Review: Sound Shapes (PSV) - Better Gaming Bureau

Sound Shapes is the latest game from Queasy Games and at first I wasn?t sure if this was a game that was more about music or platforming. Turns out, Sound Shapes is a combination of both which looks and sounds great. What is Sound Shapes exactly you might ask? It?s pretty simple really, if you love platformers then you will love this game because it is a pure platformer, but its very soothing and peaceful as well and it?s not hard like a Super Meat Boy or Limbo. Sound Shapes features the music of Beck, Deadmau5 and Jim Guthrie of Superbrothers Sword and Sorcery fame. There are around 4 worlds which are selectable by picking which album you want to play whether it be the Beck album, Deadmau5 album, you can select which world you want to delve into first and you play as a micro-organism jumping and sticking to certain surfaces to progress through a level while dropping some funky beats.

Graphically, Sound Shapes has a similar feel to the PixelJunk Shooter games and it looks awesome. Many of the levels that you will play have their own distinct feel and look to them that make them all very unique and creative. The color scheme is very simple but it?s very effective and very easy on the eyes indeed. Sound Shapes definitely has an indie feel to it all the way through and even the little organism you play as looks really cool as well.

Gameplay in Sound Shapes is simple, it has your platform elements such as jumping, sticking on surfaces to get to the next area of the level and there are quite a few puzzles thrown in as well but they are very easy and fun and none of it feels like it?s forced into the game. There is a campaign mode in which you will spend at least 3 hours on but there are some really cool levels that I did like a lot such as the Jim Guthrie level in which everything is black and white and it looks very similar to Swords and Sorcery EP and it has some great puzzles in it as well. The other worlds are really fun to look at and play as well ranging from a cold, winter setting level to a homage to retro games, each world you play in has a great level design of it?s own and at first the game will be ridiculously easy but it will be a little challenging during the later levels but nothing that?s hard. That is not the goal in Sound Shapes. There is a more challenging difficulty that is unlocked after you beat the campaign mode but to me Sound Shapes is all about the smooth controls, easy to pick up gameplay and hard to put down because the game feels so rewarding to you as you finish each album(world) because you can?t wait to see what is next. Also if you choose to put the time into it, you can create your own levels and you can put in different objects in the level that will trigger different sounds and music and when it is all put together, it really feels nice and gratifying.

The most important part of Sound Shapes is of course the soundtrack that is comprised of Beck, Jim Guthrie, Deadmau5, I am Robot, Proud and other talented artists as well. Sound is a very integral part of Sounds Shapes because music is the driving force behind the gameplay, it?s not just there thrown into the background but the music dictates each world and level and it is great to see so much creativity and fluidness in the game. Each world has its? own music (for example the ?world? Cities is all music from Beck) and this is what makes Sound Shapes the game it is. From the simple beat of a drum to the more complex electronic, bass and dance music, there?s something here for everyone.

I was quite surprised with Sound Shapes because I was not sure of what to expect but in a way that is kinda good because it makes your experience in Sound Shapes even better if you don?t clearly know what to expect but nonetheless Sound Shapes is a great game that will please your eyes and ears as well as your imagination. The abstract feel to the game is perfect and very colorful and combine that with very tight platforming controls and fun, peaceful gameplay and you have a real winner here that is only $15 ($12 for PS Plus members) and you also get the PS3 and PS Vita versions as well. I am very glad to see this on PSN and this is easily the best game from Sony?s PSN Play promo.

Source: http://bgbureau.com/2922/review-sound-shapes-psv

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