Developer: Twisted Pixel Games, LLC
Publisher: Xbox LIVE Arcade
Rating Guide: How I Review Games

What happens when you’re a mad scientist celebrating a magtastic event of epic proportions after surviving the likes of a “sploding man” when all of a sudden that same magtastic event leads to the creation of a “sploding ms.”?  Well, you run like hell and get out of the way before you become steaks!

I don’t know where that came from but Twisted Pixel somehow manages to tickle every genuine gamer bone in your body with their creations.  That in turn makes me come up with some crazy shiz.

With Ms. Splosion Man, I found myself right back in the same awesome zone as I was when playing Splosion Man for the first time. 

Gameplay, Graphics and Sound

If you’ve played Twisted Pixel’s Splosion Man then you’re already familiar with how to control things in Ms. Splosion Man.  Each of the buttons “splode” you so that you can reach new heights, navigate obstacles and blow things up (big huge enemies in particular).  There are new things to use for the Ms. including zip lines, trampolines, rocket cars and MANDY!  There are quite a few other additions you’ll come across.

The game continues to be a lot of fun but still pretty challenging.  You may think you can explode just right in order to make it over that acid but it’s a bit more difficult than you think.  There are a lot of levels so just get used to starting over a few times.  The controls feel a better this time around. In fact, when you come to those levels when you have to use barrels and such to get to where you have to go, it’s easier.  Boss battles are still tricky though but not at all something that should frustrate you.

Ms. Splosion Man continues with the same visual flare that we’ve come to love in this universe.  The colors are bright and funky…the characters are worthy of comic book status..and the exploding animations are classic.  Even the crazy dialogue has become even crazier albeit a bit more repeated.  And the ”moves” even more fun to look at.  Is there a better moment in gaming than seeing Ms. Splosion Man channel her inner Beyonce?  And you absolutely have to fail a level a lot in order to see what happens as Ms. Splosion Man wrestles with whether to cheat past it or not.

One of the coolest things about the game is that it gives you a different experience when you play through multiplayer.  Multiplayer has a different campaign and ending so there’s reason to grab a buddy and play.  (not that you needed a reason like that)  There is even a “2 Girls, 1 Controller” mode for those of you who enjoy a good challenge.  Yes, that name is real and only Twisted Pixel would come up with it.  This mode lets you control two characters with one controller.  And yes, it’s difficult.

But it’s also just another cool thing about the game.  It’s not just Splosion Man with new levels but instead it’s Ms. Splosion Man doing her own thing with her own features, secrets and flare.  I’d love to detail each and every one of the things you’ll encounter but trust me it’s best to let it all play out before your eyes.

Xbox LIVE Extras

Putting online co-op in Ms. Splosion Man just about sealed the deal on this being one of those games you’ll just never get tired of playing.  Although it wasn’t as good of an experience as offline, it still gives you the opportunity to team up and battle around the world.

Conclusion

If you got a problem, yo she’ll splode it!  Ms. Splosion Man baby.  I admit I had no doubt that Twisted Pixel would deliver another great experience and they did.  Ms. Splosion Man is to Splosion Man what Ms. Pac-Man was to Pac-Man.  Playing Ms. Splosion Man was a treat like no other.  I have a feeling that this generation of gamers will look back at the dynamic duo the same way my generation looks back at the power pellet eating smiley face.

We are witnessing the birth of classic arcade game fun ladies and gentlemen.  It started with Splosion Man and it has been gracefully pinkified with Ms. Splosion Man.

9.5
“Velvet”