Supers, on the other hand, are consumable items that provide a one-time perk.Ĭlassic Geometry Wars fans might remember the bomb? Supers are kind of like that, but with unique twists. The other major difference that sets Dimensions apart from the series’ earlier incarnations is the ability to purchase and equip a “drone” and a “super.” Drones are ships that follow behind providing a specific kind of support (one might provide a second big set of guns for your attacks, while another collects the geoms you’ll need to improve your multiplier). In short, the amount of attention and detail that went into the game’s stage design is nothing short of spectacular. Others feature obstacles like moving barriers that periodically turn a deadly shade of red. Some level feature portals to pop from end to end. Players now need to worry about enemies spawning in areas they can’t see quite yet. The 3D nature of the game is more than just a cosmetic upgrade. It’s a personality that is distinctly GW3. One of the game’s earlier stages, “Twisted Blister,” (pictured above) takes the classic Geometry Wars board and gives it a little squeeze the middle, like a recently unrolled sheet of paper. Not every level is 3D, but even the ones that aren’t can sometimes manage to display a sense of depth. These three dimensional playing fields make Geometry Wars 3 a vastly different experience from its predecessors, making the game feel like a mashup of 2008’s Geometry Wars 2 and Housemarque’s splendid Super Stardust HD. I guess that’s why there they got the name “Dimensions” from.
Geometry wars 3 review ign series#
Each challenge (yes, ok, they’re based around reaching a certain score) channels one of the modes from the series past, wrapping these around unique playing fields that add a third dimension to the series normally 2D gameplay. The first, most noticeable addition, is an adventure mode that gives players set challenges to complete rather than a straight high-score drive. In short, Dimensions is to Geometry Wars what Championship Edition is to Pac-Man - a brand new experience steeped in the comfort of familiarity. Geometry Wars 3 is steeped in the basics of Geometry Wars, but warps and layers those basics around a whole new experience. Much to my delight, I discovered a game that was simultaneously inventively new and yet instantly familiar. While I passed on last Fall’s console launch of Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions for this very reason, its port to mobile devices gave me an excuse to download the game and finally have a poke around. At best, I thought, this would be a game meant to rehash the old formula for a new audience. Geometry Wars 2 was released in 2008, and I couldn’t imagine anyone had been sitting on a great idea for a third one for more than half a decade. Its single screen challenge meant the field could be flooded with enemies in a matter of moments, and the sequel amped things up with additional game modes to challenge players in a variety of ways.Īs much as I loved the first two games in the series (and I did very, very much), I approached the third entry with a mix of skepticism and caution. You’re wildly, wildly wrong.įor those not in the know, here’s your quick and dirty history lesson: Geometry Wars is a twin-stick shooter series with simple graphics and wildly addictive gameplay that debuted on (and cemented the reputation of) Xbox Live Arcade in 2005. If, like me, you passed on Geometry Wars 3 when it launched on consoles last fall thinking “they couldn’t have possibly changed it enough to warrant a third go round,” you’re wrong. I’m going back to my one true love: Geometry Wars.ĭramatic? Sure, but it’s also a fairly good assessment of how I’ve spent the last five days with my smartphone. I know this is hard to hear, but you just need to listen. I’m sorry, every other game on my iPhone.