History VideoGame / GeometryWars

Originally an EasterEgg in the ''VideoGame/ProjectGothamRacing'' series for the Xbox. The series' second incarnation, ''Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved'', and its sequel have been released as stand-alone games for the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 Arcade, in 2005 and 2008, and were eventually made available on [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] via UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. Before that, it had clashed with the creators of ''Grid Wars'', which started out as a pretty clear clone (but with more features): its development was reportedly stopped at the request of Bizarre Creations, but the issue was eventually sorted out, by making ''Grid Wars 2'' free to download. Lastly, the game has a [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS]] and a UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} version, ''Geometry Wars: Galaxies''.

* TeleFrag: You usually get a split second to move away should an enemy spawn in your exact location, usually.

* VariableMix: King's soundtrack in 2 and 3 becomes dulled whenever the player is out of a king zone, and becomes clear when inside of one. Checkpoint alternates between two different songs as you clear each wave, and the songs get more intense as the timer approaches 0, but it rewinds a bit if you clear a wave. Sequence's music fades out for a brief moment whenever you complete a wave/die/run out of time, but fades back in when the next wave starts up.

* WeaponsThatSuck: Gravity wells are common enemy type in ''Galaxies''. Fortunately, they affect all shapes, even each other and they do not start until you shoot them. Described in more detail on UnrealisticBlackhole.

* MusicalisInterruptus: In ''Retro Evolved'', gravity wells that explode form eating too many enemies and smart bombs are punctuated with a temporary silence.

** The Battenberg in ''3'' splits into 4 seperate entities, 2 stationary blockers, and 2 tracking darts. The tracking darts move ''absurdly'' fast and while not perfect, can home in on you extremely competently.
* AttackAttackAttack: Many shapes, Weavers notably will only charge when not shooting and make great effort to avoid your shots, slowing to a possible stop should you even aim in their direction. In waves they most opt to sweep every single part of the screen rather than attack directly.

%% * EveryTenThousandPoints: for every 5,000 geoms collected. context, anyone?

* {{Mooks}} Most of the enemies are relativley straightforward and simple to deal with. Even a novice will end up killing thousands on their first go.

** ''3'' adds a multitude of extra ones.

* BulletHell: A variation. While there aren't really any projectiles to speak of, the screen tends to get insanely crowded with enemies, forcing you to use precise maneuvers while simultaneously destroying anything in your path.
** 3 has a level specifically named Bullet Hell, and focuses on spawning enemies that ''can'' shoot at the player.

* LevelGrinding: In ''Galaxies'', you have to level up your drones by playing stages.
* MercyInvincibility: A protective bubble that blinks out a moment later.
* MightyGlacier: Slow moving white shapes surrounded by multiple blue bubbles are slow, but tough to destroy.
* MoneyForNothing: You'll unlock everything in ''Galaxies'' long before you receive all the bonus geoms for hitting score plateaus,

* ScoringPoints (The point of ''Retro Evolved'' and ''Retro Evolved 2'', and what you need to do to advance in ''Galaxies''.)

* ThemeNaming (levels in ''Galaxies'' follow a strict format - three letters for the type, then something denoting a cardinality; e.g. ''[=MinDuo=]'' is '''Min'''e level 2.)
** Scorpion levels are all named after... well... scorpions.
** Rainbow levels are all named after various art styles.

* ArrangeMode:Starts off in ''2'', and more are added in the campaign of ''3''.
** 2 adds
** Deadline: 3 minutes and unlimited lives.
** King: 3 king zones are active at any given time. While outside of a king zone, the player(s) cannot shoot. When inside of one, they can. Enemies and geoms cannot enter king zones. King zones shrink after being entered 3 seconds later, and a new king zone will spawn to take its place. Only one life and no bombs.
** Evolved: A spin on the original Retro Evolved, no special rules are applied to this game mode. 3 lives and 3 bombs, you gain 1 life and 1 bomb every time your score multiplies by 10 at set intervals (100,000 1,000,000 10,000,000 etc.)
** Pacifism: You cannot shoot. You must run into gates and lure grunts into the ensuing explosion. 1 life.
** Waves: Rockets spawn in waves, taking up the entire side that they spawn on. This game escalates ''very'' quickly. Do not expect to survive more than a minute. 1 life.
** Sequence: You are given a series of 20 levels, and 30 seconds to complete each level. Each level spawns the exact same enemies every time you play. Dying in a level skips it, but if you lose all your lives, the game ends early. 3 lives and 3 bombs, you gain 1 life and 1 bomb every time your score multiplies by 10 at set intervals.
** 3 adds
** Rainbow: Special painter enemies spawn in and will paint the grid behind them as they move. The game ends when either you die, or the painters cover a set amount of grid.
** Checkpoint: A variant of Deadline, you have unlimited lives, but a much shorter amount of time (usually between 1 to 15 seconds.). Enemies spawn in waves. Killing all enemies in a wave extends your time by a small amount. Dying incurs a small time loss penalty.
** Sniper: You are given a set amount of ammo. Run out of ammo or die and the game ends.
** Claustrophobia: The walls are slowly closing in, restricting the play-field size over the course of the game.
** Titan: Enemies spawn as large, passive titan versions of themselves that need to be broken down into smaller forms. When small enough, enemies behave like their normal selves.
** Scorpion: A variant of Pacifism, instead of using gates to kill enemies, you trail a laser tripwire behind yourself.
** Stock: A variant of Sniper, you must run around collecting ammo packets to replenish your supply of bullets. You won't lose the game if you run out of ammo.
** Boss: A boss must be defeated to win. Your score is not counted if you do not kill the boss. Each boss has multiple timed phases, and if you run out of time, the boss unleashes a shock wave that kills you instantly.
** Retro Evolved: While not in the campaign, Retro Evolved is a recreation of the original Geometry Wars, with some minor mechanical differences (i.e, Gravity well explosions kill enemies instead of merely shoving enemies away).

