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Before we get anywhere with this review, please remember this is Geometry Wars. It won’t win awards for its depth, its graphical prowess or even ‘standard definitions’ of longevity. It’s a 2D (almost wireframe) arcade shoot-em-up set in space. It grants you control of a ship (not much different than the original Asteroids spaceship) and sends increasingly larger waves of enemies at you. Your job is to destroy them, survive as long as possible and rack up the points in the process. It’s a concept that tracks back to the beginning of time so it won’t win prizes for innovation. Despite its simplicity and age-old gameplay, the developer’s execution of the formula is terrific and on the Nintendo DS (the format reviewed) it’s suited to the on-the-go nature of the platform. Regardless of this does Geometry Wars: Galaxies make the jump to light speed or does it burn up in re-entry.

Please note that all comments referring to this review are purely centred on the DS version. The most obvious place to start is controls and how the game uses the DS’s touch screen to convey the game’s gameplay. There are various combinations on offer and the game can be played left of right handed. If you choose to keep movement non-stylus related then you’ll move with the D-Pad (for right handed people) or the ABXY buttons (if you’re left handed). To shoot, you simply point the stylus in the desired direction. There is the option to switch the controls on its head and map the movement to the touch screen and use the buttons for firing direction but it’s a bit more finicky. On top of that you can display the action on either screen but it works best with it on the top screen as your fingers will otherwise block enemies. Stylus controls are responsive and accurate and you’ll soon be dodging, ducking and weaving through space while taking down the swarms of enemies.

While we’re on the subject of enemies some old friends return as well as some new ones. There are ten ‘classic’ enemies from the Wanderer (which just floats about randomly), the Grunt (who chases you around the level) or the Snake (which weaves about sporadically). In addition to that are fourteen new enemies ranging from the ‘Dart’ to the ‘Meteor.’ They’re all coloured accordingly and shaped differently so you’ll instantly know what they are and what behaviour they have. The levels are also a varied bunch. There are the simple squares or diamond shaped levels but also complex shapes with moving obstacles. Each level is a planet and has a different ‘spawning pattern.’ There are ‘x’ amounts of planets in a system and you unlock systems / planets with Geoms, Galaxies currency. You gain Geoms by gaining a medal or just by defeating enemies.

You’re definitely kitted out to dispose of those pesky shapes. You’re ship has 3 lives and 3 bombs (which clear the screen of enemies.) and it’s possible to gain more if you’re doing particularly well (apart from the levels where you only have one life). Additionally is the fact that your ship has a ‘drone’ that follows you around. The drone has specific behaviours; attack, defend, decoy, snipe, etc. These can be unlocked for a price and level up accordingly. For instance, Attack fires off rounds in the same direction you are while Defend does the same in the opposite. Turret periodically places a turret that fires in a circular manner for a set period of time. Each ‘drone’ has its benefits and faults and you’ll switch between them depending on the level and the enemy spawning patterns. Each level has a high score table and that can be sent online.

Aside from the main game mode; Galaxies, there is the ‘Retro Evolved’ game type which was seen on Xbox Live Arcade. It’s just one level and the waves of enemies gets stronger over time. The real fun begins when you choose to take the game online via Nintendo Wi-Fi. There is cooperative play and you’ll share the same lives, score and bombs as you attempt to stay alive. If that’s too ‘friendly’ then you can play competitively and have your own lives, bombs and score. If you want to go even further then you can play ‘Versus’ (exclusive to the DS Version) and one play spawns the waves of enemies while the other plays the game normally. Further life can be extracted if you also own the Wii version as a special Galaxy can be played when the two are linked.

Apart from the occasional slowdown when there are hundreds of enemies on screen, you can’t really fault the game. It’s a solid title and is suited perfectly to the DS. From the pumping, eerie futuristic music to the simplistic, yet effective graphics, it’s great. It’s a commuter title, ideal for a 30min train journey, but nothing more. It’s arcade gaming at its best and translates to the DS perfectly. It won’t wow or amaze you but it was never intended to. This is what the DS was built for and it’s fun throughout. The gameplay is the same but never monotonous, and it’s very addictive one you get going.

Score: 8/10

Geometry Wars: Galaxies is also out on Nintendo Wii.

Now here’s a title likely to polarise opinion. Most Xbox gamers should be aware of the existence of Geometry Wars, either as a Project Gotham mini-game or a Live Arcade download, and now Nintendo get a go courtesy of both the DS and Wii iterations. Wii players are treated to the original ‘Retro Evolved’ version of the game, as well as the more substantial ‘Galaxies’ mode, introducing point accumulation, unlockable modes and levels and more traditional game progression. As a throw-in on Xbox, Geometry Wars saw moderate success (and a spell as the most downloaded Live Arcade title), but is there enough meat on its stylishly rendered bones to warrant a full release?

For those yet to sample Geometry Wars’ delights, a brief overview of the gameplay; Buzz around within a variety of arenas, shoot ever increasing numbers of coloured shapes, survive for as long as possible and rack up as high a score as you can. Done. Each ‘baddie’ behaves in a different way, with spotting and exploiting the patterns forming a big part of the challenge. Black holes pop up and suck everything towards themselves, and enemies become more numerous and aggressive as you progress. The dozen or so enemy types from the original download version remain, and additional isometric shapes have been introduced to pester your ship and get blasted for their troubles (and points).

Whilst ‘Retro Evolved’ is content to rely on the simplicity of its gameplay mechanics, ‘Galaxies’ introduces a few new ideas in an effort to eek out some longevity and variety. Your ship is accompanied by a drone which behaves differently depending on the mission you choose- attack, defend, collect, snipe, with more modes unlocked as your points tally grows. Points also let you unlock new galaxies, acting as a game hub for a series of missions (increasing in difficulty). So far, so predictable… Maps also get more complex, with blocks to deflect your shots and moving boxes to get in your way, but the crux of the game (survive, score points) remains the same.

And that’s it. Arcade gaming, stripped back to coloured lines and a weird liquid grid thing. Whether you’ll enjoy it past the initial novelty very much depends on your gaming preferences- the screenshots alone should pretty much make your mind up. The change from analogue sticks to Wiimote/nunchuck control (aim with the Wiimote, steer with the nunchuck) is fairly successful, but certainly not a revolution, and all that remains is the challenge to reach the pre-determined high scores to progress. 

The biggest problem facing Geometry Wars on the Wii is that of its chosen method of distribution. As a download it provides a brief arcade break between more substantial gaming exploits, but even with the addition of galaxies I would find it hard to justify spending £20-£25 on the game as a stand-alone title. For fans of this type of game willing to invest it provides some great gameplay and a stonking challenge, but it seems likely that the majority of gamers will favour more substantial titles at the asking price.

Verdict: Best suited to arcade fans with deep pockets and no access to an Xbox…

Score: 7/10

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