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XBLA Reviews

XBLA Video Game Reviews

Rewind Review: Peggle (XBLA)
13 years ago

Rewind Review: Peggle (XBLA)

Peggle was developed and published by Popcap Games. It was released March 11, 2009 for 800 MSP (400 MSP for Gold Users).

Puzzle games are an interesting lot. They not only make you think but also to become an uncontrollable addiction. It’s all about being the best: having top scores, the best moves and lively competition on leaderboards. Popcap created the game that may have been infused with sugar for more addictive qualities. Don’t drink caffeine while playing this one, it could be dangerous. Read More

Rewind Review: N+ (XBLA)
13 years ago

Rewind Review: N+ (XBLA)

N+ was developed by Slick Entertainment, and published by Metanet Software. It was released February 20, 2008 for 800MSP.

Based on the browser Flash game NN+ is an highly updated version with HD graphics and completely new levels. You play as a nameless ninja who nimbly jumps past every danger in his way through a highly mechanized and gray world. As tough as it is addicting, N+ is one of the best platformers around, but it doesn’t do enough to not feel like a flash game.

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Rewind Review: Tetris Splash (XBLA)
13 years ago

Rewind Review: Tetris Splash (XBLA)

Tetris Splash was developed by Tetris Online, Inc and published by Microsoft Game Studios and retails for 800 MSP.  It was released on October 3, 2007.

Tetris fans must be exhausted over choosing which version of the classic to spend their time with, having dozens of iterations on dozens of different platforms to choose from. Tetris Splash, the first time the game has graced Xbox Live Arcade, will certainly be a low priority for Tetris purists, but for everyone else, is it worth picking up — ahem, downloading?

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Rewind Review: Rocky and Bullwinkle (XBLA)
13 years ago

Rewind Review: Rocky and Bullwinkle (XBLA)

Rocky and Bullwinkle was developed by Zen Studios. It was released on April 16, 2008 and costs 800 MSP.

Rocky and Bullwinkle is a mini game super fest with the whole cast from the beloved children’s show. You play through seven distinct worlds, each with there own set of amusing levels, giving you a total of 105 different mini-games to play. You can play through all the levels by yourself or with up to 11 friends locally for a quirky experience that only Rocky and Bullwinkle can provide.

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Rewind Review: Garou: Mark of the Wolves (XBLA)
13 years ago

Rewind Review: Garou: Mark of the Wolves (XBLA)

Garou: Mark of the Wolves was released by SNK/Playmore on June 24, 2009 and retails for 800MSP.

Garou: Mark of the Wolves (MOTW) is one of the last great fighting games released for the Neo-Geo. Originally releasing roughly around the same time as Street Fighter 3 this game was to be SNK’s answer to Capcom. While it never did reach the same level of popularity it certainly is a great game in its own right.

With some of the best graphics that the Neo-Geo could produce and some of the best gameplay in any fighting game ever; this game is a true gem. MOTW is essentially the culmination of the Fatal Fury series. Its story line is one of transition. Old heroes make way for new heroes and old villains make way for new ones as well. Everything about this game is polish and class. The only real shame is that the sequel was never released.

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The Adventures of Shuggy review (XBLA)
13 years ago

The Adventures of Shuggy review (XBLA)

Adventures of Shuggy was developed by Smudged Cat Games and published by Valcon Games. It was released June 15, 2011 for 800 MSP. A copy of the game was provided to us for review purposes.

We’re used to thinking we find the best platformers on the classic Nintendo or Sega consoles, but in the growing future we see Xbox Live Arcade as a platform for that genre. With calls to classic difficulty in Super Meat Boy or offering an artistic experience with Braid, the types of game in that genre boom and The Adventures of Shuggy brings that same flavor.

As Shuggy, you inherit a mansion with over 100 challenge rooms. Your mission is to go throughout the rooms all over the mansion and collect the gems in each room. The game goes from tricky to downright complex in a matter of levels and the amount of variety will keep your thumbs on the edge.

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Rewind Review: Scrap Metal (XBLA)
13 years ago

Rewind Review: Scrap Metal (XBLA)

Scrap Metal was developed by Slick Entertainment and published by Microsoft on March 10, 2010 as part of the Xbox Live Arcade Block Party for 1200 MSP.

Scrap Metal, not to be confused with Twisted Metal, brought the first true bout with car combat to the Xbox Live Arcade. This top down racer really captures the theme of crazy, sometimes strange vehicles with crazy, sometimes strange weaponry in crazy, sometimes strange locations. There’s a single player and a multiplayer component like most car combat games but no nifty mini-games or other sidetracks so to speak. However, the single player does have some special races with different objectives than just “blow up the other racers” or “come in first place”, and for the most part, like most of the game, they’re all fun. Read More

Rewind Review: The Maw (XBLA)
13 years ago

Rewind Review: The Maw (XBLA)

The Maw was developed by Twisted Pixel Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released on January 21, 2009 for 800 Microsoft Points.

For fans of Xbox Live Arcade games Twisted Pixel Games is a household name. With titles like ‘Splosion Man, Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley and the forthcoming Ms. Splosion Man they’re a huge success story. But there was one title that started it all. One that was ridiculously cute with simple but fun puzzle elements: The Maw. In the game players take control of Frank, a cute bipedal alien who has been captured by bounty hunters. Shortly after being thrown into a cell on the bounty hunters’ vessel the craft crash lands on a strange planet. Frank and another escapee, The Maw, must find their way to freedom from the surviving bounty hunters bent on recapturing them.

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Iron Brigade (Trenched) review (XBLA)
13 years ago

Iron Brigade (Trenched) review (XBLA)

Iron Brigade (Formerly Trenched) was developed by Double Fine Productions, published by Microsoft Games Studios and will be released on June 22nd, 2011 for 1200MSP. A copy of the game was provided to us for review purposes.

Double Fine has found great success so far with their downloadable titles. Costume Quest and Stacking were well received, critically and commercially. Each title has been unique in gameplay, setting and style. Trenched is no different, a mech-based tower defense game set in an alternate history with all the charm and character you’ve grown to expect.

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Rewind Review: Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project (XBLA)

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project was developed by 3D Realms and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released June 23, 2010 and retails for 800 MSP.

Just over a week ago, Duke Nukem Forever was released onto the world and while you may think that’s a sign of the apocalypse, we’re all still here. Duke’s brand of humor and violence has been seen in countless iterations in different genres from first and third person shooters to the classic side-scroller. Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project aims to return to the classic side-scrolling days and make sure the aliens pay. Duke must save the city of New York from imminent destruction from aliens and fight his way through levels ranging from Chinatown to the depths of space. Now this all sounds great and fun but you have to remember that this game originally came out in 2002. What was great eight years ago doesn’t always fly in today.

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