The 1991 Videogame inspired by rave culture.

Hex (feat. Coldcut) wrote the trippiest sounding game!   25-May-24

Being an avid retro-gamer, I often watch Kim Justice's Youtube channel. This week, she's released a video that details a rather interesting Amiga game from 1991 & I felt that there was enough crossover interest to write about it here.

The (frankly bizarre-looking) Top Banana was a product of the VJ group Hex, a 90's London-based multimedia group featuring Robert Pepperell, Miles Visman and the popular DJ duo Coldcut.

Working across a wide range of media - from computer games to art exhibitions - the group pioneered many new media hybrids, including live audiovisual jamming, computer-generated audio performances, and interactive collaborative instruments.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hex_(VJ_group)

Top Banana draws heavily on 90's rave culture - combining elements like sampling, psychedelia and a protagonist who is hellbent on spreading love - we've all met someone like that in a club, haven't we?

Yet despite the group's creative flair and innovation (the packaging was made from recycled cardboard, a first for the industry), Kim felt that the game was a stinker - including the soundtrack; which seemed to be designed around weird ambiances and the buzzer from catchphrase. Still, Top Banana makes for an interesting time capsule of early 90's experimental multimedia.

Posted by MagicalSynthAdventure an expert in synthesis technology from last Century and Amiga enthusiast.