Review of JoyJoy for Xbox 360

JoyJoy for Xbox 360 is a colorful twin-stick space shooter that can provide hours of entertainment for just 80 Microsoft Points ($1). Unlike most shooters, JoyJoy lets players have unlimited lives. An endless supply of lives can be important when facing a never ending horde, or 'wave', of enemies. A friend can join in on the action in either the campaign or challenge modes.

The Campaign
There are several different modes to play. In the main campaign the goal is the kill as many enemies as possible and live the longest. There are a total of 24 levels to beat, and a boss on levels 8, 16, and 24. With unlimited lives one should easily be able to shoot their way through it, unlocking challenges along the way.

Challenges
The challenge modes (unlocked from playing the campaign) let gamers take a shot (both literally and figuratively) at beating timed goals. Players who succeed end up unlocking modifiers (cheats) that will make your ship more resilient and powerful in the campaign.

Weapons
There are six different weapons in JoyJoy, and each has their own weaknesses and strengths. Along the way as you progress through the campaign there are also power ups and speed boosters. There are also several other temporary powerups such as a vortex that will suck all enemies into it for easy shooting. With over twenty different enemies in the game to destroy, you'll quickly find yourself changing between weapons in order to quickly and efficiently take down threats.

JoyJoy is a Colorful Work of Art
One of the main appeals to JoyJoy is just how colorful a game it is. Weapon fire and enemies often envelope the entire screen. The standard weapon is perhaps the most powerful in terms of inflicting damage; however it can only deal with a few enemies at a time. On the opposite end, there are weak weapons that can hone in on multiple hostiles at the same time. One weapon seeks out enemies, while another bounces off of walls. Each weapon can charge for a wider and stronger burst. JoyJoy tests a gamer's wit and their ability to realize threats and adjust their strategies (and weapons) accordingly. The visual result ends up looking outstanding.

Personal Opinions
One disappointment is that there is no online co-op mode. Another let down is that there are no online leaderboards. The main appeal of the game's replay is beating your previous high scores, and without online leaderboards the game loses what could be a lot more play value.

During my analysis of JoyJoy for Xbox 360 I found that as the difficulty increased, so did my stress level. To say that the action in the game is intense would be an understatement. People who don't do well under pressure may not like playing this title, while others may love it for the adrenaline rush that it gives.

Despite the lack of online leaderboards, JoyJoy provides an incredible amount of bang for just $1. While the vast majority of indie games on Xbox 360 tend to disappoint, this one delivers in explosive colors.

Xbox 360 owners interested in downloading the free trial or purchasing the game in full can do so here.

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