Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved

 

The saving grace of GW:RE lies in its aesthetic appeal that tries to hide what is otherwise a fairly unremarkable title.

 

 

Developer: Bizarre Creations

Publisher: Activision

 Release date: November 22 2005

Platform(s): Xbox 360

Genre: Shoot ‘em up

 

 

Project Gotham Racing 2. Most Xbox owners will remember this game. Those same owners are likely to also remember that PGR2 featured a simple mini-game. And this is where Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved's origins lie. The game was originally little more than a small bonus to complement a more prominent game. Since that time, GW:RE has gone on to become a standalone XBLA title. But just how well does it fare when it is presented as a full game by itself?

GW:RE has no story to speak of, but rather presents the player with a sci-fi theme reflected by the presence of various, colourful geometric shapes, presumably representing spaceships. The goal of the game is simple – survive as long as possible against an unending onslaught of enemy ships and aim for the highest score attainable. In fact, 'simple' could sum up the entire game, from its presentation to the core gameplay.

Upon starting the game the player is given control of a spaceship capable of movement along a two-dimensional plane within a pre-defined area. As with all twin-stick shooters, the left stick controls the ship's movement while the right stick is used to determine the direction in which the player will fire. As enemies spawn in the game world, the player must navigate the field whilst simply destroying as many enemies as possible before they expend their pool of lives. The enemies themselves come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from bright blue rhombi that slowly pursue the player across the playing field, to orange, snake-like adversaries who attempt to swarm the player. Defeating enemies causes them to drop green items that can be collected to increase one's score by applying a score multiplier. Score enough points, and the player will receive additional lives and bombs. Earning enough points will also augment the player's firepower, making it that much easier to survive for longer.

Simplicity is the heart and soul of GW:RE, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. While the core gameplay is accessible enough for anyone to pick up within minutes of starting a game for the first time, the lack of anything more than the 'survival mode' type gameplay becomes detrimental to the overall experience. What you see is what you get – there are no additional game types, nor any local or online multiplayer to speak of. What at first might have come across as an easily accessible 'pick up and play' title quickly becomes repetitive and dull.

What GW:RE lacks in gameplay it makes up for in its visual presentation. It is impossible not to stare at the screen in awe as vibrantly coloured enemy ships encircle the player. And when the shooting starts, things get really hectic as explosions send ripples through the backgrounds, while the rest of the screen becomes a mixture of dazzling lights and luminescent shapes whirling about, chasing the player down. Although the game features only a single, techno BGM track, the music meshes wonderfully with the visual experience to create something that is truly a feast for the eyes.

It is a shame that GW:RE does not take the player's experience a step further by adding an additional layer of depth or two over the core gameplay to create what could easily have been a highly engrossing game. As it stands GW:RE is a game that hooks one's interest with the lure of mechanics at a pick up and play level, before dropping it again shortly afterwards by failing to provide an experience deep enough to sustain any form of long-lasting appeal.

 

 

Rating: 54/100