Customer Reviews

Rez

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Someone else has already done an extensive review, so I just thought I'd share some interesting trivia and minutiae about Rez...

This game was originally unveiled in May 2001 under the code name "K Project." No explanation of this title was given. Now, upon finishing the game and watching all of the credits roll, finally we learn what the K stands for: "K Project- Dedicated to the creative spirit of Kandinsky." (Something to that effect, anyway.) Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) was a painter who is generally regarded as the father of "abstract/modern art." Kandinsky claimed that he heard sound when he saw colors. When senses overlap in this manner, it is called "synaesthesia." Much of Kandinsky's work revolved around this. He often described and titled his own work in musical terms. This is very much the basis of Rez. Sight and sound comingle to form a whole. Rez's tag line is, in fact, "Go to Synaethesia."

Many will note the similarity between the play mechanics of Rez and the first two Panzer Dragoon games; using a cursor to lock on to multiple targets, and then firing at them all simultaneously. Well, there's a very good reason for this similarity: supposedly there are no less than seven former members of Team Andromeda on Rez's staff. Team Andromeda was the developer behind the Panzer Dragoon series.

The entire game is clearly influenced by the 1982 movie Tron. Aside from the obvious visual similarities, (get a load of the 3rd level boss... it's worth millions of our man-years!) both the movie and the game are about someone being sucked into a computer system and fighting their way through it. I'm quite sure that the title "Rez" itself is a direct reference to Tron. If you look up "de-rezz" in a dictionary, you'll find that this word was originally coined by the writer/s of Tron. It's short for "deresolve". When a program was "killed," it was de-rezzed. It was an allusion to an image on a computer monitor losing it's resolution and disappearing. When you play Rez, you'll see exactly why the opposite of "de-rezz" is a perfect title for it.

Once in a while a game comes along that serves a purpose beyond just entertainment. It stands as an example of human creativity, merging with technology to produce a synthetic world that's nothing less than astounding. Rez is an amazing creation that stands apart from other games due to its perfectly created virtual world.

I have the Japanese PS2 import, and it's developed by United Game Artists, a division of Sega. Rez is at its core a simple on-the-rails shooter, in the vein of Panzer Dragoon, Space Harrier, and Omega Boost. You move your character up/down/right/left as the terrain unfolds in front of you. You've got a lock-on firing weapon and an ''overdrive'' (i.e. a smart bomb), and that's it. Simple enough....

...but the setup is where the ordinary stops. Your character is invading a computer to try and stop....something. You dive through wire-framed landscapes, as enemies appear above, below, behind, and in front of you. The environments are beautifully done - they remind me of the classic film Tron, or what William Gibson must have envisioned when writing Neuromancer. They succeed in making you believe you're inside a giant computer. The enemies come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, including giant unfolding flowers and a lightbeam-riding vehicle that resembles the Tron Lightcycle. As you lock-on and destroy them, different power-ups emerge: red nets you an overdrive (you can hold up to four at once) and blue evolves your character into some pretty incredible-looking forms. Travel through the layers successfully and you'll reach a boss - the battles are often long and multi-formed, reminding me of Radiant Silvergun. Beat the boss and you open new areas. The game is a magnificent visual creation, effectively enfolding you in an alien world.

You can't talk about Rez without mentioning the audio. Much has been made of how you contribute to the soundtrack via your actions on-screen, and this feature has been implemented perfectly. The soundtrack to each layer consists of techno/house/ambient beats, and each lock-on, firing, and enemy explosion adds its own note or sound to the musical track. It never sounds muddled or messy, but is a wonderful addition to the gameplay. You can try to create your own song as the landscapes whiz by, or can simply play the game - the extra audio can be as much or as little a feature as you want. I must also mention that some of the tracks are wonderful just by themselves. There is also a Travelling Mode that is cool to just sit back and watch.

Hard-core shooter fans will be disappointed at the game's relative ease, but Rez is much more than just a simple shooter, despite its rails-shooter roots. It delivers an experience that few games deliver - complete immersion in an alternate reality. Rez's synthetic universe will stay with you long after you put down the controller, and you will look forward to your next visit. The visuals are augmented by the audio perfectly, and vice-versa. There are also many secrets to unlock, providing high replay value - and some of the secrets are very rewarding. Rez is only for a single player, but sometimes the best games concentrate on only one. It's the kind of game that can't be defined by a single genre, but ends up being a unique title that every gamer should experience.

