XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – CYBERBALL 2072 & FATAL FURY SPECIAL

It’s another week of Xbox Live Arcade double features as Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special find their way to the Xbox 360.

What can I say about Cyberball 2072? Well, to be honest, I’ve always stunk at it. Cyberball was one of those games that I would always see during my college years, and despite my love for football I just couldn’t do much at all with the game. (Though back then, I would absolutely kick your ass at John Elway’s Quarterback or Ten Yard Fight)

Still, there’s always been a feeling in my mind that I need to master Cyberball – probably because one of my best childhood friends was a master at the game and would (and still will) rave about just how intricate it was. Yes, I am that competitive about things like this – especially when it comes to playing against good friends.

When it comes down to it, my biggest problem with the game was that back in ‘89, I didn’t care much about the running game, and given the difficulty of mounting a really good passing attack in Cyberball, I was just doomed to failure. I finally overcame that shortcoming during the reign of the NFL2K series on the Xbox, but it really is too late to go back and change the past, isn’t it?

By now you’ve probably just scanned down to the relevant details of this release, so I’ll cut to the chase. Cyberball 2072 was Atari Games vision of what football would become in the future. It’s a rough sport that’s played with a bomb instead of a ball, where each team must find a way to score before said bomb detonates. Each team consists of highly specialized robots that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded for better performance depending on how your team is doing in the game. It’s a fast paced game and not one that will be to everyone’s liking – especially those of you who, like me in those golden years, greatly value the passing game over the running game.

Title: Cyberball 2072
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“Touchdown! Rediscover the arcade classic game Cyberball 2072™ on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your downfield for a touchdown. But watch out. The ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving. Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.

• Play selection: Call more than 100 plays for your robotic team.
• Beat the Coach: The Beat the Coach mode enables you to go up against the A.I., simulating a live opponent.
• Challenge Mode: The special Challenge Mode tests your ability to make the play under pressure.
• Improve your team: Build up your win record, and buy upgraded robots to improve your roster.
• Futuristic football action: Fast football action with robots. The ball gets hotter with each play and can only be reset by moving past the 50-yard line or scoring a touchdown. Keep your eye on the ball!” - Xbox.com

If robot football isn’t your thing, SNK’s Fatal Fury Special may fill your arcade needs for the week. While I do love SNK’s 2D fighters, Fatal Fury was never one that I played with any regularity. To me, it was (along with the Art of Fighting series) always the lesser of SNK’s fighters with both Samurai Showdown and King of Fighters constantly outshining it.

Since I don’t have much personal history with the game to go on here, I’ll stick with the basics and say that the Fatal Fury series did pioneer the concept of multiple vertical playfields for each level and was a source of constant tweaking which probably led to many of the features we see in fighters today.

Title: Fatal Fury Special
Developer: Mine Loader Software
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: T (Teen) Mile Suggestive Themes & Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“The grandmother of all fighting games is here, with FATAL FURY SPECIAL™, a unique adaptation of the original 1993 arcade smash Garou Densetsu Special. Experience all the great fighting game action, with added network play and high-definition display, now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Fifteen fighters (plus a special guest), gather for the match of the millennium. Can you beat them all?

• Fifteen (plus one) unique characters: All your favorite characters are here, including Terry Bogard, Billy Kane, Wolfgang Krauser, and a special hidden character.
• Classic fighting arcade action updated: The classic game has all the original features of the arcade smash, but has been updated for high-definition displays.
• Twelve unique achievements: Twelve new achievements, ranging from easy such as beating a fighter without sustaining any damage, to difficult, such as taking 10 straight wins on Xbox LIVE, are presented for you to master.
• Four leaderboards: Four ways to track your overall performance in the game.” - Xbox.com

As for last week’s titles, while I skipped Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I did pick up Streets of Rage 2 – and I can honestly say it’s a great port of the original game. I was a huge Streets of Rage fan back in the days of the Genesis and this one certainly brought me back to simpler times. I have heard that there are some issues with multiplayer online play (specifically co-op versus mode), but if you loved the game back then, you’ll still love it now. Highly recommended at only 400 ($5) points.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – CYBERBALL 2072 & FATAL FURY SPECIAL

It’s another week of Xbox Live Arcade double features as Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special find their way to the Xbox 360.

