Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1 Review

The first Live Arcade compilation is a hit-and-miss affair.

It was pretty inevitable that sooner or later Microsoft would mine its Xbox Live Arcade service to cobble together a compilation or two. Honestly, who can blame them? For virtually no development cost whatsoever, Bill and his crew have hoisted half-a-dozen retro titles and a free one-month subscription of Xbox Live onto a disc and stuck a budget price sticker on the front. And for some – specifically, the poor unfortunates among you who haven’t got a Live connection – that’ll be just fine. But for those of us who are connected and capable of downloading only the best games on this compilation for AU$7 – AU$8 each, we’d suggest you think a bit before purchasing this. Because there’s quite a bit of fluff on here.

Having said that, there’s at least one title on XBLA Unplugged Volume 1 that’s worth the asking price of the entire collection (but only if you’re unconnected, we should reiterate). Geometry Wars is that title, a 2D shooter so moreish and so insanely well-balanced that nothing on Xbox Live Arcade comes close, let alone anything on this disc. Playing as a spaceship confined to a rectangular play area, the left stick moves you about, and the right stick controls your laser. It may sound like it has all the depth of a puddle, and initially its appeal isn’t obvious, but as your high score gradually swells, it becomes increasingly apparent that this is gaming in its purest and rawest form.

Boasting one of the best learning curves we’ve ever seen, its magnetic appeal is based on two of gaming’s oldest fundamentals – the addictiveness of chasing high scores, and quick reflexes. You start with three lives and three screen-clearing bombs, and from there the game gradually chucks bigger and bigger waves of enemies your way. As your score climbs, the number of enemies invading your confined area increases, palms get sweatier and your eyes desperately try to keep up with it all. Eventually, your hands are playing ahead of your brain.

There’s some brilliant Achievement challenges in there, as well. Not firing a shot for the first minute of play may sound easy, but it’s actually maddeningly difficult. Reaching a million points feels like you’ve surpassed some kind of rite of passage. The whole thing even manages to look glorious, and is accompanied by an exhilarating, thumping soundtrack. AU$8? We’d happily fork out AU$50 if we had to; it’s that good. Infact, sod it, we’ll say it – Geometry Wars is hands down one of the greatest shooters ever created. There.