Metronome preview

Invention and thinking outside of the box are, it seems, the rarest commodities in video games today. Having that definitive spark is one thing, but getting through the clutches of marketers and publishers is another matter. And for many promising projects this is where the metamorphosis from breakaway to throwaway takes place. Metronome promises - on paper at least - something a little more enticing than another FPS or racer. With the Xbox 360 (or whatever format it does arrive on) haemorrhaging with such generic offerings, Gamestyle is already interested.At its very core, Metronome is all about sound and few games have utilised this sense to its full potential. Guitar Hero delivers rhythm action solos, whilst Zelda: The Wind Waker had to make do without an audio input from the player to change the weather. The next step, as the Nintendo DS has shown (and to a lesser degree titles that utilised the PS2 and Xbox headsets), is to control and experience events through sound. Dolby Digital, DTS and other formats may improve the atmosphere and drama, but do not make for a game in themselves. We are recognisably still far from sitting back on the couch and directing onscreen events without a handset, but this may be a taster of what lies ahead.Metronome is not a new form of transport but a city, where every aspect of daily life is controlled by the Corporation. Harking back to the communist era, this conglomerate owns everything; from the land and buildings to the factories that employ the urban dwellers. Visually striking, the environments are reminiscent of the overlooked neo-noir film Dark City with unorthodox structures and shapes making up the gothic skyline.The city may serve a more sinister purpose, but as the inhabitants are so wrapped up in their daily chores, no-one stops to question their existance or the Corporation's purpose. The one who does seek answers to such mysteries is you. Through exploring the depths and outposts of Metronome, you aim to piece together clues that can answer just what the Corporation has planned for everyone.An interesting premise, backed up with strong design flair is something that Gamestyle does experience now and again. The differentiator is sound, as Metronome allows you to experiment with recordings. These can be used to pacify characters, fool pursuers, defeat opponents or open up new avenues of exploration. Rather than relying solely on a pre-recorded library of sounds, the developers want to encourage players to experiment with their own recordings - whatever may take your fancy, from recording an argument to smashing up something. And moving on, you can mix up such sounds with ingredients to create interesting results.For a title that is due for a "Summer" release this year, there is a surprisingly gaping chasm of information available. This suits Gamestyle, as we await Metronome with a degree of expectation. Yet the wait may be a little longer as, without a publisher, it's interesting to see some online retailers confidentthat it will reach us come June. No release date (hence we we've put next year for now), no publisher and no confirmed format. With all of this in mind, it's great to see the title has reached such an advanced stage without any outside meddling.