I’m always excited when I see a new XBLIG title by radiangames hit the channel. Primarily because I know that the game will be at least two things: very fun and very stylish. Inferno, by radiangames, continues this tradition as it not only packs the same gorgeous style as his first two games — radiantgames is just one guy — but it also brings in a new type of gameplay that revolves around gathering items, unlocking doors, and taking on swarms of enemies, a la Gauntlet.

For those that remember correctly, Gauntlet was a fairly simple game where you’d roam around a given level that had monsters spawning all over the place. The goal was simple, get to the exit by any means necessary. Along the way you could pick up items, upgrades, food, etc. Inferno plays exactly like this, only instead of taking on a fantasy type setting, you’re instead continuing on with radiangames’ traditional futuristic/amoeba stylings.

Each level starts out simple enough. You’re in a sort of maze like arena packed with immovable turrets (in the beginning) that will simply shoot at you if it sees you. In order to get to the exit you won’t have to kill these turrets, but you will have to get the key, which is usually being guarded by them, in order to unlock the various doors that will take you to your escape.

Luckily, the game gives you a formidable arsenal of weapons to eventually deal with any enemy. This is where the Geometry Wars like gameplay comes in. You see, unlike Gauntlet, Inferno continues to be a twin stick shooter (like radiangames’ past titles). This means that you’ll continue to get the fast paced combat you’d expect out of a game like Geometry Wars. As you proceed through the levels and rack up points, you can then spend those points to upgrade your life, speed, weapons, etc.

Overall, Inferno is easily one of the best XBLIG titles out there. I know it might seem like we throw that word around an awful lot around here, but it stands true with a game like this. There are very few places on the Xbox Live Indie Game market where you’ll get this kind of polished gameplay combined with an excellent style and score to compliment it.

Inferno is available on the Xbox Live Indie Games marketplace right now for the low, low price of 80 MS points ($1). This game is absolutely worth that kind of money and I strongly suggest you at least give the game a try.

[Buy/Try]

[This is not a review. This is a "first impressions" piece based on less than an hour of gameplay.]

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