Castle Crashers XBLA Review

Castle Crashers finally arrived in late August and has been surrounded by controversy. First, there was the alleged rumored price of $22.50 that caused the internet to erupt in outrage...no worries though, the game is only $15. Then there were the 2 heinous bugs that caused the Behemoth's devlog and Castle Crashers site to crash. I have actually suffered both bugs.... 1 bug being that I cannot play online at all and the other being that my Level 28 knight, unlockables, and save file were erased on me right when I got to the Marsh level. Despite these bugs, I'm still a huge fan of Castle Crashers and have happily surpassed the point of first game erasure.

Castle Crashers exudes tremendous personality. Dan Paladin's hand drawn graphics are superb and there is a ton of humor and extra animation work that create mostly great moments (thief washing scrubbing clothes in the river, Ice/Barbarian Boss taking the time to laugh at you, Barbarian punching knocked down gray knight) and some not so funny ones (Thieves Forest animal crapping is just too much...Owl ok...deer & bear excessive). The sheer amount of work, animations, characters, levels, etc that went into this game is incredibly commendable.

Let's get to the particulars. I've already talked about the great graphics and animations, the story is thin... 4 knights have their 4 chicks stolen, but all the animated sequences (there's no dialogue) put together an interesting, if shallow story. The music is very catchy especially the shop theme and suits the eccentricity and theme of the title very well. The gameplay recreates the arcade co-op beat-em-up gameplay perfectly. It's instantly playable, and the leveling system gives the game depth. Leveling up unlocks deeper combos and magic abilities. There's also an immense amount of content to unlock from weapons, animal orbs, secret characters, etc.

It is a very big letdown that Online has been completely unplayable (I got about 30 secs of all you can quaff online once) but the Behemoth has assured its fans that a title update and downloadable content is on the way. I have played the game splitscreen and it is way more fun with a friend, even if a little less challenging. The major negatives for me have been the bugs (erasing my save was especially infuriating) and the annoying enemies that stand off the stage and shoot projectiles at you. All in all though this game is superb, utterly unique, and a must buy on XBLA. Hopefully, the online issues will be fixed and we'll all be questing online in the coming weeks.

Orange Knight Rules!

Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sound/Music: 9/10
Lasting Appeal 9.5/10

Average: 93.75%
Tilt: -0.75% (sorry gotta take some off for the bugs)

Verdict: 93%

Braid Review

Braid is a very commendable and entralling independent game by Jonathan Blow. First let me start off by saying that screenshots do not do this game justice. While the game is not pushing the graphical power of the Xbox, David Hellman's art for the game is simply fantastic. The game has a unique water color look to it and the swirling colors and especially the parralax backgrounds can astonish and fit perfectly into this surreal sort of fairy tale. The story of braid is interesting and has a pretty good twist of an ending. It's certainly one of the best XBLA stories out there. Since it's all presented in text form, it does lose something that other full priced games have. Let's get to it though, the best thing about Braid is the gameplay. It is a puzzle platform game revolving around time manipulation. This time manipulation reduces frustration (since if you die, you just rewind) and changes in each world keeping things very fresh.


Braid is doing everything right so far, but it does stumble. Braid is incredibly short and has little in the way of replay value (a speed achievement). While the shortness is refreshing (I really like that I've beaten the game, enjoyed it, experienced it and can now move on), 1 more world of puzzles with 1 more mechanic would have gone a long way to flesh out the package. The game is about $5 more expensive than a lot of the other XBLA games out there, but let's be honest, this game deserves to have you $15 and was made by an indie studio rather than Capcom or some other uber developer. Still, I can see people's complaints about price (as spoiled as they are) especially with the brevity of the game. My only other complaint about the game is the lack of different enemies/hazards (c'mon 2 enemies?) and a lack of graphical diversity (the opening stage looks to cool! why are all the levels sprawling green hills?).

Bottom line is that this game is not for everybody, but is a very delightful and engaging little title. It is a very unique game that is definitely worth your time and money. I downloaded the trial game and unlocked the full version before I was even finished with the trial. Give it a try, support an indie game developer, and discover the clever story twist.

Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Music: 9/10
Lasting Appeal: 6/10

Average: 82.5%
Tilt: + 4.50%

Verdict: 87%

Puzzle Quest XBLA Review

Puzzle Quest got great reviews and was a good demo, but I could never take the plunge for $15 when everything else on XBLA is $5-10. Well, Microsoft dropped the price and I picked it up and man was I missing out on an addictive game. Puzzle quest is such a simple yet brilliantly executed game. The main game is a competitive match-3 puzzle game which introduces the concept of spells & moves during your puzzle fight. The RPG elements take this Match-3 game to the next level. There is so much incentive to keep playing and questing. You keep playing for that next spell, next level, more gold, etc. Another great thing about the game is that there is a decent difficulty level but you are never severely penalized for losing a fight. What it boils down to is that Puzzle Quest is a steal for $15. If you are a puzzle game fan, this game's RPG elements extend the playing time of the game significantly. You'll definitely be inclined to play the game again as a different gender or class (there are 4 classes: knight, warrior, magician, and druid).

Gameplay: 9.5/10 - Pretty genius gameplay concept that is fantastically executed.
Graphics: 8/10 - Nothing Special in the Graphics Department, but it's an XBLA game.
Sound/Music: 5/10 - Definitely the worst aspect of the game...terrible voice overs and repetitive and boring music.
Lasting Appeal: 10/10 - You'll put hours into this game without realizing it. Major replayability
Tilt: +8.75%

Puzzle Quest is greater than the some of its parts. It has immense replayability and longevity and the gameplay is incredibly addicting and easy to pick up and play. Definitely one of the best games on Live Arcade that I have played, certainly the one with the longest lifespan.

Verdict: 90%

Rez HD Live Arcade mini Review

Rez HD is a freaking steal at 800 MS points ($10). It is among the best downloadable shooters I have played. The evolution system of your character/virus fighter is great and the way the music and sounds add to the experience makes the game work. The crazy vector graphics look great in HD too. This game was a sort of cult classic for PS2, but it has truly found it's home as a downloadable game. The gameplay is very very reminiscent of Panzer Dragoon (lock on and release) and has some phenomenal boss battles. In fact, Rez is really just a simpler Panzer Dragoon wrapped in psychodelic graphics and given a superb soundtrack/music interaction. Rez is definitely an enjoyable and unique gaming experience that should be experienced by all. Well worth the $10 investment. Rez is a retro game (not too old though) that actually still feels fresh today instead of nostalgic and dated.

Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound/Music: 10/10
Lasting Appeal: 8/10
Average: 90.00%
Tilt: +2.00%
It oozes style so you have to give it a bump...plus it's a great value.
Verdict: 92%

Switchball Mini-Review

Switchball is one of the best looking XBLA titles available (I think Undertow beats it, but that's it). In addition, it is also a very entertaining and rewarding game. I guess you would call Switchball a puzzle game, but you certainly need some platforming skills to successfully roll your ball to the exit. The gamplay a revolves around...switchball-ing (sounds dirty)...switching your ball into other forms in order to complete tasks and move onto the exit. There's the standard marble, the heavy metal ball, a bouncy airball, and a slick multifaceted powerball. The art direction in this game is superb. The world is a beautiful looking DaVinci inspired world with odd gyrocopters and perpetuates the idea that you are one marble in a complex machine or gadget. If you like short but sweet games, Switchball is definitely for you.

THE GOOD:
4 different balls to control with different abilities
Beautiful Graphics and unique, interesting worlds
Easy Controls! (Analog stick and the A button)

THE BAD:
Music/Sound is bargain basement and repetitive
There's only about 30 levels
Time Medals are very Strict

All in all, this game is a great buy for an evening/weekend of relaxing gaming fun. It has a slow pace and easy controls so it can be played by a wide range of people. It's too bad that the game gets frustrating when you start attempting to complete levels for even a bronze time medal. The music/sound could have been easily improved too, but it's about par for other games like this one. Give the game a download and try the demo (on Xbox Live or the PC). If it grabs you, give it a purchase and you won't be disappointed.

Gameplay: 8.5/10
Graphics: 10/10
Sound/Music: 7/10
Lasting Appeal: 7/10

Verdict: 83%

Undertow Live Arcade Mini Review

In short, Undertow is a steal at 800 MS points so enjoy and download away!

THE GOOD:
3 Different Races, 4 different units
Interesting Single Player Campaign/Story

Gorgeous Graphics

16 Player Multiplayer (with bots)

Co-Op Story mode online and split screen

Easy to learn Controls

Deep Strategy

Fantastic Balance and Map Design

THE BAD:

Campaign is too short

Can't Play as Alien Race (yet?)

