Fuelcell Games has revealed that Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will soon be landing on the Xbox Live Arcade. As the pilot of a flying saucer, you’ll be negotiating an environment that seems to have been inspired by the sinister art of shadow puppetry.

While trailers can be deceptive, the game appears to offer more variety than your average shooter You’ll be outrunning alien bat creatures, transporting explosives to secret installations, dodging gargantuan pistons and strafing malevolent flowerbeds, all while banging your head to a soundtrack of Norwegian black metal.

The announcement of the game will be welcomed by 2D shooter fans stung by Kotaku’s revelation that Geometry Wars has seemingly run its course. While the glory days of the 2D shooter may have passed, there’s always room for another creative and visually distinct example of the genre.

Fuelcell is yet to announce a release date for (deep breath) Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet.

Though I’m disappointed by the lack of pensive staring in this Metroid: Other M trailer, I begrudgingly concede that some will pleased to finally see some more gameplay footage.

Nintendo’s iconic heroin is looking fit and ready to roll (deliberate bad pun) but developer Tecmo has resisted the urge to ‘do a Tecmo’ on her. Samus Aran isn’t dressed in fishnet stockings or high heels and she isn’t posing for the camera. Wearing her customary full body armour, she spins through the game at breakneck pace. Unpleasant looking aliens are dealt with in the only way she knows how.

The trailer manages to get in a plug for Nintendo’s Wii Black console. Though the ‘new’ model offers no additional features, I now feel that my Metroid: Other M experience will be incomplete if I play it on my woefully outdated launch Wii. It’s so hard to keep up with the latest technology.

Metroid: Other M is due on our shelves this winter.