I have a tiny solar system in front of me. Or an atom. Or something like that. I can reach out, grab it and stretch it, its rings rotating around a small blue center. It’s a playful interaction that makes me feel like I control a universe. At one point I pull back the rings to perfectly align them flat in front of me and my galaxy pulls away from me, lingers in the air, and forms part of the logo you see for Polyphonia, a short, experiential piece for the HTC Vive.
It’s quite an impressive start and, though I didn’t see much more of it, this was one experience that has me intrigued for more.
Developed by Game Design and Development student Blaise Imiolczyk as a project for the UK’s National Film and Television School, Polyphonia will tell you the story of a universe through several unique stages in which you can grab objects, pull them over towards you, and change their shape and color whilst altering the music around you. I got to see the first of these stages in which I felt like the center of a galaxy myself, a series of planet-like orbs and other surreal artifacts circling around me.
The larger environment was a hazy mix of greens, purples and blues, laying on a thick psychedelic atmosphere as I used the Vive’s wands to select the planets that dangled around me and pull them in towards me. It was as if I was the god of this strange new reality, finding pure joy in toying with these strange objects.
One orb first looked like a planet engulfed in lava and crust. I reached into its core and pulled back to make small rocks form on its surface, and then used my other hand to turn the boiling orange streaks into more welcome shades of green. With another, I could create a pattern of triangular holes, or instead have those shapes protrude from the surface. As I messed around with each item, I could toss them back into the environment as I’d left them, creating a universe in my image.
What I appreciated about this wasn’t just how relaxing it all was, but how it’s soothing atmosphere was being delivered through a completely unique scene. I’ve sat on countless VR beaches and meadows, but here I was somewhere I’d never been before and couldn’t visit in the real world. Imiolczyk has used his imagination to realize something that’s far more engaging.
As I lose myself in this world, I eventually realize that I’ve also been surrounded by a series of smaller, brightly colored orbs that make noises upon impact. The in-game wands have two drumstick-like lines extending from the top of them, so I’m able to freely wave my arms around, creating as much noise as I want. It’s like my own 360 drum kit.
That said you aren’t making traditional sounds within this world. It’s a collection of synthesizers and moody hums that are tonally consistent with the experience’s atmosphere. I hope later levels will let us create different types of sounds, though.
It was a brief play session but I remember my time with Polyphonia’s first environment fondly. You’ll visit several such areas throughout your journey, and I’d want to see new levels add a little more variety to the experience, both mechanically and musically. Ideally, I’d also like to have the Vive controllers reskinned to mesh with the game’s art style a little better; right now they’re just the standard controllers floating around, reminding you that you’re wearing a headset.
I’m yet to really be impressed by the musical genre within VR, but Polyphonia invited a welcome sense of playfulness and experimentation that made me feel like I was creating my own existence. I don’t expect it to be the must-have experience for each and every Vive owner, but certainly serve as an interesting virtual destination for creative minds to spend some time.
We don’t yet know when Polyphonia will be releasing in full, but look for it to launch on the HTC Vive.
