The Final Word game review

Rez -- Sega/United Game Artists

R.I.P.
I would absolutely have to rank this as one of my top 10 favorite games for the PS2. Visually the game is stunning and looks awesome on a big screen with it's vector style artwork. The music consists killer techno tracks with a thumping base beat. Also, the songs vary as you play the game due the fact that all of your in game actions have corresponding instrument effects. This has the end result of allowing the music to change each time you play the game, and when you really get into a groove, you get total visually, audibly and physically from the base thumping off the PS2 controller.

The only thing this game is missing is the vibration pack that was bundled with the game in Japan. The idea is that you could put the pack under a cushion, or such and increase the physical feedback from the game.

For really weird fun, once you've completed a good bit of the game, extra play modes open up, including a mode where you play the game as one of the wired alien guys found in Space Channel 5 (Rez is by the same developer so this isn't all that much of a surprise I guess).

As far as play control goes, the best thing I can compare it to would be a game like Panzer Dragoon. The title certainly falls under the rail-shooter category, but the added layers of complexity and feedback added to the game put it far and away at the top of it's class in the group.

If you're into shooters, you really owe it to yourself to track down this game and give it a play... if nothing else give it a go just to check out the music.

(11/2003)