Geometry was never this fun.
When you scan the Xbox Live Marketplace for a new game to kill some time, you aren't looking for a particularly deep or big-budget Hollywood action game. No, you're looking for a game that may keep your attention for a few hours; a game that epitomizes mindless action with a pinch of retro flare. That's why Geometry Wars 2 is so special; it gives you fast paced action and flashy graphics that, albeit modern, have a subtle retro feel to them, but it provides a bit more as well. For something available on the XBLM, Geometry Wars 2 gives you addictive game play which entices you to play it again and again, and revives the good old days of when high scores felt like they mattered. Whether you enjoy it alone or with a few friends, Geometry Wars 2 provides one of the funnest arcade experiences you'll ever have.
And that is not said in a patronizing way. Geometry Wars 2's game play tugs at you and keeps you playing much longer than a lot of full priced games would. Geometry Wars 2 improves on its predecessor by offering five brand new game modes to test your shape-shooting skills, and also replaces the weapon enhancements found in the first game with "geoms." Geoms are collectible power-ups which multiply your score as you annihilate heaps of polygons, and are definitely a welcome replacement as they give you a little more incentive to get a higher score.
Evolved is the most basic mode in Geometry Wars 2, and is fairly similar to the first Geometry Wars' core game play. However, many new enemies have been added to this and all modes, effectively destroying the repetition employed in the first Geometry Wars and adding some new challenges. An example of one of these enemies can also be considered a friend; a barbel looking object which, when destroyed by gliding through it, destroys other shapes around you, but also has deadly orange bumpers on the sides which you need to stay away from.
Deadline and King is where things get a little more interesting. While both of these modes encompass the same "shoot and survive" goal that Evolved has, the objectives of each are a little different. The goal in Deadline is to rack up your score as high as you can in a three minute time frame, and unlike any other modes, dying does not mean game over. While the challenge here is kill anything and everything, King mode makes you move from bubble to bubble to shoot enemies, allowing you to shoot only when you're inside said bubbles. The bubbles dissipate after you're inside them for about five seconds, so the goal here is to get to a new bubble and kill everything around you ASAP.
If Deadline and King are not your cup of tea, Pacifism is sure to please. Being the most original of all modes in Geometry Wars 2, Pacifism disables the shooting mechanic and forces you to use knee-jerk maneuvering in order to hold your own on the grid. The objective is to herd as many polygons as you can and, using the barbel objects as aforementioned, destroy them all and rack up your score. If you aren't devoting your full attention to the game, chances are you will quickly become overwhelmed with barbels and polygons and plummet to your neon demise.
Waves and Sequence are the last modes in Geometry Wars 2, and are undoubtedly the most difficult. Waves batters you with lines of triangular polygons and, while dangling on the edge of survival, you must hurriedly tear through these waves in order to keep alive. The waves will often intersect each other, and the fact that their spawn rate increases as the game goes on makes it one of the most punishable modes. In Sequence, you must shoot all the enemies in each stage to migrate to the next one, with a thirty second time limit per stage. The stages get extremely tough as you progress, heightening the frantic action which Geometry Wars 2 is known for.
Each mode has a unique secondary goal which, if fulfilled, grants you some achievement points. For example, Pacifism challenges you to surf along the edge of the grid, called "Wax On," all the way around (which is harder than it sounds). Obviously, these achievements are not mandatory, nor do they contribute to your game score, but are a nice little addition if you're worn out from playing a particular mode.
The multi player modes in Geometry Wars 2 are, perhaps, the weakest aspects of the game, since they only support local play. You can play each mode with up to four players, and you can either compete in teams of two or do a free-for-all. Alternatively, you can just do co-op. Albeit the direct multi player is a bit of a disappointment, you'll find that your thirst for competition will be quenched via online leader boards by playing single player.
Geometry Wars 2 improves on the sound and graphics of its predecessor quite substantially. The music correlates with the game play in each mode, which makes it feel like a rhythm game at times. In King mode, the music changes to a dull beat whenever you're inside a bubble, making you feel like you're actually insulated, and in turn enhances the tactility of the experience. The visuals are a little flashier this time around, and while they can periodically get too flashy for their own good, it adds to the franticness of the game and makes the screen really pretty at times.
As aforementioned, most games on the XBLM are, let's be honest, shallow games simply meant to make gamers pull out their wallets. But Geometry Wars 2 dispels this notion due to its sheer variety and engrossing game play which puts some full priced games to shame. Even after getting the high score you're aiming for, it will always make you return for another sabbatical. While the exclusion of online play is disappointing, Geometry Wars 2 is an excellent sequel and stand alone game, and every Xbox 360 owner should give it a whirl.
