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'explosive return?'
 Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Activision
Price: 800 MS Points
Category: Shoot 'em up
Multiplayer: Local only
Official Site
Platform: X-Box 360
Might look like: Geometry Wars Evolved
Date posted: 29 August 2008
Written By: Kieran
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Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2
The much awaited sequel to one of the best selling XBLA games is finally here. Can "Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2" improve on the success of the previous instalment?
Explosive Gameplay?
he game is split up into 6 different gametypes and although they're all different they still have the basic gameplay in mind.
Deadline: This gametype has the player amass as many points as they can within a set time limit. The game plays similarly to Evolved but it essentially has a time limit
King: The arena has circles dotted around the place. The player needs to get inside these circles and from then on can fire at the enemies. The enemies gradually get greater in force and the circles only last a few seconds. Once a circle has disappeared a new one reappears so you have to swoon your way from circle to circle.
Evolved: The classic gametype returns and is very similar to its predecessor. The main differences are that you can only get a 4 lives and bombs at one given time. Apart from that it is a standard shoot out where the player needs to kill as many enemies as possible. No time limits simply run and gun until you lose all your lives.
  
Pacifism: This is a different take on Geo Wars. Your weapons have been deactivated; you only have 1 life and no bombs. Basic enemies spawn around the screen and to gain points you have to pilot your way through ever spawning gates. Gates are the new enemy in Geo Wars 2, when you fly through the gate anything within a small radius gets destroyed.
Waves: Players of 'Project Gotham Racing 4' will be familiar with this gametype. The game spawns waves of enemies in single lines. These can only parade in two directions, either left to right or top to bottom. The game gets progressively difficult when numbers of waves appear covering the entirety of the screen.
Sequence: This gametype offers a series of different scenarios in which the player has to battle through. There are 15 different levels, each varying in difficulty. Some of the earlier sections are bearable but the later patterns cover the screen and bombs will be needed.
Graphics & Sound
Geometry Wars is renowned for its explosive graphics and face melting array of colour. Geo Wars 2 is no different. The game has excelled graphically and although the first was very nice looking this sequel steps all over it. The game has been given a new HD edge to it and now has sharp edges, vibrant colours and a lot happening on screen at once.
The classic enemies return, some with new face lifts and all of them move in a new way. The enemies flutter around the screen with a false illusion of 3D meaning that the enemies seem to move in and out of the background.
As this game isn't aiming to be the most graphically intense game out there, what it does achieve is one of the best graphical experiences you can get from this type of game.
 
The game spans across 6 different gametypes and each have their own soundtrack. The soundtrack from original returns and has been improved with more volume. The music throughout the game gels perfectly with the gameplay.
The futuristic jingles fit the bill perfectly and do offer relaxing moments for the chaos on screen.
The music also has an opposing effect which compliments the chaos, strange but liked.
Multiplayer
... is only offline available ! No Xbox Live support. A shame since it would be awesome to play Geo Wars 2 against friends and other people but developer Bizarre Creations only added an 'offline' option. Strange.
Conclusion
"Geometry Wars Retro Evoled 2" offers a lot of gameplay for the price. The online leader boards always add that extra incentive to beat your friends and the mass amount of gametypes will amuse players for a good while.
The graphics and sound are a huge improvement over the previous game and are great on their own.
"Geometry Wars Evolved 2" is a huge improvement on the previous game and I highly recommend the game to any fans of the XBLA.
-Kieran
Pros:
+ Good new modes
+ Big jump in presentation
+ Online leaderboard implementation
Cons:
- Multiplayer is offline only
- Very hard still
- Twice the price on GW1
 
 
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