XBLA thread-oh

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

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

It's so fucking cheap. Unavoidable deaths and irritating unclear sections. I fucking hate Sonic games. This one is shit and has the annoyances of the originals.

I was reading Craig Grannell's review of Gravity Runner or something on Podgamer and when he started saying how the game becomes a horrible memory test that reminded me of why I hate the Sonic games.

Sure, the speed is potentially exhilarating but hitting things that you cant react to is gash.

Dead Space demo thing was utter shit.

Wullie · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 6183

Blucey wrote:

Dead Space demo thing was utter shit.

I didnae bother with it, it's nearly 2 fucking gig!

Wish they'd did the comic-video thing again this time, they were awesome!

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

Blucey wrote:

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

It's so fucking cheap. Unavoidable deaths and irritating unclear sections. I fucking hate Sonic games. This one is shit and has the annoyances of the originals.

I was reading Craig Grannell's review of Gravity Runner or something on Podgamer and when he started saying how the game becomes a horrible memory test that reminded me of why I hate the Sonic games.

Sure, the speed is potentially exhilarating but hitting things that you cant react to is gash.

Dead Space demo thing was utter shit.

Thing is, I fall for it every time. I played all of the original Sonic games as a kid on the Mega Drive, and although I didn't have quite the "sophisticated" knowledge of what a good game should be then as I do now, I still always preferred Mario for some reason. Playing them all again on the XBLA/emulators, etc. as I've grown up, I've realised that I really don't like them. But, I'm still drawn to them like some sort of brainless idiot. "Mnnnngh, Sonic 4, instabuy" *click*. Urgh. What's wrong with me?

Maybe I just really want to like them, because I do generally love everything else Sega did, plus the Dreamcast was the best thing ever. But objectively, I honestly think the Sonic games are shite.

Mentski · **Joined:** 17th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 86

The atrocious physics and level design of Sonic 4 make the game feel like an utter chore to play for me.

The way Sonic controlled, and the way levels flowed in the 16-bit originals is the reason I, and many other people played them, and continued to play them over the last 20 years.

It's like driving classic Ferraris for 20 years, only to be given a cheap red hot hatchback. Sure, it's a nippy little vehicle, but compared to the Ferrari, it handles like a brick.

Worse still, the showroom swears blind there's no difference, and the younger generation that have been happy to drive the pickup trucks the showroom has been pushing for the last 10 years can't see what's wrong, and tell us we're whining about nothing!

Sonic 4 is an average platform game at best. A tepid experience that will not survive multiple playthroughs short-term, let alone 15-20 years.

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

Super Meat Boy review

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

Is it out this Wednesday? You're making me want it. Seems a far beter use of a tenner than sonic.

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

Abso-fucking-lutely better than Sonic.

and yes, this Wednesday.

YOG · **Posted:** Mon Oct 18, 2010 21:22

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

I've beat all but one level in the dark world on SMB now.

That doesn't mean all that much to you now, but you better be fucking impressed once you realise how hard that is.

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

Holy shit. SMB is A brilliant example of an XBLA game that is worth 1,200 points, but they just announced that at release, for a limited time, it will be just 800 points.

This is in addition to the 800 free points when you spend 2,400 offer.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14360

I want this now. 800 points has swung it for me.

Hey, I downloaded the Sonic 4 demo and I must be honest I couldn't see any problem with the physics at all. It played exactly as I remember the first Sonic (i.e. like a brick on rollerskate), and I played that a few months back on the Sega Collection. I thought this was a brand new Sonic adventure though? It seemed like no more than a HD reskin to me. A very pretty but tedious and irrelevant one at that with the worse fucking Sonic music I've ever heard. Sonic was always a poor mans Mario but at least the jaunty music kept you going.

BUT THEN I downloaded Sonic Adventure and, boy, that was brilliant! It was a bloody pain to control at first but after nipping around the level at breakneck speed to a funky little tune I was gutted when it ended. Based on 5 minutes play and a one level trial I have no doubt that this is the best 3D Sonic game that was ever made, ever.

Also Comic Jumper is funny as fuck in places, but the endless shooting has now become mundane. On level 2. Still, it's probably the wittiest game of the year (what with most games being too deadly serious). Prove me wrong tha internets people.

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

Sonic 4 is so fucking horrible. Awful, terrible game, and plays absolutely nothing like Sonic 1-3 & Knuckles.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

New stuff coming to XBLA from Major Nelsons blog

Quote:

Here is a list of upcoming content scheduled for the Xbox LIVE Marketplace*

Please see the blog post I’ll make for each of these for pricing and/or regional availability and follow me on Twitter for updates.

