14 years ago
Rewind Review: Aegis Wing (XBLA)
Aegis Wing was developed by Carbonated Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released on May 16, 2007 free of charge.
Aegis Wing pits players against a huge alien invasion in an adventure on space and Earth. The game is simple, containing few levels and focusing on score and cooperative play. This twin stick shooter is as bad as it gets: it’s not glitchy, it’s just a dull version of a genre overdone on XBLA. While it can have its moments in multiplayer, Aegis Wing is a word-for-word definition of the genre.
14 years ago
Rewind Review: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (XBLA)
Geometry Wars was developed by Bizarre Creations and was released on October 3, 2005 for 800 Microsoft Points. The price has since been permanently reduced to 400MS points.
Developer Bizarre Creations, which closed its doors in 2010, was always known for its Project Gotham Racing series until it ventured into downloadable territory during the Xbox 360’s inception with Geometry Wars. Although it’s a simple twin-stick shooter, it’s flashy visuals and addictive score-based gameplay were enough for some gamers to purchase its inevitable sequel and even its cousin on the Nintendo Wii. Now, more than five years since its release on XBLA, it deserves a chance to get recognized by those who may have overlooked it.
To the uninitiated, you control a blocky spaceship with the left analog stick and shoot projectiles (which are upgradable through the game) with the right analog stick. You are confined to a large grid set on the backdrop of space, with enemies that drastically get stronger as the game progresses as well as advance in numbers. Some enemies are easy to take down, while others dodge your fire like a rat avoiding pest control. If you become overwhelmed you can hit the right trigger to activate a bomb that wipes out everything on screen — that is until they return in full force. If you’re looking for a challenge, try earning the excruciatingly difficult achievement unlocked by earning 1 million points in the game.
14 years ago
Rewind Review: Boom Boom Rocket (XBLA)
Boom Boom Rocket was developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on Xbox Live Arcade on April 11, 2007 and retails for 800MSP.
Boom Boom Rocket is a fast paced beat music game. Press the correct direction or colored coordinated button to set off amazing fireworks set to over an beautiful city backdrop. With several modes, multiplayer, and lots of songs the game is set to draw you in time and time again.
15 years ago
Rewind Review: Afterburner Climax (XBLA)
Afterburner Climax was developed and published by Sega. It was released April 21, 2010 and retails for 800MSP.
Afterburner Climax pits one sole fighter pilot against an entire air force of opposition. It’s classic, arcade style gameplay; players must down hundreds of planes in a matter of minutes. Far from being a simulation Climax takes the idea of dog fighting and pushes it far beyond the logical extreme. The end product is a super fast and beautiful experience that is over all too soon.
15 years ago
Rewind Review: Blacklight: Tango Down (XBLA)
Blacklight: Tango Down was developed by Zombie Studios and published by Ignition Entertainment and released on July 7, 2010 for 1200 MSP.
XBLA and the multiplayer FPS genre have a delicate relationship. Content, replayability, a large player base and something fun and interesting to weld it all together keeps a multiplayer FPS at the top of everyone’s mind and the front of everyone’s games played list. Retail FPS titles usually provide these flavors, as such XBLA titles have to ace them out in one of those categories to make the purchase worthwhile.
Blacklight: Tango Down provides a decent slew of game modes both solo and team oriented, 12 multiplayer maps, a robust customization system, and a an interesting mechanic that highlights enemies and points of interest at the expense of combat functionality. Last but not least Blacklight features a cooperative mode called Black Ops. A now-traditional FPS progression system is also in place to dole out unlocks at a steady pace.
15 years ago
Rewind Review: Braid (XBLA)
Braid was developed by Number None Inc. and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released on August 6, 2008 for 1200MSP. The price has since been permanently reduced to 800MS points.
Braid is a puzzle/platformer where you manipulate time in order to help main character; Tim, save the princess of his dreams from an evil monster. Tim’s motivations are hinted throughout the game with text passages in each world hub. In case you still haven’t played Braid, we’ll keep story elements vague to avoid spoiling the experience. Along your journey, time manipulation mechanics will build and evolve in each world making Braid and incredibly unique experience that stands out as one of those games that players will likely never forget.
15 years ago
Rewind Review: Soul Calibur (XBLA)
Soul Calibur was developed by Namco Bandai and retails for 800 MSP. It was released July 2, 2008.
The soul is always burning — burning for more swords and axes clashing, burning for ring outs. Soul Calibur is one of the best fighting games ever released for the Dreamcast and has had many sequels on various consoles. Some still regard the first game being the very best in the series and if you’re one of those, then Xbox Live Arcade is where you’ll be able to find it. But does the soul still burn or has the flame been extinguished?
15 years ago
Rewind Review: Alien Hominid HD (XBLA)
Alien Hominid HD was developed by The Behemoth and published by Newgrounds. It was released February 27, 2007 for 800MSP.
Alien Hominid HD follows the adventures of a kind alien who was forced to crash-land on Earth. When secret agent earthlings steal his ship, the alien goes on a grand adventure to find his ship and off this planet. Players venture through fifteen levels across three areas in this arcade-style shooter. Although this game is overshadowed by little brother Castle Crashers, it is a fun and creative game that deserves its own spotlight.
15 years ago
Rewind Review: Spyglass Board Games (XBLA)
Spyglass Board Games was developed by Freeverse Software and Strange Flavour and retails for 400 MSP. It was released on August 1, 2007.
Before Xbox Live Arcade annexed the hearts and minds of hardcore gamers with an assortment of genres and titles, certain games were lauded simply because they were the only option for someone yearning for a particular genre not available elsewhere on the service — Spyglass Board Games was one of those titles because it contained a reasonable simulator of the game we know as chess. Although XBLA still only offers few options in that arena, Spyglass Board Games makes the same reoccurring moves and ends in a stalemate.
15 years ago
Rewind Review: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (XBLA)
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was developed by Konami. It was ported by Digital Eclipse and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released on March 21, 2007 and costs 800MSP.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was originally released for the PlayStation in 1997 with everything we had grown to expect from the Castlevania series. You are Alucard and are slated to kill Dracula before he follows through with his evil plans. Pitted with this mission you will take on all kinds of enemies including giant wolves, skeletons and even death himself, the Grim Reaper. With a plethora of weapons, armor, magic and items at your disposal can you stop Dracula before it is to late.