Game Review: The Maw

The Maw is the first game by an up and coming new game studio, Twisted Pixel. This cartoonish platformer aspires to bring a lot of new elements to the genre, dividing the gameplay between a cute alien hero you control, and his wide mouth friend, Maw. Aiming for the simple and sweet, this X-Box Live Arcade title may have easily slipped under the radar for most, but is The Maw a blip you won’t want to miss?

Story
There isn’t too much to the story in The Maw. For reasons unknown, you, an unnamed alien (who’s only verbal communication skills seem to be gasping and calling out “Maw” in oh such an adorable manner) have been collected on a space ship by another species of alien, and thrown in a zoo like setting with other various alien species. This is where your character meets Maw. This tiny purple cyclopean glob seems harmless enough. Before you know it, the ship crash lands. You and Maw seem to be the only survivors, and with the aliens out to capture you back, there is little choice but to team up and try and escape.

The goal of the game isn’t too clear. Obviously escaping the aliens is key, but why, and where to? What planet have you landed on? Where are you from? Why are they after you? There are so many questions about the plot of this game. And to not avoid spoiling anything, they aren’t answered.

However, none of this matters. Without talking, both your little alien avatar and Maw booth are stuffed with personality, and I found myself attached to both very early on. The bond between the two is obvious without being overdone, and you can tell both are extremely good intentioned. More than once I found myself grinning or chuckling simply at the facial expressions as the two interacted. Why are these two on such a daring escape on a foreign world? It doesn’t matter.

Story: 6/10

Gameplay

The Maw is a game that relies squarely on its gameplay. And that’s a good thing. The Maw is just downright fun. You control the actions of the little alien hero. He can run and jump. He also has a little wrist device that creates an energy tether. With this he can leash Maw to lead him around, pick up objects and creatures in the world, and throw things.

The computer controls Maw. Maw generally does whatever he wants. However, the player can call Maw over with the press of a button, and lead Maw on the energy tether. This is important for the puzzle and fighting elements of the game, and works extremely well.

I say fighting, but more accurately, it’s eating. The main object of the game is to lead Maw around each stage gobbling up everything in creation. You see, Maw has the uncanny ability to eat. A lot. When Maw eats more and more, he will eventually get bigger and bigger. Maw retains his size from level to level, so you can imagine how huge he may be as you near the end of the game. Across each level there are tiny little, appropriately named ‘Yums’ which the Maw can gobble away at to add pounds to the waistline. However, there are other creatures as well.

Each level has various dangerous creatures that, when he’s big enough, Maw can consume. These dangerous beats also transform Maw, giving him their unique property that can help you progress through the stage. For example, when Maw snacks on the fiery Gastro, he gains the ability to breathe fire, burning anything in his path.

Working to feed Maw across each stage is fun and satisfying. The Maw makes it easy to track how many of the native creatures you’ve consumed upon this unknown world with a slick pop-up interface. And while not necessary to progress through the game, eating 100% of the level’s creatures feels good to accomplish.

I do have to say the game is a bit on the easy side. I completed it in about 5 hours, without ever dying or having to start over. But easy as it is, it’s never monotonous and doesn’t ever feel repetitive. Overall, it’s just good fun.

Gameplay: 9/10

Presentation

The Maw, for being an X-Box Live Arcade game, actually has fantastic visuals. The cartoonish style feels at place, and isn’t overdone. The game’s sense of humor shines here, with facial animations being the highlight. Maw’s tongue waggling as he shimmers after you, grinning with glee always brought a smile to my face. Reactions of the enemies are dramatic and telling, without ever using any dialogue. It really finds its style.

Along with the cartoony visuals comes the cartoonish sound. Creatures make the noises you would expect them to, and all the standard sci-fi sounds are present. Although a bit cliché, they really fit well with what Twisted Pixel was trying to do with The Maw. And don’t even get me started on the adorable way that your little alien buddy calls Maw.

The Maw uses very few menus. It keeps it simple, and what it does have, works very well without being overdone. There is very little text, and its simplicity is very inviting. It makes the game approachable to gamers of all ages.

Twisted Pixel really hit home with its presentation in The Maw. The game simply oozes personality. The charm of the characters and humor of the world its set in really draws you in, and the cartoonish visuals and sound make it come alive.

Presentation: 10/10

Summary

The Maw is a game that you can just pick up, play, and have a great time with. You’ll smile, you’ll laugh, and you’ll come to really feel for the characters. And with a game so simple, that’s accomplishing a lot. While not having much of a story, the game doesn’t need to in order to provide enjoyable gameplay in a world with childish pleasures and charm I haven’t seen in a game for a long time.

Final Score: 8.5/10

(Average of Story, Gameplay, and Presentation)