XG Blast! (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

You'd imagine with the number of genres available to developers that they'd maybe focus on games types that remain untapped. Unfortunately 'safe' is the name of the game which is one of the reason the DS is saturated with racers, TV and movie tie-ins and puzzlers. There was even an article in a recent UK trade paper suggesting that original IPs won't even be considered until the current 'down-turn' shows some signs of recovery. While we can accept all that, XG Blast does appear (from the screenshots at least) to be a clone of last year's incredible Geometry Wars but can it better the Bizarre Creations classic?

Gameplay

If you've encountered Geometry Wars before then you'll know exactly what to expect because XG Blast! borrows more than a little from the look and feel of its predecessor. You are charged with the task of flying your ship (the Aknathen) through a series of increasingly more difficult areas as wave after wave of intergalactic enemies attempt to get the better of you. The gameplay alters slightly with the introduction of bonus weapons scattered about the various levels, which generally improve your firepower. The real difference though is all in the title and by collecting the various power-ups (left by the enemy ships) you can engage the incredibly powerful XG Blast weapon. It goes without saying that this is significantly more powerful that the other weapons at your disposal and although it's only available as long as you have enough power it can be recharged at any time in the game. Because of this, it really is important just when you decide to use it, which adds an element of strategy to the proceedings thus making the gameplay slightly less mindless.

In terms of replay value, there is a Survival Mode which encourages you to re-enter previously visited arenas to try to improve upon your high score and also a Multiplayer although this is only local and sadly not on-line.

Controls

The d-pad is used to control your ship's movement whilst the shoulder buttons take care of the mighty XG Blast weapon.

Graphics

Given the retro roots of this title the visuals are very basic indeed, effective but basic, although we are treated to some nice particle effects as ships explode out of the screen.

Sound

There is quite a low-key techno soundtrack that plays throughout the game but this fades into the background once you hear the incredible sound effects. These seem to increase the pace of the game and even have an effect on your own heart rate causing an incredible adrenaline rush.

Dual screen

In addition to selecting the odd on-screen option, this is how you actually shoot and placing your stylus on any area of the screen means you fire in that direction.

Final comments

You have to question the wisdom of releasing a title so similar to Geometry Wars so soon after the retro arcade classic made its appearance on the same platform. The only conceivable reason why you'd even attempt this is the belief that you had a superior product and while XG Blast! is many things it's simply not as entertaining as the title it tries so hard to emulate. It's challenging, entertaining and incredibly easy to pick up and play and had it been released two years earlier it would have scored much higher. Unfortunately, it wasn't and the result is something, which is not only not as balanced as Geometry Wars but also entirely unoriginal.

Pro: Very Challenging, Shallow Learning Curve
Con: Still Not as Good as Geometry Wars
Final score: 5.5

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