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Chime Super Deluxe (PS3)

Reviews

The only real criticism is that we want more of it.

Posted 3rd April 2011, 2:22pm in Games / By Michael J Fax


Music-based games often deliver a creative and almost Zen-like treat for players. From the imaginative bliss of Electropankton through to rhythm based shit like Donkey Konga. And then there's Chime, which requires no musical knowledge, a sense of rhythm, or even the volume up to play. So, it's Jedward's dream. Cheap shot.

Chime's debut as Chime Super Deluxe on PSN sees twice as many boards as last year's original as well as co-op and versus multiplayer modes. And, while you may not need to hear the music to play it successfully, the entire basis is built around it. You're greeted with an empty grid and a simple backing track. Players slot Tetris-like shapes into the grid to build up layers of the song and form quads (rectangular groups of shapes) to clear the level and pump the tune into a frenzied peak of instruments. Leaving stray fragments of blocks that don't fit into quads allow you to slot other shapes around it before they eventually disappear, letting you to start afresh.

And that's about the bulk of it. Each board has its own soundtrack and unlocking quirks of the song through placing shapes and varying quad-sizes unleashes some brilliant moments for your flapping ears. With some particularly fantastic tune choices from Philip Glass, Orbital and a belter of a chiptune from Sabrepulse, it's a sensory explosion as you define the flow of it by placing shapes on varying parts of the grid.

With a choice of time limits, or an unlockable free mode, Chime can be a relaxing and enjoyable piece of interactive music, or it can be a tense and tight puzzler. Each board's difficulty is notably different and by the time the board shaped like a human face comes around you're likely to have mastered slotting the odd-shaped blocks around corners.



In fact, the only trouble with Chime is that, despite its increase in size for this Super Deluxe release, it simply still isn't big enough! One afternoon with the game on 9 minute time mode and you'll have cracked it. But it's a genuine joy to play with and the inclusion of local co-op and versus multiplayers mean you can either help your pals, or steal their quads. However, it's too hard to shift that irksome feeling that there's just not enough to it. Online multiplayer or a level editor could all enhance the game, and perhaps downloadable tracks and levels will expand on the package. As it is, you may feel a bit let down by the £7.19 price tag. Still, it's a testament to the brilliance of a game that the only real criticism is that we want more of it.

That aside, Chime Super Deluxe is a peculiar delight. Building up the soundtracks from scratch is an awesome feeling, and as time ticks down, the hugeness of the tracks by the denouement of the levels seem a fulfilling pay-off regardless of whether you've cleared the board or not. It's completely feasible to play the game in absolute silence – it doesn't need music to work. But, without it, the game would be nothing.

Chime Super Deluxe is available now for PS3 on Playstation Network for £7.19

Rating: 8/10

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