Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2

Developer: Bizarre Creations Ltd.
Publisher: Activision
Release Date (US): 7/30/2008
System(s): Xbox 360
Modes: Deadline, Pacifism, King, Evolved, Waves, Sequence
Rating: E (Everyone)

Geometry Wars 2 is the follow up to the smash hit Geometry Wars Retro Evolved, available for download at the Xbox Live Arcade/Marketplace for 800 MS Points ($10 US). I was sucked in when I played the first version of this game, which is actually a game type in the second iteration as "Evolved."

The look and graphics are about the same as the first one, except it is a bit harder to see your ship at times on this version than others. The fact that it has 6 game modes as well as multiplayer (up to 4 local only) improves upon the original version. Too bad there wasn't a discount for those that owned the first Geo Wars.

If you enjoyed the first Geo Wars, you should DEFINITELY purchase this game. Don't even bother with a trial, just buy it and download it! You will NOT regret it. I honestly feel like this review does not require a whole lot of opinion writing because it's one of those games you will either be sold or not by playing it first hand. It's a good thing XBLA allows for free demos of all their games! One main difference is you collect green shards of gems called "Geoms" that up your multiplier rather than just get a string of kills without dying.

I might as well quickly go over the game modes of GW2, with most of the games having just one life:

• Deadline - Infinite number of lives but only 3 minutes to get as many points as you can.
• King - You can only shoot when your ship is inside a protective circle or "field" that shrinks once you enter it.
• Pacifism - Your ship cannot shoot but can travel through gates that will cause an explosion and destroy nearby enemies. If you hit the gate on the sides/edge, you die.
  
• Evolved - Start with 3 lives and 3 bombs, it plays like the last Geo Wars except your multiplier does not reset to 0 when you die.
• Sequence
• Waves - My personal favorite, you have to watch out for "waves" or lines of enemies that move in straight lines back and forth or top to bottom repeatedly until they are destroyed.
  

The game also "knows" when you are attempting an achievement and will give you a status of how close you are to that achievement at the bottom of the screen. All of the game modes can be played single player or multiplayer, versus or co-op.

GREAT GAME! Go BUY IT TODAY if you haven't already!
9/10