Space Giraffe

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 84 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 63 out of 84
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 84
  3. Negative: 18 out of 84

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  1. MattL.
    Aug 24, 2007
    10
    It's basically 'Bizzarro Tempest', so anyone that's a fan of that type of game really owes it to themselves to give this enough of a chance to 'read' what's going on through the tripped-out visuals. Given how Geometry Wars is pretty much universally loved, that tells me that way too many people are writing this one off preliminarily.
  2. KevinA.
    Aug 24, 2007
    10
    Fantastic game, not one for the hard of thinking though. It does take an hour or so to get to grips with the game mechanics but once you do it's just wonderfully addictive. It's just rather sad that there are so many people not willing to put a little effort in to get such a huge reward in return. Their loss. Now then, just one more go.
  3. BenedictW.
    Aug 30, 2007
    10
    Fantastic game - has replaced geometry wars as my XBLA game of choice. In fact, this week, I've hardly picked up bioshock at all as I've been playing this so much. Best 400 points I've spent so far.
  4. AdrianC.
    Sep 1, 2007
    10
    Revisit the retro vid kid age once again in what is Jeff Minter's/Yak's finest creative moment. Even if you don't like it will grow on you as you fathom the depths of it's superb gameplay. I shat you not! :)
  5. MattO.
    Sep 13, 2007
    10
    A pure game for real gamers. Requires some investment time, but once you've paid your dues you'll love it. I can't believe how gaming has lost its way. Has the spirit and excitement of pure games really been lost?
  6. MunkehMunkeh
    Sep 3, 2007
    10
    Awesome game. Take the time to read the help and play the tutorial. Once you understand how to play, its incredible.
  7. TheEtchasketchist
    Sep 5, 2007
    10
    What an amazing value at 400 points. 100 uniquely designed levels, of which I've barely scratched the first 20, each with it's own strategy and techniques. If you play it like Tempest, shooting everything you see, you will be able to survive for a long time but your score will be crap. Every time I play I pick up new strategies and techniques. And I haven't even gotten to What an amazing value at 400 points. 100 uniquely designed levels, of which I've barely scratched the first 20, each with it's own strategy and techniques. If you play it like Tempest, shooting everything you see, you will be able to survive for a long time but your score will be crap. Every time I play I pick up new strategies and techniques. And I haven't even gotten to the really hardcore levels yet! This thing's got 100s of hours of gameplay in it. And the quirky, personal design is really quite soulful compared to your average genre game.… Expand
  8. AlexK.
    Aug 24, 2007
    10
    This game is certainly polarising, but in a good way. Without meaning to be condescending, if you give it a low score, you simply don't understand the game or what it is tryiing to do. As a hardcore, score attack shooter, this is one of the best western examples I can think of. Yes, it's confusing, and can be hard to see what's going on. But try listening, as well. There This game is certainly polarising, but in a good way. Without meaning to be condescending, if you give it a low score, you simply don't understand the game or what it is tryiing to do. As a hardcore, score attack shooter, this is one of the best western examples I can think of. Yes, it's confusing, and can be hard to see what's going on. But try listening, as well. There are always audio cues for every event. There's always a reason for every death - it doesn't punish you unfairly, but slip up and it will punish you for simply not being good enough.… Expand
  9. AlisdairM.
    Aug 24, 2007
    10
    A real old-school high score game. The tutorial gets you started, but you have to invest the time to really understand how things work. Every level introduces different ways of playing, so it never stops being challenging. Not for the weak of heart, but if you can invest the effort you will reap the rewards. And the rewards are MOOO.
  10. HughJ.
    Aug 24, 2007
    10
    You either understand this game (and love it), or you just don't get it, which will make you hate it. I wish the people who didn't understand it would simply step off and let us cultists have our fun without giving the Giraffe a low score. It's like old-school arcade quarter-munchers such as Defender and Stargate. Difficult, but once you start to understand the scoring You either understand this game (and love it), or you just don't get it, which will make you hate it. I wish the people who didn't understand it would simply step off and let us cultists have our fun without giving the Giraffe a low score. It's like old-school arcade quarter-munchers such as Defender and Stargate. Difficult, but once you start to understand the scoring system and the enemy behavior, you'll get into a deep trancelike "zone" of gaming bliss.… Expand
