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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Shooter Developer: Chair Entertainment Publisher: Chair Entertainment |
If the citizens of Atlantic had to defend their home against Captain Nemo, it is impossible to determine who would win the battle. Thanks to Chair Entertainment’s first Xbox Live Arcade game, players are now able to
play out that type of battle over and over again in 16 player online matches. “Undertow” may not have the name recognition or marketing hype of some other games that have been seen on Xbox Live Arcade, but that
doesn’t mean that players should pass up the chance to try this game out. This is possibly one of the best original videogame titles on Xbox Live Arcade to date.
Along with the underwater armies of the Atlantians and Captain Nemo, players can also take up arms as normal, everyday humans. The Earth has been completely flooded in the world of “Undertow,” which sets the
stage for the battle of all time as armies fight over the right to rule the ocean. And with an ocean that looks as beautiful as it does in the game, it is no wonder all of these armies are fighting to take control. When the
explosions begin to run wild through the ocean, players will be amazed at what the game has to offer graphically. The graphics in the game are vibrant and impressive, making complete use of lighting effects to make
up for the fact that many Xbox Live Arcade games aren’t able to have highly detailed textures because of the lack of space available.
“Undertow” takes place in a two dimensional plane, while all of the other graphics in the game are done in three dimensions. This allows for the game to have a simple control scheme while still looking great. Anyone
looking for a game that is easy to pick up and play, this game fits into that category. It easily stands out to be one of the most attractive games on the Xbox Live Arcade. For those who have played “Geometry Wars” won’t
have any problem at all with the overall controls of the game. One analog stick is used to move throughout the world, while the other analog stick fires the weapons in the game. The right trigger is used to dash while
the left trigger drops depth charges. These are all of the controls that players will really need to know in order to play the game and be successful in the game.
The primary mode of play in “Undertow” is called Conquest and plays a lot like an underwater battlefield. The goal of Conquest is to capture and hold all five bases on the map so that the opposing team has nowhere to
spawn after dying in the battle. For those players that fail to complete this specific objective, will have to drain all of the enemy reserves before they kill too many of the players fighters.
An extra layer of depth comes from the four different unit types that each faction has available. These units come in the standard types of units, ranging from fast and weak to slow but powerful. Each unit is useful in its
own way. Tanks are very good at weakening the lines or holding down a fortress, while the faster units are able to quickly sneak behind enemy lines to capture any unprotected bases. Players can swap between the
models at bases before each spawn and upgrade each one to two times during battle, allowing players the option to switch strategies at a single moment’s notice.
The reason all of these elements work so well is because of the fact that the level design in “Undertow” is above all other games of this type on Xbox Live Arcade. It is clear that a lot of care was taken in order to balance
the stages and create clear strategy options. Players are able to find hidden passages, set traps to set off and multiple routes in and out of each base are all common in the game. There will be a few favorite levels
among players, but every map is attractive and fun in their own way.
Although the game is designed as a game that casual gamers can get a burst of fun from, and it is very apparent that some people at Chair Entertainment are hardcore gamers. There is a System Link mode, options
for including bots to round out an empty game and a lobby system that allows players to keep playing with the same crew game after game, tweaking options between rounds without breaking up the party. The game
was clearly designed as a multiplayer, online game but the campaign is worth taking a look at. Being spread across 15 different stages that tell the story of the three initial factions, it is a brief and very enjoyable game.
When players first kick off the campaign, which can be player cooperatively, it would be assumed to be played like a multiplayer game only lacking human teammates and opponents. For the most part, the game does
plays this way, but it offers a lot more. Players will see boss fights, a fun story to follow and a few surprises along the way to keep things interesting from beginning to end.
