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This Wednesday: Shank and Scott Pilgrim beat up XBLA
It's a great week for Xbox 360 owners who possess a great deal of pent-up aggression, as the two-week PSN exclusivity of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World comes to a halt this Wednesday, August 25. The highly stylized, chiptune-enhanced beat 'em up will run you 800 Microsoft Points ($10), which is roughly equivalent to the price of a Scott Pilgrim movie ticket -- an item apparently covered in some kind of fatal, diffusive poison. If you're looking for a beat-'em-up with more ... well, stabbing, you'll also be able to pick up Klei Entertainment's Shank for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). That's a little bit more than the entry fee to Scott Pilgrim, but we're sure that's only because of discrepancies in the Canadian/American currency exchange rate. %Gallery-95506%
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: Tecmo Bowl Throwback touches down on XBLA
Our burning desire for a renovated version of timeless basketball classic NBA Jam won't be sated until the remake drops on Wii later this year. However, our similar jones for a new old football title will be catered to this Wednesday with the Xbox Live Arcade release: Tecmo Bowl Throwback. For 800 ($10), you'll get all the birds-eye pigskin action previewed in the trailer above. Sorry, PS3 players -- Tecmo still hasn't set a firm date for the PSN version of Throwback. We'll let you know as soon as we find out! %Gallery-87016%
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: Sam & Max & Axel & Pixel on XBLA
Xbox Live Arcade is heavy on the ampersands this week as both Axel & Pixel and the second season of Sam & Max (subtitled Beyond Time and Space, according to the ESRB) will be landing on Microsoft's download service. Both are games of the adventuring persuasion, requiring players to traverse the game world and solve puzzles, performing actions by pointing and / or clicking. Yes, you read that correctly, two adventure games in one week. It's like the 80s all over again. Axel & Pixel will set you back 800 ($10). Meanwhile, Sam & Max tops out at the most you should ever pay for a computer game. Also known as 1600 ($20). %Gallery-71001%
This Wednesday: Some Lucidity for South Park on XBLA
Major Nelson has announced that the two games gracing Xbox Live Arcade this week will be Lucidity and South Park LET'S GO TOWER DEFENSE PLAY. The first is a puzzle platformer from LucasArts with a positively delightful art style, while the second ... well it's pretty self explanatory. It's a tower defense game set against the backdrop of the famous, quiet little mountain town. Both can be yours in exchange for 800 ($10).
This Wednesday: Wallace and Gromit, Sonic and Knuckles rush XBLA
With Major Nelson taking this day of labor off, we look across the pond for word on this week's Xbox Live Arcade title. As previously noted, it appears Sonic and Knuckles will be this week's release at 400 ($5). The good word comes from European Xbox community manager "AceyBongos," which just doesn't have the same ring as "Major Nelson." Could Microsoft at least make the guy a general or captain?Update: Joining the hedgehog and the echidna will be the inventor and his faithful companion. Major Nelson brings word that the mischief of Wallace and Gromit Episode 2: The Last Resort will also be available this Wednesday for 800 ($10).Update 2: Last minute change: No Wallace and Gromit.
This Wednesday: Zombie Wranglers, Arkanoid and Space Invaders
XBLA is up for another threefer this week, with Zombie Wranglers (no, really), Arkanoid Live and Space Invaders Extreme all hitting the service. Arkanoid Live and Space Invaders Extreme are both remakes of arcade classics, while Zombie Wranglers is a co-op game that tasks players with -- you guessed it -- wrangling zombies. All three games will be available this Wednesday for 800 ($10) each.If you'd rather nab Zombie Wranglers for free, developer Frozen Codebase is giving away five download codes on the official Zombie Wranglers Facebook page. Just leave a zombie survival tip on the wall to enter.%Gallery-34069%%Gallery-48663%%Gallery-50897%
This Wednesday: Lode Runner digs XBLA
There are two ways to arrive at the fact that Lode Runner will release on Xbox Live Arcade this week. The first way -- and definitely the most fun way -- is by a process of elimination. You see, of the seven titles announced for the Days of Arcade event, Lode Runner is the only one that hasn't been released yet. See, logic is fun!If you'd rather be boring and have someone just tell you, the game was also confirmed on the latest Major Nelson podcast during an interview with the game's producer and designer, Brett Ballow. The game will include online and offline multiplayer and also a level editor(!). Now that we've gotten everyone nice and excited, the price: 1200 ($15).
This Wednesday: Bust up fools in 'The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai' on XBLA
Announced via Major Nelson's podcast last night, this Wednesday's "Days of Arcade" XBLA game will be the 2D, side-scrolling, three-player co-op beat 'em up (breath), The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. Coming in at 800 ($10), you might remember Dishwasher from GDC 2008 when, among other XNA titles, it was featured as a free download, showcasing the XNA development tools. Be sure to keep a lookout for the X3F Podcast-born achievement that pays homage to Peter Moore's fake guitar playing prowess! And if you're like us and can't spare the extra spacebucks just yet, feel free to window shop in our gallery below.%Gallery-15513%[Thanks Menno!]
This Wednesday: Put on your CAPS for UNO RUSH
Microsoft has announced that the next game to be released as part of the Days of Arcade promotion will be none other than UNO RUSH. A fast-paced version of UNO, the game requires gamers to assemble their hands ahead of time, as everyone's hand is played automatically. The game features online play for up to four players and includes Avatar support. The game will release this Wednesday for 800. %Gallery-27823%
This Wednesday: Hasbro Family Game Night matches with XBLA
If you, like young Mikey, love matching rows of similarly colored checkers but can't stand being around other people and all their germs, your salvation will arrive this Wednesday in the form of Connect Four, one of the first offerings in Xbox Live's Hasbro Family Game Night series.Other games arriving today include Scrabble, Yahtzee and Battleship with Boggle, Sorry! and Sorry! Sliders coming later in the year. All the titles will be playable in a virtual game room that, in some way, incorporates Avatars. If you'd like to play beloved family games as you replace your friends and loved ones with digital simulacra, you can expect to pony up 800 ($10) a piece. (Yeah, you read that right. A piece.)%Gallery-42087%
