Under the Radar
Geometry Wars Galaxies is yet another under-appreciated game for the Nintendo Wii's 3rd party. When Retro-Evolved first released, the top-down shooting experience was fun, but extremely shallow, even for the budget price of $5. The only objective on that single level was to achieve the highest score possible. Galaxies took Retro-Evolved and attempted to turn that simple demo into the full game it arguably deserved in the first place.
Geometry Wars Galaxies premise revolves around just that, Galaxies. Instead of the single level Retro-Evolved offered, Galaxies offers dozens, each with their own unique experience. It cannot be understated the difference a change of scenery can make to the longevity and enjoyment of a game, especially since Geometry Wars by design can get repetitive after awhile. Each of these levels also includes three medals of accomplishment, bronze, silver, and gold, giving the player some goals and organization beyond the endless gameplay of Retro-Evolved. Another feature of Galaxies includes several different upgradeable bots that patrol around your ship supplying much-needed support in many of the levels. There were some concerns about the controls, whether or not the Wii-mote and nunchuck combination was viable. And after playing with both the classic controller and Wii-mote, I definitely prefer the Wii-mote and have found it to be almost as responsive and precise as a mouse and keyboard. I wasn't however a big fan of the duel-joystick control, which I guess puts me in the minority.
In addition to Retro-Evolved being included with the game, Galaxies offers various multiplayer modes ranging from versus, to a full campaign with medal objectives. And since you can find the game for $20 now, its value is definitely intact. Check it out.
