Games

Best of 2009 | 08 |07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

8.7 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 26 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 29 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Bizarre Creations

Developer: Bizarre Creations

Genre(s): Shooter

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 22, 2005

Summary

[Xbox Live Arcade] Return to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, where hordes of evil, neon shapes await. The circles, squares, and diamonds are out to get you in Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. Green squares evade your fire; purple ones divide into smaller clones. Snake-like lines leave behind a venomous trail, and red circles morph into black holes. Conserve your bombs—they destroy all enemies, but quantities are limited. Geometry Wars became an instant classic when it first appeared in "Project Gotham Racing 2." This exclusive Xbox Live Arcade sequel gives you both the original Retro version and a new Evolved mode, which combines modern graphics with old-school fun. [Xbox.com]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Detroit Free Press

The game is a total rush; nimble twitch skills and quick thinking are the only ways to escape a speedy demise. This one's a no-brainer for quick fun everyone will enjoy.

Read Full Review >

100

Games Radar (in-house)

And despite its difficulty, the game constantly lures you back, persuading you that this time, you've got it figured out; this time, the high score is yours. But "this time" becomes "next time," and after several lost hours, you realize that this humble $5 downloadable might just be the best experience you've had with your Xbox 360.

Read Full Review >

100

AceGamez

The best five dollar investment that I've ever made. Much like Tetris, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved's gameplay is easy to pick up but can take a lifetime to master.

Read Full Review >

Gamer 2.0

It’s a visually stunning, techno music fueled, old school arcade game mixed with new school gameplay.

Read Full Review >

Kombo

For this gamer, it has taken valuable time away from some full-featured titles, not to mention the rest of the Xbox Live Arcade lineup.

Read Full Review >

GamerFeed

With both simple controls and simple gameplay, Geometry Wars is unsurprisingly easy to pick up and play. Because of this, it's also incredibly addictive, the simplicity of the whole ordeal fueling a mindset of "just one more game, I can do better this time."

Read Full Review >

Xboxic

This is definitely one of the best XBLA games available, it’s got addictive gameplay, cute graphics and great price point make it well worth the money.

Read Full Review >

Game Chronicles

While Geometry Wars isn’t a classic game in the strictest sense of the word, it does in many ways borrow the idea of classic fun. Give it a try, the game is a blast to play, not to mention very addictive.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

One of the best buys on Xbox Live Arcade, even comes with a copy of the PGR2-vintage Geometry Wars (complete with its own leaderboards), and - for the cynics - offers one of the most decisive demo versions, too.

Read Full Review >

Gamestyle

A solid test of the player's reflexes mixed with eye-melting visuals make this a title worth more than its weight in Marketplace points.

Read Full Review >

X360 Magazine UK

This looks awesome enough to make your eyes bleed with joy. [Issue#5, p.120]

AtomicGamer

Geometry Wars started out as a bonus mini-game inside Bizarre Creations' last flagship title Project Gotham Racing 2 - and while this new version has much improved graphics, you can still play the classic version as well.

Read Full Review >

PALGN

One of the few "must haves" off the XBLA.

Read Full Review >

Official Xbox Magazine

The concept is incredibly simple--Asteroids on crack, essentially--and there's not much strategy beyond "don't die," but Geometry Wars still has the ability to put its hooks into you and not let go. [Jun 2006, p.61]

Gaming Target

It’s funny how a five-dollar (more or less) game comes along and shows how simple games can still offer great gameplay, slick presentation, and long-lasting value. You really can’t go wrong with Geometry Wars.

Read Full Review >

XGP Gaming

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved is easy to get into, fun, exciting, challenging and downright addictive.

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

A refreshingly simple, addictive experience that combines appealing graphics and frantic gameplay.

Read Full Review >

TeamXbox

Certainly more of a twitch/action game than the likes of Tetris or Lumines, Geometry Wars is hard to put down.

Read Full Review >

GameBrink

While Geometry Wars is simple in nature, it’s definitely a well thought out and executed puzzle shooter that fans of Asteroids and other 80s classics will enjoy.

Read Full Review >

360 Gamer Magazine UK

This is not a game for relaxing. It’s a frantic fight for survival and making it through three minutes of gameplay before 'game over' is a struggle – but you’ll find yourself chugging virtual coins in the virtual slot over and over.

Read Full Review >

IGN

If you're looking for a throwback to the Space Invader days with the futuristic colors and sound of the powerful 360, this is your game.

Read Full Review >

WHAM! Gaming

The game is challenging as all heck and you’ll sometimes wonder how you would ever get out of a predicament with a million enemies coming at you all at once in every direction without a super bomb, but it keeps you coming back for more, no doubt. Top notch in every way.

Read Full Review >

Xbox Evolved

Amazing fun, with fantastic but simple visuals that anybody can get into, but not everyone can be good at.

Read Full Review >

Thunderbolt

An awesome game. It’ll remind older gamers of the games they used to enjoy.

Read Full Review >

Planet Xbox 360

Offering simplistic gameplay in an incredibly challenging package, the game is essentially a tricked-out edge-of-your-seat Asteroids clone on steroids.

Read Full Review >

GameShark

It’s a shame there couldn’t be a multiplayer for this game as it might have been fun, but for 400 Microsoft points, what do you expect. It’s a great little pick up and play game that you can play with a little time to kill.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 29 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Lamyaa A gave it a9:
Man, I love this game and I believe that every house in the US should have this game. This game has much beauty and not just in its looks.Its got fun written all over it.This is a game that has replay value that wont end until your fingers get tired,GREAT GAME!!I give it a 9.5

Adam B. gave it a7:
Addicting, but incredibly frustrating. Games are slow to start up and essentially over the moment you lose your first ship, because your combo is lost with it, making it much too difficult to place anywhere on the high score list (be prepared to stay around 300,000th place). There are also no unlockables or multiplayer modes. The sequels improved on these problems but introduced unwelcome complexity. Hardcore shooter fans should give Geometry Wars a try for some frantic, near-impossible gaming, but more casual gamers looking for a more deliberate, rewarding experience should check out something like Schizoid.

Cory D. gave it an8:
Great and also horribly frustrating, this is one of the first Xlive Arcade games you should get... it's so simple, addictive, and at time will make you wanna throw your controller out the window.. Be warned! lol

Basil M. gave it a5:
I have been an avid reader of video game reviews for over 20 years now. I have got to say I have never been so surprised by critical reaction than I have with this game. 99.9% of the time I agree with the masses, but I can't even begin to fathom how somebody could get addicted to this game unless you are stuck in the 1970's. Don't get me wrong, I like this game... it's very cool. But there is plenty of room for improvement, painfully shallow and shouldn't be getting 9's and 10's across the board. It must be because it is cheap and was, at the time, the best XBLA game available.

Rich F. gave it a10:
This isn't a game, it's a lifestyle. When is the MMO coming out?

Idle T. gave it a10:
The graphics are simple yet beautiful. There are a bunch of nice touches, for example, the space "grid" being distorted by black holes, and black holes circling each other. The game is hard - play the trial version and make sure you can consistently last more than the 4 minutes before buying. This is a very addictive game, a bite-sized snack that you want to eat over and over again. You WILL improve, and chasing your own high score will fuel the addiction. But what might draw you in is that rush of adrenalin that you feel for 5 minutes and the brief, fleeting sense of mastery when you clear the screen of enemies that you used to have to bomb to get rid of. Best $5 I ever spent on a game.

ACE5 gave it a10:
Simple, yet complicated and addicting. GW is like the NBA," I love this game."

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases