Head Shot God (XBLIG): "Epic Lighting Smiting"

Head Shot God is the 4th installment of Silver Dollar Game's 'Head Shot' series. I didn't get a chance to play the earlier Head Shot titles, but 'Head Shot God' looked like my kind of game. The game seems to feature The famous lightning chucking Zeus, but it could also be interpreted as the Christian God. As Zeus, or whomever deity it might be, your goal is to smite certain people as the wander aimlessly across your television screen. The game features two modes of play (Normal & Sniper). Each mode has their own rules, but smiting the helpless humans is always the main goal.

Gameplay in 'Head Shot God' is both simple, and challenging at the same time. It features a very simple control scheme which Silver Dollar Games is known for. I really like the fact that Silver Dollar Games makes their games easy to play. The controls in the game uses 'Left Thumbstick' for moving your target cursor, and the 'A' button for lightning strikes. This allows for the gamer to focus more on the gameplay rules for each mode.

Head Shot God's regular mode has an audio tutorial that will inform you on what to do before sending you into the more difficult levels in the game.. In the normal/regular mode there are a variety of different types of people sliding back, and forth across an area (Bridge, Street ...). Underneath the people is a movable grey cursor which is how you (Zeus/God) target your targets. They grey cursor will vary in width as you play making it easy sometimes, and more difficult at others. Pressing 'A' will set the lightning to strike, but there is a delay in the strike that varies according to what level you have made it to. In this mode you have a total of five lightning strikes available, and if you waste them all it's 'Game Over'. Within each level your goal is to take out certain targets/people. These targets are all wearing different outfits, so spotting them isn't that difficult. The targets/people you are meant to strike are displayed at the top corner of the screen, and as you progress in levels you will have to strike down more targets. Scoring in this mode is determined by how you take out the target/targets. Hitting a target with the fewest strikes will earn you more points. Striking multiple targets at one time will earn you bonus points, and striking targets/people without hitting the innocent civilians will earn you bonus points as well. Sniper Mode is basically the same except you have unlimited lightning strikes, and must only strike your designated targets (or Game Over).

This game was actually quite fun. The narrative voice actor who did the intro audio, and tutorial audio sounded awesome (like a Saturday morning cartoon narrator). The epic music that plays in the background adds a fun edge to your task of dealing deep fried doom to the people in the game. Silver Dollar Games definitely delivers quality gaming even though the games they make are simple at times. It's the type of game a gamer can play many times without tiring of it. I think score based games such as this always have superb replay value. I just wish developers would include online leaderboards/scoreboards. That's more of a preference though. The game was good, and definitely worth the 80 msp ($1) for the fun to be had.