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Trance-inducing addictiveness

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: October 22, 2001
Author: Amazon User

It was my pleasure to participate in a few focus group tests of Frequency. Whenever a test was over, I would threaten to show up the next day at the developer's office uninvited, just to play some more. It's that good.
To appreciate how great Frequency is, you really have to play it. (...) SSX, Frequency adds innovative new play mechanics to a stale and stagnant genre, in this case, rhythm/music games, and creates a altogether transcendent experience.
Unlike other music games, memorizing and repeating button presses is not the crux of the gameplay. Here, instead of mimicking a song-you actually create a song, using timing and reflexes to lay down beats, bass, and guitars, building each song from a metronome to an all-out jam. For example, if the player can successfully lay down a certain number of beats on the drum track, the drums are "locked in", and the player can then start working on the bass, while the drum loop continues by itself. "Lock in" the bass and you can move on to guitar, vocals,etc. However, as the song progresses, if a change in the drums,bass or another instrument is required, the player must scroll back to that instrument and lay down the new beats. This is all achieved through a gorgeous 3-D graphic interface, that looks like a trippy, hi-tech version of Tempest. The overall gameplay effect is a lot like a plate-spinning act. Power-ups and point multipliers spice up the fun, and a multiplayer mode is included, where up to 4 players try to "capture" as many parts of the song as possible. Online play will be possible when Sony gets the network up and running. Also of note is the "remix" mode, where you can take the awesome music in the game, and remix it freestyle, beat by beat. Although not as versatile as MTV Music Generator, it's a lot more intuitive, and a hell of a lot more fun.
All the music included in the game, by the likes of Chemical Brothers, Dub pistols, Paul Okenfield, No Doubt, and others is top-shelf stuff.
Why are you still reading this? Buy the game, you will not be disappointed. Seriously.

ADDICTION, THY NAME IS FREQ.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 26 / 26
Date: November 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

It was my pleasure to participate in a couple of focus group tests of Frequency. Whenever a test was over, I would threaten to show up the next day at the developer's office uninvited, just to play some more. It's that good. To appreciate how great Frequency is, you really have to play it. Like SSX, Frequency adds innovative new play mechanics to a stale and stagnant genre, in this case, rhythm/music games, and creates an altogether transcendent experience. Unlike other music games, memorizing and repeating button presses is not the crux of the gameplay. Here, instead of mimicking a song, you actually create a song, using timing and reflexes to lay down beats, bass, and guitars, building each song from a metronome to an all-out jam. For example, if the player can successfully lay down a certain number of beats on the drum track, the drums are "locked in", and the player can then start working on the bass while the drum loop continues. "Lock in" the bass and you can move on to guitar, vocals, etc. However, as the song progresses, if a change in the drums or bass or whatever is required, the player must scroll back to that instrument and lay down the new beats. This is all achieved through a gorgeous 3-D graphic interface that looks like a trippy, hi-tech version of Tempest. The overall gameplay effect is a lot like a plate-spinning act. Power-ups and point multipliers spice up the fun, and a multiplayer mode is included where up to 4 players try to "capture" as many parts of the song as possible. And online play will be possible when Sony gets the network up and running. Also of note is the "remix" mode where you can take the awesome music in the game, and remix it freestyle, beat by beat. Although not as versatile as MTV Music Generator, it's a lot more intuitive, and a hell of a lot more fun. All the music included in the game by the likes of Chemical Brothers, Dub pistols, Paul Okenfield, No Doubt, and others is top-shelf stuff.

THE COOLEST GAME

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 10
Date: November 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I was able to test a prerelease for this game and I must say holy moly. It's kind of like a DDR style game but different because of the controls and the way the game is played. When it comes out, it is a must buy.

this game is awesome!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 10
Date: November 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

wow. thats all i have to say! this game could take up hours of your time.. for anyone who likes music it is a must have! i love it. its worth every penny you spend on it.

The best rhythm game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 10
Date: November 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Last year I saw this game at E3 from a distance, and the moment I saw it out of the corner of my eye, I was hooked. Visually the game is very well made. After putting on the headphones and giving this game a test, I was completely awestruck by the quality of the music. Being a fan mostly of beatmania on the playstation and also almost every rhythm game that's come out, I'd give my rating some credibility when I say that: I've passed up the whole line of great games that's come out on the system just waiting for frequency to come out to buy a ps2.

Far and away the best music video game ever made!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User

There aren't enough good things to say about this game. It's the video game equivalent of crack cocaine. In other words, you won't be able to stop playing it.

