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Geometry Wars: Galaxies blasting off

By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UKPosted May 25, 2007 8:08 am PT

Xbox Live monster hit Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved getting a sequel on Wii and DS.

As it turns out, rumours of the existence of Geometry Wars: Galaxies for the Wii and Nintendo DS were not greatly exaggerated. The simple, addictive shoot-'em-up game will indeed be coming later this year to the Nintendo platforms, developed by UK-based Kuju Entertainment's Surrey studio and Bizarre Creations.

The game will be a follow-up to Bizarre Creations' Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, which was released on Xbox Live Arcade in 2005 and has since been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. Geometry Wars: Galaxies will be the first in the series to feature a variety of multiplayer modes--namely hot seat, co-op, simultaneous, and versus.

The game will also have a number of new features, including using the DS touch screen and Wii Remote to execute "hotshot" moves, a fresh mission-based campaign, and new battle grids.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies' producer Roger Carpenter commented, "The ship has become a bit of an icon, so that's going to stay as is. Everything else is getting a bit of a shake-up; familiar foes will endure, but there'll be new enemies, weapons, and a healthy number of totally new 'things,' too."

The game, which will be published by Sierra, will also include the full version of the previous title, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. It is expected to be ready for release for this year's holiday season.

For more on Geometry Wars: Galaxies, please read GameSpot's full interview with producer Roger Carpenter.

87 Comments

  • Chaudzff

    Posted Jun 21, 2007 8:49 am PT

    This is one fun game

    Name is kind of a turn-off though

  • theKSMM

    Posted Jun 11, 2007 11:54 pm PT

    I guess the platform change is an attempt to reach the more casual, quick-play audience. I wonder if this will be a downloadable game or an in-store purchase.

    The Wii-DS tie-ins should be noteworthy too.

  • Mr_Shnickles

    Posted May 29, 2007 8:25 pm PT

    Playing it on the wii does sound hard, but hopefully they will think of som imaginative way to make it great. Cant wait to hear more.

  • Slayer420

    Posted May 29, 2007 1:30 pm PT

    Wow.. I sure hope this gets some love thrown in the direction of the 360.. considering the 360 is what made this game a hit. I do completely agree with some of the other posters that this game really does need dual analog stick or it is going to be very difficult to see scores like the leaders on XBLA have.

  • Pedro7_2000

    Posted May 29, 2007 8:41 am PT

    Love this game.

    But, I hope they do these versions right. I think the DS version has the best chance of succeeding, but we'll see. It’s going to be tough with no dual analog sticks. The campaign mode sounds weak, but the co-op sounds awesome!!!

  • thetraitor

    Posted May 28, 2007 6:41 pm PT

    thanks for writing a novel about the article, mbeacom

  • mbeacom

    Posted May 28, 2007 3:00 pm PT

    @Omegacis,

    You're right, without XBLA we might not have heard of GW:RE. We were lucky the 360 launch lineup was pretty weak as well. It made GW:RE look all the more promising. However, without XBLA, GW would have been a much different product. They would likely have added more features and gameplay scenarios if they had put it on store shelves. They would not have released the product they did if it were a retail offering. Sure they would have charged $19.99 or more for it, and likely because of that, the game would have been deeper and more robust, just like what it sounds like they are doing now to the Wii/DS versions. Thats the point of Digital distro. They can test the waters with a simple idea (or rather, MANY simple ideas) to decide what concepts have legs and warranty a full featured release. Clearly they decided GW was just such a concept. As for the 2 analogs comments you make. Give Grid Wars a try on your PC and you'll soon realize that you don't need 2 analogs at all. in fact, having put a lot of time into geometry wars AND grid wars, I feel 2 analogs is a detriment to the gameplay. I play with the mouse to move the the arrow keys to aim, (4 buttons, not and I average about 2 million on my good games. The scoring isn't identical to GW:RE but they feel pretty close. Dual analogs is absolutely not necessary. I can think of a few schemes where the Wii pointer could me much better. In fact, if they use the pointer to move the ship, I think they'll need to crank up the difficulty to keep scores in the range we see already on XBLA.

