Ludography
Fluid cover

1996 · Opus · Rhythm

Fluid

PlayStation exclusive

A unique Interactive Sound Lab that enables you to compose infinite music sequences covering all genres of dance music. Navigate this incredible ambient world and access over 600 samples, an entire studio of audio effects, an 8-track mixing desk and an interactive light show. Control a dolphin as you move through serene underwater environments.

Released
6 December 1996
Platforms
PlayStationPlayStation 3PlayStation Portable
Genres
Rhythm
Developers
OpusOpus Corp
Publishers
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Third personAuditory
Themes
ActionFantasy
Age ratings
CERO AUSK 0ACB G
Languages
English, Japanese, French

About

Fluid (known in Japan as Depth) is a music video game developed by Opus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was initially released in Japan in December 1996 and in Europe in August 1998. The game's concept is an interactive sound lab which allows the player to create dance and electronic music.

Keywords

  • rhythm game
  • retroachievements

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player character, a dolphin, passes through several stages to unlock more sounds, including "Abyss Lair" and "Jungle Reef". Levels can be replayed and selected from the Silent Space, which contains twelve geometric shapes representing the levels "passed". The player starts in the first stage, "Peace," and continues through to "Abyss", and ten other levels. Each level contains its own sound set, which can be imported into other levels upon completion. The sounds can be utilized to create dance and electronic music in the "Groove Editor".

The "Groove Editor" allows for in-depth manipulation of collected samples. Several tracks can be mixed at once, with speed, pitch, frequency, and modulation controlled by a series of coloured crystals. Mixes can be saved to a memory card and then played during levels. Controlling the dolphin allowed the player to add improvisations during playback sessions, with frequency mapped to the up/down controls and modulation to the left/ right controls.

Reception

Oli Yarwood of Eurogamer appreciated the game for its surreal nature and soundtrack, comparing it positively to Harmonix's Frequency and Amplitude (also published by Sony).

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
PlayStation6 December 1996Japan · Europe 1 August 1998
PlayStation 3Digital Compatibility Release28 June 2007Japan · Asia 4 September 2009
PlayStation PortableDigital Compatibility Release28 June 2007Japan · Asia 4 September 2009

Title IDsone per regional release, with its latest update

PlatformTitle IDRegionLatest update
PlayStationNPHI00013Asia—
SCED-01572Europe—
SCES-00985Europe—
SCES-01223Europe—
NPJI00023Japan—
SCPS-18003Japan—

Games like this

Collections3 collections

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.