Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:



Stuart Campbell is probably my favorite game writer. If you click on that link you'll get a very blowjobby review of the game "Grid Wars 2" but he came from a long tradition of giving games scores like 5% so it's fine to actually get excited about something.

Grid Wars 2 is like a cross between Robotron and Tempest. It's also, apparently, a game you can play through the Xbox 360 under the name "Geometry Wars" or something. I don't know the details because I don't have a 360. The bit that Stuart describes that is unique is the concept of the black hole and driving your enemies into it, then blasting it for maximum points. Awesome. Not sure if that is a Grid Wars 2 thing or a Geometry Wars (2?) thing, but regardless it's fun.

Microsoft wanted the designer of Grid Wars 2 to stop making his game available. It's perfectly legal for Microsoft to rip off Robotron -- the game uses a dual analog stick method of control (more on this in a bit) -- but not legal for Mark Incitti to rip off Robotron and also Geometry Wars. Whatever. The zip file is out there if you want to play this game. I am telling you that you definitely do. You don't have to even be into "vectors" and shit to enjoy it (though it helps).

The big reveal is not just that there's a fun game out there, but that it was made in a package called "Blitz." I don't know if Mark used the 3D version of "Blitz" or the 2D version, but amazingly you would never suspect that GW2 comes from a package that helps you make games unless somebody told you. This game (and presumably this package) has the perfect method for configuring your joystick, keyboard, mouse and gamepad.

At any rate. A fun game even if you have no reflexes left, like me.


the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!