Introduction
Tomato's wordimagesoundplay was released on March 17 but distributors were not privy to the product. After a few weeks, we were able to locate it at a small shop in Shibuya. Many employees in many shops, including chains, didn't even know it was released. The print run appears to have been very small and possibly under 5000 copies were published.
TOMATO
PRESS RELEASE
1 MARCH 04WISP is a collection of experiences for the PS2 console.
Human and strange. Animal and familiar. Happy and sad.
Music made from people. Stories crossing each other.
Japanese and English. Language and translation. Sound and shapes. Seeing stories and hearing tales. Films and pictures. Music and sound. There is gameplay on WISP, but there are no games There is no story that holds the whole thing together, but there are stories.
WISP isn't a music title but it's filled with music. Use PS2 to discover a different place. Tomato with audio and music composed by Underworld and Johnny Conquest commissioned by Sony Entertainment Japan. Release date (March 17th 04) (JAPAN) Tomato website
www.tomato-ps2.com
NCS Impressions
There are four types of "experiences" in wordimagesoundplay called "LatlongStories," "Miracles & Wonders," "Sleeping Eye," and "phonology." Somewhat similar to Rez, they're a fusion of graphics and music which may take a little while to get used to. We're not sure if we would label the DVD revolutionary but it's certainly interesting to watch, read, and ponder to search for some hidden meaning or perhaps inspiration. For importers, the game narration and in-game text is available in English as well as Japanese for pain-free reading comprehension. It might take a little bit to actually comprehend the convoluted prose that weaves though the experiences however. Fans of tomato and Underground will enjoy the new work but all others may just...not get it. Both meanings. View the back cover.
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