“Undertow” is a perfect fit for the Xbox Live Arcade. It is a fast, fun beautiful game that is able to support 16 player online play. The concept of the game is on the most basic level, letting the idea and its overall execution
speak for themselves. At 800 Microsoft Points, or $10, this is a game that offers a lot of fun for such a small price tag. Players should grabs their friends and take the dive into the beautiful game.
play out that type of battle over and over again in 16 player online matches. “Undertow” may not have the name recognition or marketing hype of some other games that have been seen on Xbox Live Arcade, but that
doesn’t mean that players should pass up the chance to try this game out. This is possibly one of the best original videogame titles on Xbox Live Arcade to date.
Along with the underwater armies of the Atlantians and Captain Nemo, players can also take up arms as normal, everyday humans. The Earth has been completely flooded in the world of “Undertow,” which sets the
stage for the battle of all time as armies fight over the right to rule the ocean. And with an ocean that looks as beautiful as it does in the game, it is no wonder all of these armies are fighting to take control. When the
explosions begin to run wild through the ocean, players will be amazed at what the game has to offer graphically. The graphics in the game are vibrant and impressive, making complete use of lighting effects to make
up for the fact that many Xbox Live Arcade games aren’t able to have highly detailed textures because of the lack of space available.
“Undertow” takes place in a two dimensional plane, while all of the other graphics in the game are done in three dimensions. This allows for the game to have a simple control scheme while still looking great. Anyone
looking for a game that is easy to pick up and play, this game fits into that category. It easily stands out to be one of the most attractive games on the Xbox Live Arcade. For those who have played “Geometry Wars” won’t
have any problem at all with the overall controls of the game. One analog stick is used to move throughout the world, while the other analog stick fires the weapons in the game. The right trigger is used to dash while
the left trigger drops depth charges. These are all of the controls that players will really need to know in order to play the game and be successful in the game.
The primary mode of play in “Undertow” is called Conquest and plays a lot like an underwater battlefield. The goal of Conquest is to capture and hold all five bases on the map so that the opposing team has nowhere to
spawn after dying in the battle. For those players that fail to complete this specific objective, will have to drain all of the enemy reserves before they kill too many of the players fighters.
An extra layer of depth comes from the four different unit types that each faction has available. These units come in the standard types of units, ranging from fast and weak to slow but powerful. Each unit is useful in its
own way. Tanks are very good at weakening the lines or holding down a fortress, while the faster units are able to quickly sneak behind enemy lines to capture any unprotected bases. Players can swap between the
models at bases before each spawn and upgrade each one to two times during battle, allowing players the option to switch strategies at a single moment’s notice.
The reason all of these elements work so well is because of the fact that the level design in “Undertow” is above all other games of this type on Xbox Live Arcade. It is clear that a lot of care was taken in order to balance
the stages and create clear strategy options. Players are able to find hidden passages, set traps to set off and multiple routes in and out of each base are all common in the game. There will be a few favorite levels
among players, but every map is attractive and fun in their own way.
Although the game is designed as a game that casual gamers can get a burst of fun from, and it is very apparent that some people at Chair Entertainment are hardcore gamers. There is a System Link mode, options
for including bots to round out an empty game and a lobby system that allows players to keep playing with the same crew game after game, tweaking options between rounds without breaking up the party. The game
was clearly designed as a multiplayer, online game but the campaign is worth taking a look at. Being spread across 15 different stages that tell the story of the three initial factions, it is a brief and very enjoyable game.
When players first kick off the campaign, which can be player cooperatively, it would be assumed to be played like a multiplayer game only lacking human teammates and opponents. For the most part, the game does
plays this way, but it offers a lot more. Players will see boss fights, a fun story to follow and a few surprises along the way to keep things interesting from beginning to end.
“Undertow” is a perfect fit for the Xbox Live Arcade. It is a fast, fun beautiful game that is able to support 16 player online play. The concept of the game is on the most basic level, letting the idea and its overall execution
speak for themselves. At 800 Microsoft Points, or $10, this is a game that offers a lot of fun for such a small price tag. Players should grabs their friends and take the dive into the beautiful game.
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