Undertow

Hidden beneath the weekly waves of retro reissues lies Undertow, a brilliant multiplayer battler that should buoy any gamer who feels there’s nothing fresh on Xbox Live Arcade.

Undertow asks a simple question: Who rules the sea?The human Iron Marines vie for control with technology and piracy, but the Nemoidians fight back with quaintly Victorian submarines. Opposed to both are the Atlantians, whose magical attacks of electricity can stand up to either enemy. In the 15-level single-player campaign, all three races have their own story to tell as they swim around caves, crags, and columns, blasting each other to chum. Each race features four classes, from speedy solitary marines and dragoons to heavily armored corsairs and destroyers; you can upgrade your units over the course of a match and switch between them at any friendly base as your strategy evolves. Fans of Geometry Wars will find the dual-thumbstick controls (move with the left, fire with the right) instantly awesome.

You’ll fight bosses and engage in some straight-up deathmatches, but most missions are battles for control over key points in the 2D scrolling map. The team that holds more control points depletes the other teams’ tickets faster, not unlike the Battlefield series. The tantalizingly short single-player makes great ad-hoc training before plunging into Xbox Live matches, and we’re hoping more missions will be made available as downloadable content.

But Undertow was clearly built for Live — it’s one of the few 16-player games on Live Arcade. How will you take the enemy’s base: frontal assault or sneaky flank? Risk it all with a rush attack, or dispatch small strike squads? Why not send a speedy spy to trigger a trap, like the one on “TidePool” where suction fans turn suckers into sushi? We love games that reward tactical teamwork, and Undertow’s 2D plane belies its strategic depth.

Yet another great-looking title powered by the Unreal Engine 3, Undertow unspools wonderfully bubbly undersea explosions; screenshots don’t do the turbulent underwater combat justice. Bullets sputter as they rain down on iron hulls; Atlantean lightning bolts sizzle against hapless Nemoidian attackers. And how many Arcade games feature in-engine cutscenes with voice-overs? It’s a miracle Undertow came in at 50MB.

Xbox Live Arcade needs more games like Undertow — fresh riffs on combat with narrative flair and production quality worthy of the Xbox 360’s power. Spend your 800 Points with a smile, and dive deep.