Ranked Matches can be hard to find (Player matches much easier)

Undertow is one of the best looking games to come out on Xbox Live Arcade yet. I'm pretty sure it is the first one with ingame cinematics and voice acting as well. Undertow's gameplay is simple on the surface...think Geometry wars...but offers 4 different classes, 3 upgrades for each class and cleverly designed levels that all bring out the deeper strategies of the submerged, chaotic gameplay. The key strategies in this game revolve around the 4 classes of units, how you upgrade them through the course of a match, and how you dynamically change classes/use them in different situations. I wont' go into all the units, but basically there is a versatile, quick scuba diver, a slower, stronger powersuit, a quick submarine, and a slow lumbering underwater tank. The vehicles are good in the open waters where as the divers and powersuit units are best for the underwater caverns and tunnels. The game is an absolute steal at 800 points and puts a lot of the other Live Arcade titles to shame. It offers a complete package with single player, co-op campaign, and a very addictive multiplayer experience in a beautiful, Unreal (literally) package. Download the Demo and you'll see what I mean.

Gameplay: 9/10

Graphics: 10/10

Sound/Music: 8/10

Lasting Appeal: 9/10

Verdict: 90%

EXIT Xbox Live Arcade Mini Reveiw

Exit follows Mr. Esc as he attempts to help adults, children, and injured people find an escape to natural disaster situations. There are over 220 levels and of course the standard 200 achievement points.

The game is a worthy and interesting platformer / puzzler. It's graphics and artistic style are great and the sound/music offering is above average from an xbox live title. There are plenty of levels and lasting appeal, but Exit does suffer from its flaws. The biggest flaw is in its gameplay. Mr. Esc moves very slowly and methodically...this is all well and good, except it is extremely frustrating when you have to restart a level (and then methodically and slowly move to exactly where you were prior to your mistake) while this makes the game more challenging it also makes it frustrating and exceedingly tedious. There is a major need for an undo/rewind button in this game! On the other hand, each different scenario does a really good job offering something new: new items, new people to rescue, electricity hazards, etc. which keeps the gameplay fresh.

Category Breakdown:

Gameplay: 8
Graphics: 10
Sound: 8
Lasting Appeal: 7
Average: 82.50 %

Ultimately, Exit definitely gives you your money's worth for a unique live arcade puzzling game. Furthermore, since it originated on PSP it has great pick up and play gameplay where you can sort of pick away at the 220 levels. In long play sessions, the frustration of restarting levels and the slow moving Mr. Esc may weigh on you, but ultimately the game is worth a try and if you like the demo, it's worthy of a purchase.

Verdict: 82%

Puzzle Fighter II HD Remix Review

This is a VERY addictive game. If you even remotely liked Tetris, or Dr. Mario, you should download this game. I should also mention that Y and Z modes are for wusses.


Graphics: 9/10
Pros: The gems and puzzle pieces look stunning in this HD version. Nearly perfect 2D graphics for a puzzle game- pieces are easy to see and effects are entrancing.

Cons: Puzzle Fighters could've used some redrawing instead of simply smoothing.

Gameplay: 10/10

Pros: Slap Tetris and Dr. Mario Together with some Capcom characters and you have one addictive game. The X modes are MUCH better than Y/Z and have a great risk/reward mentality....do I explode this large gem now that's filling up most of my screen...or do I wait and make it even bigger...only to lose because my screen has been attacked and filled with gems. This game takes the addictive play of tetris and adds in an amazing competitive edge. One of the best puzzlers ever.

Sound/Music: 8/10

Pros: Music is catchy and addictive and sound effects are visceral and fit the game.

Cons: Sakura's stage music is so annoying! I hate it. The music/sfx seem to be set especially high and are significantly louder than any other game, dvd, or tv show on my tv. I always have to turn down the volume.

Lasting Appeal: 9.5/10

Pros: Great Local competitive play, great online play, and addictive gameplay will keep you coming back for more and losing yourself in hours of matches. The achievements are pretty challenging too and keep you working towards something.

Cons: There could be some more characters (8 and 3 secret) and while it's nice having the Y/Z modes...they lack the balance of X' mode.

Average: 91.25%
Tilt: +0.75%

It's nice that they updated the graphics and really revitalized this game. It's a real gem from a previous era of gaming. Nothing beats sitting next to someone on the same couch and exploding a huge power gem for the win. For $10, this game is one of the best Live Arcade Offerings yet.

Verdict: 92%

Band of Bugs: Red Kingdom Mini Review

Please see our main review for Band of Bugs HERE since this will only address the new content available in Red Kingdom.

