Geometry Wars: Galaxies is an easy shooter to get into that follows the formula of old-school shooters closely. While the style of
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gameplay may bring up feelings of nostalgia for many, it still manages to feel very modern despite its classic appeal. And although it was originally a dual analog stick shooter, the DS’s touch screen and stylus controls work exceedingly well.
In the game’s campaign mode, you’ll control a single drone as you take on growing waves of enemies in each of the game’s 60+ stages. Although simple by nature, the game has a few features that add to the overall package. For starters, you will equip an ability—called a Behavior— for your drone before battle. These abilities range from helper drones that attack alongside you to magnetic drones that help pick up Geoms, the in-game currency. The more you use these abilities, the stronger they become. This adds a nice touch to the game, and the RPG-esque feel to the Behavior mechanic is certainly a welcome feature.
Destroying enemies will reward you with points and Geoms. Geoms can be picked up and are necessary in order to advance in the
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game and buy different types of abilities for your drone. In order to access all the levels in the game, you’ll have to collect Geoms and purchase each of the levels. This adds a layer of replay value to the game and makes you have to earn access to later stages but it isn’t overdone. In other words, you’ll need to devote some time to collecting Geoms if you want to progress through the game, but it never feels like a chore.
The game’s controls are solid and easy to master. You’ll control your drone’s movement with the D-Pad and fire using the DS’s face buttons. (For left-handed gamers, it’s the opposite.) However, the game allows touch screen controls, and you’ll find that moving around with the D-Pad and firing with the stylus on the touch screen is the optimal control choice.