What can I say about Cyberball 2072? Well, to be honest, I’ve always stunk at it. Cyberball was one of those games that I would always see during my college years, and despite my love for football I just couldn’t do much at all with the game. (Though back then, I would absolutely kick your ass at John Elway’s Quarterback or Ten Yard Fight)

Still, there’s always been a feeling in my mind that I need to master Cyberball – probably because one of my best childhood friends was a master at the game and would (and still will) rave about just how intricate it was. Yes, I am that competitive about things like this – especially when it comes to playing against good friends.

When it comes down to it, my biggest problem with the game was that back in ‘89, I didn’t care much about the running game, and given the difficulty of mounting a really good passing attack in Cyberball, I was just doomed to failure. I finally overcame that shortcoming during the reign of the NFL2K series on the Xbox, but it really is too late to go back and change the past, isn’t it?

By now you’ve probably just scanned down to the relevant details of this release, so I’ll cut to the chase. Cyberball 2072 was Atari Games vision of what football would become in the future. It’s a rough sport that’s played with a bomb instead of a ball, where each team must find a way to score before said bomb detonates. Each team consists of highly specialized robots that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded for better performance depending on how your team is doing in the game. It’s a fast paced game and not one that will be to everyone’s liking – especially those of you who, like me in those golden years, greatly value the passing game over the running game.

Title: Cyberball 2072
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“Touchdown! Rediscover the arcade classic game Cyberball 2072™ on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your downfield for a touchdown. But watch out. The ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving. Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.

• Play selection: Call more than 100 plays for your robotic team.
• Beat the Coach: The Beat the Coach mode enables you to go up against the A.I., simulating a live opponent.
• Challenge Mode: The special Challenge Mode tests your ability to make the play under pressure.
• Improve your team: Build up your win record, and buy upgraded robots to improve your roster.
• Futuristic football action: Fast football action with robots. The ball gets hotter with each play and can only be reset by moving past the 50-yard line or scoring a touchdown. Keep your eye on the ball!” - Xbox.com

If robot football isn’t your thing, SNK’s Fatal Fury Special may fill your arcade needs for the week. While I do love SNK’s 2D fighters, Fatal Fury was never one that I played with any regularity. To me, it was (along with the Art of Fighting series) always the lesser of SNK’s fighters with both Samurai Showdown and King of Fighters constantly outshining it.

Since I don’t have much personal history with the game to go on here, I’ll stick with the basics and say that the Fatal Fury series did pioneer the concept of multiple vertical playfields for each level and was a source of constant tweaking which probably led to many of the features we see in fighters today.

Title: Fatal Fury Special
Developer: Mine Loader Software
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: T (Teen) Mile Suggestive Themes & Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“The grandmother of all fighting games is here, with FATAL FURY SPECIAL™, a unique adaptation of the original 1993 arcade smash Garou Densetsu Special. Experience all the great fighting game action, with added network play and high-definition display, now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Fifteen fighters (plus a special guest), gather for the match of the millennium. Can you beat them all?

• Fifteen (plus one) unique characters: All your favorite characters are here, including Terry Bogard, Billy Kane, Wolfgang Krauser, and a special hidden character.
• Classic fighting arcade action updated: The classic game has all the original features of the arcade smash, but has been updated for high-definition displays.
• Twelve unique achievements: Twelve new achievements, ranging from easy such as beating a fighter without sustaining any damage, to difficult, such as taking 10 straight wins on Xbox LIVE, are presented for you to master.
• Four leaderboards: Four ways to track your overall performance in the game.” - Xbox.com

As for last week’s titles, while I skipped Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I did pick up Streets of Rage 2 – and I can honestly say it’s a great port of the original game. I was a huge Streets of Rage fan back in the days of the Genesis and this one certainly brought me back to simpler times. I have heard that there are some issues with multiplayer online play (specifically co-op versus mode), but if you loved the game back then, you’ll still love it now. Highly recommended at only 400 ($5) points.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – CYBERBALL 2072 & FATAL FURY SPECIAL

It’s another week of Xbox Live Arcade double features as Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special find their way to the Xbox 360.

