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Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Review for Xbox 360

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Review for Xbox 360

Insanely Twisted? Perhaps. Fun? You Bet!

Maybe my mind has been corrupted from over-exposure to both horror movies and games that make “difficult” a dirty word, but when I heard about Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, I was expecting something that would make me tear my hair out and feature plenty of crazy images that would forever alter my perception of reality. However, what I got was a beautifully crafted world full of style and substance that I just couldn’t get enough of.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a game in the vein of titles like The UnderGarden and PixelJunk Eden; the visual style is really what keeps you playing. The game takes place on a planet that has been infected with some sort of unnamed evil. Even though this evil is slowly eating away at the planet, it is, in its own way, strangely beautiful. It introduces some amazing structures and creatures. One-eyed bats, floating jellyfish, and living plants fill the landscape with some truly spectacular visuals, and the look of the game really is its signature element. If you love games with unique art styles, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is right up your alley.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Screenshot

Unfortunately, even though the game itself is beautiful, gameplay feels like it sometimes takes a backseat to the visuals. The main game mechanic relies on your ability to collect tools and use them to get through challenging environments and get rid of enemies. These tools range from a ray gun to a circular buzz saw, and finding them along the landscape is your first priority in the game. There is only one “level” and it’ll be up to you how you progress, which works both positively and negatively. Though the self-guided approach does give you plenty of room to explore, it can also take you to places where you can’t access with your current tools, which can result in some serious backtracking. But if you don’t mind some unintentionally wasted time, you can fly your little spaceship around and outfit yourself with all the tools you’ll need for the game and then some.

I actually tried to just blast through the game initially, but I found that to be a pretty fruitless strategy. Much of the game relies on your ability to solve complex puzzles, and just focusing on blasting away bad guys won’t help you at all. The game actually has somewhat of a dual identity as both a shooter and a puzzler, but the latter is what you’ll encounter more often. In fact, the shooting is what I would say is the weakest part of the game, as it relies on some very specific twitch mechanics. Boss fights in particular require extreme precision, which can detract from the overall “feel” of the game. I much preferred wandering around the terrains and using my tools to solve puzzles over frantically switching and aiming weapons and specific parts of a boss to win a fight, especially because boss fights in this game tend to feel overly long.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Screenshot

Still, despite my qualms with the twitch-based combat and the boss formats, I did like the gameplay overall. As you progress, you can see the planet slowly coming back to life, which is satisfying indeed. Though there is no straight progression path, every unlocked item, defeated boss, or discovered artifact feels like a big win. The Shadow Planet is a big place, and finding items in its hidden corridors is always exciting.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Screenshot

The only downside is that those who are very skilled will probably be able to blast through this game in three or four hours. Though some exploration is necessary, you can complete the game without trying to unlock all of the tools, upgrades, or artifacts, and just floating from boss fight to boss fight can make this a very quick game experience. If you try to collect and unlock everything, the time jumps to seven or eight hours, which is respectable for a Live Arcade title. However, once you’ve unlocked everything, there isn’t much else to do in Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, which certainly hinders its replayability.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Screenshot

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a game with a simple premise: purge the planet of evil. But evil in this game takes such a beautiful form that it’s almost a shame to vanquish it. Still, the gameplay works so well and the puzzle elements of the game are so sublime that you’ll get over it quickly. The only real issues that hold Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet back from being one of the best downloadable games of the season are its short playtime and its shooter/puzzle identity crisis.

If there was just a bit more content in the game, and if the focus was more on solving puzzles, I have no doubt that this would be a huge hit. However, as it is, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a great game, even if it is slightly flawed. And in a summer that has been sparse with games, this may very well make this title worth your time and money. It certainly is a nice diversion, and if nothing else, this is one “twisted” game that won’t appall or frustrate you. Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is about style first, followed by substance, and if you want something a little different than the other titles out there, this game fits the bill nicely.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.2 Graphics
Visuals are breathtaking and give this quirky little title most of its charm. 3.0 Control
Controls are simple in the beginning, but the game’s reliance on twitch mechanics in its second half is detrimental. 3.4 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The minimalistic soundtrack is very effective. 3.5 Play Value
The game isn’t terribly long, but if you are trying to find and unlock all of the tools and go for 100% map completion, you can extend the experience to 6-8 hours 3.6 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • This side-scrolling, 2-D, action-adventure game takes players on a journey through the curious Shadow Planet worlds, unique environments filled with twisted life, surreal ecologies, hostile creatures, and environmental hazards.
  • Players explore the depths of several interconnected themed areas, fighting swarms of enemies, battling bosses, solving mind-bending puzzles, and acquiring power-ups to unlock new parts of the map.
  • Solve complex puzzles and upgrade your ship with alien technology as you fight to save your home world!

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