Today's iPod-rocking video: Phase trailer

by Zack Stern { Nov 8th 2007 at 1:00AM }

MTV Games continues to publish new music titles in its $500 million spree, with the latest Harmonix development, Phase. The original Phase news reminded some of us too much of (non) game, Musika to buy. But this video clearly shows simple pattern-matching gameplay that may rock pockets better than the portable Guitar Hero.

Check out the video, and contemplate your purchase after the break.

Tags: apple, commercial, harmonix, hottest-video, hottestvideo, ipod, itunes, mtv, mtv-games, mtvgames, music, phase, portable, rhythm, trailer, video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ThornedVenom @ Nov 8th 2007 1:37AM

Looks awesome for iPod! But how does the three button-scheme work? I thought there was one center button on an iPod.

DarkTetsuya @ Nov 8th 2007 1:56AM

I'm guessing its sort of a mini-amplitude/frequency type game, where you'll aim the... thing with the wheel and catch notes with the button.

Zach S @ Nov 8th 2007 1:59AM

Just realized that this would be more helpful if it was tacked onto here:

You use the center button and the forward and backward buttons for the main gameplay and then you can get bonus "runs" using the wheel to follow streams on dots.

Zach S @ Nov 8th 2007 1:55AM

You use the center button and the forward and backward buttons for the main gameplay and then you can get bonus "runs" using the wheel to follow streams on dots.

I just downloaded it yesterday after hearing about it and I've spent a good amount of time playing it and I've gotta say, definitely worth the 5 bucks. It reminds me enough of GH and on top of that, you get to play with your own songs! The songs actually match up pretty well, depending on what songs you choose (some work perfectly, some can be a little weird with the beat, catching on things more in the background and occasionally on a vocal).

mrfong @ Nov 8th 2007 2:05AM

Evidently the harder the difficulty, the better it matches the beats up with the songs. This may be the first iPod game purchase for me.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Nov 8th 2007 2:10AM

yeah this looks like the one iPod game that actually looks like it's worth the money.

Zach S @ Nov 8th 2007 2:35AM

A) It is worth the moolah, definitely.

and

B) The game really is easier when you up the difficulty! It's weird, but like the easy setting leaves out too many pieces of the song, making it seem more off beat, while the other settings take more of the song into account, giving you more to match up with the beat.

Chris @ Nov 8th 2007 2:53AM

I have to admit, this game is awesome. First game I bought for the iPod and it really is a lot of fun. A lot like Tap Tap Revolution for the iPhone/iTouch but polished. Definitely worth the $5.

Kevlar @ Nov 8th 2007 3:23AM

I'd buy it instantly if I could access the United States iTunes store. The Canadian store lists the price as $5.99 instead of $4.99, when the CAD is valued at $1.06 USD.

But it's more than just a dollar difference.

The entire library of TV shows and movies that are available only on the US iTunes store make me want to scream with rage. It's not like these movies and shows are not available/banned in Canada. It's just that someone from Apple has decided not to take the steps necessary to make the content available in Canada. Same goes for the XBox Live Marketplace.

People wonder why piracy of movies and TV shows is higher in Canada? It's because the content is not made available here.

My decision is to not buy the game at $5.99 or even $4.99. Instead, I will download it for free from a legally questionable source, until some US Companies decide that there is a lucrative, and largely untapped market to the North.

Kevlar @ Nov 8th 2007 3:26AM

That is to say: Apple, Microsoft... GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!

B1gC72 @ Nov 8th 2007 4:23AM

its times like this that make me wish i had an iPod. i loved Frequency and playing that with my own music would be fantastic. for $5, this should be a must buy without me even playing it.

Oneiromancer @ Nov 8th 2007 8:08AM

This is indeed a great game, worth the $5, and the only game I've even considered buying for my iPod. Most songs I've tried on Hard difficulty are spot-on and fun to play..."And She Was" by Talking Heads was particularly excellent. My only complaint is that sometimes the graphics skip without a corresponding skip in the music, causing me to miss a note. It doesn't happen that often but it is annoying when it does.

Mike M. @ Nov 8th 2007 8:37AM

Picked this up yesterday. Anyone else out there feel that the beat is sometimes off? I've been using music from Beck and Radiohead, so when I get changes in rythym or beat pattern, it seems to screw up the game a bit.

whymog @ Nov 8th 2007 1:07PM

I've had some weird rhythm issues with songs like Electioneering, but I'm excited to try out 15 Step and Reckoner and see how well that fares.

WizarDru @ Nov 8th 2007 9:20AM

Bought it this morning. It's a BARGAIN at 5$. Not only is it really very fun (and a good use of the iPod's controls)...it comes with it's own soundtrack of 6 songs from some of Harmonix's bands that you've heard in Guitar Hero I/II, like FreezePop.

Highly Recommended.

whymog @ Nov 8th 2007 1:06PM

It's got an amazing presentation and overall quality that I didn't expect from a $5 game. But seriously - import any song? Save and exit a song at any point? Adjust volume within the game? Lots of little touches that really make the product stand out.

And it's worth it just for the Freezepop and Bang Camaro songs. But being able to play Iron Maiden's Run to the Hills in anticipation of Rock Band is effing amazing in its own right.