Xbox Live Arcade® [Every Wednesday]

yjtay — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:22:26 +0800

My Summarised Xbox Live Arcade Games Ratings:

Arcade Live Game Title ...Price in RM @ 0.04375 per pt
Game Type: My Ratings
Comments
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3D Golf ...RM35.00
Sports: 3.0/5.0
Mini golf with some variety, the play in space is unique with orbital gravity affecting the shots. However its way too easy due to option to retake shots. Nearly everyone is getting a hole in one, for offline play.
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Aegis Wing ...FREE
Shoot em up: 4.0/5.0
While it may seem like your typical horizontal scrolling shoot em up on single player, it changes once you play online with 4 other players. All players can merge into a huge ship, 3 controlling turrets, with the main player controlling the main weapon and the ship. Real good transformer fun! Must get as it's free!
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Alien Hominid HD ...RM35.00
Platform & shoot em up: 3.5/5.0
Good game, but graphics may sometimes camouflage enemy bullets, so takes lots of getting used too. Fun old school retro mini games though.
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Assault Heroes ...RM35.00
Shoot em up: 3.0/5.0
Above average shooter, where you can shoot from ATV or on foot, bosses and sub bosses are average, game play a little on the easy side, unfortunately with bad online coop optimization.
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Boom Boom Rocket ...RM35.00
Music: 3.5/5.0
A typical remixed classical music game, relaxing with nice fireworks, but short (only 10 songs) and easy for those skilled in this genre. The game is harsh on its performance rankings though, getting A* rankings in Hard is a nightmare for me!
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Castlevania Symphony of the Night ...RM35.00
Platform: 4.0/5.0
A well done remake of an excellent PS1 game which is in a class of its own, with enough difficulty, alas no Live coop or vs. Very satisfying once you have discovered all 200.6% of the locations in the game.
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Centipede and Millipede ...RM17.50
Shoot em up: 2.5/5.0
Basically a rehashed of the original title which I am a great fan. Was dismayed with the enhanced mode, it's overdone and reduced the size playing field, as a result to larger sprites, making the already difficult game nearly ridiculous to play in throttle monkey! Only serious fans of the original game should consider this.
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Eets Chow down ...RM35.00
Puzzle/Shoot em up variant: 4.0/5.0
Average puzzler main game (cross between Lemmings and The Incredible Machine), with a surprisingly addictive gem of a mini game, which is somewhat a mixture between Boom Boom Rocket and Geometry Wars. Seriously warrants a testing.
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Geometry Wars ...RM17.50
Shoot em up: 4.0/5.0
Very addictive, fun, highly replayable, yet easy to get into arcade game. Just try it out, but a word of caution, you might just not be able stop playing!
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Heavy Weapon ...RM35.00
Shoot em up: 3.5/5.0
Good basic horizontal left right scroller shooter with lag free 4 player coop, of which the action is intense and furious. Those skilled players can try finishing off the Boss Blitz mode.
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Hexic HD ...free with console
Puzzle: 3.0/5.0
An average game, with enough replay value, nuff said since most of you all should already own it and have tried it out.
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Jetpac reloaded ...RM17.50
Shoot em up: 4.5/5.0
Excellent remake with attractive selling price, good graphics, fun vs mode on Live too, addictive and easy to get into, but gets hard at the last few levels. The best remade classic game in any consoles or even pc, well at least to me.
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Lumines ...RM52.50
Puzzle: 3.5/5.0
Though fun, addictive, with accompanying catchy tunes and unique skins, I find it a little too pricey, especially if all add ons are to be purchased. PSP has the best version though, if you own that version don't bother getting it unless you plan to play on Live.
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Mad Tracks ...RM35.00
Mini Racing: 3.5/5.0
Easy, party wind-up toy game racer with 15 mini games darts, eight balls, flag race, etc, played from the view point of 12 toy cars on large real world environment,. It's extremely easy single player game and is a riot with 4 players.
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Outpost Kaloki X ...RM35.00
Strategy Sim: 3.5/5.00
Interesting limited resource planning game with varied scenarios. Stories are well thought of too, also the achievements are challenging, try finishing all scenarios in gold time and you will know what I mean.
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Pac-man ...RM17.50
Arcade: 3.0/5.0
Another original classic that I am a fan off. Initially I thought it was going to be difficult getting the achievement playing the game from the start, till I realise you could continue from your last level and have an option to increase your number of lives to 5!
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Pac-man: Championship Edition ...RM35.00
Arcade: 4.0/5.0
It's the first real 2d sequel from the creator of the original game. I did not expect much, but was pleasantly surprised after the demo. The mazes are well designed, graphics fitting the xbox, controller works excellent with the game and most important its great fun. Only downers are it lacks multiplayer and a little pricey.
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Pinball FX ...RM35.00
Pinball: 3.5/5.00
Well orchestrated pinball action with varied missions. Do try controlling the paddles via hand movements via the Vision camera, its much more fun than Totem ball. Full Live camera support with for up to 4 players to showcase your winning jig.
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Small Arms ...RM35.00
Shoot and Beat em up: 3.0/5.00
Great graphics, good multiplayer online, nice bonus game, but average game play. The one who runs, hides and take advantage of the locale especially ledges, normally wins.
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Soltrio Solitaire ...RM35.00
Card Game: 3.5/5.0
Comprises 16 variations solitaire games, with nice graphics. Addictive yet very frustrating, as some of the deals in Archway are impossible to solve. Its very pricey, only recommended only if you like solitaire games and extremely cool headed.
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Street Fighter ...RM35.00
Beat em up: 3.5/5.00
The best 2D arcade fighter period, its as difficult and fun as it was in the arcades. If only the online fights are lag free, I would have rated it much higher.
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Texas Hold'em ...RM35.00
Card Game: 3.0/5.00
Nice tournament play poker game, real fun when you go all in and win millions. Scenarios and tournaments for single play has appropriate AI. Its a little pricey though if you didn't manage to get it for free.
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Totem Ball ...Free download
Platform: 1.5/5.00
Bad camera control scheme only game, for an otherwise normal game. Very difficult to maneuver your on screen persona. If only there is a choice to use the analog sticks.
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Uno with Kameo add on ...RM21.88
Card Game: 4.0/5.0
Fun party card game, extremely entertaining with the Kameo add on and the new rules which comes with it. Full camera support for up to four players on Live.
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Worms ...RM35.00
Turn base strategy: 3.5/5.0
A tone down version of the worms franchise with roughly 22 weapons/utilites to use. For single play, a four on four match which increases in difficulty as you progress. However as with most XBLA games the real joy is when playing against online opponents, it truly rocks there!
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Get Achievements, win rewards!

