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Undertow

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8.4 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 32 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 26 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Chair Entertainment

Developer: Chair Entertainment

Genre(s): Action, Shooter

Players: 16

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: November 21, 2007

Summary

[Xbox Live Arcade] Undertow features a 15 level campaign for single-player or co-op and two robust multiplayer modes for up to 16 players. While many of the maps have level-specific goals, the core gameplay of Undertow centers on this maxim: Kill as many enemies as you can – and stay alive for as long as possible! Players select their race (Iron Marine, Nemoidian, or Atlantian) and unit type and are then launched into battle. Each of the three races features four unique, upgradeable unit types ranging in ability from the fast and agile to the large and powerful. Players have the ability to unlock and purchase unit upgrades as they acquire points. Each unit type has three levels of permanent upgrades. Through conquest-style battles, players obtain points by killing enemies, accomplishing team goals, and taking check points. Points and a variety of power-ups can be used to further upgrade unit abilities. [Chair Entertainment]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameFAQs

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...

GamePro

It's not often that you run across a good XBLA with flair all its own, but Undertow has it in spades.

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Game Almighty

Speaking of looks, this game is quite visually impressive. It looks great, especially for an arcade download. The lighting effects are spectacular and really give off a great underwater ambience.

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Digital Entertainment News

Undertow is a whole lot of fun, and it delivers a full size game in a small package. The classic arcade action makes it easy to pick up, but it manages to deliver enough depth to keep you engaged.

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GameZone

With solid gameplay, a fun story, and a great online component, Undertow is a great addition to anyone’s Xbox Live Arcade library.

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Official Xbox Magazine

Spend your 800 Points with a smile, and dive deep. [Oct 2007, p.70]

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Game Chronicles

If you liked Geometry Wars then you will probably like Undertow and I highly recommend coughing up the 800 points to play it.

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Talk Xbox

Undertow stands tall above all other Xbox Live Arcade games as the best of the bunch and accomplishes this by being pure fun in a ten-dollar package.

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DailyGame

While the gameplay is easy, we found the level of difficulty to be perfectly balanced and the vehicle upgrades to be a welcome addition to the standard shooter.

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Console Gameworld

Undertow is a unique and addictive game. It really embodies everything I want to see in an XBLA game.

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Team Xbox

Undertow is one of those rare surprises that at some times feels like a casual game—not because it’s easy to win, but because it’s easy to play—yet still delivers solid gameplay across its scope. And with Chair promising to support the game with new maps for players to download after its premiere, you have to expect that there’ll be reasons to dive into the Undertow ocean now and again.

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IGN

Undertow is a perfect fit for the Xbox Live Arcade. It's fast, fun, attractive and can support 16 players online. The concept is distilled down to the basics, letting the idea and its execution speak for themselves.

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Planet Xbox 360

Undertow is one of those great games where the demo and description do not do it justice. It is one of the most addictive, challenging, and deepest games Live Arcade offers.

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GamerNode

Although the concepts may not be new, the setting and general feel of the gameplay help it to become one of the best original Live Arcade games. Why is no one is playing it.

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Gaming Target

There are a few shortcomings: although the maps are gorgeous, many of them look and feel a bit too similar. The gameplay can also get repetitive with only two game types.

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Console Monster

In the audio department the sound effects and music are passable, but not really anything worth paying much attention to. They get the job done, but never really push the boundaries, with most of the sound effects feeling very generic.

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Gamer 2.0

All this comes wrapped in what is arguably the best audiovisual package on Live Arcade, with lighting and water effects are so smooth and nuanced that it’s easy to forget, maybe even hard to believe, that this is a downloadable game and not a fully-realized retail release.

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My Gamer

All in all, Undertow is an enjoyable original XBLA title. And for the price of 800MS points ($10), this game is a steal.

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Games Radar (in-house)

It's the deceptive simplicity of Undertow that makes it compelling - that and the easy-to-learn rules and controls.

