Wreckateer (Video Game Review)

Wreckateer is the highly anticipated Xbox LIVE Arcade title for Kinect that allows you to take control of a variety of magical projectiles to tear down castles and other structures with motion controls. The new game isn't completely unlike titles such as Angry Birds with its physic mechanics and fully destructible constructions, but Wreckateer manages to go above and beyond the addictive series to present Kinect owners with an amazingly addictive title for up to two players locally. The release of Wreckateer also coincides with the release of a new program for Xbox LIVE, but more on that later. While Angry Birds may be coming to Xbox 360 in the near future, it may have come too late, as Wreckateer looks to make a big name for itself and destroy the nice popularity perch Angry Birds has set upon over the years.

In Wreckateer, you play as a member of a demolition crew for a magical fantasy kingdom. The king has decided to rebuild his kingdom from the ground up with so much of the land infested with goblins, so it will be up to the team of you and your companions for the adventure, Wreck and Tinker, to dispose of all of these troubled areas. There are 60 stages in the game, each with varying structures ready for demolishing and different weaknesses for your character to pick apart. Wreckateer is one of the few titles where you'll play the game as your Xbox LIVE avatar, as you aim projectiles you'll fire from your trusty ballista towards the objects that need to be taken down.

You will find 6 different magical projectiles in the game, and each has its own unique properties such as the ability to fly, explode, split into multiple projectiles, super fast rocketing projectiles and more. Projectiles can be controlled mid-flight with a series of gestures that will ensure your shot hits its mark in addition to the yellow lined flight pattern you'll see pre-launch. Wreckateer isn't just about destroying however. You'll find plenty of helpful items within each stage that will help you earn maximum points towards your total including bonus points and multipliers in air and explosive TNT crates that give your shots an extra kick when needed. The game also presents many in-game challenges for you to complete as well.

Wreckateer features a great presentation to go along with its wonderful gameplay. The in-game menus allow you to easily get into single player and turn-based multiplayer matches locally, and you'll also find that you can play through each of the game's 60 stages in any order you'd like. Wreckateer's graphics look similar to a Saturday morning cartoon with plenty of bright colors reflecting off the surface of the game. Character models look somewhat silly, but add to a lighthearted, humorous tone the game strives towards. Wreckateer also features a catchy soundtrack with plenty of songs that fit right in with the destruction, and killing goblins is a blast with quirky sound effects as you wreck their former homes.

All of these aspects combine to create one of the most addictive titles ever and a serious contender for best Summer of Arcade title, but Wreckateer ups the ante by introducing a new feature for Xbox LIVE called Avatar FameStar. The new program allows players to complete weekly and one time only challenges that can earn new outfits and items for your Xbox LIVE avatar. The new feature acts similar to achievements but with actual prizes rather than gamerscore, and it will be made available exclusively for Wreckateer with titles such as A World of Keflings and Full House Poker receiving similar treatment in the near future. Wreckateer is an excellent title that is well worth the 800 Microsoft Points asking price, as it will have you addicted within minutes and playing for hours on end learning how fun destruction can really be!

Wreckateer is now available exclusively for Xbox LIVE Arcade and can be purchased for 800 Microsoft Points. Wreckateer is rated E by the ESRB for Crude Humor & Mild Fantasy Violence. For more information on Wreckateer, check out the official Xbox 360 website.

Game Features:

1-2 Players Offlline

6 Magical Projectiles

60 Levels

Online Leaderboards

DLC Support

Achievement Support

Game Information:
Developer: Iron Galaxy
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade
Release Date: July 25, 2012

Score: 10 out of 10