14 years ago
Soulcaster 2 review (XBLIG)
Soulcaster 2 was developed by Magical Time Bean and retails for 240 MSP. A copy of the game was provided for review purposes.
Soulcaster 2 is a retro combination of tower defense, rpg, and action-adventure gaming. It was released by Magical Time Bean in December 2010. Soulcaster 2 puts the player in the role of the soulcaster. But it is the souls that are the real stars of the show. The soulcaster, for all his power, is essentially helpless. He must summon the souls of ancient warriors to defend him. These come in three archetypical forms. The warrior excels at close quarters combat and plugging small pathways that would otherwise be streaming with enemies. With the enemies held at bay the archer can safely pick off enemies if she has a clear line of sight. Finally the alchemist lobs explosives over obstacles to cause area of effect damage.
These three souls are the soulcaster’s only defense while navigating some seriously treacherous terrain. The souls all have three attributes that can be powered up using the money collected on the field, hence the rpg element. But the souls must remain stationary and fight from their assigned position for the tower defense element. Only the soulcaster is free to roam the battlefield which is a good thing because the situation will get too dicey for him to stay put anyway.
14 years ago
Avatar Grand Prix review (XBLIG)
Avatar Grand Prix was developed by Battenberg Software. It was released August 25, 2010 for 80MSP. A copy of the game was provided by the developer for review purposes.
It’s easy to dismiss some indie games as mere copies of the games they try to emulate. It’s not surprising that so many generi-makes exist on the Indie Games channel amongst the original ideas. But sometimes one emerges that truly deserves a download, one that takes players back and provides not only the concept, but the content players are looking for. Avatar Grand Prix takes its cues from Mario Kart 64; the basics are all there: powerup cubes, power sliding, it’s even got a rainbow road copy. But where other Mario Kart clones may fall short Avatar GP succeeds.
14 years ago
The Wizards Who Fell In A Hole review (XBLIG)
The Wizards Who Fell In A Hole was developed and published by Battenberg Software. It was released on XBLIG on November 4, 2010 for 80MSP.
The Wizards Who Fell in a Hole is a simple story about two moronic wizards who while on a journey happen to fall into a hole. Once in the hole they discover a world of monsters trying to keep them from getting out. Just like games of the past such as Bubble Bobble for the NES this classic style platformer has a simple concept, kill all the enemies on each of a 100 levels and get the wizards back home.
14 years ago
Shifters Review (XBLIG)
Shifters was developed by Third Eye and released on April 3, 2011 and costs 240 Microsoft Points. A copy was provided by the developer for review purposes.
Ever notice the cool kids who plant their “suped up” foreign cars in the parking lot of your local 7-11? You know the ones — they add mild alterations to wheels their parents bought in hopes to one day be the modern Salvador Dali of cars, except that they come from modest working-class families with little disposable income? Yes, those kids. Anyway, their hopes of creating the perfect automobile with flashy lights and aerodynamic spoilers on a budget has finally come true in Shift.
14 years ago
Warbirds at Work Review (XBLIG)
Warbirds at Work was developed and published by Kaape. It was released on Xbox Live December 23, 2010 for 80 MSP.
Warbirds at work is a classic style overhead arcade shooter. Trying to follow in the footsteps of it’s predecessors like Raiden or 1942, you are a small ship trying to protect the earth from invaders. In this case you happen to be the last line of defense against a group of aliens. Equipped with a temporary shield, upgradeable gun, rockets, impulse gun, and bombs it is your job to blast everything back to outer space.
14 years ago
Planet Pinball review (XBLIG)
Planet Pinball was developed and published by Battenberg Software and was released on December 23, 2009 for 80MSP. A copy was provided by the developer for review purposes.
Planet Pinball is a simple concept: a few balls, a couple paddles and an outer space theme. It provides pinball fans with many things to shoot for such as orbits, meteors, rocket blasting and airlocks. At first glance it seems well rounded, low priced pinball game. But can it stand up to the bang-for-your-buck value of Pinball FX 2?
14 years ago
Firebies, The New Zombies review (XBLIG)
Firebies, the New Zombies is an Xbox Live Indie Game developed by Latin Soul Studio for 80 MSP. It was released February 4, 2011
Some games have really great titles and turn into great games (‘Splosion Man, Shadow Complex, Monday Night Combat) but some on the other hand, can have a wonderfully weird title but allude to something else. Firebies, The New Zombies is more the latter than the former with its inventive name but each play-through make it feel lesser despite its price.
14 years ago
Dirchie Kart Review (XBLIG)
Dirchie Kart was developed by BrownBot and released on January 22, 2011 and costs 240 Microsoft Points. A copy was provided by the developer for review purposes.
The rise of indie development in games has been a boon to various elements of the games industry. While innovation is often the result of the tight focus of smaller development groups, indies also have a unique ability to revisit old ideas and breathe in some new life. Dirchie Kart is a solid attempt at this, reviving the Super Mario Kart formula in a glorious and unflinching fashion. Read More
14 years ago
Zombie Football Carnage Review (XBLIG)
Zombie Football Carnage was developed by Milkstone Studios S.L. and released on February 18, 2011 and costs 80 Microsoft Points. A copy was provided by the developer for review purposes.
The only thing that Zombie Football Carnage has in common with football is a projectile pigskin and cumbersome football gear, so we were surprised to see football in the title. But does the game live up to the sport that grabs the attention of many Americans, or does it fumble trying to reach the goal line?
14 years ago
Mute Crimson Review (XBLIG)
Mute Crimson is an Xbox Live Indie Game developed by Apoxxie that was released March 15th, 2011. It retails for 80 MSP
Mute Crimson is an interesting game but ultimately can feel like many other games in the genre. It has a neat platforming element and really cool art style but at points it feels incredibly derivative of other games. Now that’s not to say it’s a bad thing to to borrow from influences a little, but sometimes trying to emulate another game doesn’t turn out so well. Still, for a dollar players get something that has character to back up the derivative qualities.
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