So Band of Bugs had a great single player experience, but after I tore through the campaign, I found that online matches were few and far between. Lucky for me, NinjaBee just released Red Kingdom- a new 10 mission campaign along with some other tidbits for only 250 MS points (there's also 2 new map packs...1 is free and the other is 150 pts). I'll just quickly breakdown each feature of the expansion pack:

10 new single player missions-Red Kingdom. THANK YOU, this is by far the biggest selling point (for me at least) since the single player campaign ended up being the strongest aspect of Band of Bugs. I absolutely love the humor and missions of this game.

New Red Kingdom Tileset- while the new tiles don't match well with the old, It should be noted that the newer levels have much more graphical prowess. There's a sandstorm level, that totally stunned me when i first saw it. Definitely has a unique and different look and expands the editor nicely.

2 new units: Cavalry & Catapult. The Cavalry unit is great and the Catapult is a limited fire mage.

2 new achievements: Beat Red Kingdom, get 10 golds in Red Kingdom

All of this for 250 MS points...End Result:

If you like Band of Bugs, Red Kingdom is certainly a steal. It has helped reinvigorate the game for me.

Band of Bugs Review

So Far Band of Bugs has been slammed by critics and has an average review score of 69/100. DO NOT be swayed by this without trying the game. The basic problem in a lot of these reviews is that they view Band of Bugs as too easy for tactic/strategy game fans and too hard for casual players. My problem with so many of the reviews is that they seem to be reviewing and critiquing the concept of Band of Bugs (create a simplistic and more casual tactics experience) than the actual game itself. Why such glowing reviews when Ninjabee simplified RTS genre in Outpost Kaloki? Aren't RTS fans as hardcore and particular as Tactics/Strategy fans? Apparently not.

In the end, a review is just a person's opinion. Typically, I think that all the critics reviews average out correctly, but that doesn't seem to be the case with Band of Bugs. At least, that's not the direction the reviews are heading. I can only hope that I fairly review the game and voice some opinion or perspective that is worthwhile.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Phenomenal 2D art..Gigantic HD handdrawn depictions of all the bugs look great! 3D engine looks good for a Live release and all the different types of units and teams are easily discerned. The animation of all the critters is stellar.
Cons: The different color line shading does detract from the graphics somewhat...taking this option off is usually not worth doing in multiplayer, but it does improve the 3D graphics.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: Fully Featured game with an enjoyable campaign, a multitute of online modes, and a level editor. This is where Band of Bugs has really been critiqued and while I found the campaign somewhat easy, I was very entertained and it was all over too quickly. I was actually left with questions about Maal's origin and hope that DLC will fill in these holes. The campaign dialogue is absolutely brilliant and quite witty and funny. While strategy/tactics fans may find the game easy or simplistic, the point of the game was to make this genre of games more approachable and casual. Outpost Kaloki certainly simplified RTS games, and I loved that it did (not being the biggest RTS fan) even though I struggle to beat certain levels. While I agree that Band of Bugs is no Tactics Ogre, Fire Emblem, etc. is it fair to compare it to these full retail games? I don't think so...it would be like comparing Outpost Kaloki to Command & Conquer 3.
Cons: I did miss the rock-paper-scissors weapon element that is present in the fire emblems, but this game is supposed to be simplistic. I do agree with some of the other reviews about the RPG elements and stat-tracking. Adding in some character customization would have been great...from naming them, to picking 2-3 skills/abilities/spells. I think it could have been added while still staying simplistic and casual.

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: The bug voices/gibberish is absolutely great and works perfectly with the game's sense of humor and tone. The sound FX as a whole are well thought out and distinctive to certain units, actions, etc. The Music is good and fits with the theme...
Cons: ..but some of the music misses and feels a little repetetive...ok only 1 particular song, but still a con.

Lasting Appeal: 10/10
Pros: I find it hard for anyone to argue over the feature set in this game. It offers a variety of multiplayer modes: Spider Hunter, Elimination, Capture, etc. both online and locally. There is also the great addition of a Level Editor plus a full 20 mission campaign story mode with additional stand alone missions. It's a game chock-full-to the brim with features for $10.
Cons: My complaint is squarely on the online multiplayer... I have found it very hard to find ranked games and virtually all the games I have played have been Spider Hunter. I really love elimination and find a human opponent very fun to compete with online...so Band of Bug players stop playing Spider Hunter.

