by William Whorton

Created on: December 20, 2008   Last Updated: December 22, 2008

Score: 5/5

T.W.T.P.B., from Spell of Play Studios, hearkens back to classic arcade shooters such as Galaga. The developers wisely opted to stay true to the genre rather than attempt to update the experience, making for a simple, enjoyable game. In an industry obsessed with complex storylines, photorealistic graphics, theater-quality sound and gimmicky gameplay, T.W.T.P.B. is a refreshingly simple game worth adding to your library.

You don't need a cutting-edge gaming rig to enjoy T.W.T.P.B. The game's visuals are minimalistic but bright, crisp and pleasing. Enemies are hollow geometrical shapes reminiscent of neon signs. The player's ship is a solid, white model typical of the genre. Overall, the graphics do the job without getting in the way. The same can be said for the audio. The in-game music tends toward inconspicuous synth-pop that meshes well with the action without being especially noteworthy. Sound effects are appropriate if not groundbreaking.

The game mechanic is straightforward. The plot can be summarized as follows: you're one of many spaceship pilots fighting for the "Emperor" and there are hordes of bad guys, or "heretics", who you need to shoot. The player selects a level of difficulty and chooses a starting point. The level begins, enemies appear from the edges of the screen, and the player shoots or avoids them and their drifting projectiles, collecting energy and power-ups from dead foes until the end of the level. The final enemy is a boss which, like its smaller predecessors, follows a set pattern. The player shoots the boss while avoiding its attacks until it dies, and then progresses to the next level. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

If you're unfamiliar with the arcade shooter genre you'd be forgiven for thinking that simplicity and repetition makes this a dull game. In fact, it makes for nearly endless replayability. Why? Because it relies on basic, solid gameplay rather than cutting edge graphics and an intricate plot. T.W.T.P.B. doesn't try to make the player feel as if he or she is starring in an action movie. The game doesn't rely on complex plot twists (which only work once), mind-blowing graphics, innovative controls or any of the other hallmarks of most modern releases. It's just uncomplicated, addictive fun.

Veterans of the genre will be glad to hear that T.W.T.P.B. doesn't try to do anything fancy. All the conventions are present: lives, floating power-ups, minimal plot and maximum twitch. The keyboard, the mouse, or any combination of the two is used for control. Purists might be disappointed that the game doesn't offer the option to use a game pad or joystick, but the mouse by itself works quite well.

That T.W.T.P.B. doesn't try to revolutionize or reinterpret the classic arcade shooter is in itself a refreshing innovation. It does a simple thing very well, offering the kind of pure fun that only retro games can provide. Whether you're new to the shooter genre or an old veteran, T.W.T.P.B. will make you feel like a kid in an arcade.

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