A surprisingly good game with lots of personality and is a lot of fun in short bursts for gamers of all ages.
'The Maw' is a puzzle/platforming game of sorts. After crashing onto a nearby planet, you play the role of a little alien who befriends a dog-like alien that can (and wants to) eat almost anything. The Maw creature doesn't look like a dog at all, but it sure wants to eat like one. Your goal is to feed this thing almost everything it can swallow as it gets larger and larger. The trick is it takes on some abilities depending on what type of creature it eats. If you eat a flaming salamander type creature, your Maw will then spit fire.....for example. This ability is useful in puzzle elements and burning down objects that are hiding little creatures that are more food for your Maw. There are several different abilities to use so it keeps it fresh throughout the short life-span of the game.
The game is certainly simple, but that doesn't make it bad. I can see how some people will not like the simplicity of the gameplay or the difficulty, but the game is still fun either way. I found it fun escorting around the Maw creature and chomping on anything I could. The game also has a lot of personality and a bright, colorful visual style. 'The Maw' isn't a long game, but the time I had with it was certainly enjoyable. There is some DLC on Xbox Live if you decide you like the game, so that should help the longevity of the title.
'The Maw' is a fun little game that I didn't think I would like. I would recommend checking out the demo, as that drew me in a bit and I took the plunge. I am glad I did, as this is one of the better games available on Xbox Live Arcade. Yes it's too short, but at least it's a fun & simple ride while it lasts. In my opinion, this is definitely worth a look and a purchase.