This is one of those hidden gems on the Xbox LIVE Arcade that will never get respect among the big boys. But if co-op is your thing, then check it out and you will not be let down. XNA has a bright future on the Arcade and I can not wait for this fall to see what new developers will come up with.

Game Details			Loading Reality Scoring
Format	Xbox LIVE Arcade (all XBLA reviews)		Score Meaning: An above average, teetering on "good" game. This title has some great ideas and ambitions, along with redeeming qualities that outweigh the handfuls of negative aspects, making it worth a play.
Publisher	Microsoft
Developer	Torpex
Category	Shooter		Presentation
ESRB	E		Gameplay
Online Players	2		Graphics
Offline Players	2		Sound
Price	9.99		Value Factor
Release Date	March 11, 2009		Final Score

Schizoid

This year has been a fantastic ride for Xbox Live Arcade with a number of solid original titles hitting the service. And for those gamers who love co-op play, this year has especially been great with games like Assault Heroes 2, Commando 3 and even Golf Tee It Up just to name a few. With all these original co-op focused games on the service this year it is not surprising that a hidden gem with an odd name might slip through the cracks. This is what I fear happened to the most co-op centered game I have played in years.

The ultimate goal of the game is to remove the enemies who are the same color that your creature is. This concept, in theory, with 2 gamers and enemies all over the screen is beautiful chaos. It is simple enough to explain, but the only way to really understand why this game is unique and fun is to grab a friend (via local or online) and give it a shot. The demo, however, does not feature co-op which in this case is a good reason why Schizoid will not sell well.

Schizoid comes packed with a number of modes which place you in the heart of 119 levels. Some of these stages are simple and require only 10 seconds to complete, others will have you yelling at your partner for not saving your butt from the last enemy. The lives system is handled well as you are given 10 respawns to share right out of the gate. Your goal is to simply get to and pass the 7th level where you will receive a checkpoint and a refresh of lives up to 10. So, the next time you and your friend fire up the game you do not have to start at the first level. Every 7 you pass will be saved and can be started from in the future. The other neat addition is that if you have done well on a level and gotten the GOLD rank you will not have to play that level again, even on re-trys.

I feel that I am not getting across the depth of the co-op play as it is very hard to explain. Certain enemies will search out your partner at a much higher rate of speed then they can escape it and it becomes your job to try and cut those enemies off before they kill your partner, while your partner is doing the same for you. It is a ton of fun and you will often find yourself dying, but not really being upset because you can always start no more than 7 levels back from where you are.

The single player element of the game, however, is rather weak as the computer controlled AI is about as dumb as possible. The other single player mode is insane and should only be considered by the best Geometry Wars-type players. You still have 2 creatures on screen, one red and one blue. But you will be controlling them with one controller. Left stick for red, right stick for blue. So if you ever wanted to feel like you are drunk while gaming, this is the mode for you: Uberschizoid.

It should be noted that this is the first XNA developed game to hit the service and if this is the type of unique creative gameplay we will be seeing from XNA, the future is very bright.

It sounds odd to say this but if you have ever wanted to play Pac-Man in co-op mode then this is the perfect game for you. They even have a level called "Wakka Wakka Wakka" and it simulates Pac Man perfectly. It really is too bad the demo does not allow you to play online co-op because that is where the game shines, but if you are looking for some awesome online action with a friend then this is the perfect game for you.

3.5 / 5