Thumper: Sound and Vision

Music and sound has gone hand and hand with video games going right back to old classics like Pacman, Super Mario Brothers and even going as far as defining some games like Tetris. As games evolved, somewhere along the way the lines blurred between the two blending  music and games, creating rhythm games appealing to gamers and non-gamers alike. They have taken many forms, some included digital instruments, DJ decks and now these games have stepped into the realms of virtual reality. One such game is Thumper which has been created by developer "Drool", a self titled rhythm violence game that offers VR users one of the most stunning experiences you will come across but is there more to this title than meets the eye. First of all Thumper is one of the few games available as a virtual reality title which also allows you to play the game without the headset. This allows the player to pick up and play a single level without needing to wear the headset which opens up the game massively, the only thing missing in my opinion is a 3DS and PlayStation Vita version. When you do put on the VR headset, even before the game starts the visuals are mesmerizing... stretching out before my eyes is a visual roller coaster. That doesn't change when the game starts either, Thumper is an absolute feast for the eyes and thrilling ride from start to finish, which is only amplified by the inclusion of virtual reality.

Thumper is made up of numerous levels contained within stages, there are 9 stages in total and 3 distinct ways to play, arcade, VR and plus modes. Regardless of your choice you are given a series of basic controls and a selection of heart pounding, fast paced tracks that will test your timing and reflexes to their limits.Playing Thumper in VR is not only an exhilarating experience but it also seems to allow for a more instinctual reaction and in turn a much quicker response time. It also is highly effective in relation to helping manage pain, virtual reality is an excellent pain management tool on its own but when paired with Thumper it really comes in to its own. Thumper really has a lot going for it, however like everything it has its downsides... for example trying to remember controls when playing an advanced level after some time away from the game is difficult without a reminder screen. This currently means having to go back and play previous levels and stages to recall the correct input which leads to another small niggle, there is no random level generator, something that would certainly help with lastibility. Aside from that, Thumper is a well thought out, well made game which is only made better by the inclusion of virtual reality and a game that personally I would highly recommend.

Thumper is out now on the PlayStation Network for £15.99, Oculas Home for £14.99 and Steam for £15.99 on its own or £22.98 with the Thumper soundtrack (digital download). It is also possible to pre-order the Thumper soundtrack on LP for release on the 22nd of April 2017 (there is a collectors edition LP as well but at the time of writing this it was sold out) , to pre-order the LP or purchase the MP3 album click here - http://thrilljockey.com/products/thumper-thrill-435