Average: 90.00%
Tilt: +2.00%

Don't get me wrong, Band of Bugs has it's issue and may not be a homerun for Strategy Fans, but it delivers on a ton of features. While RPG elements and custom Bug armies would have been great, this game's purpose was to offer a simplified and more casual Tactics gameplay experience. Ninjabee certainly delivered on this goal and exceeded their previous titles in the story mode and dialogue category if you ask me. My biggest issue with the game is that I wanted more of the campaign, more Maal, and that I find it incredibly hard and time consuming to find online ranked elimination/capture matches. Everyone plays Spider Hunter! I don't think I've mentioned that the turn system works FANTASTIC for online matches and keeps them action packed. Great design decision! All in all Band of Bugs offers a lot of game for $10. Perhaps the reason for all the low reviews is that people are comparing it to $50-60 titles, since the quality of the game and features resemble those full priced titles over the typical offerings of Xbox Live. Give Band of Bugs a chance, you probably will find yourself smiling and chuckling along with Maal and his gang.

Verdict: 92%

Mad Tracks LIVE Arcade Review

Mad Tracks is an uber casual racing game. As a result, when you first pick up and play it...it's very satisfying, but all the variety and races are very forgettable, and after a couple weeks you probably won't be playing this title unless you have a couple friends over.

Gameplay: 7/10
Pros: Great variety of game modes, easy controls, make a decent little racer
Cons: Many minigames seem to require little to no skill and are easy to master. Not a lot of depth.

Graphics: 7/10
Pros: Decent 3D worlds, decent car models, pretty big levels for a 45Meg download.
Cons: Can't choose car color or model. The sense of being a small toy car isn't quite there...more could have been done with the concept (see Toy Commander, DC).

Sound/Music: 5/10
Pros: There are sound effects and music and they all work together to service the need.
Cons: The music and sounds are all very generic and bargain basement.

Lasting Appeal: 7/10
Pros: 4 player splitscreen, Quite a few different game modes, Online Multiplayer
Cons: Easy to get gold in single player (only 15 events), multiplayer kicks you out of a party after a game, so playing with friends is extra difficult, and game can be beaten in under a couple hours and forgotten.

Average: 65.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

This game is great to purchase if you have 3 friends coming over who are not necessarily gamers. It's a lot of fun splitscreen. There's problems online which will prevent you from coming back and the 1 player experience is brief. The game plays pretty well and is pretty fun, it's just shallow and forgettable. It's your call but the game definitely could have used some more work, options, customization, track selection, car selection, etc. to really make it a recommendable experience.

Verdict: 65%

Catan XBOX LIVE REVIEW

Catan is based on the best-selling boardgame: Settlers of Catan. As a result, don't expect the action or graphical flair of a typical videogame in this title. Catan is a digital version of a boardgame, much like LIVE's Uno is a digital version of a card game. Catan is not for everyone, but is probably the greatest board game since Monopoly and as such is quite addictive and enjoyable.

Gameplay: 10/10

Pros: The gameplay isn't for everyone, but I cannot think of a better way to implement this game for the Xbox. The controls work perfectly and the game is absolutely addictive. It is easy to pick up and learn the basics while the complexities and depth are tremendous. The randomization of the board only makes it all the more tantilizing. An expertly crafted boardgame.

Cons: It's a boardgame.

Graphics: 6/10

Pros: The "Living World" Graphics are much better and more interesting than the stale flat "traditional" board and pretty up the game some. The graphical interface is really well done and makes play easier.

Cons: There's no hiding the staleness of the looks, lack of animation, and boardgame roots. The game isn't about looks though.

Sound/Music: 6/10

Pros: The soundFX are subtle and remind you it's your turn or alert you to trades without being overbearing or obnoxious. The music is tranquil.

Cons: The music seems too loud by default and I found whenever I booted up the game or switched from a gamedisc to Catan that I had to turn down the volume significantly.

Lasting Appeal: 8/10

Pros: It will take time to rack up all the victory points necessary for the 200 achievements, online multiplayer is excellent and keeps things moving, AI opponents are challenging.

Cons: Matchmaking online takes awhile...way too long. The board game pace is not for everyone and can be tedious.

Average: 75.00%

Tilt: +2.00%

This game is not for everyone, but I found it a very refreshing boardgame (and had never heard or played before) and was quickly addicted to collecting resources and screwing my fellow players with the dastardly robber. $10 is a lot for the presentation, sound, and music of the game, but at a fraction of the cost of the actual boardgame, the $10 asking price is perfect for this deep and satisfying strategy game.