What can I say about Cyberball 2072? Well, to be honest, I’ve always stunk at it. Cyberball was one of those games that I would always see during my college years, and despite my love for football I just couldn’t do much at all with the game. (Though back then, I would absolutely kick your ass at John Elway’s Quarterback or Ten Yard Fight)

Still, there’s always been a feeling in my mind that I need to master Cyberball – probably because one of my best childhood friends was a master at the game and would (and still will) rave about just how intricate it was. Yes, I am that competitive about things like this – especially when it comes to playing against good friends.

When it comes down to it, my biggest problem with the game was that back in ‘89, I didn’t care much about the running game, and given the difficulty of mounting a really good passing attack in Cyberball, I was just doomed to failure. I finally overcame that shortcoming during the reign of the NFL2K series on the Xbox, but it really is too late to go back and change the past, isn’t it?

By now you’ve probably just scanned down to the relevant details of this release, so I’ll cut to the chase. Cyberball 2072 was Atari Games vision of what football would become in the future. It’s a rough sport that’s played with a bomb instead of a ball, where each team must find a way to score before said bomb detonates. Each team consists of highly specialized robots that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded for better performance depending on how your team is doing in the game. It’s a fast paced game and not one that will be to everyone’s liking – especially those of you who, like me in those golden years, greatly value the passing game over the running game.

Title: Cyberball 2072
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“Touchdown! Rediscover the arcade classic game Cyberball 2072™ on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your downfield for a touchdown. But watch out. The ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving. Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.

• Play selection: Call more than 100 plays for your robotic team.
• Beat the Coach: The Beat the Coach mode enables you to go up against the A.I., simulating a live opponent.
• Challenge Mode: The special Challenge Mode tests your ability to make the play under pressure.
• Improve your team: Build up your win record, and buy upgraded robots to improve your roster.
• Futuristic football action: Fast football action with robots. The ball gets hotter with each play and can only be reset by moving past the 50-yard line or scoring a touchdown. Keep your eye on the ball!” - Xbox.com

If robot football isn’t your thing, SNK’s Fatal Fury Special may fill your arcade needs for the week. While I do love SNK’s 2D fighters, Fatal Fury was never one that I played with any regularity. To me, it was (along with the Art of Fighting series) always the lesser of SNK’s fighters with both Samurai Showdown and King of Fighters constantly outshining it.

Since I don’t have much personal history with the game to go on here, I’ll stick with the basics and say that the Fatal Fury series did pioneer the concept of multiple vertical playfields for each level and was a source of constant tweaking which probably led to many of the features we see in fighters today.

Title: Fatal Fury Special
Developer: Mine Loader Software
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: T (Teen) Mile Suggestive Themes & Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“The grandmother of all fighting games is here, with FATAL FURY SPECIAL™, a unique adaptation of the original 1993 arcade smash Garou Densetsu Special. Experience all the great fighting game action, with added network play and high-definition display, now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Fifteen fighters (plus a special guest), gather for the match of the millennium. Can you beat them all?

• Fifteen (plus one) unique characters: All your favorite characters are here, including Terry Bogard, Billy Kane, Wolfgang Krauser, and a special hidden character.
• Classic fighting arcade action updated: The classic game has all the original features of the arcade smash, but has been updated for high-definition displays.
• Twelve unique achievements: Twelve new achievements, ranging from easy such as beating a fighter without sustaining any damage, to difficult, such as taking 10 straight wins on Xbox LIVE, are presented for you to master.
• Four leaderboards: Four ways to track your overall performance in the game.” - Xbox.com

As for last week’s titles, while I skipped Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I did pick up Streets of Rage 2 – and I can honestly say it’s a great port of the original game. I was a huge Streets of Rage fan back in the days of the Genesis and this one certainly brought me back to simpler times. I have heard that there are some issues with multiplayer online play (specifically co-op versus mode), but if you loved the game back then, you’ll still love it now. Highly recommended at only 400 ($5) points.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – CYBERBALL 2072 & FATAL FURY SPECIAL

It’s another week of Xbox Live Arcade double features as Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special find their way to the Xbox 360.

