Super Boise takes off with Jet Pack War, launching high above most other Avatar-centric Xbox LIVE Indie Games. In what is becoming a trademark of sorts for Super Boise, loading the game results in a vivid title screen accompanied by an upbeat and relevant (albeit silly) theme song. It might have been grounded the first time around, but Jet Pack War is back and soaring off at full speed once more.
At the title screen, skip past the typical Super Boise game gallery, skip past the basic Options menu, bypass the High Scores and the Practice as well. Aside from choosing whether you want to fly Inverted or not, you’ll probably have no cause to take any route other than the Online Multiplayer. The Practice mode is little more than an acquaintance with the three maps of play; your computer targets are stationary until attacked, after which they instantly appear elsewhere on the map. Since you defeat other players by knocking them off the map or into hazards, the Practice isn’t really suitable for preparing players for the real game.
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Crater Island, Lavapocalypse, and New New New York are the three stages that play host to the six-player sessions of Online Multiplayer. Despite a misleading control prompt before you spawn (LT is Jet Thrust but A is as well; RT is Fire and LB displays the Score, though the screen suggests that it is mapped to RB), the game’s handling is very user-friendly. A radio at the right of the screen broadcasts the game’s soundtrack, a collection of jetpack-themed tunes by The Song Club that can be controlled with the d-pad. Be warned though, that at least Joel Courtenay’s song contains the dreaded f-bomb.
Jet Pack War is all about knocking players off the map with your infinite supply of rockets. Simply aim your white reticle at an enemy and pull the trigger. Your volleys put forth a good attempt at tracking, but these missiles are easily avoided. There’s no radar, but the other players are easy enough to find by their profile pictures; beside these is displayed the player’s current damage. Much like the mechanics of Nintendo’s Smash Brothers games, the more damage a player has taken the easier they are to bounce out of the field of play.
There’s not much beyond this, really. Thrusters on the map launch players into the air, without taxing the jet packs’ juice. These “vents” provide much-needed relief when your pack’s turbine begins to flash red, signaling an impending temporary deactivation. There are only two powerups, one offensive pickup and one 50% heal, but they require a bit of precision in order to snag while evading other players.
The music is on-point, but the sound effects are not as impressive. The obnoxious rocket sound may get under your skin after awhile, for one. I was pleasantly surprised, during a match on Crater Island, to hear crickets and birds when I landed in the grass. To my dismay, this seemingly localized sound could be heard anywhere on the much busier New New New York level.
Drop-in/drop-out is supported, which is great for an XBLIG title. The lobby shows the number of active sessions and how many players are online, and you are afforded the option of creating your own lobby if you so choose. Global scoreboard support is another welcome feature for the online multiplayer game.
Add another notch in the belt for Super Boise, a brand that has come to deliver lots of fun for little investment. At 80 :MSPoints:, you’ll be hard-pressed to find as much competitive enjoyment for such a low price. For optimal appreciation, get a few friends to dish out the minimal funds required to download this XBLIG. With a couple buddies, Jet Pack War may be the most affordable multiplayer distraction you’ve experienced in a long time.
You can find more information on the Marketplace.
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