I wrote a review previoiusly for this game, giving 5 STARS despite of its relatively short length, simply because I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been few years, and I felt like playing it again after midnight; and it's 2:20 right now. Gosh, I just can't help but to come back here again to tell you how incredible, overwhelming, nostalgic, wonderful,... I don't think any of these adjectives does justice for this needless-to-say masterpiece. I consider only two games in my life as something almost divine; Ico and Rez.

The main reason I'm writing this review AGAIN is to warn those who finished game with only first 4 areas. Yes, it's true that you can finish this game and get the ending with 4 areas. However, if you are putting this game away after that, then you are making a big mistake here. I did exactly same thing, putting it away after finishing first 4 areas, which was nevertheless exhilarating experience.

MAKE SURE TO UNLOCK THE LAST AREA, WHICH HAS TO BE THE MOST AWE-INSPIRING PART OF THE GAME, PERIOD.

I know that this game costs alot these days, however, it's worth your money especially for those who want to 'experience', not just to play video games (Dreamcast version is also available). I get soaked with this strange feeling (after finishing all 5 areas straight), which I get time to time when it triggers the human's basic intrinsic questioning of its existence; who am I? where did I come from? Why am I here? Seriously, this is no video game; its existence is beyond that. You can't help but to be immersed into the world of Rez, the world of synesthesia.

save her, who is still trapped in the system.

please.

Simply put, this game is amazing. Rez is one of the most innovative games to come along in a while. On the surface, it's simply a shooter, but the experience goes much deeper.

The makers of Rez set out to create a game that blended sight, sound, and feel into one synergistic experience, and they succeeded. Let me try to explain.

When you start out, there is a very basic music track playing in the background. Everytime you lock onto and shoot an enemy, the music grows. Every hit is in beat with the music. As you progress through each level, the music grows more complex, the visuals become more complex, and the vibration of the controller increases. Once you reach about 60% of the way through the level, you are so drawn into the game that the experience is amazing.

Granted, there are only a few levels, and a seasoned gamer can play throug very quickly. However, this game has immense replay value. After finishing the game, you begin opening up more and more options. Perhas the coolest option is the travelling mode, where you get to play, but don't take any damage. My wife loves this. She loves the experience of Rez without the pressure of staying alive.

The controls are great. The become intuitive rather quickly and have the option of having normal or inverted movement. The music won't sound familiar, but the tracks are great and work perfectly for the game.

I highly recommend this game to everyone. It goes beyond mere gameplay and is an amazing experience. It's too bad that it's difficult to find and didn't get the recognition it deserves.

I recently picked up this game because not only I'm a big shooter fan, but also of its unique visual presentation. Am I satisfied? Yes and No

First of all, I would like to point out that game isn't like typical shooter, like most of 2D games out there, but it's more like Panzer Dragon Zwei-ish for Sega Saturn (Panzer Dragon incorporates 3D style shooting along with 2D games like Galatic Attack/Ray Storm, where you have to lock and shoot down enmies while you have to dodge their attacks as well. The main difference between Panzer Dragon and Rez is that Panzer Dragon has full 360 degree freedom while moving your dragon on a set course, yet Rez is only focused on shooting down the enemies/attacks, with no control over your person/thing; so instead of dodging enemy attack, you have to shoot them down before they get to you) So if you are into dodging enemy bullets with your 'intuitive' reflex system, where it tests your ultimate human reflexes, then this game isn't gonna do much for you.

I was very satisfied with the visual presentation. Trust me, it's nothing like you've ever seen before. It's mostly vector graphic-like visuals with trance music. This trance music adds alot to building up this trance atmoshpere, which Rez is trying to create. However, I was also dissatisfied because of its length. You can probably finish the game the day you bought it if you really put time into it. Now that's a big flaw for a shooting game for me. I like a game which I have to put time and effort to finish, playing again and again to beat that final boss(like Shienryu) However, it doesn't mean that it has infinite continues (like Giga Wings) so you can restart on the very spot you got killed, No. You will have to start from the beginning of that very level, so it's not that bad.

Final word is that is it worth paying ... for this really short game? It's definitely your call. If you are looking for something solid, long, typical shooter game, then I DO NOT recommend it. However, if you are looking for something unique, fresh in concept and idea and don't mind the short length with easy difficulty level, then it's definitely worth your money.
So it might be better to rent it first, but either you will gonna like it or hate it.
PS: is this game worth receiving 5 stars? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed it, let me put it that way.

