Existing comment:
SEGA Dreamcast
Action: Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure, the beloved blue hedgehog made the leap to a world of 3-dimensional graphics.
The Dreamcast console was powerful enough to render environments that were fully 3D, so the designers did not have to compromise by using any 2-dimensional elements. As a result, they could create complicated levels that boasted realistic physics,
from sweeping ramps, loops, and jumps to wobbling bridges and hidden passageways.
A dynamic soundtrack complemented the vibrant and energetic visuals, taking inspiration from music genres such as world, pop, jazz, rock, and electronica.
As in all Sonic games, you must complete the level in the fastest time possible, rescuing animals and destroying robots along the way. The solidity of the graphics together with dramatic new challenges and lively music, created an engaging experience that brought Sonic the Hedgehog to a new generation.
Target: Rez
Rez took the concept of a traditional target game and placed it in a fast-faced abstract world inspired by computer technology and the internet. The player takes the role of a hacker, injected into a global computer network to destroy lethal viruses before they cause an information Armageddon.
The designers took inspiration from the colorful artworks of Wassily Kandinsky to visually represent the inside of a complex computer network. Points of light, mathematical structures, and neon colors combine to create an unfamiliar, yet compelling, digital landscape.
Rez also boasts an innovative soundscape. At first, a lack of sound evokes the empty void of cyberspace, but soon the musical score increases in complexity as each virus is eliminated. The striking visuals and responsive audio combine to make Rez an outstanding example of art inspired by the digital age.
Adventure: Shenmue
Shenmue was the first video game to present a believable virtual world with unlimited potential for exploration. Designer Yu Suzuki created an environment that closely mirrored the real world, in which the player could go anywhere and interact with any object.
The detailed graphics conjured a dark and brooding atmosphere, with cyclical weather and time systems that influenced the environment and its inhabitants.
These realistic details allowed players to connect emotionally with the game narrative, creating an immersive experience unlike any seen before.
Tactics: ChuChu Rocket!
ChuChu Rocket presented a whimsical, colorful world as the basis for an appealing puzzle game. The designers of this simple game focused on compelling tactical game play with lively graphics.
Players take on the role of a mouse, who must reach a rocket ship while evading cats and racing up to three opponents. Despite its simplicity, ChuChu Rocket was one of the first games to boast an online mode, in which players could compete over the internet.
While this is commonplace now, ChuChu Ro0cket represents an early foray by both designers and players into the world of online gaming. |