Mutant Storm Reloaded

Last updated
Mutant Storm Reloaded
Mutantstormreloadedcover.jpg
Developer(s) PomPom Games
Publisher(s) Microsoft
Designer(s) Miles Visman & Michael Michael
Engine Tripper 3D Engine
Platform(s) Xbox 360 (XBLA), Windows
Release
  • Xbox 360
  • November 22, 2005
  • Microsoft Windows
  • March 21, 2012
[1]
Genre(s) Multi-directional shooter
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer

Mutant Storm Reloaded is a multi-directional shoot 'em up developed by PomPom Games. The game debuted as a launch title on the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service with updated graphics, sound, and gameplay over its Windows and Xbox predecessor, Mutant Storm.

Contents

The game's core is very much that of a classic arcade shooter, although its artistic design, colorful and reminiscent of cel-shading or microscopic medical imaging, has been called "psychedelic" and "an eye-frying Minter-esque slice of psychotropic twitch brilliance" by reviewers. [2] Generally, reviews were positive, with the most common complaint being the game's high launch price, 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD), compared to similar alternatives available on Xbox Live Arcade.

Gameplay

In the game, the player controls a ship around a succession of 89 rooms filled with enemies which must be defeated within a certain time period. The enemies range from slow-moving targets to stationary turrets to mini-boss-type enemies which require many shots and specific strategies to be defeated. After each room is cleared, the remaining time is converted to points and added to the score. As the player progresses without losing a life, a score multiplier and a belt meter increase the reward and difficulty level. Gameplay strategies, weapons and power-ups depend on the mode of gameplay chosen.

Score multiplier

Scores are increased by 2x, 3x, or 4x the longer a player goes without losing a life. The highest scores are awarded to consistently great performances, as mistakes can slow down a scoring drive considerably.

Belt meter

The belt meter is the second gameplay element that alters the level of challenge during the game. It is a performance-ranking system that uses a color scale similar to the one used in judo, although the game creators referred to it as Blastikkidoo.

At the lowest level, White Belt, enemies are generally sluggish and non-threatening. At Black Belt, the game is as challenging as any of the classic twitch games. As play continues and more enemies are defeated, a belt meter in the lower left-hand corner of the screen increases gradually from 0% to 700%. Each belt color is associated with a multiple of 100%, beginning with the white belt at 0%. As the rating increases, so does the difficulty and speed of the game, as well as the scoring. If a player loses a life, their ranking is decreased, possibly causing the belt level to drop a color. In this way, the game tries to keep pace with each player's ability. In general, the player must complete 20 rooms without dying to be able to move onto the next color.

Modes

There are two play modes available. The first, Adventure Mode, is a progression through the 89 rooms. Players can keep retrying a room after losing a life, and after they complete one room proceed to the next one. After every 10 rooms, a checkpoint is created; a new game can then be started on that room thereafter. In addition to choosing a room, Adventure Mode allows the player to start a game at any belt level that has been previously unlocked. Adventure Mode rewards steady, consistent performance without any deaths.

The second mode, Tally Mode, is played one room at a time. Players are competing against themselves by trying to best their top score in that room. Tally Mode is different from Adventure Mode in that each room is a checkpoint: once that room is completed, it can be replayed or one can go onto the next room. Tally Mode also allows players to choose any belt level, so new players can experience playing at a high belt level without having unlocked it in Adventure Mode. As only one great performance per room is needed for high scores, Tally mode rewards risk-taking and finding ways to clear rooms most efficiently.

Weapons and powerups

The arsenal available to the player depends on the mode of gameplay. In Adventure Mode, the ship is equipped with a default laser fire which can be upgraded through temporary power-ups (for example, a stronger laser or seeking missiles). Other power-ups give the ship a shield to withstand an extra attack or add to the score. At the start of each game, the player is given three bombs which clear the area around the ship of enemies. In Tally Mode, the only weapon available is the default laser cannon.

Multiplayer and Xbox Live gameplay

The game also has a two-player cooperative mode played locally on the same Xbox 360, which is available on both Adventure and Tally modes. The game maintains its difficulty in cooperative mode by decreasing the number of extra lives per player and limiting the range of the basic laser weapon. High scores for Adventure Mode and Tally Mode, both in single-player and two-player, are posted on leaderboards on Xbox Live.

Reception

Mutant Storm Reloaded received mixed to positive reviews from critics upon release. On Metacritic, the Xbox 360 version of the game holds a score of 77/100 based on 18 reviews. [3]

Sequel

A sequel, Mutant Storm Empire , was released on October 31, 2007.

