Fez is an upcoming 2D and 3D PC Platform-Adventure game with a post-modern 8-bit style. The game is developed by independent game developer Kokoromi.
The unbelievably cute and cool character, Gomez, is 2D and the environment which you have to navigate can be twisted between 2D and 3D.
Fez - 2D and 3D PC Platformer Gameplay Screenshot 1
If all this doesn’t make complete sense to you, read on and then watch the Fez gameplay footage video from GDC 2008, and all will become clear. It may seem like any other platform game, but keep watching it to see the surprise innovation.
Nintendo’s Paper Mario used a similar 2D-to-3D game mechanic that enabled the player to change the world from 2D to 3D in order to solve certain puzzles or reach hidden areas and platforms.
Fez - 2D and 3D PC Platformer Gameplay Screenshot 2
At the 2008 Independent Games Festival, Fez was nominated for both the Design Innovation Award and the Excellence In Visual Arts.
Fez - 2D and 3D PC Platformer Gameplay Screenshot 3
Fez deservedly ended up winning the Innovation in Game Design award…
Fez - Picking up the Innovation in Game Design award at GDC 2008
The graphics are obviously going to be very appealing to a wide audience. It would be a smart move to try and get this on the Wii, or at least on the PSN or XBLA (or all!).
This nod to ‘old-fashioned’ 8-bit graphics (The good old days of the NES / Famicon) is a nice touch, especially whilst also maintaining clarity and a modern slick twist or two.
Fez - 2D and 3D PC Platformer Gameplay Screenshot 4
The music also obviously post-modernises the 8-bit era in cool, trippy, downtempo electonica.
Check out this video (below) of the music producer from Fez DJ-ing at a retro-themed videogame party in Tokyo called Fami-Mode.
You can read a load more information about Fez on the official Kokoromi blog.
Oh and here’s a photo of a toy version of the Fez character (who is called Gomez) which you can apparently buy for just $9.99USD from here.
Fez - Photo of a Handmade Stuffed Fez Character (Gomez) Toy Plushie
