Nexuiz is a futuristic sci-fi shooter for Xbox 360. You might be thinking that as a game, this is nothing more than a standard ‘Halo’ clone; this couldn’t be further from the truth. The game resembles Halo in some ways, but it offers enough originality to stand on its own merits.
Nexuiz is a fast-paced shooter with gameplay that borderlines ‘twitch’ reactions. The action happens so fast you can’t stop moving without being killed. The gameplay resurrects the days of Unreal Tournament and Quake Arena with game maps that resemble enclosed arenas. The maps are just the right size for combat and they’re perfect for eliminating your enemies.
One thing that is rather refreshing for a network title is the migrating host feature. The game will automatically reassign itself to a different player If the host drops during a match. The game will pause for a few seconds while it syncs to a new host. When this occurs, you are forced to sit through a loading screen while the migrating takes place.
While this may sound inconvenient, it is far better than being kicked from the game because the host had connection problems or decided to rage quit at the last minute. This is a very useful feature; it should be used more often in network releases.
There are plenty of achievements to unlock. You are also rewarded medals for doing an assortment of things like multi-kills, capturing a certain amount of flags and killing with certain weapons. The list is quite large; you will be collecting medals for months, long after the achievements have been unlocked.
There are a handful of weapons to choose from. These weapons include: shotguns, sniper rifles, assault rifles and everyone’s favorite — the rocket launcher. Matches can be configured by the host. This includes the length of the game and game type.
As a rule, each match is about ten minutes long and the brutality is more than you can possibly imagine in a confined space. Each match feels like a blur from beginning to end. By the time the match is over, your hands are sweaty from the adrenaline rush.
There are nine arenas (maps) in all. Exploring the maps is key to figuring out useful strategies and tactics. Opponents who know the maps have the advantage over the ones who do not.
The only drawback to Nexuiz is the lack of a single-player campaign. The only offline feature is a practice mode with bots. At the very least, practice mode can be used to help sharpen your skills for online play. Before starting a practice match, you can adjust bot difficulty, select a stage and configure other options.
The graphics fit the cyberpunk theme perfectly. Each faction has its own distinct look and colors; they all play relatively the same though. The environments have a tremendous amount of detail; the shadowing, lighting and dynamic colors bring the arenas to life. The explosions light up the map as you try and dodge the endless gun fire from your opponents. The music is a mixture of Techno, Electronic and Rock ‘N Roll. The music is both calming and energetic; it’s some of the best music heard in a video game. Hopefully an OST will be released at a later date.
If you’re looking for a shooter with brutal action and unforgiving odds, then Nexuiz is your game. Even though Nexuiz lacks a single-play experience, its online multiplayer experience makes up for it.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Marketplace)
Developer: Machinima
Publisher: THQ
ESRB: T (Teen)
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |   |
| The graphics are powered by CryEngine 3 technology; need I say more? | |
| Sound | |
| Music, Music, Music. I am completely in love with the sound track. Don’t get me wrong; the sound effects are top-notch, but the music will blow you away. | |
| Gameplay | |
| Not since the original Unreal Tournament has a game produced such an adrenaline rush. It reminded me of a time when Unreal Tournament and Quake Arena were kings of the genre. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| As a shooter, Nexuiz can stand on its own merits. If you want a game that you can just pickup and play, then Nexuiz is for you. | |
#1
the game is a halo clone to teh max….., cant be serious!!
#2
Nice review mate. I wonder if we’ll see more games like this?
#3
I agree with the reviewer about the music… good stuff indeed!!!!
#4
My biggest problem with this game is the mirgrating hosting feature. It seems to make you wait tooooooo looooong when switching players.
#5
You guys have some pretty awesome reviews here. Kinda’ like the way you reviewed Nexuiz, much better than most sites. But I gotta say tho that I like the game, but Halo is still much better.
#6
4 stars? More like 5 stars if you ask me.
#7
Why couldn’t Nexuiz come out for PS3? I would love to see this come to the Playstation Network.