  • omegacis

    Posted May 28, 2007 1:43 pm PT

    mbeacom...

    Yunno, without Xbox Live, Geometry Wars could have easily been one of those games we never heard of. Quite frankly, the game would have retailed for $19.99 or more if it was released for store shelves. And most gamers (aside from the handful of hi-scoring players who can appreciate this game) wouldn't pay all that much for something so bare. In this sense Xbox Live doesn't seem so "obscure" at all.

    BTW, I run a game retail store and I can tell you that Tetris Evolution hasn't sold more than 1 copy where I work. This is a perfect example of why Xbox Live is so useful. I honestly believe this title could have made a ton more if it were available as a $10 DL purchase.

  • omegacis

    Posted May 28, 2007 1:31 pm PT

    I absolutely love Geometry Wars but I highly doubt it'll work with anything other than two analogs.

    Iv'e broke the 4 million mark in the game and I'm convinced that it can not be done without analogs. Anyone who's ever scored past a few million will probably agree. This game demands an extreme amount of precision movement requiring more than what an 8-direction pad can offer. the only way this will work is if the whole game (including enemy quantity and strategy methods) is designed differently. But even then, it just wouldn't be Geometry Wars at all. I'm guessing that's why they're incorporating a campaign mode.

    I'll wait for a 360 version.

  • Onenottoforget

    Posted May 28, 2007 1:51 am PT

    It will be interesting how it handles on the ds without the two analog sticks that for me really make the game

  • mbeacom

    Posted May 27, 2007 11:25 pm PT

    "lol, it was downloaded over 100000 times."

    yeah, that's jack compared to what it could do on the shelf at wal-mart.

    "Xbox Live? Obscure? errrr..... O. K."

    Yes, believe it or not LIVE is obscure. A few million raging fanboys don't make a very diverse demographic. If you get this on the shelf in stores, you're get a real shot at mainstream and that's where the money is. Look at games like Tetris, the masses will eat this game up if they just have a chance to see it. Xbox LIVE doesn't give most average consumers that chance.

  • InnerHeaven_X

    Posted May 27, 2007 10:53 pm PT

    Sounds as though Bizarre creations is'nt quite cut out for working in HD crispness. Although I really did love Geo. Wars for the 360.

  • thetraitor posted May 27, 2007 2:08 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    thetraitor

    Posted May 27, 2007 2:08 pm PT (hide)

    geometry wars blows

  • diablobasher

    Posted May 27, 2007 1:22 pm PT

    Awesome, although i hope it's a budget release, not a full price. If it's full price i'll probably still pick it up when it hits like £10 secondhand.

  • YukoAsho

    Posted May 26, 2007 10:32 pm PT

    jahnee - And the retail release will likely be bought 500,000+ times. Your point?

  • cowbrains788

    Posted May 26, 2007 10:22 pm PT

    new stuff should be released in downloads for the 360

  • interpolred

    Posted May 26, 2007 7:09 pm PT

    Sounds good. The fact that it's going to have the previous game included os definitely a plus!

  • powerframe8

    Posted May 26, 2007 5:39 pm PT

    i heard so many things about the 360 version. i'm so happy its for the ds.

  • Manatassi

    Posted May 26, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    Errr this sounds a little like thetre going to mess things up. part of the great thing about gemetry wars evolved on the 360 was the simplicity and crispness of the HD visuals and the streamlined feel of the gameplay. from the sounds of it they are losing most of that. Seriously people dont start adding 'stuff' to geometry wars thats just missing the point.

    oh and "Games like this deserve more than to be buried in some obscure download service." ?

    Xbox Live? Obscure? errrr..... O. K.

  • HandsomeDead

    Posted May 26, 2007 1:36 pm PT

    Any chance of this coming out on the 360 too? I

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