The PlayStation Network sure likes it's more... experimental downloadable games. First there was flOw, a zen-like experience in which you played as a glowing bio-organism in the midst of other, bigger creatures. Next, there was PAIN, a game dedicated to throwing cartoon people into buildings, with painful-sounding cracks. Echocrome, Flower, LocoRoco, The Last Guy - need I go on?

But now, it seems, there is another addition to the weird world of the PlayStation Store. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Savage Moon; a planet where insects (yes, insects) try to prevent mining. Yep, I thought it sounded ridiculous too. That is, until the moment I began playing...

Available from the PlayStation Store, Savage Moon is one downloadable game that you can't afford to miss. Impressing from the start, Savage Moon is one of those games that will remind older gamers of their golden days, and make younger gamers yearn for more of the same.

Graphically, Savage Moon is one of the better PSN titles. The blend of realistic textures and lighting and cartoon-like, erratically-moving insects only serves to make the whole game more appealing. The 'high-tech' feel to the graphical interface (menus, etc) will be more than enough to please the 21st century gamer and his HD television, whilst the unrealistic-looking insects are perfect to make even the biggest kid (for example, Dad trying to look cool) cry with pleasure.

In terms of gameplay, the concept is pretty simple - use the menu commands to place various heavy weaponry to eradicate those irritating insects. However, simple does not mean bad - the system is well implemented and easy to use, and is intuitive too. Quirky commands such as 'perks' (for example, credit bonuses or damage bonuses) and 'advance wave' buttons (to allow you to kill those insects without waiting) bear well for the game. On the other hand, the placing and selecting system can be jittery at times - on more than one occasion I ended up with a machine gun in the wrong place.

Online features are one essential area of next-gen gaming which Savage Moon seems to have entirely forgotten. Bar leaderboards - and since when do you play those? - there are no online options at all. However, to be honest, the single player will be enough to keep you entertained, and for just under six quid you can't expect a fully featured, class based online experience, can you?

Savage Moon's good visuals, entertaining gameplay and good learning curve are a blend which will keep you addicted for hours. My suggestion - warn the missus that you might be a while, close the curtains and pick up the Dualshock - Savage Moon is one PSN title that is definitely worth a look.

8/10

Linford

Labels: PSN, Review, Savage Moon

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