An 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.
All posts in Xbox 360
Review: Earthworm Jim HD
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Review: Green Day: Rock Band
The Beatles: Rock Band was an admirable tribute to one of history’s greatest musical forces. Stepping into the shoes of the venerable Fab Four proved to be an entertaining and equally respectable trip. Just as it attracted established Beatlemaniacs, it created new ones through bystanders and gamers searching for a new music game to rock out to. Harmonix sensed they were onto something here, and thus allowed another band to take center stage for another band-centric adventure. Not long after, Green Day: Rock Band was announced. While not as epic in scope, it’s an enjoyable trip from the early, angst-ridden days of the band’s career all the way through their politically charged creations American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. It brings nothing relatively groundbreaking to the series (and builds little on The Beatles: Rock Band’s feature set) but those needing their Rock Band fix should find plenty to like here.
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Review: Snoopy Flying Ace
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When you think of the Peanuts gang and that lovable beagle Snoopy, it’s likely you don’t immediately recall Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. It just doesn’t seem too likely of a union, now does it? But wait. Toss Snoopy’s vicious nemesis into the mix, the Red Baron, and his penchant for World War II-era dogfights with the venerable fighter pilot. Starting to make more sense now? It should. In Smart Bomb Interactive’s highly enjoyable yet sufficiently challenging downloadable title, Snoopy Flying Ace, the meshing of Crimson Skies and the cast of Peanuts seems like a match made in heaven. Even more of a definitively arcade-type experience than Smart Bomb’s previous outing, Snoopy vs. The Red Baron, this adventure borrows more than a few pages from the cult Xbox hit and writes a fantastic story all its own.
Review: Rocket Knight
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Back in the ’90s, spunky mascots were a dime a dozen. These loveable yet snarky critters ruled the roost. Luckily, this trend did tend to die out over the following years, but the enduring classics live on; particularly, an endearing and memorable title known as Rocket Knight Adventures. An impossibly adorable yet suave marsupial armed with a jet pack and the attitude of heroes three times his size captured the hearts of lucky Genesis owners time and time again. The awesome opossum known only as Sparkster makes his triumphant return in Rocket Knight, an Xbox Live Arcade revival that jams a lot of style and gloss into an exciting little downloadable packet.
Review: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
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Though Prince of Persia fans were thrown for a loop with Ubisoft’s previous venture, I was completely enamored. The breathtaking cel-shaded splendor captured my imagination and ran with it. It wasn’t a challenge, but it was beautiful and graceful, much more so to me than the previous outings I was used to. I knew this kind of progressive design couldn’t last, however, and a swift return to form would soon come to pass. Fast forward to the release of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, a throwback to the modern Prince we had grown to love, only this time without the rugged good looks, personality, or charm of the Prince seen in the previous games. And that, my friends, is only the tip of the iceberg. The series’ latest outing disappoints in only a way that mundane mechanics, dated graphics, and yawn-inducing plotlines can.
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