Thumper

Genre: Music-Rhythm

Players: 1

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Review:

Thumper is a music-rhythm game that’s not really like other games in the genre. There’s a hostile heavy metal vibe going through the game, not really a typical music-rhythm game soundtrack, and gameplay that, at least on the surface, seems to be about racing at high speeds through an obstacle course while working to destroy massive enemy bosses. However, make no mistake – this is an excellent music-rhythm experience, and a great example of how to shake up a genre.

Every obstacle you find yourself encountering as you race forward is one you must respond to in a specific way, and they must be responded to with adequate timing that lines up with the game’s titular thumping soundtrack. It’s a simple but strangely compelling experience that’s often difficult, but makes you feel like a bad ass in ways that other games in the genre don’t even attempt.

The game’s sound and visuals are a large part of this. That thumping soundtrack is omnipresent in the game, but gradually changing as you progress from one section to the next, and while I can’t imagine it’s the sort of thing you might listen to outside the game, it makes for a really powerful experience that meshes well with the gameplay, and that’s paired with slick 3D visuals that morph and change and always seem like they’re loosely based on heavy metal album covers.

All in all, Thumper is a bad ass breath of fresh air for the music-rhythm genre that pushes the genre into dark, aggressive, and very metal territory. If that sounds awesome to you, definitely give this game a try.

tl;dr – Thumper is a music-rhythm game that’s nothing like other games in the genre, making it into a simple but compelling high-speed race into dark, hostile territory with an aggressive thumping soundtrack and visuals ripped from heavy metal album covers.

Grade: A-

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