14 years ago
The Splatters: the most fun you’ll ever have with gooey creatures
Almost every game does something right; whether it’s a fantastic new engine or physics, creative and quirky design, or interesting and challenging levels in which to experience it all, but to truly leave a mark a game needs to do everything right. After playing The Splatters a few dozen times and watching those colorful blobs explode and stain the screen, this could easily be one of those games. It’s launching on April 11 and it needs to be on your radar. Coming into GDC, I wasn’t too familiar with The Splatters or its developer Spiky Snail, an Israeli company founded in 2010 by two childhood friends. Yet throughout the week I keep finding myself wanting to come back and play more.
Players take control of these blob-like creatures and attempt to destroy bombs by exploding their splatter, releasing a paint like substance and coating the bombs in the paint. The basic controls are incredibly simple, as the left analog stick points the direction and the A button launches the splatter. Holding A will result in the splatter launching with enough force to cause it to explode should it come into contact with a wall or spikes, while lightly tapping the button will allow it to move locations. Players can change direction in midair both before exploding and after exploding through this same mechanic. The beginning levels have a few stages and slowly introduce basic mechanics. Every splatter that is still alive after completing a stage will continue to the next one until the end of the level where they will add points to a players score.
14 years ago
XBLA Fans: XBLA in review 2011
A look at 2011, seeking trends and other information any XBLA Fan would be interested in…
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14 years ago
XBLA in review 2011: Is Summer of Arcade worth the hype?
Is Summer of Arcade Worth the Hype?
Believe it or not, we have been paying more money each year for lower average metascores. If that is the case, why …
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14 years ago
Damsels of Dorkington: Orcs Must Die Video Review
We gave our good friends, The Damsels of Dorkington (www.DorkPride.com), the opportunity to review Robot Entertainment’s Orcs Must Die!. Here are their thoughts, for your enjoyment. If you would like …
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14 years ago
Full House Poker fall season update: No news isn’t bad news
Microsoft has been rather silent on Full House Poker recently, which has prompted many of our readers to become worried the game might suffer a similar fate to its spiritual successor 1 vs. 100. The current summer season of Texas Heat started back in May, and while many of us have turned our calendars to fall, no plans have been made public regarding when Full House Poker will do the same.
14 years ago
SkyDrift preview: Skydro Thunder Blur edition
Three of our favorite games last year were Blur, Snoopy Flying Ace and Hydro Thunder Hurricane. While all three titles received critical praise and similar review scores, two were heavily marketed (Blur and HTH), two were licensed properties (Snoopy and HTH), two were budget XBLA titles (Snoopy and HTH), and unfortunately only two sold well (Snoopy and HTH). SkyDrift is poised to launch next week on Xbox Live Arcade and hopes to replicate the critical success of its progenitors.
At first blush, SkyDrift feels like the offspring of Blur and Hydro Thunder Hurricane. The game plays very similar to Blur, Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing et al. Player’s race against their opponents using various weapons to gain and maintain the lead. The game adds a few elements along the way to expand the formula, such as reverse maps and elimination races, but it’s largely stuff players have seen before. Which isn’t to say SkyDrift doesn’t execute this formula well, far from it, the game just isn’t all that original. We haven’t played the entirety of the game so we aren’t going to rule out a few potential surprises that change our tune.
14 years ago
The Case of the Vanishing Microsoft Points
If we gave you a bunch of Microsoft Points, then took them away, and you never noticed would you even care? For many of you, that’s the …
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Toy Soldiers: Cold War Anti-Tank guide
US Anti-Tank I (M72 LAW)
Description: A portable solution to tanks, the M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon works effectively against individual targets lacking heavy armor.
Attributes: Highly effective against vehicles.
Controls: …
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Toy Soldiers: Cold War Artillery guide
US Artillery I (M102)
Description: Effective at long range, the M102 can cripple opposing forces before they engaged, resulting in a safer skirmish.
Attributes: Fires high-damage shells to a distant …
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Toy Soldiers: Cold War Makeshift guide
US Makeshift I (“Fog of War” Bug Spray)
Description: Model No. SG-380012-L. Signal’s quick-acting bug spray eliminates 99.9% of pests on contact!
Attributes: Gaseous bug spray for infantry choke points.