Nexuiz (XBLA): "Old School Arena Shooters Are Reborn & Revived!!!"

If you are a gamer who has enjoyed fast paced arena shooters in the past such as the "Quake" series (Quake III: Arena) then you'll be stoked about what 'ILLFONIC/THQ' has done for the genre. They have not only brought back the classic gameplay style of the FPS arena shooters of old, but have improved on it in many ways. In fact they have made the game their own in doing so. I was seriously stoked myself when I watched the trailer of "Nexuiz" last year after it was first revealed. It was a shot in the dark, but I knew I had to try and get this game for review. I wanted to see how good it was, and if the developers had managed to successfully revive a gaming genre that I have missed for quite some time. After getting the code for review (which I'm highly thankful for) I tested out all aspects of it, and took many notes on the details of the game as I did so. I was one of the lucky reviewers who actually got to spend some quality time playing online with others. It was hard to find matches at times, but I'm glad to say I can give you the details you need to know.

Nexuiz chronicles the interstellar war between two alien races, the "Kavusarri" and the "Forsellian". Instead of settling their differences on the battlefield they have chosen to make a spectacle of themselves by hosting lethal arena based death matches throughout the galaxy for entertainment. As a result the 'Nexuiz (Necks - us)' competitions were born. Both races of warriors in this display of galactic combat have their own distinct look (Kavussari = Orange, Forsellian = Blue) that sets them apart from one another. They also have various armor types (Light, Medium, Heavy) that alter their movement speed, and durability. These armor types are merely changes in appearances for the most part though. To quench the warriors' blood lust they also have an interesting array of weapons that can be obtained, and used in the arenas (CryLink, Electro, Nex, ClanCutter, Hagar, Mortar, Rocket Launcher, Ravager). Each player starts off with a shotgun, and infinite ammo. Additional guns can be picked up as you come in contact with them in the arenas though. Mutators that alter how the game is played, and functions can also be obtained/used.

What sets "Nexuiz" apart from other arena shooters is the massive amount of "Mutators" that are accessible within the game. If memory serves me correctly, there are at least 100 different mutators available that effect the gameplay in a multitude of ways. Some mutators  simply enhance visual effects (Night Time, Color Blind, Old Skool, Third Eye ...). Other mutators alter movement (Double Jump, Jet Packs, Low Gravity ...). There are even some that have wacky properties that only add to the game's unique sense of humor (Farty Poopy, ILLFONIC, Pinata ...). I could do five paragraphs alone on all the mutators that are available, but I think they are best left to self discovery for those who purchase the game. With that being said the game also features a "Dynamic Mutators" shop that I definitely need to discuss. This shop allows players to spend points that are earned during online play to make (assign 'pips') the chance of getting certain mutators more/less likely. You can only assign up to 100 'pips' within the store, but the good news is you can buy them back afterwards. Having the store options definitely allows the player to better their chances of winning since mutators greatly effect how the matches are won/lost.

As it stands there were only two available types of matches in "Nexuiz". These match types will be very familiar to both "Quake", and CoD (Call of Duty) players. The match types I speak of are 'TDM (Team Deathmatch)', and 'CTF (Capture The Flag)'. In Team Deathmatch you are given a time limit (10 mins.), and a score/kill limit in which to accumulate the most kills. There is probably a limit to how many players can join, but since I've only been able to play with/against 8-10 other reviewers at a time, I do not have a clue to the size a team can be? Capture the Flag (CTF) is a bit more involved than TDM. It is an objective based match type that requires each side to capture the opposing team's flag, and carry it back to their own to score a point. during this time the two teams can combat each other, and use tactics for distraction in order to better achieve their goal. The time limit is the same as in 'TDM', and there is a point limit that can be reached as well. Aside from online play (quick match, private & party play) there is also a single player bot mode in which the gamer can improve their various skills, and try out the different mutators in the game. In the end I found both the offline, and online modes to be solid with little flaw. There was an occasional lag from time to time, but it wasn't severe.

Nexuiz exceeds in both visual, and audio presentation. The developers (ILLFONIC) have created "Nexuiz" with a never before used "CryEngine 3". From the beginning intro sequence to the actual gameplay I could tell that this new gaming engine was leagues ahead of it's time. The graphics were amazing! The lighting, shadows, and special effects in the various arenas were over-the-top in quality. I've only seen high grade gaming PCs bring this sort of visual quality to the table. As for the audio it was equally as impressive. I believe the developers/ILLFONIC went for a more techno/dubstep theme when it came to the in-game soundtrack. In fact it almost sounded "New Age" in a way. I have recently got a new gaming setup with a 36 in. HDTV, and the game looked and sounded brilliant.

The controls in "Nexuiz" are what you'd expect from an FPS/Arena based shooter. You'll find that the initial controller setup has the firing buttons at the top. For movement you'll use the (Left Thumbstick), and for aiming (which can be inverted) you will use the (Right Thumbstick). Switching weapons is as easy as pressing the (Y, or B) buttons. The developers also include a quick turn button (X), and a button for jumping (A). Since the game also uses jet packs for flying they utilized one of the thumbsticks (pressed in) for the ability to land, and to fly. While This all may seem a bit confusing for you at the moment, I assure you they are not really complicated to learn. If you have any experience with "CoD", "Battlefield 3", or other similar FPS games then you'll feel right at home. If you are like me though, and like things custom then there is a highly detailed custom controller menu just for you (Look, Movement, Scoreboard, In Game Menu, Dynamic Mutators, Primary Fire, Alternate Fire, Next Weapon, Previous Weapon, Melee Attack, Weapon Wheel, Rocket Jump, Quick Turn).

Now that I have touched base on the main details of "Nexuiz" I have to give my verdict. I previously mentioned that the new gaming engine (CryEngine 3) was highly impressive, and it is. With that being said the game wasn't without it's hiccups, and lagging moments. During offline play (which I spent most of my time) I found some occasional lag, and frame rate slowdowns. I also encountered a game freeze when playing online with a full lobby of players. Some of the players did have poor signals, so this may have contributed to that factor. After mentioning it to one of the developers during an online session they issued a patch. Unfortunately with the lack of players online I was unable to really tell if this helped at all. It was nice to know that the developers were working diligently to correct any issues that were happening though. Aside from those flaws the game played really well. It was extremely fast paced as the developer addressed in trailers, videos, and articles concerning "Nexuiz". I know that when most players begin playing they may think there's things wrong with the game, but I guarantee you that 9 times out of 10 it will be an effect of one of the mutators such as the "Broken Hit Detection" or "Slow Fire". These (mutators) are a major part of the game that don't need to be overlooked. In conclusion I highly recommend that you get this XBLA title. For 800 msp you are getting a heck of a deal, and a very fun multiplayer experience!

GAME OVERVIEW:

- 100+ Dynamic Mutators
- 9 Arenas/ 3 CTF & 6 TDM (Vertigo, Crash, Sanctuary, Strength, Overlook, Vigor, Refinery, Station, Tension)
- 8 Weapons w/dual shot types + 8 Super Weapon Mutators (Shotgun, Crylink, Electro, Nex, ClanCutter, Hagar, Mortar, Rocket Launcher, Ravager)
- Extensive Clan & Leaderboard Support
- Detailed Player Stats
- Solo & Online Gameplay (Play Against Bots, 4v4 Multiplayer Matches)
- 3 Online Match Types (Quick Match, Private Match, Party Play)
- 3 Character Classes (Light, Medium, Heavy) for Kavussari & Forsellians
- 12 Xbox LIVE Achievements
- Detailed Custom Controls