Rez HD Review

Microsoft recently released the game Rez, which some (perhaps very few) gamers remember as a game that was released just shy of six years ago on the Playstation 2 and Sega Dreamcast. Rez takes place in some unexplained time in the future on earth, and the story goes with the concept of an apocalyptic future where law no longer exists and an entity of some form creates an artificial intelligence. This artificial intelligence is known as Eden, and this A.I. is given the task of crunching numbers. How this is used to save the world from crime and whatnot is ambiguous at best, but I'll forgive Tetsuya Mizuguchi for this lazily conceived story for the sheer fact that the visuals and sound of this game are flawless. The transition to HD format has been warmly welcomed and has made this game a more visceral experience. The graphics are basically simplistic polygons and wire framed enemies and environments. The thing that makes this game special, is that the design and lighting is unbelievable.

Rez, at its very core is a rail shooter, but the game tosses enough enemies at you to present a challenge, the environments and colors are gorgeous and the music puts you in a state of euphoria. You honestly can not play this game and not feel good after playing it. The game is ultimately an 800 MS point stress reliever, but there is actually nothing wrong with that whatsoever. The game is short, if one decides to just play through it without perfecting it, but for those who want to get 100 percent on all their stats, then the game has moderate longevity. Like Valve Software's Portal, this is a short, but serendipity experience. This is exactly what casual gaming is all about, short, cheap games that anyone can play, but few can truly master. Unlike Portal, this game requires very little brain function, but that is truly fine. If I want to send myself into a trance without the use of illegal substances, then this is exactly the type of game to do that.

I remember experiencing this game back in 2001 before its release, in the form of a demo, I forget how I attained the disc, but I remember playing that demo for hours. I was excited to find out that Rez was making its way to XBLA and I knew that this was going to be a must buy. I recommend this game for anyone who wants a game that allows them to shut off their brain and play. It is 800 MS points, or ten U.S. dollars, 5 pounds or 5.50 Euros; however for whatever the price, this is a must buy.