Mutant Storm Empire does have a couple of improvements over its predecessor, but are they enough to warrant getting back into the game? As mentioned, the game is a dual-analog, top-down shooter and there are quite a lot of them on the XBLA now. That is, you use the left analog stick to move and the right analog will shoot in the desired direction. Holding the R or L trigger will initiate the super weapon. Unlike Geometry Wars, where you’re only playing off against your own high score in randomised scenarios, Mutant Storm Empire splits the game up into 16 levels and you can progress through them either in Adventure mode or in Tally mode.
Got enough enemies there?
So as well as surviving, building your multiplier and your score, Mutant Storm Empire also requires you to progress. Levels either consist of one room with spawning enemies, or several rooms that require you to destroy everything in them. One improvement over the predecessor is that the game is now seamless with no load times between rooms. Another addition is that you can now play through with a friend in co-op mode. Again, it’s a seamless addition. While the gameplay isn’t as sharp or as random as Geometry Wars, it can still demands a fair amount of skill and ability.
The game will throw several enemies at once at you, though if you only shoot one kind of enemy at a time, you’ll earn combos. The more combos you can string together without losing lives, your multiplier increases. This adds a very different element to the game. On the one hand, you can chase your score by going for one enemy at a time, but on the other, if you don’t take account for the other enemy, you’ll be in trouble. That being said, Mutant Storm Empire is a game where you can almost memorise the enemy patterns and tricks and become really good at certain areas.
It’s a good thing that multiplayer was added to the game because it’s a very brief affair. We appreciate that it’s the kind of game that work well on the XBLA, as it’s good in short bursts. However, skillful players will wipe through it very quickly. Within a couple of hours, most likely. Unless you’re the kind of person that likes chasing high scores or playing multiplayer, the game is going to wear thin very, very quickly.
So where exactly is this empire?
Graphically, the game retains the same style introduced by its predecessors. It’s very colourful, stylized and has the potential for a lot to be happening on screen at once. It ran very well, but for some reason, the visuals seemed like they didn’t have too many distinguishing personality. In terms of sound, the effects were extremely basic. Defeating some enemies sounded like breaking glass or hitting a tin can. The lack of music was a bit or a dampener as well.
Mutant Storm Empire is a thoroughly enjoyable little game, for as long as it lasts. It demands quite a reasonable level of skill and puts the players in some situations that require you to pick between surviving and scoring. However, unless you make use of the multiplayer or are someone who likes to chase high scores and extra difficulty, the fun is over very, very quickly. That, and players aren’t exactly struggling for choice at the moment.
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