Verdict: 77%

Eets: Chowdown Xbox Live Review

Eets Chowdown is yet another PC indie game that has successfully made the leap to Xbox Live Arcade. You definitely get your moneys worth of puzzles and gameplay, but for the price you may be better off saving 5 cents and getting a level editor with it all.

Gameplay: 7/10
Pros: Gameplay is a mix between Lemmings and the Incredible Machine. Difficulty is well paced throughout the game. Being able to load the solution reduces frustration.
Cons: Things get repetitive at about puzzle 70, and you just have to take a break. Game is fine in small doses, but long play sessions feel monotonous

Graphics: 9.5/10
Pros: This is how games should look! Great and original 2D graphics give Eets a real unique flare and visual style. Animation is top-notch.
Cons: I guess it's not impressive having gorgeous 2D graphics with a solid framerate since there's never too much going on at once.

Sound/Music: 7/10
Pros: Sound FX are good, I especially love Eets little happy noices, scared noises, or whatever.
Cons: Music is really bare bones and budget. It's fine if you're not paying attention to it, but if you really listen you can tell it's just the bare minimum needed for a game like this.

Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10
Pros: For $10 you get a whole lot of puzzling and a good minigame. You can save replays and play the minigame multiplayer locally.
Cons: For $9.95 you can get the same game and swap the minigame for a level editor and downloadable levels on the PC. Game is still monotonous in long play sessions.

Average: 80.00%
Tilt: +2.00%

This game deserves a little boost since it is a phenomenal value with some clever and challenging achievements. I love playing games on my Xbox and TV over my PC and tiny screen, so the LIVE version is for me. It's great for a couple puzzles now a couple puzzles later while you wait for a demo to download or whatever and that's really what LIVE ARCADE games are for.

VERDICT: 82%

Boom Boom Rocket LIVE ARCADE REVIEW

Boom Boom Rocket has an awful name and is incredibly difficult, but is the first music/rhythm game for Xbox Live and a pretty good (not great) one at that.

Gameplay: 7.5/10
Pros: Classic Music rhythm gameplay where you press the buttons in time with the music. 2 game modes, and local multiplayer.
Cons: The overall game is incredibly difficult…way too difficult.

Graphics: 8/10
Pros: The fireworks look great and the overall presentation is top-notch. Nothing beats engaging in a flashy bonus run.
Cons: The city background is repetitive…it would have been nice to add some weather effects or something to up the variety.

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: The music is all remixes of classic songs and orchestral pieces. I think it fits the fireworks motif perfectly, but may not be everyone’s thing.
Cons: The songs lack the catchy nature and recognizable appeal of other music games such as Elite Beat Agents.

Lasting Appeal: 6/10
Pros: Local Multiplayer, online leaderboards, and 3 difficulty levels give you plenty to do in order to get your 200 achievement points…
Cons: unfortunately frustration will set in well before you get those 200 pts. The game is excessively difficult and while the game is a decent challenge on EASY it is near impossible on HARD…is it even possible to get an A on Hard?

Average: 76.25%
Tilt: -3.25%

Boom Boom Rocket is a good game that fills the void of a nice little music game on Live Arcade at the moment, but its difficulty and 10 songs make it too hard and expensive for 800 ($10) Microsoft Points. That’s about $1 a song…and for that I can get whatever I want on iTunes and don’t have to settle for orchestral/instrumental pieces only.

Verdict: 73%

Castlevania SotN Xbox Live Review

So does the "Best Castlevania of all time" stand the test of time? Of course it does! Castlevania Symphony of the night is better than ever in $10 downloadable form. In fact, my favorite feature of the game is the ability to sit on my couch and switch to Castlevania for some exploring without having to switch my game discs or the like. This is a classic that is an absolute steal at $10.

Gameplay: 10/10
Pros: Classic and epic 2D adventuring! This is really the type of game for me and the type of game I am draw a lot of influence from. The gameplay is just as good as it was on PS or Sega Saturn.
Cons: Is it just me or is Symphony a lot easier than I remember? Easier than the more recent DS Portrait of Ruin for sure.

Graphics: 8.5/10
Pros: The enhanced version really smooths out the pixels from the original. The animation is top-notch in all of its 2D glory.
Cons: The enhanced version is really just a pixel filter...imagine if they had actually redrawn the graphics for HD like in Alien Hominid. Also, the widescreen support could've been handled better...how bout extending the view of the castle instead of stretching it into ugliness or having a spiffy border (btw border is definitely the way to go).

