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This Wednesday: Rocket Knight, Things on Wheels on Xbox Live Arcade
It's a double-header of fast moving objects on Xbox Live Arcade this week. First up is Things on Wheels, an R/C racer of miniaturized yet epic proportions, complete with four-player online and offline play. Next is Rocket Knight, whose fast moving object is ... a possum with a jet pack. It may sound weird, but it's a proven formula. Things on Wheels will be available this Wednesday for 800 ($10); and Rocket Knight will set you back 1200 ($15). %Gallery-90099% Source -- Things on Wheels [Xbox.com] Source -- Rocket Knight [Xbox.com]
This Wednesday: Zeno Clash, Raystorm HD fly into XBLA
The Xbox Live Arcade offerings this week run the gamut, whether you're in the mood to plumb the depths of the unknown or snuggle up with a known quantity. If you're in the mood to relax with something a little more familiar, check out Raystorm HD, a remake of the classic PlayStation/Saturn shmup from Taito. But if you're ready for something a little ... different, you owe it to yourself to play Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition, which, no exaggeration, gives us the creeps just typing it. It's a first-person brawling semi-shooter -- like Chronicles of Riddick, if its main character had just dropped all the acid. You'll be able to pick up both Wednesday for 1200 ($15) each.
This Wednesday: After Burner Climax and Puzzle Chronicles on XBLA
After last week's one-two punch of Final Fight: Double Impact (you bought it, right?), another arcade gem will take off on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday in the form of After Burner Climax. It's a port of the 2006 arcade game, which itself is a revival of the classic, late-80s arcade series. Konami's Puzzle Chronicles also arrives on XBLA this week. Lest you've forgotten, this is "that game that looks like a sideways version of Puzzle Quest." If it's anywhere near as good as Puzzle Quest, we'll take it. Both games will be available for 800 ($10) apiece. [Via Major Nelson] Source - Xbox.com -- Puzzle Chronicles Source - Xbox.com -- After Burner Climax
This Wednesday: Mega Man 10 available now on XBLA
Just a quick reminder: Mega Man 10 has finally made its way to Xbox Live Arcade. You download the game -- right now -- for the price of 800 ($10). Also, don't worry if the last entry in the series, Mega Man 9, made you throw your controller into the blender in a fit of blind fury. You see, Mega Man 10 comes packed with a new "Easy" mode, so you can enjoy all that retro goodness without all the retro difficulty. Shortcut: Download the trial version of Mega Man 10 [via Xbox.com]
This Wednesday: Perfect Dark KLOBBers XBLA
That's "This Wednesday," like, this Wednesday -- today. Sorry we waited so long to bring you this regular installment of "This Wednesday," it's just that we kind of figured this particular release would be a little hard to forget. But for those of you not paying attention, here it is: FPS classic Perfect Dark arrives on Xbox Live today for 800 ($10). If you're on the fence, check out our full review of the game. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to go buy some Surge and Tato Skins off eBay and hit Felicity for some King of the Bathroom. %Gallery-70692%
This Wednesday: Scrap Metal rocks the XBLA Block Party
Slick Entertainment's top-down racer Scrap Metal continues Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade Block Party promotion this week, Major Nelson reports. It'll be available this Wednesday for 1200 and almost begs comparison to classic racer-shooter hybrid, Rock N' Roll Racing -- in that, both games have rock and roll and racing. And guns ... to be used during the rocking and rolling and racing. It's like a fruit salad of slaughter and sweet licks, we guess. %Gallery-85319%
This Wednesday: Toy Soldiers storms XBLA
This week Toy Soldiers kicks off Microsoft's month-long XBLA Block Party. While a tower defense game at its core, the game adds a small twist to the genre, allowing players to take control over individual towers and units. In other words, if you think your sniper tower is focusing on the wrong units, you can snap into first-person control and do something about it. Toy Soldiers lands this Wednesday on XBLA for 1200 ($15). In the meantime, be sure to check out our impressions of the title back from TGS.
This Wednesday: Darwinia+ invades XBLA
Well, folks, it's been a long wait but it's finally here. After first being rumored nearly four years ago, Darwinia+ is due to hit Xbox Live Arcade in only two more days. We're sure that the game's fans are pleased to hear the news, as is developer Introversion. After all, the company has a lot riding on Darwinia's XBLA outing. The game features a single-player campaign, online multiplayer for four players and plenty of sweet, retro stylings. Taking cues from real-time strategy, god games and, oh, let's say Tron, Darwinia has players controlling squads of 2D sprite characters called Darwinians as they battle an evil computer virus. The original PC version of the game took home the grand prize at the 2006 Independent Games Festival. The price of admission is 1200 ($15).