  11. AndyW.
    Aug 28, 2007
    10
    Superb! Addictive gaming at its best. My very first go resulted in 8 levels and a measly score - because I wasn't playing it properly. As soon as I understood that you don't play it like Tempest (BECAUSE IT ISN'T TEMPEST) then the true game appears. Its beautiful, addictive and above all - fun. I'm now up in the higher levels (40s) and have some mondo scores. 400 Superb! Addictive gaming at its best. My very first go resulted in 8 levels and a measly score - because I wasn't playing it properly. As soon as I understood that you don't play it like Tempest (BECAUSE IT ISN'T TEMPEST) then the true game appears. Its beautiful, addictive and above all - fun. I'm now up in the higher levels (40s) and have some mondo scores. 400 points for this - absolutely worth every damned penny.… Expand
  12. TomV.
    Aug 29, 2007
    10
    This is a masterpiece that far too many people will never understand. Their loss.
  13. Rol
    Aug 29, 2007
    10
    It looks a total mess the first time you play it but if you stick with it things starting making sense. You have to listen to the sound effects and let the visuals flow. And learn the waves patterns. It looks like tempest but you don't play it like tempest. Not for everybody but I'm glad some designers don't make games just for the majority.
  14. BradleyT
    May 26, 2008
    10
    Great game deserving of patience to get you through an initially very confusing first few plays - listen well to the tutorial and you shouldn't suffer this however. This is not Tempest and you will likely get frustrated if you play it this way. All bad reviews show a complete lack of understanding as to why this game is so fab and those reviewing should be fairly ashamed quite Great game deserving of patience to get you through an initially very confusing first few plays - listen well to the tutorial and you shouldn't suffer this however. This is not Tempest and you will likely get frustrated if you play it this way. All bad reviews show a complete lack of understanding as to why this game is so fab and those reviewing should be fairly ashamed quite honestly their inability to recognise well working mechanics. Superb risk vs reward design allows for greater score vs progression depending on your your bravery. Lovely visuals and great soundtrack. Nice work Jeff.… Expand
  15. DanC.
    Aug 21, 2007
    10
    Provides an intense visual audio synethesia and has a great, idiosyncratic sense of humor. Like Tempest 2000, but more hyper and more quirky.
  16. RussellH.
    Aug 21, 2007
    10
    Not only the best XBLA game ever, but the best video game ever. The pinnacle of Yak's 25 year career. It's pure un-cut perfect gameplay, simple as that. This is the most amatuer and just plain wrong review I've ever read. Sack that fool. Your mag and site suffer by association.
  17. AlexR.
    Aug 22, 2007
    10
    Excellent traditional arcade shooter with a significant amount of depth for those ready to rise to the challenge.
  18. [Anonymous]
    Aug 23, 2007
    10
    Great game if you take a little time to get a grip on the mechanic. 10 for creativity.
  19. FaberfoX
    Aug 23, 2007
    10
    This game is not for everyone, if you were expecting tempest 4000 you will be disappointed. Once you get past the sensory overload and settle in you will find an amazingly deep game, incredibly playable and highly addictive. The free 10 levels on the demo are more than enough for you to figure if this game is for you. For me, it was so much more than I expected. Thanks Yak, you rock as This game is not for everyone, if you were expecting tempest 4000 you will be disappointed. Once you get past the sensory overload and settle in you will find an amazingly deep game, incredibly playable and highly addictive. The free 10 levels on the demo are more than enough for you to figure if this game is for you. For me, it was so much more than I expected. Thanks Yak, you rock as hard as ever!… Expand
  20. MichaelC.
    Aug 23, 2007
    10
    Don't let the first impression fool you. It's intimidating, yes. It's distracting, yes. But it's also a beautiful, addictive, engrossing game. Reading the playfield is part of the challenge. Listen to the sound effects, they'll tell you as much about what's going on as you need to know. Don't shrug it off as too confusing, you'll be missing out on a Don't let the first impression fool you. It's intimidating, yes. It's distracting, yes. But it's also a beautiful, addictive, engrossing game. Reading the playfield is part of the challenge. Listen to the sound effects, they'll tell you as much about what's going on as you need to know. Don't shrug it off as too confusing, you'll be missing out on a phenominal gaming experience.… Expand
