Shred Nebula

"Fun little game but don't expect a classic"

Ever since picking up Galaga Legions a few weeks ago I've been on a shoot'em up kick. It's a great genre, one I'm not perfect at but really it just requires the player to remember enemy placement and learn the quirks of the battle system. I came into some free MS Points and was going to blow them on a lame game I'd never buy and then I spotted this. Didn't really remember much about it and review sites gave it a moderate ratings so I figured why not.

The game won't win any awards but it's just really fun to play. It's a 3D playing field where you can move anywhere in the confines of the map. Enemies fly in and attack you and you need to go around and view destroyed ships, find crystals and other information to figure out where to warp to next. The game felt pretty long but I did go for all crystals which opens alternate jumps, otherwise you just need to hit all hot spots and collect enough energy to jump.

The controls are the only real problem with the game and even those aren't bad, just require some time to get the hang of. You shoot with the X button while the A button is a special attack. You move with the left stick while the left trigger is a gas of sorts to go around. Hitting RB will spin you around and it works like a reversal. Very useful and hard to get the hang of. other wise everything is explained and rarely used.

Graphically the game is pleasing enough. Enemies, while kind of generic, are easily seen. The space battlefields feel varied and the later stages look pretty cool. I had no problems seeing anything but at times the camera feels too zoomed in for the action.

The game claims it has 40 stages. I only encountered 25 or so and I hit all secrets ones. Granted I only played Adventure mode so the challenge mode, which just has you fighting ways may have 15 rounds itself but that doesn't seem all that likely.

There seems to be an endless amount of continues in adventure mode as well so it's not possible to fail really. In Challenge mode you get only so many lives, no continues but you do gain lives for points.

Multiplayer is also offered but it seems like no one bought the game, it's a few months old and I have never seen another person on. Otherwise I think it would be fun to have 8 player dogfights on-line but like most arcade games, no one wants to buy these. The achievements are fairly simple but time consuming.

I'd easily recommend this to anyone whose into the genre or just looking for a fun little title. Not go in expect Ikaruga but it's better than Aegis Wing (but hey, that was free). I doubt the game will get any more popular so just don't expect that Live play to flesh the game out for you.

Graphics - 8/10
Sound - 6/10
Control - 8/10
Game Play - 7/10
Replay Value - 4/10

Final Score - 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/27/09

Game Release: Shred Nebula (US, 09/03/08)