XBLA thread-oh

metalangel · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:09

Anyone played Roogoo? Be warned - the lovely music will lull you to sleep.

There seems to be a plethora of games that look like they're going to be platformers or something... and then turn out to be yet another puzzle game. The devs coming up with a ridiculously complex setting/storyline to wrap their simplistic puzzle in (see also: TiQal).

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1780

MetalAngel wrote:

Anyone played Roogoo? Be warned - the lovely music will lull you to sleep.

There seems to be a plethora of games that look like they're going to be platformers or something... and then turn out to be yet another puzzle game. The devs coming up with a ridiculously complex setting/storyline to wrap their simplistic puzzle in (see also: TiQal).

I didn't fancy it after playing the demo. I do try out every single demo and I've bought nearly 60 games so far but that one (and TiQal) left me a bit cold.

Malc74 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 13:39

romanista wrote:

still not picked up the wii version of galaxies..

Oh, you simply must - it's marvellous, and probably costs about three Euros by this point (it's currently lying around in bargain bins over here for about a fifth of its initial price due to, well, selling about six copies).

*climbs off GW: Galaxies soapbox*

The Rev Owen · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 13:41

£10.99 at HMV seems to be the cheapest price.

romanista · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 15:25

Malc74 wrote:

romanista wrote:

still not picked up the wii version of galaxies..

Oh, you simply must - it's marvellous, and probably costs about three Euros by this point (it's currently lying around in bargain bins over here for about a fifth of its initial price due to, well, selling about six copies).

*climbs off GW: Galaxies soapbox*

ah it here 20 euro's bargain bins are not that speedilyu filled, but it is still not that expansive,

but i'm covming to the uk next month, and will allow myself to spent 100 sterling on games , so thius might be in it

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Oh yeah, have fun in the UK romanista.

I would have tried to have said hi, but being in thesis land, and the south renders that unpossible.

Have fun though.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Trousers wrote:

I can't say I'm overly impressed so far. *

The normal pre-boss bits of each level are far too short and the charged shot is next to fucking useless in most circumstances. The bit after the first boss where you have to dodge planes while a big plan hunts you down and your weapons are broken is potentially exciting only it goes on for far too long and the plane patterns are a load of gash.

Having said that getting the broad shot and shooting the bejaysus out of planes is satisfying enough and it's 2d and a shooter so the odds of me not buying it are rather small. So I did.

*-I've only done the first three levels so it may get better.

I bought it, too. Is it just me, or are the boss bullet patterns ridiculously difficult to avoid? You can only shoot forwards, so you have to hang about in certain spots to do them any damage, and in those spots it's impossible to hang around for longer than a second without being blasted out of the sky.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1780

very much so, Jonny.

the pre-boss bits are a breeze but the boss battles are immense chore.

hmph!

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

Malc74 wrote:

I suppose I'll have to pick up a points card in a couple of weeks to buy GW: Retro Evolved 2

Better get your skates on!

myp · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 20:25

Where's the cheapest place to get a points card right now?

Malc74 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 21:04

tossrStu wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

I suppose I'll have to pick up a points card in a couple of weeks to buy GW: Retro Evolved 2

Better get your skates on!

Yay!

tossrStu · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1326

myoptika wrote:

Where's the cheapest place to get a points card right now?

£13.97 at Tesco -- use the code "freedel" to get free delivery, although the code goes a bit strange if you buy multiple cards and for each extra card you buy, it discounts a further £1.29 from the shipping.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2008 21:30

tossrStu wrote:

myoptika wrote:

Where's the cheapest place to get a points card right now?

£13.97 at Tesco -- use the code "freedel" to get free delivery, although the code goes a bit strange if you buy multiple cards and for each extra card you buy, it discounts a further £1.29 from the shipping.

Awesome, thank you!

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Oooooh we are entering a golden few weeks according to kotaku!

Quote:

It might be the end of July, but over at Xbox Live Arcade the summer is just starting! This week sees the official kick off of the Summer of Arcade, five weeks of blockbuster Xbox Live Arcade releases to help ease us into the traditional fall gaming explosion. They'll be kicking things off with Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 (800 MS points), the sequel to one of the best games on the Xbox 360 period.

Each week after this will feature a new huge title. Next week sees the release of Jonathan Blow's innovative platformer Braid, followed by Bionic Commando: Rearmed (explaining the delay), and the reinvented classic Galaga Legions. Wrapping things up will be the August 27th release of the long-awaited Castle Crashers, from the creators of Alien Hominid. That's right, a game we've been waiting years for is coming out after a game announced two weeks ago. Such is the magic of summer! Sound impressive? Wait, there's more!

During the Summer of Arcade event, anyone who plays even a trial version of these new titles is automatically entered to win one of five weekly 4,000 MS point prizes, as well as a grand prize of 100,000 points, and Xbox 360 Elite console, and a 12 month Gold subscription. Two second prize winners will walk away with 10,000 points and the Gold sub.