  21. JonathanB.
    Aug 24, 2007
    10
    The game is about learning to perceive through chaos, and to thrive in it. It's an experience you won't get from any other game. Certainly it's not like most modern games, which hold your hand constantly through an amusement park ride designed to make you feel like you are a winner. Space Giraffe takes some effort to understand and get into, but once you do, it is highly The game is about learning to perceive through chaos, and to thrive in it. It's an experience you won't get from any other game. Certainly it's not like most modern games, which hold your hand constantly through an amusement park ride designed to make you feel like you are a winner. Space Giraffe takes some effort to understand and get into, but once you do, it is highly rewarding in a unique way.… Expand
  22. RichC.
    Aug 25, 2007
    10
    Beautiful design, crazy graphics and Minters usual quirky sense of humour. My be best to play on HD as I suspect SD makes things trickier to perceive. You need to use your brain to get the high scores - playing this like Tempest will not reward you.
  23. zerofudge
    Jan 4, 2014
    10
    This doesn't come easy. It's a game for the dedicated and open minded. You have to work into it. And if you do, you find a perfectly orchestrated game with clean and fun mechanics behind the audiovisual blast. It's clearly one of the best games ever made.
  24. AdrianG.
    Aug 27, 2007
    9
    Pure fun, once you understand the game mechanics it's a pleasure to play. Support Minty!
  25. DeSangreIIDX
    Oct 29, 2007
    9
    Sure, Space Giraffe won't be for everyone, sure, it's (on the surface) very similar to Tempest, but I was expecting part of the critic to at least try this game for more than 15 minutes rather than dismissing it as crap. After you get the hang of it, Space Giraffe is a very solid arcade game that OMIGOSH! requires skill and concentration, something which is rarely seen these Sure, Space Giraffe won't be for everyone, sure, it's (on the surface) very similar to Tempest, but I was expecting part of the critic to at least try this game for more than 15 minutes rather than dismissing it as crap. After you get the hang of it, Space Giraffe is a very solid arcade game that OMIGOSH! requires skill and concentration, something which is rarely seen these days. At 800 points it would probably be an 8 or a 7, but the 400 points price tag deserves a praise.… Expand
  26. GazL.
    Aug 21, 2007
    9
    Loved it, Full on synaesthesic shooter than drags you into the zone. Great depth of play and lots of replay value. Also a 100 levels and only 400 points :)
  27. NigelH.
    Aug 26, 2007
    9
    I played the first few levels of this game and thought it a colourful, if somewhat pedestrian tunnel shooter. However, as you play you begin to gain the ability to 'see' the levels properly and the gameplay becomes fantastic. Perhaps if all the low score reviewers were not so blinkered they could open themselves to this great game.
  28. PeteH.
    Aug 30, 2007
    9
    There are no "game breaking" flaws in this game! How do people get this idea? This game is something you'll get or you won't. Download the demo and give it a little while then decide.
  29. RobM.
    Oct 25, 2007
    9
    Magnificent game - wonderfully trippy visuals combined with sheer arcade perfection. A must buy.
  30. CarlB.
    Aug 23, 2007
    9
    This is not a game for the EA/Playstation/Halo-generation. It is a game for gamers, who dare to experiment, try out things, and dare to invest a little bit of effort in a game. Many people complain that they didn't see something coming, because they probably forget to "listen" to the audio cues that tell you what you should be focussing on. It would've scored the full 10 if it This is not a game for the EA/Playstation/Halo-generation. It is a game for gamers, who dare to experiment, try out things, and dare to invest a little bit of effort in a game. Many people complain that they didn't see something coming, because they probably forget to "listen" to the audio cues that tell you what you should be focussing on. It would've scored the full 10 if it had Forza-like leaderboards. But most importantly, addictiveness and playability are back in gaming!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2007
21
#21 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    20
    With incredibly poor visibility(apparently by design)and a thumping electronica soundtrack peppered with sophomoric sound effects, Space Giraffe offers a generous 100 levels of damn-near-unplayable technoslop. [Oct 2007, p.74]
  2. TeamXbox
    43
    A game that will only appeal to a few people. These players will have to be dedicated to the task of figuring this thing out, like a grueling math problem or logic puzzle.
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  3. IC-Games
    79
    Space Giraffe is the type of game that high score tables were made for, but only if you have the patience to figure it all out.
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