The premise is simple (and isnt that the case with most great games?): you make your way down an octagonal tube. Each of the eight sides is a track of music. The 8 tracks together create a song in its totality. For example, track 1 is drums, 2 is bass, 3 is vocals etc etc. The goal is to set all tracks in motion to get the whole song playing. You do this by hitting buttons on the controller to match a sequence you see before you on the screen. Some are easy, some are very difficult and will require practice to perfect, but when you pull these off you'll come away with such a feeling of satisfaction. That's what makes great games great. The rewards.

A music game is meaningless without great music, and this game has 25+ excellent tracks from real bands in many diverse types of music: Synthpop, Trance, Alt Rock, Prog Rock, Drum and Bass, Big Beat, Rap etc

In addition to the main game I mentioned, it lets you manually recreate the tracks with your own bass lines, drum beats, synth stylings etc and then use them as in-game tracks.

There's some really obvious and apparent blockbuster games out for the Playstation 2, but Frequency is what I'd classify as a sleeper hit. In other words its not a title you've probably heard much about, but what you have heard is more than likely great. Enjoy. I know I am.

puzzle/music fans will find something they like

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

graphics: nothing too special, what there is will mostly just keep the people watching entertained since the players will be transfixed by the game play. Actually this is a game that is tough on the eyes of the players since blinking is actually difficult on many of the songs. If you liked the graphics of whipeout or tempest these will be right up you alley.
gameplay: you use the d-pad, 3 buttons and sometimes the left analog stick. mostly you use 3 buttons to press in time with the beat. by doing this you lay down one of 8 tracks (drum track, guitar track, vocal track for example). Once you get it right for a while it continues to play without you freeing you to move on to the next track. By completeing all the tracks you make the song sound how it was intended to. It is very addictive and the quality of the music helps it be outstanding. remix mode and multiplayer add to the replayability of the title. It also scores high for originality since it IS different from anything else out there.
Sound: Id have to say this game has the best soundtrack of any game out at this point. the entire game was built around the music and if you dont like the jungle brothers, no doubt, paul okenfeld, lo fidelity all stars, or powerman 3000 one of the other 12 or so artist will probably suit you fine.
difficulty: The game is actually pretty tough but has an excellent tutorial. Id say it falls into the easy to learn hard to master area of games.
Conclusion: Buyers who enjoy puzzle games (this plays like one) or music, as well as those just looking for something different will be plenty impressed by this title. Its only drawbacks are a tough difficulty level, and the whole dry eye problem. This is a great leeper title that may get lost in the fray of metal gear solid and gran tourismo but it is a game that is worth adding to a collection and is easily the best music game for the ps2.

A highly enjoyable gaming experience

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I've never been a fan of rhythm type games but I checked this one out because I liked the music that came with it. It took about one hour for me to get used to the gameplay and objectives but since then I've been hooked.

Graphics- The psychedelic background actually can get in the way of the gameplay because you get so distracted by it. Fortunately, there is a track without all the colorful shapes and images.

Gameplay- There are three difficulty settings. Most people should not have any trouble with easy settings. It may take couple of hours to get the hang of normal setting. I have yet to start on expert mode. The challenge is to get the high score and unlock a new song for each round.

Sound- Great. Most of the time, you're so focused on collecting the jewels that you won't realize what instrument you're on but everything sounds great.

mediocre at best

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: December 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If previous music games outta japan Beatmania,Guitar freaks,samba de amigo didn't use special controllers that looked like musical instruments, they wouldn't be nearly as fun. Unfortunately, Frequency only uses a dual Shock 2 controller, but even then, the pad isn't made for the kind of super fast button tapping and moving you need in Frequencys harder difficulties. THe gameplay here is a lot deeper and more satisfying than typical games in the genre. Songs are divided into parts drum, vocal, guitar, etc. Each has a seperate track in a large tunnel. You move from track to track, clearing each and heading to the next without pausing to keep your combo going and the points multiplying. Because of all this interaction, Frequency has a level of challenge and technique not found in other music games, making it feel like you're really performing the tunes. But the thing that hampered my injoyment is the music selection. I'm just not a big fan of club style music, nor of most of the featured bands, like Powerman 5000, Crystal Method and the gameplay. On the other hand, Remix mode lets you construct levels and remix the music anyway you want. And Frequencies visually more impressive than any of the music games from japan. It's a strong entry for the musical genre, but unless you really dig the music, it's not going to last very long.

One of best games ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Frequency is very much unlike any game I have ever played. The game is incredibly simple to get started but the depth of gameplay is astounding. I have played about 60 hours so far and still need more. The musical interaction is fantastic. This game is a must for everyone, especially for anyone that likes music. I have never had so much fun!

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