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Wooooo pretty colors! Yes I realize that there will be some element of the gaming community who will choose to engage in a debate between GW:RE2 vs. your local planetarium showing of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and which is more, 'trippy'. However, those indulging in such discussion at 2am in the common area of their residence hall are missing out.
This 2-D shooter is nothing to pass over so don't you pass over either. So, wiggle those thumbsticks, make a wish, and we'll explore this techno-fueled, color filled, HD battlefield.
Hit the jump for our full review.
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is the sequel to the fantastic original XBL game from 2005. I'm not sure what all these polygons are fighting about but it sure is pretty to look at. Bizzare Creations has really demonstrated a high level of quality design for the sequel.
There are six distinct game modes to choose from. Only one is open to start, the other 5 must be unlocked. I was very pleasantly surprised by the true variety of the game modes. Rather than rely on different types of power ups, a no bombs mode or other such tweak, each mode is distinct in its playstyle and tactics.
The common thread is of course generating obscenely high scores deftly maneuvering your tiny craft in and out of certain death. This is accomplished by destroying your enemies and then passing through their dust cloud collecting tiny 'Geoms' which increases your multiplier. The longer you live the tougher it gets, the tougher it gets the more geoms you can collect. It's a vicious cycle I know but also horribly addictive.
Graphically, the game is superbly designed. The vibrant colors and layered backgrounds give depth to the 2-D field. The scatter effects from explosions are brilliant and will cloud your view without totally blocking you out. Its not long though before the screen becomes overloaded with geometric baddies. These large groupings produce fantasic explosions with cool warping effects on the grid.
Gameplay is extremely simple, manuever with one thumbstick, fire omni-directionally with the other, use a trigger for bombs. This simple mechanic coupled with varied game modes makes for a challenging experience that is difficult to put down. This is made even more difficult with the achievements available. Some are easily gained, others are just crazy. You will try though, I promise.
The difficulty level is progressive based upon how long you live. So beginners will enjoy it as much as any hardened gamer. Co-op and multiplayer are available and in the mode selection screen you can see your rank amongst all your friends. This adds even more depth to what first appears to be a fun little XBL shooter.
Being a tad picky I felt that the screen clears too quickly when the game is over, there are times when I can't see what level my multiplier has reached. While the game focuses on high score there are some modes, particularly Waves and Pacifism that rely more on the collection of geoms, thus affecting the high score. The game also promises a vibrant soundtrack which is true, the techno beats are great, however there is only one song per game mode and any song, no matter how awesome, can get stale after a while.
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is a superb example of what the XBL arcade should have and also why someone should purchase a 360 at all. The 800 points you absolutely should spend on this game is cheap and you will be getting a steal of a deal. Superb gameplay, awesome graphics, varied game modes, multiplayer and huge value makes this a must buy.
Final Score: A
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