Game Name: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Series Number: Game 2
Developer: Bizarre Creations®
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios®
Platforms: Windowx XP (STEAM), Windows Vista, Nintendo DX, Wii, xBox 360
Release Date: November 21, 2005
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Reviewed by: Scorpian
Official Metascore: XX/100Reviewer's Score: 99/100
Are you old school? Yeah? You like Asteroids? You do? Well, have I got the perfect game for you! Whether you like Asteroids or not, this game is the ultimate game! Picture the original Asteroids. Alright? Now, replace the asteroids with weird-ass shapes that do random things. Then, replace the ship with a cooler ship that fires beefed up shots. Finally, take the original graphics, and modernize them. That's Geometry Wars!
This game, originally available as an xBox 360 Arcade game, is now available to all Windows users via the STEAM content system. It sits at a whopping three dollars and fifty cents, at the moment. Expensive, eh? Well, it's well worth that "small fortune"!
You are a geometrical ship that's trapped in a gridded world. Your goal is to destroy as many enemies as you can before losing all of your lives. You earn points for each enemy you destroy. As you destroy more, you will gain score multipliers, increasing the amount of points you can earn. You'll also get weapon upgrades, making it easier to destroy more enemies quicker! To aid your quest, you have been given 3 bombs. These bombs will immediately destroy everything you can see on the screen. Use them in emergencies only, though. Although you can earn more, it's easy to go through them quickly. You also won't earn points for enemies destroyed with them.
You face several different enemies throughout the game. Each of them have different abilities. They also make different noises when they spawn. Remember: sometimes, they'll spawn as one. Other times, they'll spawn in massive packs. This game can get pretty intense. It'll keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. But... how? Well, here's how:
Gameplay: 40/40You couldn't improve it if you tried. You have three lives, and can earn more as you get more points. You even get a temporary shield, protecting you from sudden spawned enemies. My only problem is how intense this game can get. Bizarre solved that, though. As I said before, you get bombs. These immediately clear those intense situations, allowing you to regain your focus, quickly. It's also possible to earn more of these. They will last you.
The enemies chosen for this game were also well designed. Some of them just move in random directions. Some charge at you quickly. some break up into smaller ones. Some of them... are just plain strange. Regardless, it's a good set. When big packs of them spawn, it becomes very easy to avoid them and gain massive points. What looks hard is actually very easy as you progress. Kudos Bizarre!
Level & Character Design: 30/30Only one word can describe it: INSANE! The graphics in this game are just nuts! The grid behind you gets distorted as enemies destroy, yet always works itself back. Speaking of which, when enemies are destroyed, they are annihilated! They get blown into a pretty little fireworks show that is perfect for those of us who are easily amused!
As for the "characters", Geometry Wars was a good name. Your "characters" include: A white shape (your ship), a cyan diamod, a magenta pinwheel, a green square, a tiny blue triangle, a pink diamond, a red claw, and a purple snake-like thing. You also have your red circles, which are just fun! Shoot them once, and they become a black hole. They'll then suck in any enemies nearby. You'll then get the points for those enemies when you destroy it. BE CAREFUL, THOUGH! Not only can they suck you in, they can grow. When they get too big, they'll combust, producing several little blue circles which come charging at you from everywhere. Those are VERY hard to avoid. Watch yourself.
Controls: 14/15The xBox version features the ability to use the sticks. Other versions (like the one I have) don't. You basically only need two control sets. One controls the direction of the ship, and the other controls your guns. In the PC versions, you can use the W A S & D keys to move, and either the arrow keys or the mouse to shoot. It's a good scheme, but kind of hard to get used to. I'm still not quite used to it. That's my only problem with this game.
Scoring & Other Options: 15/15The scoring system is pretty good. You start out with 10 slots filled with the multiples from 10K to 100K (10,000, 20,000, 30,000, etc.). The high score is set at 100,000 by default. This takes some practice, but eventually gets pretty easy to break. Other reviews criticize this game for not having a universal online scoring system. I don't, though. I chose to rate what the game ACTUALLY HAD, instead of what it didn't have...
The other options allow you to choose your resolution, as well as the quality of other areas. This makes it easier to enjoy the advanced graphics, even if your machine isn't strong in that area.
Final Score: 99/100This game is a MUST BUY! I don't care if you're on the verge of bankruptcy. Dish out some cash, and buy it! You will entertain yourself for hours with this game. It may be cheesier than a box of Velveeta, but heck, isn't that the type of game we all long for in the first place?
