*UPDATE* – The developer has released an update to the game, and the description now says “Now has extended trial mode.” I would have tried it out again, but I’m out the door for work in literally about 2 minutes and don’t have time. I just thought I would make a point to add this, because the way the trial was handled originally was my biggest problem for the people who see this after the fact. I’m definitely going to give it a go when I get home though to give it a fair shot. So bear that in mind when you read this.
Okay, this is a weird trial for me. Because the game itself is very good, but the trial is so limiting it doesn’t make me want to shell out the 400 points for the full version.
It’s a graphically stunning dual stick shooter that responds to the music it’s playing basically speaking. It’s pretty run of the mill as far as it’s playability, and from what the trial ALLOWS you to play, even Hardcore difficulty isn’t that hard. The graphics are stunning, the sound effects are pretty light. The 10 tracks it comes with are awesome. It actually has BOSSES which is pretty rare for games like this period. And it has local two player support.
BUT … the trial only allows you to play maybe 30 to 45 seconds of each level. Which, the levels can be as many songs as you have really. So you never get quite far enough into it to tell whether or not it’s any good. It’s kinda like going to a bar and asking for a beer and they give you a shot glass full of Bud Light. It’s just retarded.
And another thing is that you can’t just plug in your iPod and stream music off of that. You’ve GOT to have your 360 either networked to your PC … OR have the tracks on your 360 hard drive. Of which I do neither because I don’t have any reason to. And with the limitations of this trial, I still don’t have a reason to.
Great game, gorgeous visuals. The music is as good as you want it to be, with an annoying limitation. But it’s also an utterly TERRIBLE trial. And at the ceiling of 400 points, they shouldn’t have made it so limited and WHY in the hell can’t I play music off my MP3 player. If the trial weren’t so damned limited I probably would network my 360 to my laptop just to be able to rock out to Nine Inch Nails or Ministry while playing it. But it doesn’t give me any real reason to spend that 400 points because I can’t tell if it would just get old after a while. Especially since it has those utterly retarded one hit kills for a ship that’s in SPACE that SHOULD have shields. But to it’s credit, they’re not quite as annoying and they don’t utterly STOP the game like they do in most others.
Possibly related posts:
#1 by SniperED007 on October 29, 2009 - 3:55 am
Unfortunately XNA does not currently support music from an iPod, USB device, or even from a CD in the drive.
#2 by Dhalamar on October 29, 2009 - 5:50 am
@SniperED007 That’s how I replace that damned repetitive music when I play Bop N Pop with friends. I just plug in my iPod, hit the guide button and poof. Shitty loop replaced with Nine Inch Nails.
Of course, I’m assuming this game does a bit more with the music than simply play it. Maybe it’s the way it interacts with it that doesn’t support an option like that?
The game kinda seems to work like a highly interactive visualizer that isn’t Jeff Minter-ish. :)
#3 by Jigsaw hc on October 29, 2009 - 10:25 am
The trialw as way to fast. I did not even think of buying it after the trial because I had no idea if the full game would be fun, hard, or too easy.