Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2 is released on Xbox Live Arcade today and promises to expand upon the retro acid flash back that was the original smash hit. The original Geometry Wars came as part of Project Gotham Racing 2 but proved so popular that Bizarre Creations updated it, with the result being Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved.

In fact, the game proved so popular that a mobile phone version, a DS and Wii version, a Windows version, and an open source version have all been based on the original title. The new version, Geometry Wars:Retro Evolved 2 looks and sounds similar to its predecessor but includes 6 game types and a mass of waves.

New game types include various multiplayer options. As well as being able to take on the enemies single handedly, the game can be played with up to three other players in either co-operative mode or competitive mode.

As well as the Evolved game mode, which is basically the normal mode, players can indulge in timed games (Deadline), zone control games (King), and three unique modes. In Pacifism you are unable to fire your guns and must instead lure the enemies towards exploding gates. Waves mode sees almost impenetrable waves of enemies attacking, and Sequence is a kind of time trial mode; all enemies are on the level when you start and you have up to 30 seconds to clear the stage.

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is available on Xbox Live Arcade now and costs the miserly sum of 800 Microsoft Points. If it’s even a fraction of the success as the first game then it’s going to be hugely popular.