like Rez did in its first trailers and marketing materials–doesn’t hurt, either.
With a bit of clean-up (the melody occasionally gets out of sync with the drum track on my machine) and maybe some more variety or something, Synaesthete could easily fit onto the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and Steam. It already has a great tutorial that gets you acclimated to the environment quickly. I think the only changes I’d like to see is to make the rhythm game portion of the display bigger and have it sort of overlay the action more, so I can focus on more of the enemies and the movement while still seeing the track clearly. Also, though I’ve only played through the first four or five songs, it seems like every time I get into a good head-nodding groove while pounding out the track, I kill all the enemies and the rhythm portion disappears until I get to the next room. I think I’d rather just keep on playing it as I’m walking around. Lastly, I wish it had MIDI controller support, so I could slam the tracks out on my Ozone.
There I go, getting all analytical and reviewy again. Anyway, it’s a very cool project that feels like a gaming equivalent of walking and chewing gum at the same time. I’d bet that some of you have already seen this (it was originally released back in October), but if you haven’t, you should check it out.
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:28 am
I played this a little while ago, I should have hooked up my Guitar Hero controller and used that. That would have been awesome…
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 am
Downloaded and will try it out tomorrow morning, or after the super bowl.
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 am
Yeah, it’s really neat. I was surprised it made the 360 controller rumble on the beat without needing any configuration.
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 am
It’s not an accurate comparison. Though I haven’t chewed gum in years, I don’t recall ever having trouble doing it and walking at the same time. I’m pretty sure that my Synaesthete games would end shortly after I started them.
Still, thanks for informing us about this game. I want to know for myself if it’s as difficult as the videos make it look. The art direction (both video and audio) is the best of its style since Rez.
February 3rd, 2008 at 4:55 am
Adam: This game is relatively easy, I only played through the first few levels, but if you just focus on pressing one button on the beat and moving out of the way, you can do almost whole thing asleep.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:20 am
I think i’ll give it a go even if i’m not the biggest fan of those kind of games
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 am
Think I saw this on the 1UP Show a while ago, didn’t pay much attention to it, although maybe I should. I hear of allot of games like this going on to do big things, like Pixel Junk Monsters and the like. I’ll give it ago if I can pull myself away from the latest addiction . . .FF3 on the DS . . . god knows how I ended up playing this.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:47 am
Jeff, do another points! And talk about COD4 some more! I’m thinking of getting it but am a bit worried that the multiplayer wont be much fun because its been out for a while and everyone will have an advantage over me due to higher levels and perks etc. Keeep on rockin’.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 am
I just wanted to say that Gamespot is no longer in my links toolbar, and this blog is. Keep up the good work Jeff.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
They mentioned this on a somewhat recent episode of the 1Up show. It looks interesting but I’m not sure if I could disassociate myself in such a way as to play a shooting game with one hand and a rhythm game with the other.
Oh, and Jeff, not sure how far you’ve progressed in No More Heroes but my friends and I beat it together last night (our second sitting with it, the first ending right about where you say you ended in your post). If you want to get past the side missions quickly and keep the story progressing (which in my opinion is the best way to play this particular game), once you open the 100 Kill Assassination mission, just repeat that mission for around 100k each time (takes about 5 mins) so that you can get the money to move on to the next mission. Also, buying stuff from the stores is not very important, except from the weapons shop which you will open soon if you haven’t already by this time (just need the new weapons when they become available, parts are not as important). The part time jobs are funny to do once but we would just do those when they would unlock and then run that 100 kill mission to get on to the next story mission. This game has such great boss fights that are each entertaining, challenging, and unique. We’ll be doing an episode of our End of Discussion podcast (www.gameslaves.net) on this game soon.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
I’m playing through Synaesthete right now, and I’m really liking it. This was the first time I tried using the Xbox controller for something on the computer, and my jaw dropped when it began began vibrating to the beat.
It does leave me wishing it was designed a little differently. The beat bar, or whatever you want to call it, is way too focused and small. I find myself staring at the beat bar, blindly walking around the room hoping I don’t get hit, and missing out on the pretty geometry. I think it would benefit the game to have a full screen opaque bar. One could focus on what’s going on without distraction, but be able to recognize what beat buttons were supposed to be pressed.
Most importantly, the little protagonist man reminds me of Glover.
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 am
I’m really thinkin’ I should try Synaesthete, seeing as I was too late for the beta event with Audiosurf…
Audiosurf and Synaesthete seem like a really novel ideas and look pretty fun. I even like how both games look. It’s a unique style.
(I really did miss out with Audiosurf…) (Boo…)
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Wow, Jeff, you really like your colorful music games. Maybe you should play less Rez wannabees & film more Points!
It’s good to keep it mellow, but nevertheless, a controversial Points! video would heal my wounds
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
sounds cool thanks for da heads up
February 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Man, that sounds awesome. I’m going to check this one out as soon as possible!
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
you know its time to upgrade your computer when a error message comes up saying your computer doesnt have shader model 2.0 support
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Rythmgames is always appriciated. Rythm stuff should be implemented in all games to be honest. Downloading !
February 4th, 2008 at 5:23 am
WOW
February 4th, 2008 at 6:42 am
I tried it. But my PC is from 2003 and the framerate was too sluggish. But the game has a nice look an nice sound.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am
wait, this was released back in October? Shit. I gotta get on this.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
played this a few weeks back and beat it its a really fun game and like you said with some polish id buy it on xbla.im still addicted to audio surf though
February 8th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
THIS GAME’S BRILLIANT!!!!!
and that’s coming from a video game lover and a die-hard dance music fanatic! i think i’m nearly at the end. the hardcore levels (as in hardcore music) are especially exhilarating!