The Maw
by Twisted Pixel Games
Genre: 3rd-person action/platformer
Rated: E10+
Players: 1
Release: January 21, 2009
Platform: Xbox 360 (Xbox LIVE Arcade – 800 Microsoft Points)
Take charge of a ravenous, walking mouth! That’s Frank’s problem in The Maw, a fun platformer released last month by a relatively unknown company, but their first major offering proves to really be something special.
You play Frank, a bipedal, humanoid alien as he’s in the catastrophic crash of an alien ship which holds many extraterrestrial species. Everyone survives, but the owners of the ship immediately establish containment over the eight crash sites through which the pieces of the vessel were strewn.
One other of these survivors is a fatty purple creature that seems to consist only of one big eye and a massive maw; The Maw of the title. Soon after you begin your journey you’ll discover an Energy Leash that lets you lead the Maw through the several environments you’ll encounter. And you may always call for the Maw when you’re separated from him (Frank’s voice while doing this is rather cute).
Your energy leash also lets you push and pull objects or creatures, spin them around to dizzy them or throw them off cliffs, or to toss them directly into the Maw’s… well, maw.
Throughout the levels you explore, you’ll find (and eat) the remaining survivors of the crash, and discover new and exciting powers given by certain creatures. There’s a flamethrower ability, one which lets you electrify various creatures, one which lets you charge like a rhino, and more. You may feel bad about letting the Maw eat some of the cute creatures you encounter, but it is necessary if he is to grow big enough to face the dangers you both face.
The space limitation imposed by Microsoft for the LIVE Arcade games prevents a whole lot of variety in the levels, but what’s there sure looks pretty. A non-threatening alien landscape spreads before you (though some creatures you encounter may be threatening, of course). Sound’s quite well-used; the Maw sounds appropriately slavering as his tongue always hangs out, a variety of tunes punctuate your journey, and the aforementioned Frank’s yelling for the Maw is quite adorable.
Graphics: 9 of 10 – Graphics have some of that next-gen shine, but there’s not much variety.
Sound: 10 of 10 – Beyond the call of duty with Frank’s yelps. Music is catchy and the Maw constantly sounds like he’s about to dive into a big pizza.
Control: 8 of 10 – Platforming (jumping from one platform to another) is a bit loose, but it’s hard to get stuck. Still, it’s frustrating to keep slipping down when you think you’re on a platform.
Gameplay: 9 of 10 – Munching on cute creatures is a bit disturbing, but fun.
Replay: 5 of 10 – once you’ve finished the game you can go back and eat all the creatures in a level or eat the special snuffles (unique mushrooms, one in each level), but that’s it.<–>