Xbox Arcade Wednesdays New Releases May 6 2009
XBLA Reviews - Space Invaders, ARKANOID Live!, Zombie Wranglers
May 6, 2009
Every week on Wednesday, Xbox Live Marketplace releases at least one new Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) game. May 6, 2009 Microsoft released three new XBLA titles - the intense, renewed classic Space Invaders Extreme (originally seen on PSP and DS) - the classic brick-breaker with new online modes ARKANOID Live! - and the four-player zombie hack n' shoot Zombie Wranglers. Oddly enough, all three titles cost 800 MS points.
Read below for the Space Invaders Extreme review, the ARKANOID Live! review, and the Zombie Wranglers Review to see if any are worth the 800 MS points.
XBLA May 6, 2009 - Space Invaders Extreme Review
Instead of simply porting the classic Space Invaders, Taito created a whole new experience on the DS and PSP handhelds when it released Space Invaders Extreme for the budget price of $20. Now, the same game appears on Xbox Live Arcade with online modes for the low, low price of 800 MS points.
For those who missed out, Space Invaders Extreme takes the basic Space Invaders concept - rows upon rows of aliens slowly marching down upon the player - and expands upon it to create an intense arcade style game that still stays true to the retro classic.
Gameplay and Graphics - Rhythmic Shooter Game
Constantly in the background a techno-like beat thumps, and every time the player shoots or kills an alien a unique sound emits. Similar to games like Lumines, the sounds emitted fit with the background music. Creating music by killing aliens in chains and combos adds significantly to the gameplay.
The only downside is the new co-op modes. Since the game was originally designed as single-player, and the co-op mode doesn't ramp up the difficulty any, the result of the co-op gameplay is very little challenge and ultimately, is quite boring compared to playing alone.
Space Invaders Extreme Final Verdict: Buy, Buy, Buy!
At 800 MS points, this revamped classic costs half as much as the DS and PSP versions, but with just as much value. Similar to Pac-Man Championship Edition and Galaga Legions, Space Invaders Extreme shows how a classic can stay true to the original, but at the same time create a wholly unique gameplay experience.
Owners of the PSP or DS versions, however, have little reason to re-purchase the XBLA version. The only added feature is co-op, which simply isn't worth buying the game all over again.
XBLA May 6, 2009 - ARKANOID Live! Review
The classic brick-breaking formula has been around for almost as long as video games themselves. Really, the game is mostly a modified version of Pong. Instead of having two players serve a ball back and forth, the brick-breaking forumla has the player serving the ball against a bunch of bricks until all are broken and the level is cleared.
So does ARKANOID Live! add anything new to the genre? Absolutely not. With Space Invaders Extreme Taito takes a classic concept and revitalizes it with new gameplay, while with ARKANOID Live! Taito takes a classic concept and, well, it just about ends right there.
Revamped Retro Game - Old-School Gaming
ARKANOID Live! does add online features, both competitive and co-op, but it doesn't add much more to the gameplay, which grows tiresome fast. Watching a ball bounce off a wall while occasionally moving a paddle to keep it bouncing off the wall is not particularly exciting.
ARKANOID Live! is just like other Xbox Live Arcade classics, such as Joust and Dig-Dug, except this one feels its better than the typical classic cost of 400 MS points, but it's not. Even though ARKANOID is a video game classic, it's one of those classic games that can only be truly appreciated with fond memories.
ARKANOID Live! Review Final Verdict: Pass
ARKANOID Live! costs 800 MS points for what is mostly boring, outdated, unaltered gameplay.
Anyone truly interested in a brick-breaking game on Xbox Live Arcade should give the XNA game bricks4ever a shot first, since it costs 1/4 as much.
XBLA May 6, 2009 - Zombie Wranglers Review
Before giving Zombie Wranglers a shot, one might think ARKANOID Live! is the XBLA's weakest link this Wednesday. In that case, one is quite wrong indeed.
Gameplay and Graphics - Uninspired 4-Player Co-op
Zombie Wranglers is an uninspired Gauntlet-like game, featuring four kids and four-player co-op fighting against endless swarms of zombies with various weapons. Featuring hacking and slashing and shooting, but not much else, Zombie Wranglers gets boring quickly, even with three other players.
Made worse is the feeling of flatness experienced in the title. Even though the graphics are 3D, players are forced on a 2D grid, and can't even "jump" making the overall experience feel even more flat.
Zombie Wranglers is an attempt to jump on the zombie bandwagon, but falls flat instead. This is no Plants Vs. Zombies, Zombie Wranglers is flat, uninspired, and boring.
Zombie Wranglers Final Verdict: Pass
While Xbox Live Arcade needs more original titles, Zombie Wranglers is not one of them. With Monster Madness also an abysmal failure, one has to wonder, how hard is it really to create a fun 4-player hack-n-slash game?
That question should be directed at The Behemoth, creater of the epic Castle Crashers, which is a much better game in every conceivable aspect.
Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays May 6, 2009 Conclusion
This Wednesday features the full-spectrum of Xbox Live Arcade quality; Greatness in Space Invaders Extreme, a passable experience in ARKANOID Live!, and the bland, uninspired, repetitive gameplay offered in Zombie Wranglers.
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