This Wednesday: Chime for charity on XBLA
Today's lone Xbox Live Arcade release is Chime, the not-for-profit project from Zoe Mode and OneBigGame. 60 percent of proceeds from the 400 ($5) game will go to Save the Children and Starlight Children's Foundation, so consider it a surprisingly entertaining chance to stop being such a selfish jerk. If you're looking for a pre-purchase glimpse, check out the trailer above or download the demo on Xbox Live. We'd ask you to chime in with your opinions, but that joke's been done. Just now. Shortcut: Add Chime to your download queue [Xbox.com] %Gallery-77193%
This Wednesday: XBLA beset by Cubes and Vandals
Aside from being one of the best indie bands to emerge from Champaign, Illinois in recent years, Cubes and Vandals neatly compose this week's Xbox Live Arcade update. As previously announced and reiterated just now, Square Enix's Death by Cube and Konami's Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment join the Xbox 360's download service on Wednesday, January 20. After missing its original release target in 2009, Vandal Hearts brings the classic strategy franchise up to speed with enhanced visuals, an overhauled interface and a 1200 ($15) price tag. Those less enthused by moving squares on a grid might prefer mowing down cubes on a plane -- that's what you'll do in Death by Cube, available for 800 ($10). It's also what you'll do at a Cubes on a Plane concert. They're just terrible live.
This Wednesday: XBLA gets Serious (Sam)
Considering there's really nothing serious about it -- some of the enemies have bombs for heads -- we're not sure how Serious Sam wound up with its name. It could be comic irony, or perhaps merely for its delightful sibilance. Honestly, we may never know. What we do know is that Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter is this week's XBLA release, as promised last month. Sporting newly fancified graphics, online co-op and some serious action (oh that's it!), the game will be available for 1200 ($15).
This Wednesday: Matt Hazard brings 'Blood Bath & Beyond' to XBLA, PSN on Thursday
Faux video game legend Matt Hazard returns (this time, for real) in Blood Bath & Beyond, blasting his way onto XBLA and PSN this Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The 2D side-scroller has the protagonist battling through his "classic" gaming past, fighting "pirates to penguins; lighthouses to laser-wielding astronauts; Mounties to mechanical rhinos" for $15 (1200). The idea behind Matt Hazard sounds so perfect on paper: take thirty years of video game cliches and mock them. Sadly, as evidenced by Matt Hazard's first outing, Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard, instead of creating humor from the conventions, it ironically relied on them for the core gameplay -- thus, creating a game that invariably could mock itself and was its own punchline. Hopefully, this time around Hazard will make the jokes instead of being one. %Gallery-74470% Source -- This week on Arcade: Matt Hazard [Major Nelson] Source -- Parody Alert!!! Matt Hazard [PS Blog]
This Wednesday: 0 Day Attack on Earth attacks XBLA
As the final shopping days before Christmas begin to fly by, digital gift givers will have one more potential gift from Xbox Live Arcade. That gift is 0 Day Attack on Earth (at least it is according to Square Enix). Quick description: It's a twin-stick shooter that uses real-world satellite imagery for its environments (we suppose that's the "earth" part). For a slightly longer description, you can check out our hands-on with the game at the Tokyo Game Show earlier this year. We don't want to spoil it for you, but we walked away less than impressed. We'll update this post as soon as Microsoft confirms this week's XBLA title and price. %Gallery-70582%
This Wednesday: Alien Breed Evolution brings about Puzzlegeddon on XBLA
It looks like we get more than the previously announced Alien Breed Evolution on XBLA this week, as Major Nelson has revealed that it will be joined by Puzzlegeddon from Tecmo. Despite its apocalyptic name, Puzzlegeddon sports an entirely cheery disposition, complete with lots of bright colors and bubbly music. The PC version previously received some decent reviews, and we've certainly been roped in by cute puzzle games in the past. Alien Breed Evolution and Puzzlegeddon will run you 800 ($10) apiece.