Related Research Articles

<i>Ikaruga</i> 2001 shoot em up video game

Ikaruga is a shoot 'em up developed by Treasure. It is the spiritual sequel to Radiant Silvergun (1998) and was originally released in Japanese arcades in December 2001. The story follows a rebel pilot named Shinra as he battles an enemy nation using a specially designed fighter called the Ikaruga which can flip between two polarities, black and white. This polarity mechanism is the game's key feature and the foundation for its stage and enemy design. All enemies and bullets in the game are either black or white. Bullets which are the same color as the player are absorbed while the others will kill the player. The game features both single-player and cooperative modes.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time</i> 1991 arcade game

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Turtles in Time in Europe, is a beat 'em up arcade video game produced by Konami and released in 1991. A sequel to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, it is a scrolling beat 'em up type game based mainly on the 1987 TMNT animated series. Originally an arcade game, Turtles in Time was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992 under the title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, continuing the numbering from the earlier Turtles games released on the original NES. That same year, a game that borrowed many elements, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist, was released for the Sega Genesis.

<i>Metal Slug 3</i> 2000 video game

Metal Slug 3 is a run and gun video game developed by SNK. It was originally released in 2000 for the Neo-Geo MVS arcade platform as the sequel to Metal Slug 2/Metal Slug X. The music of the game was developed by Noise Factory.

<i>Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved</i> 2003 video game

Geometry Wars is a video game made by Bizarre Creations. Initially a minigame in Project Gotham Racing 2, an updated version, titled Retro Evolved, was eventually released for the Xbox 360. That version, at one point, held the record for the most downloaded Xbox Live Arcade Game.

<i>Zuma</i> (video game) Video game

Zuma is a 2003 tile-matching puzzle video game developed by Oberon Media and published by PopCap Games. It was released for a number of platforms, including PDAs, mobile phones, and the iPod.

<i>DoDonPachi DaiOuJou</i> Arcade game

DoDonPachi DaiOuJou is the fourth arcade game in Cave's DonPachi series. The history section of DoDonPachi Resurrection on iPhone calls it DoDonPachi Blissful Death in localisation. CAVE later ported the game to iOS under this localised name.

<i>Mutant Storm Empire</i> 2007 video game

Mutant Storm Empire is a multi-directional shoot 'em up by PomPom Games and the sequel to Mutant Storm Reloaded released for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service.

<i>Jetpac Refuelled</i> 2007 video game

Jetpac Refuelled is an arcade-style shooter video game developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Studios. It was released worldwide on the Xbox Live Arcade service on March 28, 2007. The game is the fourth installment of the Jetman series and a remake of Ultimate Play the Game's 1983 ZX Spectrum game, Jetpac. The game follows Jetman as he attempts to rebuild his rocket in order to explore different planets, whilst simultaneously defending himself from hostile aliens.

<i>Yaris</i> (video game) 2007 video game

Yaris is a Toyota-licensed racing advergame based on the line of Yaris subcompact cars. It was developed for the Xbox 360 and distributed for free on Xbox Live Arcade. The game was released on October 10, 2007, but was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace in November 2008.

<i>Space Invaders Extreme</i> 2008 video game

Space Invaders Extreme is a re-vamped incarnation of the classic arcade game Space Invaders. The DS and PSP versions were released to mark the 30th anniversary of Space Invaders which saw its original arcade release in 1978. An HD version of the game has been remastered by Backbone Entertainment for Xbox Live Arcade with new four-player multiplayer modes and visualizer backgrounds by Jeff Minter, it was released on 6 May 2009 as a wrap-up to the 30th anniversary. The game is played at a fast pace with an electronic soundtrack and sound effects.

<i>Galaga Legions</i> 2008 video game

Galaga Legions is a 2008 twin-stick shooter video game developed and released by Namco Bandai Games for the Xbox 360. It is the twelfth game in the Galaxian series, and the third developed for home platforms. The player controls a starship, the AEf-7 "Blowneedle", in its efforts to wipe out the Galaga armada. The objective of the game is to clear each of the five stages as quick as possible. Stages have a heavy emphasis on puzzle solving and chain reactions, which are necessary to clear out enemy formations. The Blowneedle has a pair of satellites at its disposal, and can place them anywhere on the screen to fend off enemies.

Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! is a video game developed by Taito for WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade. It is the latest installment in the Rainbow Islands series. The game was released in Japan on March 3, 2009, in the PAL regions on May 8, and in North America on June 15. The Xbox Live Arcade version was released on October 28 the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game Room</span> Video game service

Game Room was a social gaming service for the Xbox 360 video game system, Microsoft Windows PCs, and Windows Phone 7. Launched on March 24, 2010, Game Room let players download classic video games and compete against each other for high scores. Players on both Xbox 360 and Windows PCs could access Game Room through their respective versions of Microsoft's Live online services. The servers shut down on October 31, 2017.

<i>Aqua</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Aqua is an arcade-action shooter with tactical elements, driven by a steampunk story in which the vast majority of the world is covered with water. Aqua was developed by Games Distillery on their own proprietary engine and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade on May 19, 2010. The game is set in an alternate reality where most of the Earth is covered with water and factions war for the remaining pieces of land.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled</i> 2009 beat em up video game

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled is a beat 'em up video game developed and published by Ubisoft. It is an enhanced remake of Konami's 1991 arcade game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. It is mostly based on the 1987 animated series, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures and the second movie, like the original game.

<i>Galaga Legions DX</i> 2011 video game

Galaga Legions DX is a 2011 twin-stick shooter video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It is the sequel to Galaga Legions (2008), and is the fourteenth entry in the Galaxian series. The player controls the AEf-7 "Blowneedle" starship in its efforts to wipe out the Galaga forces before they destroy all of mankind. The objective is to clear each of the game's nine stages in the quickest time possible by destroying waves of enemies. The Blowneedle has a pair of satellites that can be pointed at enemies to shoot them down. New additions have been made to the core gameplay, such as a "slowdown" effect when the player is about to collide with an enemy.

<i>The Adventures of Shuggy</i> 2011 video game

The Adventures of Shuggy is a puzzle-platform game developed by British studio Smudged Cat Games and published by Valcon Games. It was released June 15, 2011 for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade, for Microsoft Windows on June 13, 2012, and for Linux and OS X on October 30, 2015. It follows the vampire Shuggy as he seeks to rid his newly inherited mansion of its undesirable inhabitants.

<i>Voltron: Defender of the Universe</i> (video game) 2011 video game

Voltron: Defender of the Universe is a twin stick shooter adventure game based on the Voltron television series, developed by Behaviour Interactive and published by THQ. The game was released on November 29, 2011 for PlayStation 3 and released on November 30, 2011 for Xbox 360. The game allows players to play as all five lions from the series and to control Voltron, a huge robot formed by combining those lions. The game received mixed reception among critics. Some reviewers were critical of the Voltron robot gameplay sequences, yet others praised the lion sequences. Most critics spoke highly of the fan service given. The game is now delisted and not available for purchase. However the game is still available on the UK psn store.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows</i> (video game) 2013 video game

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a 2013 hack and slash video game developed by Red Fly Studio and published by Activision. Although not a direct adaptation of the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, the game is heavily inspired by the show. Out of the Shadows features a four-player online mode and offline two-player co-op. In the game' story, the Turtles face various adversaries, including the Foot Clan, the Purple Dragons, Baxter Stockman, and the Kraang, while trying to stop the Shredder from developing a new weapon using stolen Kraang technology that could eliminate them and their allies.

<i>DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou</i> 2012 video game

DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJoulit. "Angry Don Bee Biggest Death" is a vertically scrolling bullet hell arcade game released by Cave in 2012, and the sixth chapter in Cave's DonPachi series. A Japanese-region free release was released on May 30, 2013. An updated version, titled DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou EXA Label in Japan and DoDonPachi True Death EXA Label internationally, was released for the exA-Arcadia arcade platform in 2020, featuring a new "EXA Mode" difficulty.

References

  1. ↑ "Mutant Storm Reloaded on Steam + Astro Tripper & Alien Zombie Megadeath on IndieRoyal bundle!". PomPom Games. April 4, 2012. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Gerstmann, Jeff (November 23, 2005). "Mutant Storm Reloaded Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Mutant Storm Reloaded for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  4. ↑ Reed, Kristan (February 16, 2006). "Mutant Storm Reloaded". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  5. ↑ Elston, Brett (April 19, 2006). "Mutant Storm Reloaded - Xbox Live Arcade review". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  6. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (February 8, 2006). "Mutant Storm Reloaded". IGN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  7. ↑ Nardozzi, Dale (December 14, 2005). "Mutant Storm Reloaded Review (Xbox 360)". Team Xbox. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.