Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2

Posted 4 years ago By - Brian Edey

If there was one true original breakout hit for Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360 it has to be the original Geometry Wars from Bizarre Creations of PGR and Boom Boom Rocket fame. The game was an instant classic, hailed as one of the best games seen on the console and played by everyone it was only a matter of time before we saw a sequel.

Finally we have that sequel and it gives us a few more gameplay modes, some graphical tweaks, but the same great and revered gameplay we remember and loved in the original game. Not breaking the formula mode was a smart choice for Bizarre and they have another spectacular Xbox Live Arcade hit on their hands.


Gameplay
If you played Geometry Wars you already know how to play Geometry Wars 2, the gameplay formula has not changed from its dual stick origins and it did not need to. Moving your ship and firing in all directions is just as smooth and easy as it was in the original game and the few new gameplay additions to the core game such as moving through the gates are simple because as you play the actual game you are used to dodging everything on the screen.

GW2 gives us a few more gameplay modes to enjoy this time around beyond the basic original game and while they all play the same in some way, the modes are very different and each one offers a fun experience. But you do not start with all of the gameplay modes open for you to try, you must unlock each one in turn by completing a goal in the previous mode, but fear not this is far from a hard task and something most people will accomplish in under 1 hour of gaming.

Deadline, Evolved, King, Pacifism, Waves, and Sequence are the modes you will play and unlock in Geometry Wars 2, Evolved will be the most recognized mode to fans of the original Geometry Wars Retro Evolved as that mode has not changed. Deadline is the first new mode as you are given unlimited lives and a time limit to destroy as much as possible and get your score modifier up as high as possible, King is a weird but very fun mode where you have 1 life, no bombs and can only shoot in specific areas of the level and those disappear rather quickly forcing you to move and be vigilant, Pacifism was a mode I expected to loathe when I first read about it, but it has become one of my favorites because it is difficult but extremely fun as you have no weapons and one life and are forced to run through gates which destroy all enemies near the gate, but the gates can also hurt you, they move, enemies re-spawn quickly and everything moves fast. The last two modes are Waves and Sequence, Waves is exactly as it sounds with long waves of fighters spawning vertically or horizontally and moving across the screen, you must destroy them as quickly as possible as the frequency of the waves increases dramatically and in Sequence you must clear 20 levels of enemies, given only 30 seconds of time per level and if you die you are moved to the next level, this mode is fast and the most difficult mode in the whole game.

Multiplayer was thankfully added to Geometry Wars 2 since it was the one true mode we all wanted in the first game and when part 2 was announced with up to 4 players it was pure enjoyment all around for gamers, until we found out the gameplay was only off line multiplayer. The multiplayer side of things is fun, but I must say because there is no on line multiplayer it hurts this title, especially being on a console that has such a powerful on line multiplayer system.


Graphics
The first Geometry Wars had a simple graphics design and that added to its overall appeal for many gamers. Geometry Wars 2 keeps the same simple design but improves the overall effects and quality of the graphics in subtle ways with a better background, explosive effects and more. This is one game that fits into the mold of less is more and if there is a Geometry Wars 3 they should not change this winning graphical formula.

Audio
Following the tried and true path of less is more, Geometry Wars 2 uses basic sound effects and music to give you the best audio experience you can imagine in a game like this. No big musical scores or advanced out of place sound effects mar this title.


Value
Even though I sucked horribly at the first Geometry Wars, I played it to death. I am much better now or at least with Geometry Wars 2 and I can see this game being played for a very long time, even for just 20 minutes here and there, the addictive nature of the title is amazing.

Bottom Line
If you are a fan of fast action arcade games this is a must buy, but if your reflexes are slow try the demo and see how bad you fair before buying it.

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