Orgarhythm Hands-on - Preview
by Karl Koebke , posted on 12 June 2012 / 2,977 Views
New platforms are always a Mecca of new and original Intellectual Properties or IPs. There's no better time to try out something weird and different, and Orgarhythm certainly fits both of those descriptions.
Developed for the PlayStation Vita, Orgarhythm is a Patapon-esque music-based strategy game with a top-down view. You play as a God, with his minions constantly dancing around him. You give commands by pressing buttons on the touch screen and you can choose between which of the three different types of followers you want to send out and give them specific commands. Types of followers and enemies are signified by primary colors, with a simple rock-paper-scissors dynamic for what to use when. The different commands you can use vary between melee orders, ranged bow and arrows, and manning a catapult.
Once an order is chosen you drag your finger along the tough screen to choose where to deploy your troops. Longer swipes mean sending out more soldiers, so you have to be measured about how you do it. The rhythm part comes in because every level has a soundtrack and if you can time your menu choices with the tapping of the music you'll increase your followers. In fact, this is the only way I saw to increase you followers, so if you want to get through anything beyond the most basic of levels you're going to have to get your groove on.
Playing through the game gives you skill-ups to increase your attributes so that you won't have to depend solely on your musical talent. Replay value comes with each level's enemy numbers and placement being randomized, so no two levels should be entirely alike, but Orgarhythm goes one step further because the game remembers what you've seen and specifically tries to ensure you won't experience it again. If you have a friend who wants to join in the action you can play with two Gods at once.
Orgarhythm certainly won't be for everyone, but I think it'll be interesting for a certain sect of people that want another Patapon-like game with an added layer of strategy. Xseed is currently looking at an August release for Orgarhythm, but that's not entirely nailed down, so if this sounds like a good time to you make sure to keep your ear to the ground. Maybe you'll even hear the rhythmic marching of the Gods.
