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Stage 1: Impressions

Stage 2: Analysis

Stage 3: Evaluation

Geometry Wars has come a long way since its meager beginnings as a bundled game that was playable in the garage of the Project Gotham Racing series. With Geometry Wars: Galaxies, Bizarre Creations, Kuju Entertainment, and Sierra Entertainment have tried to translate the game from downloadable content on the Xbox Live Arcade to a stand-alone game for the Wii. As we saw with Puzzle Quest, that transition isn't always a smooth one.

The first item Wii gamers have to get past is this idea that they are receiving the table scraps from Xbox Live Arcade. This just isn't the case with Geometry Wars: Galaxies. While the gameplay is essentially the same, the number of levels and enemies, as well as the addition of drones make this a much more comprehensive gaming experience than the 360 version.

While the game does lack the HD advantage of its XBLA predecessor, Wii gamers will be delighted with all of the crisp, bright-light display that Galaxies brings with it. The controls are also well designed and they are definitely an improvement over the dual analog stick configuration. In all, Galaxies is a good shooter with imaginative enemies and a creative system of unlockable planets and drones.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies does what it does well, but that isn't to say everyone will love it. The game is still a simple shooter in the throwback style of Robotron and the graphical flair of Tempest. And let's face it, while the idea of achieving the once-sacred label of "High Score" may be exhilarating to some, it will probably be boring as hell to newer gamers.

Unfortunately, the biggest problem with Geometry Wars: Galaxies has nothing to do with the game itself, but the sticker on the outside of the case. Forty bucks is just too much money for a game as simple as this. As I said, Galaxies is a much more complete game than Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, but the gameplay is essentially the same from beginning to end. There simply isn't enough diversity of gameplay to justify a quadrupled price tag. Adding insult to injury is the fact that gamers will have to purchase the DS version of the game to unlock a "bonus" level. Sorry, but if I lay down four Hamiltons for a game, I expect to be able to play the entire game.

Coin-op arcade lovers will probably dig Galaxies' throw-back style as well as the series' solid translation to the Wii. The fact that the game will cost them 160 precious quarters may have them looking elsewhere for their arcade thrills. For those who are bored with scores, "lives", and theoretically infinite game stages, skip this shooter and tuck the forty bucks safely away for something else.