MotorHEAT

Definitely the pick of the bunch. I paid my 240 points for unlimited gameplay and online high scores and don’t regret it for a second. The risk/reward system is absolutely spot on, leading to many deaths in search of better scores. (I did better before I’d worked it all out, which is a sign that it’s working properly.) My only problem is that none of my friends seem have bought it, but that’s hardly the game’s fault. Top stuff.

I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1

It’s funny for a while, but games go on too long. Nevertheless, I paid the eighty points for the full version just to reward the developer for creating something amusing, slightly insane and that doesn’t completely forget gameplay in pursuit of the lulz.

Groov

I bought this a long time ago, but hadn’t played it for ages. The way the music and gameplay interact is pure, genuine brilliance and lifts a fairly standard twin-stick shooter up into the realms of the truly special. If you didn’t check it out when it was new, do so now.

Breath of Death VII: The Beginning Demo

Knowing, gently amusing NES-style RPG. I didn’t buy it, because I doubt I’ll ever put much time into it, but I’m tempted to spend eighty points just as a small message of thanks to the developer for putting a smile on my face for ten minutes or so.

Beat Hazard

This twin-stick shooter supposedly creates levels based on the music you choose. It looks very impressive and plays fluidly enough, but I didn’t notice much connection between the gameplay and the songs. It’s also a bit stingy, not even allowing you to finish a song in the demo. Along with the indie-high price tag of 400 points, that meant that I didn’t buy it. Worth a download, though, just to check it out.

You really should give this a go, you know. Yes, you. (Not you, though. You’ve already seen me play it and it’s so not your type of thing.)

How much do I love it? Well, I got up a few minutes early and played it a couple of time before work. That’s the highest praise there is, I think.

Anyway, Groov. It’s basically another Geometry Wars rip off. It’s got the same type of graphics, but they’re not as nice. It’s got the same controls, but they don’t feel quite as smooth. And unlike Geometry Wars 2′s abundance of modes, Groov only has three levels. And from what I’ve read, none of them last very long. (I keep dying on the first level.)

Not sounding good, is it? But – aha! – sound is what makes it so good. See what I did there? You know how in Rez, exploding enemies become sound effects and add to the music and the music builds as you go through different waves and all that? No? Oh. Well, now you do. And Groov is very similar. Every enemy releases a different sound. (And not only that, but your shots themselves help make the music.) As you reach certain scores, the music builds and it all comes together and you realise that you’re playing something special. You’re making music by shooting stuff! If only all music was made that way…

Short, yes. A tiny, weeny bit clunky, maybe. But excellent all the same. I urge you to try out the demo. And then I urge you to buy it. Two hundred points is really cheap and serves as a thank you to the developer, if nothing else. (Although buying it does unlock two of three levels, so there is something else. Er, yeah. Moving on.) Maybe he can send thank you cards to Bizarre Creations and that bloke you made Rez, or something.