Thumper (video game)

Thumper
Developer(s) Drool
Programmer(s) Marc Flury
Artist(s) Brian Gibson
Composer(s) Brian Gibson
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 4
PlayStation VR
Nintendo Switch
Xbox One
Release

Windows, PS4, PS VR

  • WW: October 10, 2016

Nintendo Switch

  • WW: May 18, 2017

Xbox One

  • WW: 2017
Genre(s) Rhythm, Horror
Mode(s) Single-player

Thumper is a "rhythm violence" game developed by Drool and released in October 2016 on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4, with optional virtual reality (VR) support for the Oculus and PlayStation VR headsets, and on the Nintendo Switch in May 2017 with a version on Xbox One planned for release later in 2017. The game was shown at the Experimental Game Workshop during the 2015 Game Developers Conference.

Gameplay

The objective of Thumper is to guide a space beetle along a single track through a series of fantastic worlds.[1] The player must press a button to hit lit "notes" on the track in time with the background music, while also bracing against obstacles, turning against curved walls, jumping over spikes, and defeating enemies. The game is played in a third-person point of view just behind the beetle, which enhances the extremely fast scrolling speed of the level's obstacles.

Each level is broken up into segments. After each segment, the player is given a score and a rating showing how well they did. The beetle can sustain one hit (a missed turn or crashing into an obstacle), and at certain places it can regain its shield if it is lost. However, taking a second hit without its wing-shield in place will destroy it, and the level starts over at the last checkpoint. The player can repeat the segment as many times as is necessary to beat the level.

Development

Marc Flury presents on the game's development at the 2017 Game Developers Conference

Thumper was developed by the two-man team of Drool, consisting of Marc Flury, the primary programmer and developer of the game, and Brian Gibson, the bassist for Lightning Bolt and who composed the music for the game.[2]

The game was released for the Nintendo Switch on May 18, 2017.[2]

A version for the Xbox One was announced on March 9, 2017 and is currently in development.[3]

Reception

Thumper has been a critical success, with PC Gamer heralding it "one of the best rhythm games ever made"[4] and a Metacritic score of 84 (PS4), 85 (PC) and 87 (NS). Chloi Rad of IGN wrote that "Thumper's trippy sights, sounds, and intense rhythm action create a terrifying VR experience I won't soon forget."[5]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, John (2015-03-09). "How Thumper Made A Lot Of People Very Uncomfortable". Rock Paper Shotgun.
  2. 1 2 Diver, Mike (May 18, 2017). "Prepare for Sweaty Palms Now ‘Thumper’ Is on the Nintendo Switch". Vice. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  3. ↑ Flury, Marc. "Thumper’s Blend of Rhythm Violence is Coming to Xbox One This Spring". Xbox Wire. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Why Thumper is one of the best rhythm games ever made". pcgamer. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  5. ↑ Rad, Chloi (2016-10-05). "Thumper Review". IGN. Retrieved 2017-02-09.


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