GAME CLEAR No. 193 -- Vib-Ribbon

Vib-Ribbon (1999, PlayStation)

Developer: NanaOn-Sha, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Clear Version: PSOne Classics
Clear Platform: PS3
Clear Date: 9/19/24

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Why should I care?
Little Vibri will help you see the value of your compact disc collection once again.

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Run, rabbit, run

Vib-Ribbon is a game that is more or less impossible for me not to like because it looks like my website (on dark mode, at least).

If I had my way, Vibri (the little wireframe bunny there) would be running and jumping around all these posts.

That’s what she does in Vib-Ribbon, a brilliant little rhythm game for the plucky ol’ PS1, rambling along on the eponymous “ribbon” that forms the only terrain of her world. As she goes, she occasionally encounters obstacles, which appear in response to the music that is playing for the current stage. Press the button or buttons corresponding to that obstacle, and you’ll help her on her way. Mess it up, and she’ll take damage, eventually downsizing into a frog and a worm before failing the song completely.

Pretty standard rhythm game stuff! What sets Vib-Ribbon apart is its central gimmick, which is that the whole game can fit in the RAM of the PlayStation (owing to its simple visual design), so you can remove its disc and play any song from your personal CD collection, with the ribbon generating procedurally based on the sonic properties of your tunes. This is something we’ve seen since with games like Audiosurf, but if there was a game doing this before Vib-Ribbon, I certainly haven’t heard of it. Now, I will say its audio-analysis algorithm maybe isn’t the most sophisticated, but for the most part, the game’s obstacles and pacing do seem to align with the song that’s playing to a reasonably satisfying degree, especially when adjusting expectations appropriately for the 25-year-old game. Even setting that aside, I find the game to be maximally visually appealing, so playing a track here or there is fun for that component alone. Hell, you don’t even have to do that — the game includes what is effectively a visualizer mode in which Vibri plays through the entire album on her own.

You may want to take a break with the demo mode anyway because this game is tough. For busier and more up-tempo songs, you’ve really got stay on your toes to keep Vibri alive and handling those obstacles. It’s rewarding to master, but as with any rhythm game, sometimes it’s best to get up and walk away from a truly confounding number. You’re likely to find it easier upon your return, perhaps especially if you watch Vibri breeze through it on her own.

I’m inclined to say that’s all there is to this little game and to sign off with a ringing endorsement of its simplistic charms, but I would be remiss in failing to mention its excellent original soundtrack. Composed by J-Pop band Laugh and Peace, the handful of original tracks included on the Vib-Ribbon CD are nearly worth the price of admission alone. I had a blast playing through them after the tutorial and am sure I’ll return to them either in game or on YouTube. Really good stuff.

Okay, now that’s all from me. Play Vib-Ribbon. You can still grab it from the rickety old PS3 store for just a few bucks. Do so while you can.