It’s been nearly 30 years since an abstract Atari 2600 game sent a space-faring insect to chew on enemy shields. You can find that classic in Xbox Live’s Game Room, but on Xbox Live Arcade, Yar’s Revenge (now with an apostrophe before the “s”) is a 3D rail shooter that bears little resemblance.

As a sort of armored alien fairy, you blast through gangs of Qotile baddies across six stages, and vanquish bulky bosses at the end of each. Enemies come in remarkably few varieties, but because each is vulnerable to a particular kind of assault, pulse lasers alone won’t cut it. Hovering humanoids fear lock-on missiles, while ground-based tanks succumb more readily to blast-and-recharge railgun bombardment. Crank the difficulty above normal, and the steady stream of troublemakers will keep you on your toes, even if they never seem to unleash much sound or fury when they burst.

Unfortunately, after you’ve played through Yar’s Revenge just once, you might as well put it away for good. Sure, the offline co-op play has partners sharing power-ups and a single health bar — necessitating at least a little teamwork — and three simple challenge modes dare you to play without shields or maintain a score multiplier. But this remake offers none of the branching paths or hidden secrets that give more memorable rail shooters their longevity. Yar’s Revenge isn’t bad, but its pleasures are decidedly short-lived.

On Xbox Live Arcade

+ Circuitous paths through pretty scenery; varied enemy vulnerabilities; offline co-op.

- Only six stages, without branching paths to make each playthrough feel different.

- Eye-catching outdoor vistas disappear midway in favor of endless industrial scaffolding.

? Why make us read dialogue during do-or-die battles?

6.0