yjtay — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:36:30 +0800

US has officially launched the gamer score for rewards program. Major Nelson was quick to mention that their "marketing team is looking to have global opportunities available in the near future". Guess its more incentive to rack up those achievement points.

Here's some excerpts copied from Xbox.com:

"On February 12, Xbox(R) is teaming up with Old Spice to bring you Xbox Rewards and the Old Spice Experience Challenge.
Xbox Rewards offers casual and hardcore gamers alike the chance to earn actual rewards for doing what they enjoy-playing games, earning achievements, and having fun.

Starting February 12, you will be challenged to increase your Gamerscore by 1,500 or more before April 12. Successfully complete the Challenge and get a Rewards Package*, and Old Spice will give you the gift of experience-all Level 1 and 2 participants will receive a level upgrade for 2007.

Level 1 (0 - 4,999 annual Gamerscore): You are developing your skills and gaining experience. Take some time to get used to the program and learn your way around. The Challenges will typically be easier and the rewards smaller.
Rewards:
The popular Xbox Live Arcade game Contra (rated: E10+) from Konami (Retail Value $5.00)
Exclusive Old Spice Level 1 Xbox Rewards gamer picture
An experience upgrade to Xbox Rewards Level 2

Level 2 (5,000 - 9,999 annual Gamerscore): We are going to turn up the heat a bit. You have proved that you know how to play and are willing to put in the gaming time to reap the benefits. The Challenges will get a bit more difficult. Never fear, the reward value goes up as well.
Rewards:
The popular Xbox Live Arcade game Contra (rated: E10+) from Konami
Exclusive Old Spice Level 2 Xbox Rewards gamer picture
100 Microsoft Points
An experience upgrade to Xbox Rewards Level 3

Level 3 (over 10,000 annual Gamerscore): This is an arena filled with the who's who of gaming. We don't want to claim that Level 3 is an exclusive club, but if you find yourself winning Challenges here, you've obviously pulled out the big guns, so enjoy while it lasts."
Rewards:
The popular Xbox Live Arcade game Contra (rated: E10+) from Konami
Exclusive Old Spice Level 3 Xbox Rewards gamer picture
200 Microsoft Points
Old Spice T-Shirt (Estimated Retail Value $10.00)
A copy of Fuzion Frenzy 2 game (rated: E10+) (Estimated Retail Value $50.00)"

Good marketing technique by Microsoft to raise software sales.
Hopefully once the program reaches this side of the world, Malaysia would be included (my wishful thinking)!

So whats your thoughts on the program and was the inclusion of the achievement score Xbox360 a good move?
To me its one of the small things that help distinguish this console against the other next gens and assisted to a certain extent to raise the attachment rates!

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Xbox Live Arcade® [Every Wednesday]

Get Achievements, win rewards!