GamePro Arcade

Review: Go! Go! Break Steady

Jul. 25 8:59 AM by Ian Guss

With XBLA full of dual joystick shooters and an overabundance of arcade ports, new releases sometimes become stale. Go! Go! Break Steady strays from this mold and as a combination of Zuma and Boom Boom Rocket, with break dancing sprinkled in, offers lighthearted, addictive gameplay.

The objective is simple. Tap the proper face buttons as they enter the target circle along with the beat. Then match three or more of the same color to eliminate these objects from the screen, similar to Zuma. The frantic pace is tough to take at first, making it hard to concentrate on the action. It seems like the developer added as much noise to the background to try to distract the player. Also, the soundtrack could be stronger. There are 20 hit and miss non-licensed tunes. The difficulty curve is steep, as well.

With 30 levels, the amount of single player depth on an 800 point game should be commended. However, the multiplayer isn't as strong. Even when you are playing someone, it never feels like you are battling your opponent. Finding an online match is a chore but once the match begins, lag is virtually nonexistent.

Certain small touches show that this game was not rushed. For example, after returning from the start menu, the game provides a countdown to prepare for the action. Even AAA titles like Rock Band and Guitar Hero do not offer this useful option.

Rookie developer Little Boy Games seems like a veteran with the release of Go! Go! Break Steady. Stylized graphics, smooth 2D character animations and a slick presentation make Go! Go! Break Steady an experience not quite like anything else out there.

Pros: Plethora of options, Addicting gameplay

Cons: Too difficult for some, Frenetic pace

Fun factor: 4.0 Graphics: 3.5, Sound: 3.0, Controls: 3.75

The Info: Platform: XBLA, Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios, Developer: Little Boy Games, ESRB: E (Everyone), Players: 1-2, Price: 800 MS Points ($10)

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