Rez Infinite Review (STNGTE)
Sometimes life feels like a constant rush, overloaded with noise, uncertainty and the pressure to keep moving. It's no wonder so many of us search for a break in the blur, somewhere off the grid and away from the static. For many people video games are exactly that kind of space, a sanctuary - both simple and profound. With Rez Infinite I wasn’t looking for much, just something that could ease the pressure a little. At first it seemed like it might be that kind of game, but the effect was subtle and never quite managed to shift the mental weight I’d been hoping to escape.
Rez sets up an idea of a story or at least gestures at one, but fails to follow through, you dive into a network to battle with some viruses. The reasons behind it? Something about overpopulation, online crime and an ultra advanced AI that is apparently overwhelmed with something, I don’t know but this game claims to be a legendary masterpiece. The developer is considered an artist, researcher and visionary, known for exploring immersive media and his goal with Rez was to create a game that fuses music, visual art and interaction into a synesthetic experience. So did he pull it off? Maybe. But in my opinion, calling it a legendary masterpiece is heavily overhyped.
Opinions differ and that’s okay. Taste is subjective, but I’m always open to an exchange of views. It’s just that for me, a legendary masterpiece is a truly standout game that was highly influential in its time, like The Legend of Zelda, Descent or Planescape Torment. In comparison, Rez feels more like something in the category of MDK, Bad Mojo or Loom. And I played a lot of MDK back then, so just to be clear, this isn’t an insult. Visually, it’s somewhat interesting but definitely not outstanding, neither back then nor today. The gameplay doesn’t offer much either. And as for sound and music, for something that aims to be experimental, atmospheric and artistic, it honestly often feels quite generic and far too repetitive but it does have its moments.
Conclusion: Not particularly impressed or convinced, it just didn’t quite win me over. But I’d still recommend giving it a try if you’re into unconventional experiences or abstract aesthetics. I haven’t played the VR version, so I can’t comment on that. If you’ve never heard of the game Rez or Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Child of Eden, Lumines) ...or are up for something else, here’s a area 1 playthrough video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9jM39ffB8s