That's all you can say really. This is an experience in video games like I've never had. To put REZ into words would be like trying to describe a Pink Floyd concert to Helen Keller (to quote EGM), it just can't accurately be done. Most amazing game. I am really dumbfounded at this game. I'm at a loss of words at how great it is. If you really want a full on REZ experience, I suggest going with the import Dreamcast verson. Same game, but the images are much sharper adding to the visual experience. I reall wish I could say more, but there is not much to say, besides GET IT.

P.S. Keep the Visine nearby...

Rez basically leads the player along a predefined path where you can look and aim in 360 degrees, a genre sometimes called a "rail shooter." The graphics and presentation here are what is outstanding. Supposedly this is a music game, where you can manipulate the music depending on when you fire or how fast you progress through a level. Sometimes you can lay down an enjoyable riff, like adding percussion cymbals, shakes or hand claps by timing your combos. Upgrading your "entity" changes the sound of your attack. The best level by far is the last, which can only be unlocked by beating the first four levels. I didn't quite appreciate this game until I played that last level where everything sort of came together into a confluence. Rez is definitely a creative effort that is a lot more than the sum of its part. It is also very short and can be finished in a couple of hours. The ray traced graphics in this game are dedicated to the Russian artist Kadinsky.

I have no clue why Rez's production was stopped. This is the coolest game ever! Fast paced action that has awesome music to go with it! The music's pace and style goes along with the gameplay. I have to congradulate Sega and UGA on such a great contribution to the PS2 game library. There are many more levels than 4 unlike many people's beliefs. It has great replay value, it's never the same the second time, or the twentieth. It never loses its fun value, a must buy. Go out and purchase one if you have the means. =D

Always one to try something unusual, Sega unveils its next-generation shooting/music game, "Rez," and proves once again that it's the software, not the hardware, that makes a game great.

Developed by United Game Artists (previously responsible for another unusual title, "Space Channel 5"), "Rez" is probably best described as "Panzer Dragoon" meets "Tron" meets your local dance club's DJ.

The "Panzer" component comes from the game's linear 3D shooting format. You can only control where your character looks and generally not where it goes. Instead of dodging bullets/missiles and the like, you need to search around and shoot them before they get to you. As can be expected, take too many hits and it's Game Over. Like "Panzer," your weapon has lock-on capabilities, allowing you to target up to eight different enemies at a single time. Like "Panzer Dragoon Zwei," you also have access to a destroy-everything power-up dubbed an "overdrive." Once unleased, enemies are targeted and destroyed automatically for a period of time (about 10-15 seconds).

The "Tron" component of the game it its story. You control a sentient computer program assigned to invade and destroy an enemy-infested system. This enemy will throw everything it can at you, from small grunts that need only one hit to large behemoths that need several locked-on missiles to destroy. The larger bosses are no cream-puffs, and require fast reflexes to defend yourself and counter-attack.

As you destroy enemies, you can pick up power-ups that let you use overdrives or enhance your character's performance. Pick up enough performance power-ups and your character will evolve. Take too many hits and your character will "devolve" into a lower form.

Where "Rez" truly shines is in the music/graphics department. Part video game and part light/sound show, "Rez" puts you in direct control of the game's sound and look. Almost everything from pressing a button to locking-on creates a sound. The sounds even change depending on the form of your on-screen character. These sounds combine with the background beat to create an innovative soundtrack that has house and techno written all over it. Taken with the wire-framed graphics and psychedelic color patterns, "Rez" gives you a most unusual PS2 experience.

One minor warning: the game does support DualShock controllers (as most PS2 games do nowadays), but the vibration effect is on almost constantly, and grows in intensity as the game advances. While the rumble-to-the-music vibration is unique, it can cause strain on your hands/wrists during extended play. I suggest you hold the controller lightly during play and take frequent breaks to let your hands rest if you leave the vibration effect on (you can turn it off, too).

I read the reviews, bought this game last night and it's true what they're saying. Rez is an explosive virtual reality experience. Only 4 levels in this game, but play them over to see if you can score higher and unlock hidden doors. Some will like it and some won't but either way you should still buy it just to see how out-of-whack this game can get.