What can I say about Cyberball 2072? Well, to be honest, I’ve always stunk at it. Cyberball was one of those games that I would always see during my college years, and despite my love for football I just couldn’t do much at all with the game. (Though back then, I would absolutely kick your ass at John Elway’s Quarterback or Ten Yard Fight)

Still, there’s always been a feeling in my mind that I need to master Cyberball – probably because one of my best childhood friends was a master at the game and would (and still will) rave about just how intricate it was. Yes, I am that competitive about things like this – especially when it comes to playing against good friends.

When it comes down to it, my biggest problem with the game was that back in ‘89, I didn’t care much about the running game, and given the difficulty of mounting a really good passing attack in Cyberball, I was just doomed to failure. I finally overcame that shortcoming during the reign of the NFL2K series on the Xbox, but it really is too late to go back and change the past, isn’t it?

By now you’ve probably just scanned down to the relevant details of this release, so I’ll cut to the chase. Cyberball 2072 was Atari Games vision of what football would become in the future. It’s a rough sport that’s played with a bomb instead of a ball, where each team must find a way to score before said bomb detonates. Each team consists of highly specialized robots that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded for better performance depending on how your team is doing in the game. It’s a fast paced game and not one that will be to everyone’s liking – especially those of you who, like me in those golden years, greatly value the passing game over the running game.

Title: Cyberball 2072
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“Touchdown! Rediscover the arcade classic game Cyberball 2072™ on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your downfield for a touchdown. But watch out. The ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving. Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.

• Play selection: Call more than 100 plays for your robotic team.
• Beat the Coach: The Beat the Coach mode enables you to go up against the A.I., simulating a live opponent.
• Challenge Mode: The special Challenge Mode tests your ability to make the play under pressure.
• Improve your team: Build up your win record, and buy upgraded robots to improve your roster.
• Futuristic football action: Fast football action with robots. The ball gets hotter with each play and can only be reset by moving past the 50-yard line or scoring a touchdown. Keep your eye on the ball!” - Xbox.com

If robot football isn’t your thing, SNK’s Fatal Fury Special may fill your arcade needs for the week. While I do love SNK’s 2D fighters, Fatal Fury was never one that I played with any regularity. To me, it was (along with the Art of Fighting series) always the lesser of SNK’s fighters with both Samurai Showdown and King of Fighters constantly outshining it.

Since I don’t have much personal history with the game to go on here, I’ll stick with the basics and say that the Fatal Fury series did pioneer the concept of multiple vertical playfields for each level and was a source of constant tweaking which probably led to many of the features we see in fighters today.

Title: Fatal Fury Special
Developer: Mine Loader Software
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: T (Teen) Mile Suggestive Themes & Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“The grandmother of all fighting games is here, with FATAL FURY SPECIAL™, a unique adaptation of the original 1993 arcade smash Garou Densetsu Special. Experience all the great fighting game action, with added network play and high-definition display, now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Fifteen fighters (plus a special guest), gather for the match of the millennium. Can you beat them all?

• Fifteen (plus one) unique characters: All your favorite characters are here, including Terry Bogard, Billy Kane, Wolfgang Krauser, and a special hidden character.
• Classic fighting arcade action updated: The classic game has all the original features of the arcade smash, but has been updated for high-definition displays.
• Twelve unique achievements: Twelve new achievements, ranging from easy such as beating a fighter without sustaining any damage, to difficult, such as taking 10 straight wins on Xbox LIVE, are presented for you to master.
• Four leaderboards: Four ways to track your overall performance in the game.” - Xbox.com

As for last week’s titles, while I skipped Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I did pick up Streets of Rage 2 – and I can honestly say it’s a great port of the original game. I was a huge Streets of Rage fan back in the days of the Genesis and this one certainly brought me back to simpler times. I have heard that there are some issues with multiplayer online play (specifically co-op versus mode), but if you loved the game back then, you’ll still love it now. Highly recommended at only 400 ($5) points.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – CYBERBALL 2072 & FATAL FURY SPECIAL

It’s another week of Xbox Live Arcade double features as Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special find their way to the Xbox 360.