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PALGN

Undertow is among the better XBLA games and one of the best originals to arrive so far.

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1UP

The content itself is rock-solid, and offers an absolutely unique take (visually, as well) on years of carefully refined multiplayer notions. Undertow isn't quite a must-buy, but it's easily one of the more sensible ways to spend $10 online.

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Eurogamer

Undertow is a fun, no-brainer and is a welcome addition to Xbox Live. Make sure you convince a couple of mates to fork out for it as well and you'll have a blast.

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Gamers' Temple

Arcade shooter meets online first-person shooter and the results can be pretty enjoyable.

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VideoGamer

A solid, fun and at times entrancing shooter that stands head and shoulders above most titles on the service in the graphics department.

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Worth Playing

Undertow is a good fit for the Xbox Live Arcade. The action is fast and uncomplicated, it has plenty of options for the single-player and multiplayer experiences, and the tight controls do a good job of making the player want to partake in the action.

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Gamervision

Supporting up to 16 players, online versus battles tend to be extremely chaotic and fun, while still requiring a decent amount of strategy for success.

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GameShark

A very beautiful, very enticing Arcade title, but one that can quickly lose its luster after some time.

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Gaming Age

The main campaign is short on the standard difficulty, but it can become a frustrating experience on the Ultra mode unless you've got a buddy to help you out.

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GameSpot

It's safe to go back into the water with Undertow, an under-the-sea XBLA shooter with solid multiplayer modes of play.

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X360 Magazine UK

If only the single player campaign was more entertaining. [Issue#29, p.117]

games(TM)

The purpose of a review is to help the reader to decide how best to spend their money, and there is little in Undertow’s familiar mechanics that can’t be found better executed elsewhere. [Jan 2008, p.130]

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Call it a failed experiment, but a worthy try. [Jan 2008, p.94]

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

Undertow is an obnoxious, aggravating mess that, while trying something clever by combining a 2D twin-stick arena shooter with team-based gameplay, fails to be any fun whatsoever. [Spring 2008, p.61]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes

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

Pedle Z gave it a4:
Pros: Some nice graphical effects provided by the Unreal engine, decent level design, both local and online coop play is supported Cons: horrible cutscenes, goofy story, poor camera views (it's easy to lose sight of your character behind objects), extremely short campaign, humdrum achievements (10K kills is TEDIOUS)

Invader Phlegm gave it a10:
I don't even know where to begin with this one. This is easily the best XBLA title out there and does more to live up to the promise of what XBLA could be, than any other game on the service. The demo was kinda weak, and if no one bought it based on the demo, it's understandable. However, what comes after the demo is pure videogaming bliss - definitely a game not to be missed by anyone with a pulse who loves videogames. There is more going on with Undertow, than a lot of premium ($60) titles, and the 16-player online mode kicks more ass than a room full of feet and donkeys. This is certainly a AAA first effort by new developer Chair, and if it is any indication of their dedication to making the best games around, then I for one cannot wait to get my hands on their next title. I've got a very good feeling about Chair. If Undertow is their idea of a virtual console game, then watch out for when they start releasing premium content titles. These guys are easily going to be in the same ranks as companies like Valve, Infinity Ward, Bungie, Irrational Games, BioWare . . . you get the point. Anyway, if you have the cash, get Undertow, it is easily the best $10 you will spend on Xbox Live.

Bakin gave it a10:
Best XBLA game I've played so far. Full game is even better than the demo.

H. H. gave it a10:
Compared to most other XBLA games, this one is amazing. A lot of game for $10.

Rudy G. gave it a10:
I downloaded the game this weekend and had a blast playing online matches. I can't believe they got all these features into an arcade game - and just 800pts!

Andy K. gave it a5:
The game is OK but the price is too high. A game like this shouldn´t cost more than $4,99.

Greg L. gave it a3:
Poor show all round. It's odd that the original games developed for the XBLA can be the best ever or the worst ever but rarely anywhere in-between.

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