Mutant Storm Reloaded
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| Mutant Storm Reloaded | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | PomPom Games |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft |
| Designer(s) | Miles Visman & Michael Michael |
| Engine | Tripper 3D Engine |
| Release date(s) | November 22, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | Multi-directional shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360 (XBLA) |
Mutant Storm Reloaded is a shoot 'em up similar to Geometry Wars and Robotron: 2084 developed by PomPom Games. Mutant Storm Reloaded debuted as a launch title on the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service with updated graphics, sound, and gameplay over its PC predecessor, Mutant Storm.
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 [1][2]. Generally, reviews were well-received, with the most common complaint being the games cost (800 points) compared to similar alternatives available on Xbox Live Arcade.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Score Multiplier
A multiplier system similar to the one Geometry Wars is used, whereby 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.
[edit] Belt Meter
| White | |
| Yellow | |
| Orange | |
| Green | |
| Purple | |
| Blue | |
| Brown | |
| Black |
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 the belt ranking from 0% to 100%. Once 100% is reached, the player's grade advances to the next belt level, and the meter resets to the new color and 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.
[edit] Modes
There are two modes by which one can play. The first, Adventure Mode, is a progression through the 89 rooms. If you lose a life, you try the room again, and move on after you win. 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 you 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 you 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 a rooms most efficiently.
[edit] 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 powerups (for example, a stronger laser or seeking missiles). Other powerups 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.
[edit] Multiplayer & Xbox Live Gameplay
The game also has a two-player cooperative mode (played locally on the same Xbox 360); this can be done for both Adventure or Tally Mode together. High scores for Adventure Mode and Tally Mode, both in single-player and two-player, are posted on leaderboards on Xbox Live.
[edit] Achievements
Mutant Storm Reloaded has 12 achievements (see below), which have a total of 200 Gamerscore points.
| Achievement | Description | Gamerscore |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Belt | Get the difficulty to Yellow Belt. | 10  |
| Orange Belt | Get the difficulty to Orange Belt. | 10 |
| Green Belt | Get the difficulty to Green Belt. | 15 |
| Purple Belt | Get the difficulty to Purple Belt. | 15 |
| Blue Belt | Get the difficulty to Blue Belt. | 20 |
| Brown Belt | Get the difficulty to Brown Belt. | 20 |
| Black Belt | Get the difficulty to Black Belt. | 30 |
| Adventure Mode Completed | Complete all 89 levels in Adventure Mode. | 15 |
| Tally Mode Completed | Complete all 89 levels in Tally Mode. | 15 |
| 2× Multiplier | Get the multiplier to ×2. | 5 |
| 4× Multiplier | Get the multiplier to ×4. | 10 |
| Black Belt Grandmaster | Complete all 89 levels in Adventure Mode on Black Belt, starting from level 1. | 35 |
[edit] Notes
- Mutant Storm Empire is the sequel to this game and will be released sometime during Q4 2006 or Q1 2007. Although no such mention or announcement is available on the official site of PomPom Games, there are many references to this on the official site of Xbox.
- The Black Belt Grandmaster Achievement is one of the least achieved across all Xbox games. As of August 27, 2006, tracking site MyGamerCard.net only showed a total of twenty people worldwide who were able to complete it.[3] These Gamers are BK THE KING, Bruntski, BugEyedMonster, crimsonsation, crossfade x, DarkJinyu, Furydog, Infrared2yaHead, JEDI YATES, JT skateordie, JustOneWin, Ke1nTrinkwasser, l All Luck l, mw574, Mycha3l, NEO ATLAS, PHR0Z3N360, Rageofa12Gauge, shooterfan and teamsaxo.
Several of the Black Belt Grandmasters are not legitimate because they paid other people to accomplish this achievement for them. It is believed that there are only 11 true grandmasters.
