Vib-Ribbon 1999

About

Vib-Ribbon is a rhythm game where the player must maneuver musically generated obstacles based on either the game's own soundtrack or a music CD of the player's choice. The player must avoid each obstacle by pressing the correct button at the right time - either L, R, X or down. In more complex tracks, obstacles are combined and the player must press the correct combination of buttons in order the avoid the obstacle. The game is loaded with six tracks to play by Japanese band Laugh and Peace. Additionally, the game's unique software means that the game is loaded into the console's RAM, allowing the player in insert their own music CDs, which generate a unique course for each track.

Story

The player controls Vibri, a vector drawn rabbit who skips along the music track's timeline. If obstacles are hit, Vibri will degenerate into a frog, then a worm before the player fails a level. Each time the player hits an obstacle, the level begins to shake incrementally until the character degenerates, making the course harder to navigate. Avoiding obstacles with precision will cause Vibri to evolve into an angel like state, which increases the player's score.

What is happening now

Vib-Ribbon is a rhythm game where players guide a ribbon-like creature through abstract musical landscapes, released for PlayStation in 1999. The game's minimalist aesthetic and unconventional design set it apart from traditional rhythm titles of its era. A recent oral history from the game's creative team sheds light on the development challenges behind this unique project. The developers have discussed the considerable obstacles they faced in getting the abstract concept greenlit and produced, revealing a process that required persistence against institutional resistance. Their account offers insight into how such an unconventional title made it to release despite the uphill battle to secure support for its experimental vision.