Title: The Maw
Platform: XBLA (Also on PC)
ESRB Rating: E10+
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Twisted Pixel
Rating: 
Review by: Bill Jones
Before the atrocity that is Watchmen: The End is Nigh ever raped gamers of $20 and their time, the up-and-coming Austin developer Twisted Pixel made one of the first concerted efforts to bring a game with high production values to the Xbox Live Arcade. That game (and winner of the inaugural PAX 10) is The Maw.
Maw is a purple blob who seems mostly interested in eating things. When he does, he often gains the properties of his snacks a la Kirby, and constantly grows. Frank has more human qualities, but he is also an alien, a Teltarian to be exact. 
When the ship they are on crash lands on a strange planet, the two form a bond and realize the only way to get through the world and out of the grasp of the dangerous Galactic Bounty Hunters is to work together.
Frank uses a leash to bring Maw along for the ride, and that is the set-up of a great platforming adventure. The title leans towards children, so most of the levels are straightforward. Still, the design is solid and varied throughout the game, and playing simply as Frank and leading around Maw have two distinct feels, helping to keep things interesting. And of course there is that awesome final stage that really stirs things up.
What sticks out most about the title is the charm of its characters and the environments. The gamer gets an awesome idea about the bond between the two heroes when they split, and Frank is prompted to yell “Maaaaaaaaaw!” in a way that has to be heard to understand. 
The Maw is a heartwarming tale – told mostly through visual storytelling with a good sense of humor – that resonates whether the gamer is 6-, 16- or 36-years-old.
The Maw is incredibly short (roughly three hours) and the controls could be a bit more precise, but Twisted Pixel more or less hits its mark, delivering a well-paced game that is visually impressive (both in graphics and artistic style), moving and fun. The Maw makes a great case for what is possible on Live Arcade.
For more info, www.mawgame.com
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Going by the cover art, I thought this game would be about a big, evil, gaping maw. I guess I was wrong. After reading your review, it really does seem like a game I’d like. I’ll have to pick it up for the PC when I see it.