Xbox LIVE Arcade:

October 20: Super Meat Boy, 800 Microsoft Points. After November 21 the price will be 1200 Microsoft Points

October 20: Costume Quest, 1200 Microsoft Points

October 27: Pinball FX 2 Free game download. Tables purchased individually with free import from original Pinball FX

Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week** :

Week of October 25: BioShock 2

Rapture Metro, 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off)

Sinclair Solutions Tester Pack , 240 Microsoft Points (40 percent off)

Protector Trials, 240 Microsoft Points (40 percent off)

Big Sister Outfit , 240 Microsoft Points (25 percent off)

Watchface Big Daddy Doll , 160 Microsoft Points (33 percent off)

Week of November 1:

Snoopy Flying Ace, 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off)

Risk: Factions, 400 Microsoft Points (50 percent off)

Blade Kitten, 600 Microsoft Points (50 percent off)

Pug Dog Avatar Marketplace Pets , 160 Microsoft Points (33 percent off) and available worldwide

Black Cat Avatar Marketplace Pets, 160 Microsoft Points (33 percent off) and available worldwide

**Special pricing available for Xbox LIVE Gold Members

Xbox Games On Demand:

October 19:

Borderlands
F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin
Virtua Fighter 5

Cabela’s Big Game Hunter

October 26:
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction
The BIGS 2

Cabela’s Alaskan Adventures

LOST: Via Domus

Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace:

October 21: Iconic job costumes for Halloween

October 21: DJ Hero

October 25: Star Wars The Force Unleashed

October 25: Red Dead Redemption

Xbox Game Add-Ons

To celebrate the release of Borderlands through Games on Demand, stock up on the Add-ons for half the price:

October 19-25:

Borderlands Secret Armory, 400 Microsoft Points

Zombie Island , 400 Microsoft Points

The Underdome, 400 Microsoft Points

October 25: Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Pack” , 800 Microsoft Points

October 27: Hydro Thunder Hurricane Tempest Pack , 400 Microsoft Points

Other things you may find interesting:

Starting November 1, the new Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack will offer up to four individual Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for only US$99.99 – the price of two regular Xbox LIVE Gold subscriptions. For more information, visit: Xbox.com.

Purchase at least 2400 Microsoft Points worth of Xbox LIVE Arcade and/or Game add-on content between now and October 31, 2010 11:59 pm EST, and receive 800 Microsoft Points – FREE!. Complete details on here

*Current schedule. Subject to change. All content may not be available in all Xbox LIVE regions.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

And update to the Xbox.com website tomorrow

http://majornelson.com/archive/2010/10/ ... x-com.aspx

- preview pics here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/majornelso ... 068953531/

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

Think I'm going to get Costume Quest. Then I need to find something else to spend 1,200 MS points on to get the free 800. Maybe Outrun.

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

Outrun is 800. Getting pulled mind so will only last as long as hard drive. GRRRR.

Wullie · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 6183

Dr Lave wrote:

Outrun is 800. Getting pulled mind so will only last as long as hard drive. GRRRR.

I thought the craic was that it'll get pulled from the store, but if you've already bought it you'll be able to download it indefinitely.

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

Oh sweet, I thought it was 1,200. I believe Wullie is right, they just aren't allowed to sell it any more. Same deal with other stuff pulled from the marketplace.

Although the dilemma is I need to spend at least another 400 to get the free 800 points. I already own Space Giraffe, and there aren't any other good 400 point games that I am aware of. I'll probably go on an XBLIG spree.

Runcle · **Posted:** Tue Oct 19, 2010 20:44

Can you buy XBLIGs? The promo seems to suggest xbla and game add ons only.

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

Good point. I'll email their PR.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14360

Do we have an Indie Thread?

I am heartily recommending SOUL - the only indie game I've paid a shockingly cheap and cheerful 80 points for the full game. It lasts 30 minutes from beginning to end and was utterly fantastic.

Joystiq review and Youtube trailer video

Play the trial now you cheap bastards. It'll take about 2 minutes to download at 60mb or something.

Wullie · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 6183

Me & Soul did not see eye to eye.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:45

I'm sure Cate will rush out and buy a 360 for it.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14360

Wullie wrote:

Me & Soul did not see eye to eye.

It's definately one for the hardcore. If you haven't got a steady thumb I can see it being frustrating.

If you're no good at the trial, give it a miss. But you knew that anyway.

Wullie · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 6183

The controls were mostly fine, it just shared a load of things I hate from 2D platformers (& yes I'm aware of how odd that sounds considering how much I bum N)

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14360

It reminded me of those marble maze games. If you're going to complain about the early stages, none of the things that pop out the scenery are ever unavoidable if you go slow enough, as the trigger points are always out of harms reach. The ascension into heaven however... >:(

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

No more 'Xbox Live Silver' accounts :

http://kotaku.com/5669078/xbox-live-dit ... s-for-free

Quote:

Say goodbye to Xbox Live "Silver," as Microsoft appears to be dropping the name of that tier of its Live service in favor of something less confusing. "Free" is the new "Silver."

It's little more than a name change for the free entry level version of the Xbox's online service, but the scrubbing of Silver from the all-new Xbox.com appears to be rather thorough. Xbox Live Gold still (obviously) exists as the premiere paid-for version of the account program, but Silver appears to have fallen out of favor.

