First Review: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved.
Ok I feel we should just get on with some reviews. So here's my first one. For Geometry Wars Retro Evolved. I've tried to keep it precise and there's a few screenshots as well. I'll try to work out how to link to this post from the original message. Feel free to add constructive criticism rather than pure negative comments please. If you think you can do better why not have a go.
Name of Game: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Game description: Arcade shooter
First impressions: A fast based vivid colourful space shooter that has you coming back for more.
Minimum specs:
• Windows XP/Vista
• Windows Experience Index: 4.0 (3.0 required)
• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) CPU
• 512MB RAM
• DirectX 9.0c
• DirectX Video Card (128MB memory - Shader Model 2.0 support required)
• DirectSound-compatible sound card
• 150MB free HD space
Main review:
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (GWRE) is 2D space shooter that plays at a frantic pace. The game has no plot, no characters and no need. It's a simple pick up and play game where your straight away in the heart of the action.
If you have not heard of GWRE then I’ll give you a little introduction. Geometry Wars first started life on the Xbox as a mini game for Project Gotham Racing 2. It did very well and was subsequently developed into GWRE. It was released initially on the XBOX Live Arcade in late 2005 before eventually finding its way onto the PC in March 2007.
History lesson over – on with the game. The game’s mission is simple: kill the bad guys. You orientate the small spaceship around the screen firing at the enemies. At the start each time you kill an enemy you get 100, 200 or 400 points depending on the type of enemy but as you go on the enemies are worth more and more in line with your multiplies that you gain from getting a certain amount of points. Your guns are automatically upgraded as well which keeps it fresh. So that’s probably about as complicated as it gets. You fly around shooting enemies down as they come at you in greater quantities as time progresses. You do have a few tricks up your sleeve though which are bombs. A bomb does what you would expect a bomb to do clear the screen of enemies. (Although why it doesn’t affect you is unclear) A bomb has to be used at a strategic point in the game play (most likely when you are being attacked by 360 enemies coming at you in 360 different directions. It keeps your multiplier up which is the annoying downside of dying.
The graphics are fresh vibrant and suit the game play well. The enemies are all different bright colours which become recognisable as the game goes on. You learn how each enemy behaves and you respond accordingly. The trance style music is repetitive although it wasn't noticable to me as I was found myself involved in the game too much to think how annoying the soundtrack was. (I guess this meant it wasn't annoying then!) The learning curve for GMRE isn’t huge and this I feel is necessary for a few reasons. Firstly the price point of this game ($3.99) will appeal to the more casual gamer but it doesn’t necessary eliminate itself from a more medium or hardcore gamer. Secondly it’s designed to be a fun game and it seems that games that have a steep learning curve eliminate fun from flourishing as well as putting a bit of a damper on things for first time players.
GMRE is accessible and the proof in the pudding for me was when my casual gamer girlfriend played on it for over an hour. She hadn’t discovered what the bomb button did but it still kept her coming back for more despite dying every minute or so. Bless.
GMRE does well what it intends to do. Provide a high quality pick up and play game to keep you entertained for a while before you get so frustrated you fell you will punch the screen in anger as you once again fail to beat your high score. For $3.99 you can’t go wrong especially with the XBOX 360 pad which is an absolute joy.
Final score: 79/100
