Ms. 'Splosion Man Review for Xbox 360

System: Xbox 360
Dev: Twisted Pixel Games
Pub: Microsoft
Release: July 13, 2011
Players: 1-4
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Cartoon Violence, Drug Reference, Mild Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes

The single-player mode is expansive, and will certainly eat up an afternoon or two for the first playthrough. If you are looking for even more madness, Ms. 'Splosion Man also has an equally expansive multiplayer mode. You can play with up to four people locally or online, which certainly adds to the onscreen mayhem. There's also an unlockable single-player/multiplayer mode that challenges you to control multiple Ms. 'Splosion Men with one controller. I wouldn't advise this for the faint of heart, though, as the challenge is incredible. Even experienced platformers will have difficulty managing all the 'Splosion mayhem.

Ms. 'Splosion Man Screenshot

In addition to the game's regular content, Ms. 'Splosion Man has a huge cache of unlockables and extras. The in-game "mall" lets you unlock concept art, videos, avatar awards, and music. And like the rest of the game, the unlockables are often quite offbeat. During my time with the game, I was able to unlock a music video for a song called "You Are the 'Splode Beneath my 'Splosion." (It's just as ridiculous as it sounds.) The game's irreverent approach helps lend it some of its charm, and the silly unlockable content just adds to the whole experience.

On the technical side of things, Ms. 'Splosion Man meets expectations. The visuals are highly detailed with lots of moving parts, and the game's high-octane pace can be felt just by looking at its busy levels. Music in the game is extremely well done, and each level features a host of new tunes and sound effects. The only thing that can become a little repetitive is the voiceover. Though Ms. 'Splosion Man is a funny girl and her witty banter is certainly endearing, hearing her sing "If You Wannabe My Lover-er" for the hundredth time can be grating if you play for long stretches of time. And given the addictive format of the game, long stretches are likely.

Ms. 'Splosion Man is a great game, and is certainly one of the best downloadable games to come down the pipe this year. Though the format is identical to the original 'Splosion Man, the new protagonist's sassy attitude goes a long way in making the experience feel fresh again. Plus, with 50 new levels that will challenge even the most experienced platformer and plenty of unlockable content, you'll have lots of fun with Ms. 'Splosion Man. In fact, you just might 'splode yourself from laughter.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Senior Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.0

Graphics
Ms. 'Splosion Man has a killer visual style.

4.5

Control
Controls are simple and easy to use.

4.1

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Voiceover is hilarious, but can be repetitive after long stretches of play. Music sounds great.

4.7

Play Value
Playing each level once is just the beginning. Multiplayer and leaderboards challenge you to replay and memorize levels to an obsessive degree.

4.4

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

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

You got a problem? Yo, she'll 'splode it. At the Big Science after-party celebrating the capture of 'Splosion Man, a spill of champagne shorts out the safety protocols on the splosionatrix. From it emerges Ms. 'Splosion Man.

The latest creation from Twisted Pixel Games, the creators of 'Splosion Man, The Maw, and Comic Jumper, Ms. 'Splosion man comes packed with fifty levels of single-player mayhem and a separate fifty-level co-op multiplayer campaign.

Included with the game are gamerpics, a premium theme, and some sweet avatar accessories! Expanded map features, tons of unlockables, ghost replays, and countless other improvements make this the definitive edition for any 'splosion connoisseur.