Where the DS version of Geometry Wars Galaxies looks nice, the Wii version looks spectacular. Sure, it probably isn't as great as the same game running over 1080p from an Xbox 360, but in the relative world of Nintendo platforms, it rocks. The lack of 3D is never a problem; tracing lines on the screen might seem like it would get old after a while, but it never does. Simple design is masterful design, the less-is-more concept at work. The subtle composition of character models in the game is in contrast to particle and lighting effects that are strictly next-gen. The level of complexity on the screen at times is dizzying, hypnotic, and mostly a cloud of shifting light with some discernible patterns that reveal enemy ships, obstacles, and your own ship.

The music shares that hypnotic quality and definitely stays out of the way. The sounds of battle aren't overwhelming, but there are some significant effects that tip you off to things happening out of sight. The sound of an enemy entering the battlefield is distinctive and you'll learn to pay attention to the entrance of some specific enemies that pack a wallop. The bigger events include warning sounds that precede a swarm of small enemies almost impossible to destroy without fully powered weapons. There are lots of small and subtle clues in the visuals and sound in the game that make the playing experience such a pleasure. The most exciting thing is the wide array of enemies and environments; entering each new planet is exciting and different. The enemies you'll see range from not very exciting to electrifying. There are even some beautiful enemies by virtue of their weird movement patterns or shapes.

Our recent review of the DS version of Geometry Wars Galaxies came down favorably with some caveats around staying power. Translation of Geometry Wars to DS was faithful but flawed in that it couldn't capture the easy controls of the larger console and also ended up looking slightly flat compared to the big, bright, beautiful visuals on the console versions. The Wii not only provides superior graphics, but also superior gameplay and mechanics. The advice we gave on getting the DS and Wii together at least once to access locked features in Geometry Wars Galaxies still holds; the difference is that if you can only afford to own one version, the Wii version is the keeper.

Geometry Wars Galaxies for Wii is identical to the DS version in that it allows you to work through a series of single-player stages. Each stage is a galaxy and contains several planets. A planet constitutes a level, but the game doesn't force you into a strictly linear progression. The way to unlock new stages and levels is to collect the remnants of enemy ships you've destroyed. This precious cargo known as a Geom only stays around for a little while, forcing you to scamper around the level, sometimes into some dangerous territory. The payoff is literally a payoff because you can spend Geoms in exchange for locked levels or new weapons. Each level is as much an opportunity to collect Geoms and upgrade your weapon as it is an obstacle to overcome. The levels feel fairly infinite in terms of how long you are faced with wave after wave of enemy menace. There are specific goals attached to earning points that translate to medals in each level. The medals or points don't necessarily matter as much as upgrading weapons and collecting the Geoms necessary to move further along in the game.

Multiplayer is a gas and allows any combination of two controllers so players can work together against enemy waves or compete. The competition is mostly about sticking it to your friend by destroying more enemies and waiting for him to run out of lives. Co-operative play includes shared resources so you may find yourself handicapped by a weaker player unless you partition off your resources. The additional competitive features in Geometry Wars Galaxies for Wii include a great online leaderboard that tracks progress through the version of the game included here faithfully from its original incarnation on the Xbox 360. Known as Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, this is the version that doesn't rely on any complicated mechanics for upgrading weapons, but just forces you to stay alive in a hail of enemy ships. The gamers that appreciated the original or those that like a more simple, retro feeling may gravitate toward this version. The new features and huge variation on enemies in the main mode are where most gamers will spend their time. Spend enough time and you may find your name creeping up on the leaderboard...

There is a definite adjustment period the first time you sit down to a Geometry Wars Galaxies session. The controls are a big change, but the Wii is perfectly adapted for pinpoint control. There aren't fancy motion controls here, but just pure shooting action. The gamers attracted to this style of play (which should be everyone) won't be deterred by learning the mechanics or the steep level of difficulty. Retro gamers more than most can appreciate a challenge and are no strangers to trying something a few times before getting it right. The first foray into Geometry Wars Galaxies will leave you wondering what happened. Things start moving so fast that you barely know when an enemy ship or obstacle touches you and sends you into the oblivion of ones and zeros. The speed of Geometry Wars Galaxies will be daunting to gamers unless they are willing to invest the time to master the controls. All the new enemies have some very unique movement patterns and weaknesses, so it pays to strategize on how you'll tackle a level and how you'll respond when the stuff hits the fan. Luckily there are smart bombs... where would we be without smart bombs?

The most interesting aspect of the game is the control scheme and how well it adapts to the Wii. The option to move differently and have the controls customized slightly is included here, but why mess with a good thing? The second most interesting mechanic is the selection, care, and feeding of a battle drone offered to you at the beginning of each mission. Drones are items that can be purchased or exchanged for your hard-earned cash. In the game, you'll have some tips on how to use each weapon and there's a full briefing in the manual. The drones follow you around and either keep you out of harm's way or provide helpful services such as picking up Geoms dropped during battle. This last feature tells you about how drones are held in high regard throughout the land. The early days of training your drone can be painful - actually the training goes to you to learn about how to effectively manage a bot or droid. The drones are upgraded according to your scores in each level - a fully upgraded drone will respond and act differently than others. You want the additional features just to stay on top of your enemies in battle and not to have to keep juggling all the action items.

Launching the online leaderboard and syncing with the handheld is child's play, very easy for all to do. The steep learning curve of the game means that it won't be played (at least in this format) by gamers without some excellent reflexes. The experience for a watcher is nearly as much fun as for the player, so it's no surprise that this is a popular game along with a few other puzzle or television-themed games coming our way. At least in the retro arcade space, there isn't any contender worth its weight against Geometry Wars Galaxies. The resuscitated classics from companies like Midway, Atari, and others are often high quality, but they don't offer much of anything new to gamers over 30. For anyone interested in a more simplified but still engrossing experience, get out and play Geometry Wars Galaxies with your friends. Log your results on the leaderboard and watch if a smile doesn't cross your face. Like a lot of things, if you can get people smiling, you are probably doing 80% or more of your job. Geometry Wars Galaxies is just plain fun and presents a huge amount of replay for folks that want to get away to something more easy-going and natural.