Definitely an interesting promotion, with some excellent games attached. It's been a relatively lackluster summer so far for Xbox Live Arcade, with the Puzzle Quest expansion being the only thing I've purchased in the past few months. Looks like they'll be making up for lost points over the next five weeks. Good for them!

Eeek I've been planing on picking up GW2, Braid, BC:Rearmed and Castle Crashers, and could be easily tempted by Galage - so unless the trials are terrible I'm going to be skint as. Oh oh.

EDIT: Actually all those games for £34 - if they are decent - is an incredible bargain.

Trousers · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 3073

Just as I manage to finally shake the previous month's wife-annoying CoD4 addiction up comes Geometry Wars RE 2 and then Galaga Legions.

I had a quick blast on GW:Waves last night in preparation and noticed that I was 424th in the world - once the world and his dog get their hands on it then I can expect to be 144242th. I curse you popularity.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1780

it turns out the all s-ranks thing on 1942 isnt hard at all.

just put it on easy, save your bombs for the bosses, make sure you've got dual lasers and dont be afraid to let a boss kill you (the extra 3 bombs will help).

I cleared it with lives to spare.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:37

Malc74 wrote:

Well, 1942 seems to be a bit of a damp squib to be sure.

Characterless, wishy washy and dull.

Flying Shark was always better anyway.

myp · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:56

Zardoz wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

Well, 1942 seems to be a bit of a damp squib to be sure.

Characterless, wishy washy and dull.

Flying Shark was always better anyway.

It's a shame as I've always had a soft spot for 1942.

CUS · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:00

1942 and its arcade sequels are all excellent. So there. Especially whichever one is a bullet-hell-em-up So there.

Malc74 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 21:42

Zardoz wrote:

Malc74 wrote:

Well, 1942 seems to be a bit of a damp squib to be sure.

Characterless, wishy washy and dull.

Flying Shark was always better anyway.

And, of course, being the gormless shmup-whore that I am, I went and bought it anyway. It gets marginally better in the later levels but it's still a bit crappy, unfortunately. I'd have been a lot happier if they'd just released a version of one of the later 19XX coin-ops instead.

Also: Geometry Wars 2 tomorrow! Squee!!

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1780

Braid 1200pts, Castle Crashers 1800pts. According to the rumours.

that'll suck.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 16:20

@ Trousers: Galaga Legions, well that flew under the radar. Is that out today too?

@ Bluce Ree: Greed!!!

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Bluce_Ree wrote:

Braid 1200pts, Castle Crashers 1800pts. According to the rumours.

that'll suck.

Ah Fuck. Hope not.

I've issues with paying over £10 to temporarily own a game.

I guess the CC people are trying to recoup their massively long development of the game. They might have shot themselves in the foot there - because if it was 800 I would have picked it up on the spot. But £15 odd quid?

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

I won't pay more than 800pts for a live arcade game.

I thought they'd announced all the next 5 were 800.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

seems legit.

http://kotaku.com/5030926/castle-crashers-and-braid-pricey-for-xbla-titles

Thats taken me from where I was just going to buy Braid, CC, Galaga and Bionic Commando over the next couple of weeks and have a whale of a time. To one where I'll have to think carefully about it.

I was totally going to take a chance on CC, as I hated their previous game but this looks awesome. But not for 1800. Fuck.

Runcle · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 16:45

does no one like war lords? Ive been catching up on xbla games and I went with warlords on a whim since its only 400 points, ridiculously short demo though. Could be a good bezzie mates live game.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

Lave wrote:

seems legit.

http://kotaku.com/5030926/castle-crashers-and-braid-pricey-for-xbla-titles

Thats taken me from where I was just going to buy Braid, CC, Galaga and Bionic Commando over the next couple of weeks and have a whale of a time. To one where I'll have to think carefully about it.

I was totally going to take a chance on CC, as I hated their previous game but this looks awesome. But not for 1800. Fuck.

Then they can both fuck off. CC especially but that's a shame with braid.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Not so much with Braid for me - depending on the demo, if it has enough polish I'll stump up the cash.

But they've both slipped into 'wait until I've read enough reviews about them' before buying.

Which is exactly what I liked not having to do on xbla.

devilman · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 17:45

Dudley wrote:

I won't pay more than 800pts for a live arcade game.

800 seems about right for an upper limit.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

1942: Joint Strike - Review

I just reviewed the new 1942 game.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

Yeay on you getting review copies of stuff LewieP. Thats badass.

Also bad ass is:

Microsoft say those prices aren't correct for Braid and CC

Yeay!

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Lave wrote:

Yeay on you getting review copies of stuff LewieP. Thats badass.

That it is, Civ Rev DS I bought for myself, but 1942, and a bunch of other XBLA in the near future I am getting for free!

And whilst in LA I 'networked' with the PR person there, who has offered to hook my up with "Shelf loads" of games to review.

I am sure my dissertation is going to be awesome.

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1780

LewieP wrote:

1942: Joint Strike - Review

I just reviewed the new 1942 game.

