Those effects are disabled in VR.It's a shame the switch version couldn't handle chromatic aberration and motion blur, seems like it really suits the artstyle:
Switch gets an extra shader and HD Rumble. Fair trade!
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THUMPER is pretty much a perfect game
- Thread starter Neiteio
- Start date
Switch gets an extra shader and HD Rumble. Fair trade!
yeah. plus with how intense this game is and how fast it goes, i doubt you'll ever have a chance to think "Damn, I sure need some chromatic aberration and motion blur right now" while playing
I work for an Illuminati-like PR firm that's secretly used by every gamemaker on the planet, indies included
how embarrassing, kick your own ass
valkillmore
Member
Will absolutely buy it on Switch later this year when I get my Super Mario Odyssey inevitable Switch bundle
Thats this game. have you played a game like guitar hero or rockband before? you're just going down the line and either hitting up, down, left, right, or the x button.
esmith08734
Member
I really want to try this out but it looks confusing. Are there actual prompts as to what buttons to hit?
aspiegamer
Member
Ooh, that's an awesome fix to the FOV problem some people have with 2D mode on PS4. That position and angle on Switch is closer to the VR camera which lets you read several beats ahead.
Though I'd be interested in a separate campaign that covered different types of music, the soundtrack is soooooo perfect for the artistic display and overall vibe the game presents. Spoiler(?): The final segments of the final level have some, uh, "experimental" stuff and dabbles in different time signatures a little. It's harder than you'd think to adjust to after being familiar with the rest. Fantastic challenge. For a games that uses nothing but a D-pad and 1 button it's astonishingly deep.
This has been responded to many times already, but I wanted to add a +1 to "yes, it's actually that freaking awesome and you should feel bad."
One button only! Never fear!
at first, yes. all the new mechanics are taught with prompts and then you're left to figure it out after they've been introduced.
I'll attempt to explain, but only with this caveat: You really have to try it to understand the appeal. Also note: The game gradually rolls out mechanics and explains them well.
So you're a space beetle hurtling along a silver track. A number of course elements will come your way. I will give some examples, but it's not comprehensive:
- Glowing panels. When these pass by you, hit A to "thump" them. You can safely pass over them without thumping; however, you score points by thumping. And, during boss battles, you have to hit all of them in a row and then hit the boss's charge shot (a bright green light coming down the track) to repel the shot back down the track at the boss.
- Orange lines of light. These are horizontal on the track. As these come down the track, you need to hold A to break through. There are often many in a row, with panels in between, so you'll have to alternate between tapping and holding. If you hit one without holding, you'll take damage.
- Spike traps. Resemble pink spikes. You need to tap forward and hold A to fly over them. If you hit them, you'll take damage. You can also fly off glowing panels to reach optional rings over the track. Also, when there's a panel at the end, you can pull back on the stick to SLAM down. This will expel a beam of light that will break a boss's shield, at which point you can hit them with a counterattack. Can also be used on glowing panels for more points.
- Walls. These pop up at corners and have red flashing lights. Some are long, some are short. You hold in the direction you wish to turn while holding A during the turn. You can start holding A and turning early, before you reach the wall, but it appears that for the most points, you need to do it right upon reaching the wall. If you hit a wall, you'll take damage.
There are more mechanics beyond these. In World 4 they start adding multiple rails — you may find yourself shifting between five of them at a time, dodging incoming enemies such as silver centipedes that come hurtling down the track.
If you take damage once, your beetle loses its chrome armor. Take damage again, and it's back to the beginning of the stage. You can get back your chrome armor by thumping certain blue panels, such as the ones that always appear at the end of each stage.
It doesn't sound like much on paper. But in practice, it's incredible.
Legitimately the worst opinion I've heard in a long time. Wow.
valkillmore
Member
The best way. Minimal hand-holding then an expectation that you'll get it.
Hispanic! At the Disco
Member
At first I thought that said TRUMPER and thought it was THUMPER but with the bosses replaced with Trump's head with the rail coming out of his mouth.
The Xtortionist
Member
A low stakes, totally mellowed-out Thumper: Take Your Time Edition actually sounds somewhat appealing in a weird way. Wouldn't take it over these high-speed thrills, though.
