Explaining
Every Extend Extra is about as easy as mastering it. The easiest way would be to say it takes the strategic action of
Geometry Wars and combines it with the stylization of
Rez, but even then you would still be short in description.
You control a little blip of a ship on the screen that you move around with the analog nub. At the same time, various shapes begin pouring onto the screen from all directions. Your goal is to get close to the shapes and detonate your ship, destroying the shapes. The catch is that you want to set off a chain reaction with your initial explosion. Your explosion destroys one set of shapes, whose detonation sets off another and so on. You are also limited to ten ships… so each detonation has to count. As is the case with most puzzle games, what at first sounds like an easy task is actually quite challenging. In fact, it is easy to get frustrated with the game – so if patience isn’t your strong suit, you might want to pass on Every Extend Extra.
The game’s main challenge mode spans 9 levels, each with a requisite score you must gain before passing on to the next. Each stage also includes a mini-boss as well as a boss, both of which require you to detonate specific chain reactions in order to defeat them. Again, if you’re not patient, the game can easily become an exercise in frustration.
In additon to the main mode, Every Extend Extra also features Caravan mode, which lets you go back and play through levels you’ve unlocked, and Boss Rush, where you hit all of the game’s bosses one after the other. The original version of the game, Every Extend, is also included. I actually had more fun playing the original game than the “Extra” version because of the lack of flashy visuals. However, this isn’t enough to warrant a purchase, especially since you can download the original for free.
