Archive for Xbox Live Arcade
Impressions: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Posted by: | CommentsThough I grew up in Miss Croft’s heyday, I have to say I was never her biggest fan. Through my affair with the PlayStation, I obtained several of her adventures, tried my best to brave them and see them through to the end, but I ultimately decided they just weren’t for me. As Lara evolved over the years and had her share of disappointments, it was a surprise when Crystal Dynamics announced that her latest adventure would be a completely different departure. Having dropped the Tomb Raider moniker entirely, it was revealed as an isometric action game that would put the spotlight entirely on Lara and a completely different adventure. I knew I’d have to give this differently-designed Croftian adventure to the test, and thus dove into Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.
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Review: Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the latest additions to the Xbox Live Arcade family seeks to finally settle the raging score between some of life’s most entertaining figures, namely ninjas and pirates. Of course, without the bitter rivalry between ninjas and pirates, the popularity of similar creatures of zombies and robots would certainly wane. Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball wants to determine once and for all which faction is worthy of being the coolest, strongest, and all-around greatest, all in some rousing games of dodgeball.
Review: Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Posted by: | CommentsThe future looks grim for Duke. With games that are consistently either delayed year after year or cancelled outright, the franchise seems to be slowly dying. And this breaks my heart. After spending countless sleepless nights with Mr. Nukem under the watchful eye of my father (who muted the speakers and told me I didn’t need to hear) with Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem 3D, I grew up expecting much, much more. Unfortunately, I’ve been relegated to flops like Duke Nukem: Time to Kill, Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes, and the travesty Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project. None of them ever came close to capturing the hilarity or feel of the first classic “3D” shooter. In spite of that, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project has somehow made its way from its home on the PC way back in 2002 to the Xbox Live Arcade. It didn’t impress me back then, and now I only fear what tomorrow holds for my favorite wise-cracking, gun-toting action hero.
Impressions: Blacklight: Tango Down
Posted by: | CommentsBlackLight: Tango Down is a bit of a tricky little bugger. At first glance, it’s a great-looking multiplayer shooter that is, admittedly, something of a rarity on the Xbox 360′s XBLA service. Powered by Unreal Engine 3 technology, it’s a simple shooter akin to Call of Duty, Bad Company, or just about any other “modern” warfare contender out there, and it seems, at least, that it could stand on its own beside full retail releases. However, scratch the surface and you’ll soon discover that just beneath it’s deceptively shiny surface is a bullet hole-ridden experience that lacks polish where it counts and brimming with generic and lifeless gameplay throughout. Chances are you’ve already played what this game has to offer elsewhere, and probably – despite its budget-conscious nature – for less money.
Review: Earthworm Jim HD
Posted by: | CommentsAn earthworm donning a white and powder-blue spacesuit always did garner attention. Upon Earthworm’s Jim initial release, I was but a wee lass who shied away at any mention of insects, arachnids, or creatures of the creepy-crawly variety. However, I made an exception for this vintage Genesis platformer. This worm spoke. I could dig it. And from the very first level where I launched a cow into the air after taking aim to a refrigerator, I knew this was something I’d come back to again and again. Luckily for me, the title has seen its share of incarnations of the years, even spawning a sequel that continued the run-and-gun legacy. Shiny Entertainment had a hit on its hands, if you don’t count the terrible excuses for games created without their involvement. Now, in an age that heralds the rebirth of classics we knew and loved in our youth, the original Earthworm Jim returns to consoles via the good graces of Gameloft in Earthworm Jim HD.