OPENING SHOT: This is a tower defense game for Xbox Live Arcade where aliens have come back to the planet and you fight them off alongside the computer AI that waxes romantic about...raspberries. Yes, raspberries. Apparently the AI loves him some raspberries, and will tell you all about it as the game progresses. Putting that aside for the moment, the computer AI has 24 "cores" which it relies on to stay powered up. You place different types of turrets in the way of the aliens to take them out before they make off to the exits with your cores. If they make off with all 24 of your cores, game over. Simple, right?
GAMEPLAY: Simple and FUN. There are a lot of different turrets to use, and each one does more or less damage depending on the alien type. There's plenty of diverse aliens, each with their own special abilities (some slow and strong, some that are stealth, some fast and strong, etc). The game comes with 20 main maps in the campaign, along with 4 more in the extra content. The game controls well, you can adjust the viewpoint for closer or farther away. The turrets go up instantly when you place them...there's no delay like in some strategy games. You can also speed up the action of the game by holding down the right bumper. There are some maps that you can shape the path the aliens take, delaying and damaging the aliens in the meantime. There are other maps where you can't really shape the way they go, but you have to choose the turrets more suited for the job to win.
THE BOTTOM LINE: This is an incredibly fun game, and you'll definitely get your money's worth from the amount of time you'll spend playing it. This is one of those games where you start playing it, and next thing you know it's 4 hours later. The storyline is mediocre, but it's kind of like expecting a story with a fighting game...i.e., you don't expect a good story. Graphics are especially good for an XBLA title, and the sound is decent. One of the things that I've seen in this game that I'd like to see in more games? The ability to hit the "Back" button on your controller and INSTANTLY go back to save point, with no waiting. You should AT LEAST download the trial and see for yourself if you like it. I can promise you'll believe it worth your time.
~MOW
