Madballs in... Babo: Invasion Review for Xbox 360

System: X360 (XBLA)	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Playbrains	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Microsoft Game Studios	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: July 15, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4 (16 Online)	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Graphically, Babo: Invasion is no slouch. The environments all look tidy, varied, and crisp. The game is also pleasingly colorful, and the enemy design is of high quality despite the reliance on spherical bodies. The 720p output means the resolution is always high, but players will frequently run into framerate issues such as screen tearing on inferior television monitors. Also, the storyboard scenes are uninspired - inspiring me only to button-mash my way through them.

Madballs in... Babo: Invasion screenshot

Sounds in Babo: Invasion are somewhat lackluster. While catch phrases are often comical, they become tiresome after a short while. Also, the background music, while professional in composition, doesn't elevate the gameplay experience. All in all, Babo: Invasion won't have you turning up the volume - you may even decide to replace the sounds with your own soundtrack or a simple press of the mute button.

Fortunately, controls in the game are inch-perfect, outshining both visuals and the aural presentation. Rolling around the stages and sniping away at enemies is extremely precise. Also, the Xbox 360 controller isn't cluttered with too many extra options even though additional abilities and secondary weapons fire are available. The developers did a great job of translating the often trying action onscreen into gamer-friendly controller inputs.

While Madballs in… Babo: Invasion may seem an unlikely candidate for download, the name belies a quality title that many will enjoy. What's more, the low price, attention to detail in terms of gameplay mechanics, and breadth of play options make this an excellent candidate for purchase through the XBLA. If you like third-person arcade shooters, and you have found yourself getting board with the relative dearth of gameplay opportunities this summer, take a look at Madballs in… Babo: Invasion - you'll be glad you did.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Editor / News Director

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.4

Graphics
The visuals do a fine job of supporting gameplay, though they're nothing to get too excited about.

5.0

Control
Rolling around the world, while blasting things, is perfectly executed.

2.8

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The sounds from voice over work to background music is forgettable.

4.0

Play Value
There's a lot of fun and depth to be found here for the right gamer. Furthermore, the bargain price is a real treat! Still, not everyone will enjoy this game - it's definitely for fans of arcade shooters.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Avatar ready: Play as your own Xbox 360 Avatar.

Multiple game modes: Take on the campaign, a ten-level epic quest to save the galaxy. Play multiplayer with up to 16 players, or try four-player online co-op throughout the campaign. And try Invasion Mode, where teams strategically square off to build their side of a never-before-seen map. Once the map is designed, it is rendered in real-time and the combatants meet on it to battle for supremacy!

Versus arenas: Play on 21 multiplayer maps, with five combat modes: Skirmish, Team Skirmish, Capture The Flag, Invasion, and Avatar Attack.

The Madballs: Play as your favorite childhood toys, with 10 character classes each with their own unique special abilities, and 10 powerful weapons, each with two fire modes.