Geometry Wars: Touch
Encyclopedia
Geometry Wars: Touch is a port of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
on iOS. Geometry Wars is a multi-directional shooter first developed by Bizzarre Creations on the Xbox
. A sequel was later made on the Xbox 360
in the form of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
on the Xbox Live Arcade
. The iPad version of the game features all 6 game modes from the Xbox 360 version and includes a new exclusive game mode called Titans. The game is available for download from the iTunes App Store and is currently selling at $0.99 (Original release price was $9.99). This game is stated as taking full advantage of the iPad's graphical abilities. It was later updated as a universal binary supporting the iPod Touch
and iPhone
, in addition to the iPad.
is lost. Depending on the game mode, lives and bombs can be collected upon gaining certain numbers of points— with bombs being able to clear the game space of enemy shapes instantly, although with no points gained for their destruction.
Crucial to effective play is the score multiplier, which increases as the player collects "geoms" — small diamond-shaped green objects dropped by enemies upon destruction. The number of points gained on destroying an enemy depends on the multiplier; with multipliers sometimes reaching many thousands. Constant collecting of geoms and destruction of enemies cause exponential scoring of points.
On the iPad, the player controls the ship using simulated analog stick
s on the iPad's touchscreen
. This allows for similar controls as the Xbox 360 version. It would appear that the 4-player local multiplayer mode is absent from this version of Geometry Wars.
Unlike the Xbox 360 version, there are seven different modes available to unlock throughout the course of the game instead of 6:
. The game utilizes on-screen virtual thumbsticks.
Bizarre Creations follow up with a press statement on Kotaku website saying the Following "The iPad is an exciting new device, the idea of Geometry Wars running on it really appealed to us and we considered it to be a good fit," he says. "As far as the iPhone...who says we're skipping it?" How You'll Control Geometry Wars On The iPad (And Maybe On the iPhone, Too) Kotaku
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved² is a multidirectional shooter video game created by Bizarre Creations, released on Xbox Live Arcade on July 30, 2008 as a sequel to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved....
on iOS. Geometry Wars is a multi-directional shooter first developed by Bizzarre Creations on the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. A sequel was later made on the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
in the form of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved² is a multidirectional shooter video game created by Bizarre Creations, released on Xbox Live Arcade on July 30, 2008 as a sequel to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved....
on the Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
. The iPad version of the game features all 6 game modes from the Xbox 360 version and includes a new exclusive game mode called Titans. The game is available for download from the iTunes App Store and is currently selling at $0.99 (Original release price was $9.99). This game is stated as taking full advantage of the iPad's graphical abilities. It was later updated as a universal binary supporting the iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
and iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, in addition to the iPad.
Gameplay
The player controls a small, highly maneuverable ship that can move and fire independently in any direction. The objective of the game is to score points by destroying a variety of shapes and surviving by not touching them. The player's ship is destroyed if this happens, and a lifeHealth (gaming)
Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
is lost. Depending on the game mode, lives and bombs can be collected upon gaining certain numbers of points— with bombs being able to clear the game space of enemy shapes instantly, although with no points gained for their destruction.
Crucial to effective play is the score multiplier, which increases as the player collects "geoms" — small diamond-shaped green objects dropped by enemies upon destruction. The number of points gained on destroying an enemy depends on the multiplier; with multipliers sometimes reaching many thousands. Constant collecting of geoms and destruction of enemies cause exponential scoring of points.
On the iPad, the player controls the ship using simulated analog stick
Analog stick
An analog stick, sometimes called a control stick or thumbstick, is an input device for a controller that is used for two-dimensional input. An analog stick is a variation of a joystick, consisting of a protrusion from the controller; input is based on the position of this protrusion in relation...
s on the iPad's touchscreen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
. This allows for similar controls as the Xbox 360 version. It would appear that the 4-player local multiplayer mode is absent from this version of Geometry Wars.
Unlike the Xbox 360 version, there are seven different modes available to unlock throughout the course of the game instead of 6:
- Deadline: The player is challenged to score as many points as possible in three minutes with unlimited lives. During the course of the three-minute countdown, it is possible for a player to earn more bombs than the three the player initially starts with.
- King: The player has only one life and no bombs. Circular safety zones appear randomly in the playing field. Enemies and geoms cannot enter these zones, and the player can only fire while inside one. The zone shrinks and disappears a short time after it is entered, causing a new one to appear elsewhere in the playing field and forcing the player to keep moving from zone to zone.
- Evolved: Similar in style to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, the player is challenged to score as many points as possible with no time limit. The player starts with 4 lives and 3 bombs, and earns extra lives and bombs at set point intervals. (100,000; 1,000,000; 10,000,000)
- Pacifism: The player has only one life and cannot shoot. The player must fly through gates to destroy nearby enemies while avoiding the dangerous edges of the gates, and earns bonus points by flying through gates in rapid succession. This mode was inspired by an achievement in the first game called "Pacifist" where you had to survive 60 seconds without firing.
- WavesGeometry Wars: WavesGeometry Wars: Waves is a multidirectional shooter video game created by Stephen Cakebread of Bizarre Creations, released as a bonus mini-game as part of Project Gotham Racing 4 on Xbox 360 on October 2, 2007. It is the third release in the Geometry Wars series...
: The player has one life and must avoid and destroy waves of rockets that fly horizontally and vertically from the edges of the game space. (This mode was first introduced in Project Gotham Racing 4Project Gotham Racing 4Project Gotham Racing 4 is the fourth title in the main Project Gotham Racing series, developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Microsoft Game Studios.-Development history:...
.) As Waves mode progresses, the player must deal with increasingly challenging groups of additional enemies while dodging and destroying the ever-increasing number of rockets. - Sequence: This mode consists of twenty levels, each with a predetermined pattern of enemies. The player has thirty seconds to destroy all of the enemies in each level. If the player loses a life, they are taken directly to the next level, but the game ends if the player loses all of their lives. Additional lives and bombs are earned at set point intervals.
- Titans: This mode is exclusive to the iPad version. The player starts with 4 lives and 3 bombs and fights large versions of enemies that break up into smaller versions when shot. This mode is similar to certain game modes in Geometry Wars: Galaxies.
Development
The iPad entry in the series builds upon the core of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved² is a multidirectional shooter video game created by Bizarre Creations, released on Xbox Live Arcade on July 30, 2008 as a sequel to Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved....
. The game utilizes on-screen virtual thumbsticks.
Bizarre Creations follow up with a press statement on Kotaku website saying the Following "The iPad is an exciting new device, the idea of Geometry Wars running on it really appealed to us and we considered it to be a good fit," he says. "As far as the iPhone...who says we're skipping it?" How You'll Control Geometry Wars On The iPad (And Maybe On the iPhone, Too) Kotaku