Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved

"I've had it with these geometric snakes on this geometric plane!"

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved is a simple little game that is a revamp of a Project Gotham Racing 2 minigame. The premise isn't rocket science. You are a hexagonal ship flying around on a 2D plane (a la Asteroids) shooting down enemy shapes that spawn in semi-predictable patterns. At first sight, this game seems to be taken from the 70's, hardly worthy of a 2006 release date. Boring, right?

Wrong. This game is fast paced and exciting, and the easy-to-pick-up-yet-hard-to-master gameplay makes this a title for all sorts of gamers to pick up.

The controls are a bit different from most other shooters of this type, as the left thumbstick moves your ship around, while the right thumbstick allows you to shoot in any direction regardless of your ship's orientation. Either trigger will use one of a limited supply of bombs (more can be earned by accruing more points), instantly clearing the screen of all enemies. Intuitive enough... my nine year old sister could easily figure it out.

The enemies are fairly varied as well, and each has a distinct spawning sound and method of attack that the player will learn through experience. Enemies range from simple slow moving purple flowers that pose little threat to green squares that attempt to dodge player fire as they dive bomb the ship. There are red "black holes" that have a slight gravitational pull, and dangerously explode if it sucks in too many other shapes before being destroyed. Annoying snake shapes move around on the screen and can only be destroyed with a hit to the head (hence the title of this review), as well as a few more enemies. In conjunction, these guys provide a very challenging game experience that will leave players taking hours to attempt its harder achievements.

As if gameplay wasn't enough, the graphics and sound are surprisingly good, also. A looping techno track fits very well with the gameplay, and never gets boring. The playing field is a geometric coordinate plane that is warped and distorted as the player fires and black holes are spawned and destroyed. The shapes' looks and movements are simple enough, but their explosions are truly impressive. Once you have a hundred shapes spawning, being killed, and being sucked in by black holes, you have a blazing fireworks display, all in a 400 Microsoft Point box.

For anyone with a few bucks to spare, I instantly recommend this gem of an Xbox Live Arcade game. Its simple idea, yet challenging gameplay and brilliant graphics will keep you playing for hours on end to try and beat the high scores on the global XBL scoreboard or simply to gain a personal best. Very addicting gameplay, and a worthy revamp of a modern classic.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/02/07