Graeme "AceyBongos" Boyd, Xbox Community Manager for Europe, implies the change is official and clearly intentional on his Twitter feed.

The new Xbox.com now breaks down Xbox Live memberships into three columns, Free, Gold and the still forthcoming Gold Family.

metalangel · **Posted:** Thu Oct 21, 2010 15:11

Everytime I see Costume Quest I think of Mimi. Trying to work out why...

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Oct 21, 2010 15:49

Everytime I see your Mother I think of Milky Milky.

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

MetalAngel wrote:

Everytime I see Costume Quest I think of Mimi. Trying to work out why...

It's cute?

metalangel · **Posted:** Thu Oct 21, 2010 17:15

A specific type of it though...

GovernmentYard · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5318

It's a cute girl?

I thought it was a video game.

Is Mimi a video game?

Is there a 'hot coffee' mod?

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Oct 27, 2010 13:16

When is Fez coming out?

metalangel · **Posted:** Sun Nov 07, 2010 17:56

Anyone tried Blade Kitten? I saw a video for it on Steam and it was part of the Deal Of The Week on XBLA last week.

Where Sonic 4 failed to recapture the glory days, this succeeds. Bright and colorful, happy jaunty music, big sprawling levels and lots of jumping! It's like Shadow Company in that it's 2.5D platforming. There's coins to be collected, baddies to be slide-kicked and a floating sword that kills caddies and retrieves coins for you.

There's also fast-paced levels where you ride a not-tauntaun, a not-pikachu that goes into vents to hit switches, and the one bit of handholding: you automatically grab onto narrow poles when jumping.

It brought back many happy memories of the Valis games and if you enjoyed action platformers (or the Klonoa games) but were put off by Super Meat Boy's severe challenge then give this a try.

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

Guwange tomorrow. 800M$P.

Cannot wait. I love Cave stuff (apart from Akai Katana - I tried that out at R3play on the weekend and it was bleh) and look forward to battling for second place behind Trousers.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:20

Ooh and I have points too!

romanista · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:50

wow, didn't know it ran on a motorola 68000..
we;'re gonna get an amiga game!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guwange

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

The scott pilgrim game is on sale 400 points right now. I got it.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

LewieP wrote:

The scott pilgrim game is on sale 400 points right now. I got it.

Is it any good ?

ChocoboOfDoom · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 279

It's a bit 3/5. No online multiplayer. Really cool music though.

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

It's a sidescrolling beat em up in the ilk of Streets of Rage and Final Fight. Graphics by the guy what did that amazing pirate baby animation. Cool chiptunes. References to games from my Childhood.

Apparently it gets buggy when you add more players (it supports up to 4) like sometimes crashes, but a patch is on the way soon.

I'd say certainly worth 400 points if you liked the comic/film, but that's just based on initial impressions.

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8648

zaphod79 wrote:

LewieP wrote:

The scott pilgrim game is on sale 400 points right now. I got it.

Is it any good ?

I noticed it was on offer last night and downloaded the trial. I haven't seen the film yet, but I have ("purchased" - Ed) it and think it's the kind of thing I'd like. Also, I like shitty 8-bit style games, so this was sure to be great.

Except, I couldn't even bring myself to finish the trial, it was just, well, really boring. Walk right, beat up some people, walk right, beat up some more. Ok, I've just described every single side-scrolling beat-em-up ever, but this just went on for ever and ever with about 4 or 5 different people to beat up. It's the most tedious beat-em-up I've played since the lift section that went on for so long it must have reached the moon in Fighting Force.

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

I bought the game yesterday despite only surviving twenty minutes of the movie (no-one told me it was a fking chick flick and the film was even more knowing and smug than Donnie Darko).

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

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

Meaty, I've got Blade Kitten (don't judge, it was a freebie review code). Not really up to much. It's a bit like Strider but with overly long levels, messy graphics and hateful voice acting. It plays reasonably well without ever getting interesting.

metalangel · **Posted:** Thu Nov 11, 2010 0:45

No worries. I haven't had much time to play it since I got it but I was suitably entranced by the demo level to immediately buy it.

YOG · **Posted:** Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:43

I'm guessing the XBLAH port of Guwange is available now, but I can't try it out because someone is sleeping on the couch! Rats' cocks!

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

Yeah I just played the demo. Seems really good - I thought I got a little bit of slowdown when it got really hectic though, but that might just be me. I'm 100 MS points short so I didn't unlock it, but I'll probably get a points card at the weekend.

Oh, and it's 800 points if anyone wants to know.

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

Guwange is super-ace. The main mode is decent enough although sobbingly hard later on. The main draw for me is the Xbox 360 mode which basically turns it into a twin-stick shooter. You autofire and the right stick controls your minion thing.

YOG · **Posted:** Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:11

Quote:

Yeah I just played the demo. Seems really good - I thought I got a little bit of slowdown when it got really hectic though, but that might just be me.

That's for arcade accuracy, mate. You might be able to turn it off in the options, though...

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