Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
Overview -
Sierra Entertainment disappeared in 2008 after their parent company was absorbed by Activision. They were resurrected earlier this year with the indie market in mind and one of their first acts was to revive the 'Geometry Wars' series, which had also disappeared around the same time. The series began as a minigame in 'Project Gotham Racing 2' and was popular enough to successfully spin off into its own franchise. 'Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions' was developed by Lucid Games, one of the larger studios that came from the dissolution of Bizarre Creations, which developed the earlier games.
Video Review
'Geometry Wars' is a brilliant light show and pyrotechnics display. While the premise and models are simple, the visuals are beautiful. Psychedelic backgrounds emanate in the background while armies of hostile shapes explode all around the three-dimensional playing field. The player’s shots behave as though gravity is at the center of the structure, going around curves and the like. The camera is pretty smart and usually followed me adequately as I shot around the grid, but sometimes it was a bit slow and dangerously cut off visibility at its edges. Even in the most dramatic explosions, like the bullet hell that signals the beginning of a new spawn stage, the frame rate never stutters.
Audio Review
Electronic music pumps throughout each level, contributing to the spacey, colorful sci-fi motif. The sound effects are mostly good but sometimes have a tinny or cheap sound, especially during boss battles where they should be more bombastic.
Final Thoughts
In the limited field of shoot-em-ups, 'Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions' couldn’t be more welcome, especially as the franchise’s future was in doubt after the end of both its publisher and developer. It is a great, inexpensive twin-stick shooter that has a few mild design issues, but nothing that would dissuade me from recommending it to anyone.