* [[EveryTenThousandPoints Every Five Thousand Geoms]]

* MusicalisInterruptus: In ''Retro Evolved'', Gravity wells that explode form eating too many enemies and smart bombs are punctuated with a temporary silence.

* TheSwarm: Mayflies usually spawn in the hundreds, move towards you erratically and are very tiny. If you aren't careful or paying attention, a single one can easily end you. While they don't score much themselves, they can easily increase your score multiplier.

** ''3'''s Classic Mode houses ''Retro Evolved'' mode and all modes from ''2'' except Sequence.

* MythologyGag: Super Sequence in 3 is a reference to the Sequence mode in 2.

* TheTetrisEffect: Given the simple designs of the enemies, it's not too far-fetched to suddenly imagine shapes around you to start moving in ''Geometry Wars'' patterns.

** Mutators inflict this on enemies, turning them into Mutated. Mutated, regardless of prior behavior will beeline straight at the player, and cannot be dodged at all.

* ActionBomb: Gravity wells if they consume to many enemies without getting shot at explode into a bunch of protons. Protons move and track the player FAST, but bounce off of walls.

* AsteroidsMonster: Spinners split into 3 Tiny Spinners when killed. Also, Galaxies has an entire level based on the ''Asteroids'' game, only the {{captain ersatz}} asteroids may turn hostile depending on their shape, especially if it is a Weaver or Spinner asteroid. The Battenberg splits into 4 seperate entities, 2 stationary blockers, and 2 tracking darts.

* {{Cap}}: The highest composite score obtainable on ''Galaxies'' is 26,843,545,575.
** The DS version also has some unfortunate (or maybe ''fortunate'') limits to onscreen objects.

* TurnsRed: The Battenberg is initally passive, wandering around the map in a straight line, but when shot, it divides into 2 stationary blocker enemies, and 2 tracking darts. The tracking darts move ''absurdly'' fast and while not perfect, can home in on you extremley competently.

* AttackDrone: Several in Galaxies, but they have to be bought.

* BoringButPractical:
** The Sweep drone in ''Galaxies''. It doesn't fire, instead sweeping around your ship and damaging any enemies that happen to touch it. At higher levels, it makes faster and more precise circles around your ship, serving as a very useful defensive barrier.
** Attack and Defend fire forwards and backwards respectively. They don't do much else, but more importantly, higher levels of these drones can help augment your firepower very effectively. A max-level Attack drone effectively doubles your firepower, while a max-level Defend drone keeps you covered in large, crowded spaces.

* CallBack: Super Sequence in 3 is a reference to the Sequence mode in 2.
* CollisionDamage: Pretty much all other shapes other than the harmless NUFO targets; walls are usually safe however. There is a group of red enemies that will shoot you if given the chance. Luckily their range is shorter than yours. Also, your shots will bounce off gates so you have to run into them.
* EmbeddedPrecursor: ''Retro Evolved'', minus the Retro mode, is playable in ''Galaxies''. ''Waves'' is playable in [=PGR=]4.

* EliteMooks: Some of the enemies in Geometry Wars can be especially problematic.
** Weavers, shaped like a green square will dodge your shots with astounding speed if the shot isn't aimed dead center at them.
** Repulsors have a frontal shield/armor, negating any attacks from the front. Explosions (Gates, Gravity wells, Smart Bombs, etc) however can bypass the shield.

