Game: "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2."

Console: Xbox 360 (downloaded from Xbox Live Marketplace)

Publisher/developer: Activision/Bizarre Creations Ltd.

Genre: Strategy and sims.

Rated: E for everyone.

Game play: "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2" is a high-paced psychedelic shooter in the same vein as classics such as "Space Invaders" and "Galaga."

The newest homage to shooters past involves shooting at mathematically proportionate shapes using the joysticks to maneuver and fire. Enemies release geoms, little crystals that send your ship's multiplier — and score — skyrocketing.

That's just one change Bizarre threw into this sequel. There are several new modes in the "Geometry Wars" arsenal. Sequence is like an endurance mode with 25 different stages to complete with just three lives. King involves flying between home bases to shoot and pick up multipliers. Waves tests players' thumb agility, while Evolved brings the familiar game play of the original.

Single-player mode is somewhat of a chore. Players must earn a set number of points in a certain mode to unlock another. It's an interesting way to familiarize gamers with every mode, but there are better ways to go about it than forcing them to sit through them all. Unlocking achievements requires a little more strategy this time around instead of "let's just button-mash until we get high scores."

Games like the "Geometry Wars" titles and other old-school throwbacks are signs of possibly the most positive changes for the gaming industry. If more cheap, quality content continues to sell as they have (just look at download figures for "Halo" or "Rock Band"), companies may crack open their vaults and release titles from the Super Nintendo or older.

Just imagine playing "Shaq-Fu" in high-definition.

Jeremy Castillo is a graduate of Windward Community College and the University of Idaho. Read his wrestling blog, "Men in Tights," at http://menintights.honadvblogs.com.