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: Fantastic orchestral score, great sound effects
Cons: comical and shoddy voice work and some music compression issues moving from CD to downloadable content

Lasting Appeal: 9.5/10
Pros: Online leaderboards, an additional inverted castle, another playable character, and 200 achievement points that are well planned and difficult to earn.
Cons: Lacks the ability to play as Maria...a feature available in the Sega Saturn edition: Nocturne in the Moonlight.

Average: 92.50%
Tilt: +2.50%

This game is an absolute must buy and must play. It offers a very very lengthy quest that upon completion doubles (or more) in scope with the additional castle and playable character. It's playability makes it an absolute steal at $10 compared to the other Arcade games out there.

As a side note, why such a big deal about the size of Symphony? Yes, Microsoft increased the download Max to 250MB, but SotN is only 93MB. After all the fuss, I expected to wait longer for my download.

Verdict: 95%

Worms Xbox Live Review

I have always been a fan of worms, so even though Worms for Xbox was a game I was very familiar with, I figured I had to get it simply for the fact that it has offline competitive play and the very best: Online Xbox Live competition. While the game offers a true and genuine version of Worms, I can’t help but feel its lacking a little.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: The gameplay has been very well adapted to the Xbox Controller, and while it is a little clunky at first, the great worm-blasting action is present.
Cons: The enemy A.I in the challenge mode is really slow…like the computer worms sit there with word bubbles over their head for 20-40 seconds. This makes single player matches go on way longer than needed. As mentioned before, there are some clunky controls and weapons that are sorely missed.

Graphics: 8/10
Pros: One of the better looking 2D Worms games. The 3D backgrounds add a lot of depth and are a good compromise: we get the classic 2D gameplay vs. the inferior 3D version, but get some of the graphical flair of the 3D version. The worms are VERY well animated.
Cons: There are WAY too few arenas to fight in…London, Volcano, Arctic…and ? It feels like they skimped on levels and even a level editor.

Sound/Music: 7/10
Pros: Great and still hilarious worm voices. Explosions and sound are great. Music is sufficient and tense.
Cons: Definitely a lack of variety with the worm voices compared to the PC iterations.

Lasting Appeal: 7/10
Pros: There is great online and offline play for 2-4 people. The online matchmaking is pretty simple and worked well and rather quickly. Playing against a human is a lot better than the computer opponents who take forever with their turns.
Cons: Only 20 weapons, a few maps, and no map editor make this game feel a little bare boned. Compared to other worms titles, it feels like Team 17 skimped on features.

Average: 75%
Tilt: -2.00%

Worms is a very capable title and a good fit for XBLA, but just being Worms on Xbox isn’t enough. Maybe Team 17 had to sacrifice features to meet Microsoft’s 50MB limit (which is being relaxed as announced at the Game Developer’s Conference), but I can’t help feeling that this version of Worms is a little expensive when you can pick up many PC versions for similar or cheaper prices. If you are a Worms fan and have to have it on your flatscreen, and Xbox than don’t fear…you’ll get the very fun, addictive and capable Worms gameplay. Otherwise, save some money and get a better product by going for one of the older PC titles.

Verdict: 73%

Assault Heroes Xbox Live Review

So I was finally swayed by the positive reviews and the whole “IGN Xbox Live Arcade game of the year.” While I would not have voted Assault Heroes as the best of the year (Outpost Kaloki), it is certainly an entertaining game in a classic genre that works well on the XBOX Arcade.

Gameplay: 8/10
Pros: Blast-fest! Gameplay is completely reminiscent of the old 2D sidescrolling shooters. The game has a way of feeling unique despite copying off of many other shooter elements.
Cons: Shooting is fun, but it’s hard to see some of the shots coming at you and they get lost in some of the environments.

Graphics: 9/10
Pros: Definitely one of the best looking Arcade games out there right now (besides Roboblitz) it’s a 2D game, but everything is in 3D so trees get knocked down and explosive barrels have pretty impressive physics, etc. The water level is freaking sweet!
Cons: There’s always room for improvement…and in this game, the underground levels which feature a zoom in of your human gunslinger show the low polygon counts of some of the models.

Sound/Music: 9/10
Pros: Each weapon has a unique sound, and explosions boom and crackle. The sound is pretty perfect for the futuristic A-team premise too.
Cons: All the enemy shots, explosions, and your fire cause you to lose some of the sound effects. The warning beeping when your vehicle is about to blow up goes on way too long and is annoying.

Lasting Appeal: 8/10
Pros: Pretty long single player campaign with a very good variety of levels in both graphics and even gameplay. Coop is supported throughout the game, both online and locally. Achievements are actually tricky to come by and require some skill.
Cons: Not sure you’ll want to play through again unless you are obsessed with achievements and high scores, but definitely gives you a good bang for your buck.

