Frequency (video game)
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- This article is about the video game. For the movie, see Frequency (film).
| Frequency | |
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| Developer(s) | Harmonix Music Systems |
| Designer(s) | Harmonix Music Systems |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release date | NA November 20, 2001 PAL June 28, 2002 |
| Genre(s) | Music |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ELSPA: 11+ ESRB: Everyone |
Frequency is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by SCEI. It was released in November 2001. A sequel titled Amplitude was released in 2003.
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[edit] Gameplay
In the game, a player portrays a virtual avatar called a "FreQ", and travels down an octagonal tunnel, with each wall containing a musical track. These tracks contain sequences of notes. As the player hits buttons corresponding to the note placement on the track, the "sonic energy" from within is released and the music plays. If the player plays two measures of the track without any errors, the track is "captured" and the music plays automatically until the next pre-determined section of the song.
Some tracks are bonus tracks and only open up when all notes are played, allowing the user to pick up "freestyle" points. Powerups are available which allow the immediate capturing of the track or the doubling of points. If a player continually misses notes, their energy meter reduces until the game is over.
High scores are achieved in the game by quickly moving from track to track, as they are completed, which increases a point multiplier. Tracks with more notes are worth more points, so choosing those over simple tracks is advantageous as well.
The game features 8 different 'arenas' that the player could attempt the song in. These arenas, as well as the tracks and notes, take on the appearance of Tron-style graphics, including limited video screens that would show the player's FreQ if the player was doing well, or static if the player was about to run out of power. Depending on the arena chosen, the track would curve and loop around indefinitely until the end of the song. One arena is noted for being a completely straight track, thus working well as a practice arena for some of the more difficult songs.
Frequency allowed players to create remixes of any of the songs in the game. While the player was limited to the instruments and structure of the song, the remix could include different melodies or beat lines, change in tempo, and modulation of the sound of an instrument. Remixes could then be saved and played as normal songs, though no high score records are kept for these.
Frequency was one of the first games to be supported by the PS2 Network Adapter, allowing for up to four players to play against each other as well as to trade their remixes. Online play was added with an online-capable demo version (4 songs), supplied with the network adapter. The original disk could also be swapped after loading the demo disk, allowing online play with all songs. Multiplayer mode has all players attempting to complete the song on the same track, allowing for players to fight for the highest score. New powerups only available in multiplayer mode are able to disrupt the performance of another player. However, Sony has shut down the matchmaking server for online play and has made no provisions for third-party replacements.[1]
[edit] Songs
Some of the songs are actually "in-house" productions by Kasson Crooker, who served as a musical director for the game and is also a member of the band Freezepop. Some of his aliases include: DJ HMX (HMX standing for Harmonix, the game's developer), Symbion Project, and Komputer Kontroller.
Here is a list of artists who perform in the game, with corresponding song title, in the order they are encountered:
- † - denotes an original track created specifically for Frequency
Stage 1
- Akrobatik - "Exterminator"
- No Doubt - "Ex-Girlfriend (Psycho Ex Remix)"
- The Crystal Method - "The Winner"
- Orbit - "XLR8R"
- Freezepop - "Science Genius Girl"
Stage 2
- Dub Pistols - "Official Chemical"
- Lo Fidelity Allstars - "Lo Fi's In Ibiza"
- Fear Factory - "Frequency"
- Paul Oakenfold - "See It"†
- Ethan Eves - "Selecta"†
Stage 3
- Powerman 5000 - "Danger is Go!"
- Orbital - "Funny Break (One Is Enough) - Weekend Raver's Mix"
- DJ Q-bert - "Cosmic Assassins"†
- BT - "Smartbomb"
- Curve - "Worst Mistake"†
Stage 4 (Not available in Easy Mode)
- Jungle Brothers - "What's the Five 0"
- Funkstar De Luxe - "Ignition"
- Roni Size & Reprazent - "Railing Pt. 2"
- Meat Beat Manifesto - "Dynamite Fresh"
- Juno Reactor - "Higher Ground"†
Stage 5 (Only available in Hard Mode)
- Toni Trippi - "Motomatic"†
- DJ HMX - "Ibiza Dreamz" (vocals by Melissa Kaplan)†
- Symbion Project - "Funky Dope Maneuver"†
- Komputer Kontroller - "Control Your Body"
- Symbion Project - "FreQout"†
- Surgecore - "Luge Crash"†
- Robotkid vs Inter:sekt - "End Of Your World"†
It should be noted that while a song called "Cosmic Assassins" is featured on DJ Q-Bert's album Wave Twisters, it is not the same as the one featured in the game.
In the European version, there is one extra song on first stage, called "Reeload - Why".[2]
[edit] Trivia
- The Crystal Method, BT, Akrobatik, Chris Child (of Surgecore), Melissa Kaplan, Freezepop, DJ HMX, Symbion Project and Komputer Kontroller would all be featured in the game's sequel, Amplitude.
- Frequency was the first of many video games to feature music from the band Freezepop. Most of these games were developed by Harmonix Music Systems including Frequency's sequels Amplitude, Karaoke Revolution, Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II and Rock Band.
- Two songs have recently been discovered by a Freq.com user, that were fully completed but removed from the game early on. They are BT's Godspeed and Scratchotronic by Kareem Caines. Godspeed is completed and fully playable utilizing work arounds.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Official websites
- Harmonix Music, Developer
- Symbion Project, Performer
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