Is pretty much how I feel about the game.

The only things I might have expanded on were the bosses (I thought they were pretty generic and unimpressive), the weapons (they seem a little unbalanced, I can't imagine using anything but the lasers) and probably would have tested out the co-op mode as part of the review process (it scores points by not being a lagfest like Ikaruga was).

1942 is deffo a bit of a grower and is really at its best when playing for leaderboard larks. A bit like Omega Five.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

I got burned so much on Triggerheart Exelica that I don't want to pick up another Shoot em up unless I'm really sure about it. Especially now GeoWars2 is out. But yeah, your review matches what I felt the demo was like.

CUS · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:58

Runcle wrote:

does no one like war lords? Ive been catching up on xbla games and I went with warlords on a whim since its only 400 points, ridiculously short demo though. Could be a good bezzie mates live game.

Yes, I also bought War Lords, it's good isn't it. I was shocked to see you'd reached level 13; on my first go, I scarcely made it to 2...

Runcle · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:17

CUS wrote:

Runcle wrote:

does no one like war lords? Ive been catching up on xbla games and I went with warlords on a whim since its only 400 points, ridiculously short demo though. Could be a good bezzie mates live game.

Yes, I also bought War Lords, it's good isn't it. I was shocked to see you'd reached level 13; on my first go, I scarcely made it to 2...

I was playing 2-player with my nephew, where you only need a human player to win to get to the next wave. saying that the majority of the time it ended with me and my nephew left and he frequently beat me, he had 100k more than me by the end.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:21

War Lords looks interesting, is there a 'let's gang up on 'x'' element to it? Uses Camera too! 400pts!

Mor Inf plz

Blucey · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1780

Warlords has that stupid fucking 'Throttle Monkey' mode that they put in all these Atari remakes.

It speeds the game up to an actually unplayable level and puts an achievement on it. Fuck that.

also, for all of the modern stylings they could have given the game, a 'Tron' look would have to be the least appropriate one.

CUS · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 13:25

Zardoz wrote:

War Lords looks interesting, is there a 'let's gang up on 'x'' element to it? Uses Camera too! 400pts!

Mor Inf plz

One player per corner of the screen. A big square base. Two sides of it are against the edge of the screen, and two edges face in. You control a 'bat' that can move along those two inner edges.

Behind it, is your throbbing heart. It's surrounded by a few layers of bricks. At the start of each round, a ball will be launched in a random direction. Balls knock down the bricks, and if one hits a player's heart/core/thing, that player is out. At this point,a new ball will be introduced into play, to speed things up.

That's basically it, but yeah, it does mean that ganging up is possible, and if cameras are involved then ho-ho-ho! Could be very amusing. Probably not one for the long-term though, save for achievement hunting. Good cheap fun though, and I was playing it for a good 30 mins or so last night, just trying to get to level 2 of 'classic' mode.

Runcle · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 13:34

ha yeah classic mode is ridiculously hard, took me a while to get to level 2 aswell.

essentially its Pong+Breakout+4 Players=Warlords

the dont expose your king achievement seems pretty hard though, and the dont lose a brick achievement is just absurd.

romanista · **Posted:** Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:56

LewieP wrote:

Lave wrote:

Yeay on you getting review copies of stuff LewieP. Thats badass.

That it is, Civ Rev DS I bought for myself, but 1942, and a bunch of other XBLA in the near future I am getting for free!

awesome.

how do they send you xbla games you get a speciasl code or something?

metalangel · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2008 14:12

yup, that's how we got the ten free games thing last year.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

Braid is going to be 1200.

That's a shame, hope it fails massively now but why it does they'll assume weird games won't work, not that you need to price things sensibly.

Runcle · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 13:08

has any of the 'big' over 1000 ms points games ever not been reduced in price?

puzzle quest
the billiards one
and golf all got reduced im pretty sure

think its likely braid will in the future?

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

Er... what golf game was >800?

Runcle · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 14:14

Im sure the mini-golf one got reduced to 800 point temporarily.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

The one that was always 800 points?

Runcle · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 14:39

was it I could have sworn my fried was swearing like a loon because it cost so much and he bought it by mistake.
anyway I was looking at wikipedia at the upcoming xbla games, and noticed that the incredible machine is coming out for it.
woohoo.
there seems like lots of games that might interest me though.

duke nukem 3d
fez (R)
doom 2 (R) and final doom (R)
flock
hang on GTA1 and 2 are coming out? (R) (R)
Quake Arena
vigilante 8
lode runner
darwinia +

ah wait some of these are rumours, I thought something was up when I saw radiant silvergun, which is also rumoured. Ive put (R) on the end of the rumoured ones.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

There's some good stuff, assuming it's 800pts.

Runcle · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 14:41

Dudley wrote:

There's some good stuff, assuming it's 800pts.

very true, I wish there was a sale on 2 games a month or something so i could get bargains.

Be Excellent To Each Other

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