Side note, I knew the shockwave effect when attacking a boss or landing a slam combo reminded me of something...SSX 2012 has a similar effect when landing a massive trick that warps the surrounding landscape. Guess that type of feedback really does it for me.
yeah and if you fuck up you just do it again. it's really good about teaching everything.
I knew it! Be gone, foul shadowy marketer! And take Helios with you!
It's too late — I already have all your precious GAF sheckles! Muahaha!
*thunderclap, lightning flash*
The Xtortionist
Member
Slamming a panel sends a shockwave up the track that sometimes (always?) charges a future panel and makes it restore health. Very handy.
HD rumble really adds a lot to the experience. Surely not as immersive as VR but it makes it easy to get sucked in every time I play
I just beat level 8 and I'm not sure if I'm ready for level 9 lol
I just beat level 8 and I'm not sure if I'm ready for level 9 lol
It'll do that if you have a 2x multiplier or higher.
aspiegamer
Member
Meh, I don't agree with "better," but my literal only complaint about this game is that I wish there were multiple campaigns and musical variety. Could be interesting. Would want a different color palette, though. And missed this in the OP--
Getting a boss killshot on a reflect is one of the most incredibly satisfying gaming experiences I've had in years.
Actually came in here to post this.. lol. "Hey, since we're on the subject..."
Yep, those boss kill-shots are SUPER satisfying especially when you struggled so long to reach the point where you finally had the chance to counterattack
pretty done
Member
It does my heart good to see you saw the advice about turning up the in-game music. :-D
The Xtortionist
Member
Not sure why it's set so low to begin with. Maxed out it matches the Switch's master volume well enough. Think I might have turned the Switch's volume down one notch from where it was previously.
This is unrelated, but I just realized what would actually make Thumper better, and I suspect you'll appreciate this:
Random quotes from Metal Gear Rising, during boss battles.
Like imagine if when the giant head rises up: "MAGNETIC FORCE, JACK! NATURE'S FORCE!"
oneils
Member
Will probably get it too. It's pretty tempting at that price. I still need to get Rez on PS4.
I would compare Rayark's rhythm games to DJMAX Technika or maybe a Bemani style game or even Amplitude, but Thumper? That's a weird comparison.
The way the game is designed I don't think any of the traditional pop songs would've worked. The soundtrack forms a single mesh with the level design instead of being a bunch of random songs that happen to be what the devs chose to include in the game. And the devs calling it rhythm violence is pretty accurate, the soundtrack would fit perfectly in a action/horror title lol.
Exactly. The soundtrack exists to instruct your actions but also to add OOMPH! to them. The music isn't meant to be the star itself. The music enhances the atmosphere, the speed, the sense of impact.
Part of me thinks that, between the visuals and HD Rumble, Thumper would hold up decently even with the sound down.
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
The only two music games om the nintenfo switch.
That's my reason
Played the game on pc thought the music was mediocre.
I really play music rythm games for their ost.
This sounds like a Bit.Trip game. And that's awesome.
MrS
Banned
If he was that good he'd have made this thread when the game launched on PS4 and PC last year.
I agree with the sentiments though. The game is sublime.
oneils
Member
Also, digital foundry did a great video on it last week. Very timely thread lol
https://youtu.be/4aMIko1VRn0
https://youtu.be/4aMIko1VRn0
ScientificPizza
Banned
No, but asserting you *haven't* played a game because you don't own an expensive VR headset is stupid af
Omnistalgic
Member
Yes!!!!
Messofanego
Banned
One of the best games of last year for a reason.
Any more than asserting you haven't played Shadow of Mordor if you don't own an expensive PS4 instead of the PS3 you have that also plays the game? Reminder that the nemesis system is entirely disabled on previous gen versions.
SunhiLegend
Member
Brilliant game, art style, soundtrack, gameplay, all amazing.
that's a really bad comparison lol
maybe a better one would be watching the same movie in a regular theater vs. imax or 3d
ChronotriggerJM
Member
Just got to demo PSVR yesterday, man is that surprisingly great. I thought the optics would be much worse than Vive, not the case at all.
This game would be intense in VR, definitely a must have experience.
What do you see in the periferals / side's?
This game would be intense in VR, definitely a must have experience.
What do you see in the periferals / side's?
Allnamestakenlol
Member
Game looks great, but my old eyes just can't keep up with hardly any of it. Like, it's almost impossible for me to discern between lights that indicate my input is needed versus those that are just "pretties." Getting old sucks.