Mutant Storm Reloaded
Posted March 12, 2006
PomPom wanted a piece of the Xbox Live Arcade when the Xbox 360 launched so they attached their own version of Robotron clone to the system. While trying to differentiate itself from the other clones also available on the system, Mutant Storm Reloaded attacks the genre with colorful flair and a hint of kung-fu. 
Gameplay:
A couple modes of play await the gamer along with the standard options to view various leader boards and check out the possible achievements that you can earn while playing MSR.
Both adventure and Tally mode can be played by a single player or in the two player mode where both play simultaneously. Adventure mode starts the player out in (naturally) room number one, and as you progress through the 89 rooms the number of mutants to blast with your ship as well as the difficultly rises. Along with the natural difficulty increases, as you progress you earn colored belts which correspond to your skill level starting with the White Belt all the way up to Black Belt. One you've achieved a belt level, you can opt to start a game at that level which increases the difficulty even further.
Tally mode also has 89 levels, but this time you can select your difficulty level, and starting level. As you choose a level you play it to completion, then choose another from the unlocked list. This is a slow paced method of working your way through the 89 levels of tally mode, but the nature of the mode is to rack up the highest score possible on each level, and overall. After each level is cleared your results are loaded to the online leader boards for the world (or your friend list) to see.
The controls are very intuitive especially for those who've been weaned on Geometry Wars and Robotron. One analog stick controls your ship, while the other controls the direction of firing, with the option to detonate a power blast which clears all enemies within its blast radius. The basic premise is simple to learn, and on the lower belt difficulties the game is relatively easy. With little practice I was able to earn my first two belts and clear the 89 adventure levels with minimal issue. I'm sure though as I unlock the higher degree belts that the ease which I blew through the levels is sure to be a thing of the past.
Graphics:
Very colorful and somewhat trippy graphics great the player on every level played, both in adventure and tally mode. The little mutants you blast are quite small, but detailed enough to see that yes in fact they can mutate and turn into tougher versions and earn the ability to shoot at you in addition to their relentless march to your demise.
While not quite as overwhelming visually as Geometry Wars is, it's a visual treat no less thanks to the constantly shifting and pulsating rooms and quick pace of dieing mutants.
Audio:
Think back to when you used to walk into an arcade that was swarmed with sweaty teenagers each waiting their turn to play Afterburner or Hyper Olympics. Then think about the sounds you heard while walking past the row of classic arcade games; that's what the sound here is. A constant hum of firepower mixed with exploding mutant bodies is what you're going to hear at an endless pace when playing Mutant Storm Reloaded and it's not a bad thing.
Conclusion:
The real question here is should you spend your 800 points on a title that may not pack the same high adrenaline punch that a similarly themed game half the cost can offer. My answer here is probably not, unless you find that other title to just be too damn difficult to enjoy. Not that MSR is without its merits though; it's a good blast from the past that is easy to pick up for even a single level at a time. But compared to other retro blasters available, I'm going to have to ask you to rent it ... which in the case of the XBLA means simply download the demo.
Gameplay:
A couple modes of play await the gamer along with the standard options to view various leader boards and check out the possible achievements that you can earn while playing MSR.
Both adventure and Tally mode can be played by a single player or in the two player mode where both play simultaneously. Adventure mode starts the player out in (naturally) room number one, and as you progress through the 89 rooms the number of mutants to blast with your ship as well as the difficultly rises. Along with the natural difficulty increases, as you progress you earn colored belts which correspond to your skill level starting with the White Belt all the way up to Black Belt. One you've achieved a belt level, you can opt to start a game at that level which increases the difficulty even further.
Tally mode also has 89 levels, but this time you can select your difficulty level, and starting level. As you choose a level you play it to completion, then choose another from the unlocked list. This is a slow paced method of working your way through the 89 levels of tally mode, but the nature of the mode is to rack up the highest score possible on each level, and overall. After each level is cleared your results are loaded to the online leader boards for the world (or your friend list) to see.
The controls are very intuitive especially for those who've been weaned on Geometry Wars and Robotron. One analog stick controls your ship, while the other controls the direction of firing, with the option to detonate a power blast which clears all enemies within its blast radius. The basic premise is simple to learn, and on the lower belt difficulties the game is relatively easy. With little practice I was able to earn my first two belts and clear the 89 adventure levels with minimal issue. I'm sure though as I unlock the higher degree belts that the ease which I blew through the levels is sure to be a thing of the past.
Graphics:
Very colorful and somewhat trippy graphics great the player on every level played, both in adventure and tally mode. The little mutants you blast are quite small, but detailed enough to see that yes in fact they can mutate and turn into tougher versions and earn the ability to shoot at you in addition to their relentless march to your demise. While not quite as overwhelming visually as Geometry Wars is, it's a visual treat no less thanks to the constantly shifting and pulsating rooms and quick pace of dieing mutants.
Audio:
Think back to when you used to walk into an arcade that was swarmed with sweaty teenagers each waiting their turn to play Afterburner or Hyper Olympics. Then think about the sounds you heard while walking past the row of classic arcade games; that's what the sound here is. A constant hum of firepower mixed with exploding mutant bodies is what you're going to hear at an endless pace when playing Mutant Storm Reloaded and it's not a bad thing.
Conclusion:
The real question here is should you spend your 800 points on a title that may not pack the same high adrenaline punch that a similarly themed game half the cost can offer. My answer here is probably not, unless you find that other title to just be too damn difficult to enjoy. Not that MSR is without its merits though; it's a good blast from the past that is easy to pick up for even a single level at a time. But compared to other retro blasters available, I'm going to have to ask you to rent it ... which in the case of the XBLA means simply download the demo.