This Wednesday: XBLA gets its Qix ++ [update: screens]
Update: We've unearthed some screens of the PSP version, courtesy of Game Watch. There may be some difference between it and the XBLA version, but they'll probably look pretty similar. Peruse them in the gallery below. Microsoft's Major Nelson has announced that Qix ++ is headed to Xbox Live Arcade this week. Apart from the price (800 / $10), that's really all we know. The "++" in the title might be a clue, though, given that Jeff "Why'd you buy Frogger" Minter seems to have an affinity for throwing plus signs at the end of retro game titles. It's also worth noting that Minter worked on the XBLA version of Space Invaders Extreme which, like Qix, is a Taito (via Square Enix) game. For now, with no assets of the game available, you'll have to settle for a video of the original Qix posted after the break. In other news, the Xbox Live Deal of the Week is Rock Band DLC, specifically No Doubt's The Singles 1992-2003 album. The DLC has been discounted from 1600 ($20) to 1200 ($15). Shortcut: Download The Singles 1992-2003 [Xbox.com] %Gallery-79762%
This Wednesday: Call of Duty Classic storms Xbox Live
According to one AceyBongos -- think of him as Europe's Major Nelson -- this week's Xbox Live Arcade game will be none other than Call of Duty Classic. Those who picked up the Hardened or Prestige editions of Modern Warfare 2 have already had the joy of ignoring their packed-in copy of the game, and now the whole world can ignore it! If, by some bizarre chance, you're just not into all this newfangled, modern warfare, Call of Duty Classic will set you back 1200 ($15). Again though, this message really only applies to the five people that aren't playing Modern Warfare 2. [Thanks, DarkSynopsis]
This Wednesday: XBLA takes Madden NFL Arcade to the end zone
Just in case you've taken a few exceptionally hard tackles in the past couple of weeks, we thought we'd remind you that this week's XBLA release is Madden NFL Arcade, a five-on-five, backyard-rules take on EA Sports' darling. You'll be able to pick the game up just in time for your Thanksgiving celebrations for 1200 ($15). Editor's Note: Thank you to reader TuchdwnMan449 for reminding us that it's called the "end zone" and not "the scoring rectangle thing" as our headline originally read. We pledge to improve our understanding of sports before writing future football posts. %Gallery-75560%
This Wednesday: XBLA takes you out for Diner and a Gyromantic date
Xbox Live Arcade shows a belligerent disregard for productivity this week, hosting a pair of light puzzle games that are sure to weigh heavily on your mind during working hours. Why not have a go (and then just one more) at Gyromancer, the gem-shifting collaboration between Square Enix and PopCap? The cost of entry is 1200 ($15). If it's a cohesive concoction of puzzles, RPG elements and item collection, your departure is likely to be at no point.PlayFirst is also serving up an XBLA version of Diner Dash for 800 ($10). The culinary-themed time management game should be an ideal snack in between gorging on Dragon Age: Origins, Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2 and ... hmm. How good are you at time management?
This Wednesday: 0D Beat Drop, NBA Unrivaled & Encleverment Experiment on XBLA [update]
Word has come down from on high, and this week's Xbox Live Arcade release is none other than 0D Beat Drop. What's that, you've never heard of 0D Beat Drop? Truth be told, neither have we. Thankfully, the game's Xbox.com page provides us all with the crucial details. If the above screenshot didn't tip you off, OD Beat Drop is a puzzle game; however, it has a musical twist, challenging players to drop pieces to the beat. OD Beat Drop can even analyze your own songs for use in the game (Protip: It's time to break out your Tetris soundtrack). The game will be available this Wednesday for 800 ($10). Also, if Tecmo is to be believed, NBA Unrivaled will release on XBLA this week as well. It's worth noting that the game was not included in Major Nelson's XBLA announcement and that publishers are frequently mistaken about XBLA launch dates, so it's anyone's guess what Wednesday holds.Update: Major Nelson has confirmed that 0D Beat Drop will be joined by both NBA Unrivaled (1200/$15) and Encleverment Experiment (800/$10) this week on XBLA.
This Wednesday: Wallace & Gromit episodes 2, 3 and 4 on XBLA
Here's hoping you really like Wallace & Gromit and, more specifically, Telltale's episodic Wallace & Gromit games, because that's all you're getting on Xbox Live Arcade this week. As promised, the final three episodes, The Last Resort, Muzzled! and The Bogey Man will all be dropping on XBLA this Wednesday, each priced at 800 ($10). That brings the total for all four games to $40, which isn't too bad, although PC owners should be aware that Telltale is offering the entire season -- which includes a collector's DVD -- for $34.95 as well. Still, if you've got a yen for some couch-bound, Achievement-filled Wallace & Gromit, it's a pretty good deal.