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Except for the N[=UFOs=], who simply avoid you once fired on.
* FlyingSaucer: Comes in 3 flavors, the yellow NUFO, the red UFO and the blue UFO
** [=NUFOs=] are harmless in ''Galaxies'', but will attempt to dodge any shots aimed at them. In ''3'' however, they move in a straight line and gain collision damage.
** [=UFOs=] in ''Galaxies'' spawn with an alert sound, zoom relativley close to you, then immeidetly flee in another direction. ''3'' has them spawn and directly charge you down in a straight line extremley fast, and can easily kill you if you don't pay attention.
** Blue [=UFOs=] are exclusive to ''3'' and behave similarly to [=UFOs=], but take multiple hits to kill. However, they move much slower.
* SinisterGeometry: In a game called Geometry Wars, what did you expect?
* InvincibleMinorMinion: Flippers in ''Galaxies'' are completely invincible, but they don't kill you. However, they ''do'' let enemies pass freely through themselves while blocking you and your shots.

* MoneySpider: In ''Galaxies'', you'll occasionally stumble upon a red UFO that swoops in, then vanishes very shortly afterwards. Hitting it will yield a large sum of points.

* MookMaker: They can already spawn at incredible rates, but these guys make them come in even quicker.

* OneGameForThePriceOfTwo: the DS and Wii versions of ''Galaxies'' unlock content on each other - the same content on both - but are otherwise identical.
** Also inverted in that Geometry Wars started out as a game inside Project Gotham Racing, and has since had some form in its games. Geometry Wars Retro in [=PGR2=], Evolved in [=PGR3=], and waves in [=PGR4=].
* OneHitPointWonder: The protagonist in all games. However, you can get extra lives through an OneUp equivalent.

* PacifistRun: The "Pacifism" mode in ''Geometry Wars 2'' is of the TechnicalPacifist variety, as you cannot shoot but you can still destroy shapes.

* RammingAlwaysWorks: The Ram drone in ''Galaxies'', which rams into enemies, but needs a little cooldown between uses.
* RepurposedPopSong: ''Galaxies'' uses [[Music/TheyMightBeGiants "Particle Man"]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GpsG8iQ5oY here]].

* SegmentedSerpent: The snake enemies, which can only be attacked in the head.
* SelfImposedChallenge: Due to how Min- stages have disproportionately higher scores than other stages, some players will make files where they don't play Min- stages at all so that their total scores don't end up skewing towards these sorts of stages.
* ShieldBearingMook: Repulsors have a frontal shield/armor and can only be hit on the parts where they are not shielded/armored.

* SmartBomb: Unlike many other games with a bomb system, your bombs don't reset count each time you die. Instead, the only way to gain bombs back is through points or geoms, and that's if the game allows extra bombs.

* SpreadShot: Like many other games it the genre it gets wider as you do better in Retro Evolved and Galaxies. Unlike others it periodically switches between wider spreads and MoreDakka.
* SuperMode: ''3'' introduces super states, a cluster of small stationary enemies that spawn in a formation. When killed, they will greatly enhance the player's weapon or ship in some way.
** Quad Fire: Gives you 4 times the shots. Most common.
** Split Fire: Gives you two additional projectiles per shot to the front of the player's ship that fire at a 45° angle from the main gun
** Reverse Fire: Gives you an additional weapon that shoots directly behind where you are aiming.
** Missiles: Gives you a pair of missiles that are automatically shot out from your ship. Missiles home in on enemies.
** Magnet: Increases your geom collection radius by a very large margin. Uncommon.
** Trail Bombs: As you move, you leave behind explosions. Rare.
** Shield: Makes you invinicble. Very rare.
* TheSwarm: Mayflies/Jacks usually spawn in the hundreds, move towards you erratically and are very tiny. If you aren't careful or paying attention, a single one can easily end you. While they don't score much themselves, they can easily increase your score multiplier.

* ThemeNaming (levels in ''Galaxies'' follow a strict format - three letters for the type, then something denoting a cardinality; e.g. ''[=MinDuo=]'' is '''Min'''e level 2.)
** Scorpion levels are all named after... well... scorpions.
** Rainbow levels are all named after various art styles.
* ThirdIs3D: Well, its not exactly the third game in the series, but ''Geometry Wars 3'' changes the formula up by adding levels where the playfield warps around several 3d objects while maintaining the top down 2D movement and shooting.

* TurnsRed: The Battenberg is initally passive, wandering around the map in a straight line, but when shot, it divides into 2 stationary blocker enemies, and 2 tracking darts. The tracking darts move ''absurdly'' fast and while not perfect, can home in on you extremley competently.
** Mutators inflict this on enemies, turning them into Mutated. Mutated, regardless of prior behavior will beeline straight at the player, and cannot be dodged at all.