Average: 85.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

I don’t see any need to adjust this score. Assault Heroes is one of the most complete and polished Live packages. If you like shooters, it’s definitely worth a download.

Verdict: 85%

You can purchase the MS points to acquire this title through Amazon. Buying from Amazon helps support the people who write such great reviews as the one above.

Joust Xbox Arcade Mini Review

Joust is the other free game that Microsoft provided me with. It is much better than Frogger, but maybe that's just because Joust is more action oriented. The fact remains that the game is a direct port of a twenty year old arcade game. Again, all the developers have done is slapped some achievements on this old game and addes a new menu and some Xbox Live functionality. Yes, Joust is a better game Frogger, but where's the classic mode, and an updated graphics mode. When xbox live arcade games can look like Cloning Clyde, Outpost Kaloki, or RoboBlitz (hello?) there's really no reason these older games shouldn't get a facelift. I'd be all for just porting old games to the arcade for free, but if you're going to make us pay for them add some features, and update them a little. Joust is better than Frogger...or maybe I'm just better at it. Still not worth your purchase.

Verdict: 50%

Frogger Xbox Live Arcade Mini Review

So Xbox had this promotion and I received 2 predetermined Xbox Live Arcade games free: Joust and Frogger. While I appreciate the free games, they were not all that good or entertaining. So to not waste time and words on them, we're just going to do 2 mini reviews on them...quick paragraph and a verdict...that's it.

Frogger Review:


While any game for free is pretty much great and worth it, the very notion that Microsoft would charge for Frogger is ridiculous. The game is the exact same game from way back when except it has Achievements and Xbox Live scoring/internet connectivity...whoop-dee-do! The development team merely ported this decades old game over to Xbox Arcade and added some achievements in...and a new menu. Graphics are the same blocky sprites they were back then. And the gameplay, which was addictive and fun twenty years ago, is bland and repetitive now. Wasn't there a new Frogger game somewhere along the way with updated graphics for Playstation or something? This game needs more features, some updated graphics, and variations in its gameplay. The classic game is nice to have but isn't worth more than a dollar up against other original Live arcade games like Outpost Kaloki, Small Arms, etc. Frogger makes other Live Arcade Games look good! if not great! Avoid this one. Frogger just isn't as great as I remembered.

Verdict: 35%

UNO Xbox Live Review

I’m going to try and keep this short because there’s really not much to explain, it’s Uno. The truth is that this game is very addictive and is very difficult not to recommend at such a low price. Online multiplayer is phenomenal. A definite buy for casual game fans.

Gameplay: 8.5/10
Pros: It’s Uno, so it’s a proven formula for a game already, but the implementation and ease of playing makes the whole experience really great. The game is fun and addictive to play, which is perfect for Xbox Live Arcade.
Cons: It’s just a card game that we’ve all played before and that takes away from the newness or uniqueness of the experience.

Graphics: 6/10
Pros: Not really important in a card game, and as you can imagine there are 4 different colored cards and a sort of virtual tabletop. You can actually use your Xbox Vision camera if you wish and different decks change the graphics.
Cons: Despite the great presentation and use of the Uno license, the graphics are just cards and pretty menus.

Music/Sound: 10/10
Pros: I really want to play Uno games with the sound and music that this game uses. It just fits so well. The music relaxes me and all the little card sounds and Uno chimes work really well…the music/sounds add to the experience without being annoying, over the top, or repetitive…Truly remarkable.
Cons: ?

Lasting Appeal: 9.5/10
Pros: The games online system is really great and sets up and finds opponents for you very quickly. It’s sort of a simple matchmaking feature. The game is very appealing to the casual audience. Your girlfriends will take over your Xbox playing this game. Very easy to play online and you can even customize and adjust the rules.
Cons: The online ranking system should offer you the option of playing some of the more popular alternate rules. I’m a much bigger fan of not getting points and keeping your score low than you only get points if you win a particular game or hand. It requires more consistent play, but you only have the option of playing this mode unranked.

Average: 85.00%
Tilt: +/- 0.00%

Because of the simplicity of the game I don’t feel I should tilt it up any further even though the game is a ton of fun and costs about as much as a deck of Uno cards (except on Xbox you don’t have to shuffle or sort your cards). It’s a great little addictive game. Uno is definitely worth the download time and a purchase.

Verdict: 85%