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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action Developer: Pom Pom Games Publisher: Pom Pom Games |
successful “Mutant Storm Reloaded” takes on the same controls as its predecessor, asking players to use the left and right thumb sticks to move and fire their ship as enemies come from every direction. Though the
concept may be a little tiresome in games at this point, the latest addition to the “Mutant Storm” series has enough other interesting features of the level design that makes it a game that is still fun to play.
Those who played the first game in the series, “Mutant Storm Reloaded,” will find that there have been some significant changes made to the game when “Mutant Storm Empire” was developed. While the previous
game had players warping through a long list of rooms, “Mutant Storm Empire” features full levels that have players traveling through corridors for longer amounts of game play. Players are given six hit points per level,
allowing players to take a hit and not die instantly, instead they just lose a single hit point. Once players lose all of their hit points, the level ends. Hit points only heal once when players beat a level, so they will need to
tough it out to get through some of the more difficult levels in the game. Instead of having the typical power-ups and smart bombs to work through each level of the game, players will have the help of a supergun that
does massive amount of damage. Sadly the gun has a small amount of energy in the guns and it only recharges at the very end of every level.
This time around, the restructuring of health and power-up make a major difference in how “Mutant Storm Empire” is played. There is a lot more strategy involved in the game this time around, especially in the why that
players use their guns through the levels. While players can easily get surrounded by enemies, know that they won’t be able to instantly end the game with a single can make players feel more at ease, possibly even a
little bit more fearless than they would have found themselves in the original Xbox Live Arcade “Mutant Storm Reloaded.”
What really stand out this time for “Mutant Storm Empire” is the levels. Though there are only four levels in each of the four worlds, they are colorful, inventive and modern. The second world, which takes players under
water, is one of the most fascinating of all the levels in the game. It is here that players do battle with what seems to be the equivalent of a giant whale. His one weakness is his giant glowing orbs. Players will quickly
learn that they need to kill him fast of they will face off against his unsightly green secretions. Another level pushes players through an extremely long corridor as rocks roll towards them. The rocks work on a light
physics engine, allowing them to bounce in different directions based on how players shoot them and general move as mindless rocks making their way down a path similar to the one which players are on.
Cooperative game play is available for those who enjoy teaming up with a friend and blasting their way through levels. Players are able to choose to play any level of the game in cooperative mode whether they have
beaten the previous stages or not, allowing players to see all of the levels before beating them in single player mode. The number of enemies that players will encounter in the level does not change, but players will
lose their super weapon and both players share the same six hit points. It is very easy for players to breeze through the cooperative mode. While the single player mode is not very difficult to begin with, the cooperative
mode will not require any effort unless the difficult levels is turned us as high as possible.
“Mutant Storm Empire” is a fast and sometimes stressful shooting game that is much more vibrant and more intense than it predecessor. With that said, the game lacks the addictive quality that “Mutant Storm
Reloaded” possessed. Once players work their way through the sixteen different stages of the game, players will have little to no reason to go back and play through it again. Of course the game is quite fun the first
time through, but a short game like “Mutant Storm Empire” needs to have variety in order for it to be fun to play over and over again. Players should appreciate some of the changes that were made since the previous
release, but the original room to room approach to the game seemed to be much more effective.
Coming in at a cost of 800 Microsoft Points, roughly $10, “Mutant Storm Empire” is a little pricey for the short amount of play time that players will receive. Players of the series will be able to appreciate the attempt to
expand the “Mutant Storm” franchise beyond the original game. Overall the series is better for this new addition. Unfortunately, “Mutant Storm Empire” lost some of the replay value that “Mutant Storm Reloaded” had.
For those that are looking for a modern robot inspired shooter, “Mutant Storm Empire” has enough fun elements to make it worthwhile.
concept may be a little tiresome in games at this point, the latest addition to the “Mutant Storm” series has enough other interesting features of the level design that makes it a game that is still fun to play.
Those who played the first game in the series, “Mutant Storm Reloaded,” will find that there have been some significant changes made to the game when “Mutant Storm Empire” was developed. While the previous
game had players warping through a long list of rooms, “Mutant Storm Empire” features full levels that have players traveling through corridors for longer amounts of game play. Players are given six hit points per level,
allowing players to take a hit and not die instantly, instead they just lose a single hit point. Once players lose all of their hit points, the level ends. Hit points only heal once when players beat a level, so they will need to
tough it out to get through some of the more difficult levels in the game. Instead of having the typical power-ups and smart bombs to work through each level of the game, players will have the help of a supergun that
does massive amount of damage. Sadly the gun has a small amount of energy in the guns and it only recharges at the very end of every level.
This time around, the restructuring of health and power-up make a major difference in how “Mutant Storm Empire” is played. There is a lot more strategy involved in the game this time around, especially in the why that
players use their guns through the levels. While players can easily get surrounded by enemies, know that they won’t be able to instantly end the game with a single can make players feel more at ease, possibly even a
little bit more fearless than they would have found themselves in the original Xbox Live Arcade “Mutant Storm Reloaded.”
What really stand out this time for “Mutant Storm Empire” is the levels. Though there are only four levels in each of the four worlds, they are colorful, inventive and modern. The second world, which takes players under
water, is one of the most fascinating of all the levels in the game. It is here that players do battle with what seems to be the equivalent of a giant whale. His one weakness is his giant glowing orbs. Players will quickly
learn that they need to kill him fast of they will face off against his unsightly green secretions. Another level pushes players through an extremely long corridor as rocks roll towards them. The rocks work on a light
physics engine, allowing them to bounce in different directions based on how players shoot them and general move as mindless rocks making their way down a path similar to the one which players are on.
Cooperative game play is available for those who enjoy teaming up with a friend and blasting their way through levels. Players are able to choose to play any level of the game in cooperative mode whether they have
beaten the previous stages or not, allowing players to see all of the levels before beating them in single player mode. The number of enemies that players will encounter in the level does not change, but players will
lose their super weapon and both players share the same six hit points. It is very easy for players to breeze through the cooperative mode. While the single player mode is not very difficult to begin with, the cooperative
mode will not require any effort unless the difficult levels is turned us as high as possible.
“Mutant Storm Empire” is a fast and sometimes stressful shooting game that is much more vibrant and more intense than it predecessor. With that said, the game lacks the addictive quality that “Mutant Storm
Reloaded” possessed. Once players work their way through the sixteen different stages of the game, players will have little to no reason to go back and play through it again. Of course the game is quite fun the first
time through, but a short game like “Mutant Storm Empire” needs to have variety in order for it to be fun to play over and over again. Players should appreciate some of the changes that were made since the previous
release, but the original room to room approach to the game seemed to be much more effective.
Coming in at a cost of 800 Microsoft Points, roughly $10, “Mutant Storm Empire” is a little pricey for the short amount of play time that players will receive. Players of the series will be able to appreciate the attempt to
expand the “Mutant Storm” franchise beyond the original game. Overall the series is better for this new addition. Unfortunately, “Mutant Storm Empire” lost some of the replay value that “Mutant Storm Reloaded” had.
For those that are looking for a modern robot inspired shooter, “Mutant Storm Empire” has enough fun elements to make it worthwhile.
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