What can I say about Cyberball 2072? Well, to be honest, I’ve always stunk at it. Cyberball was one of those games that I would always see during my college years, and despite my love for football I just couldn’t do much at all with the game. (Though back then, I would absolutely kick your ass at John Elway’s Quarterback or Ten Yard Fight)

Still, there’s always been a feeling in my mind that I need to master Cyberball – probably because one of my best childhood friends was a master at the game and would (and still will) rave about just how intricate it was. Yes, I am that competitive about things like this – especially when it comes to playing against good friends.

When it comes down to it, my biggest problem with the game was that back in ‘89, I didn’t care much about the running game, and given the difficulty of mounting a really good passing attack in Cyberball, I was just doomed to failure. I finally overcame that shortcoming during the reign of the NFL2K series on the Xbox, but it really is too late to go back and change the past, isn’t it?

By now you’ve probably just scanned down to the relevant details of this release, so I’ll cut to the chase. Cyberball 2072 was Atari Games vision of what football would become in the future. It’s a rough sport that’s played with a bomb instead of a ball, where each team must find a way to score before said bomb detonates. Each team consists of highly specialized robots that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded for better performance depending on how your team is doing in the game. It’s a fast paced game and not one that will be to everyone’s liking – especially those of you who, like me in those golden years, greatly value the passing game over the running game.

Title: Cyberball 2072
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“Touchdown! Rediscover the arcade classic game Cyberball 2072™ on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your downfield for a touchdown. But watch out. The ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving. Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.

• Play selection: Call more than 100 plays for your robotic team.
• Beat the Coach: The Beat the Coach mode enables you to go up against the A.I., simulating a live opponent.
• Challenge Mode: The special Challenge Mode tests your ability to make the play under pressure.
• Improve your team: Build up your win record, and buy upgraded robots to improve your roster.
• Futuristic football action: Fast football action with robots. The ball gets hotter with each play and can only be reset by moving past the 50-yard line or scoring a touchdown. Keep your eye on the ball!” - Xbox.com

If robot football isn’t your thing, SNK’s Fatal Fury Special may fill your arcade needs for the week. While I do love SNK’s 2D fighters, Fatal Fury was never one that I played with any regularity. To me, it was (along with the Art of Fighting series) always the lesser of SNK’s fighters with both Samurai Showdown and King of Fighters constantly outshining it.

Since I don’t have much personal history with the game to go on here, I’ll stick with the basics and say that the Fatal Fury series did pioneer the concept of multiple vertical playfields for each level and was a source of constant tweaking which probably led to many of the features we see in fighters today.

Title: Fatal Fury Special
Developer: Mine Loader Software
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: T (Teen) Mile Suggestive Themes & Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“The grandmother of all fighting games is here, with FATAL FURY SPECIAL™, a unique adaptation of the original 1993 arcade smash Garou Densetsu Special. Experience all the great fighting game action, with added network play and high-definition display, now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Fifteen fighters (plus a special guest), gather for the match of the millennium. Can you beat them all?

• Fifteen (plus one) unique characters: All your favorite characters are here, including Terry Bogard, Billy Kane, Wolfgang Krauser, and a special hidden character.
• Classic fighting arcade action updated: The classic game has all the original features of the arcade smash, but has been updated for high-definition displays.
• Twelve unique achievements: Twelve new achievements, ranging from easy such as beating a fighter without sustaining any damage, to difficult, such as taking 10 straight wins on Xbox LIVE, are presented for you to master.
• Four leaderboards: Four ways to track your overall performance in the game.” - Xbox.com

As for last week’s titles, while I skipped Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I did pick up Streets of Rage 2 – and I can honestly say it’s a great port of the original game. I was a huge Streets of Rage fan back in the days of the Genesis and this one certainly brought me back to simpler times. I have heard that there are some issues with multiplayer online play (specifically co-op versus mode), but if you loved the game back then, you’ll still love it now. Highly recommended at only 400 ($5) points.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – CYBERBALL 2072 & FATAL FURY SPECIAL

It’s another week of Xbox Live Arcade double features as Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special find their way to the Xbox 360.

What can I say about Cyberball 2072? Well, to be honest, I’ve always stunk at it. Cyberball was one of those games that I would always see during my college years, and despite my love for football I just couldn’t do much at all with the game. (Though back then, I would absolutely kick your ass at John Elway’s Quarterback or Ten Yard Fight)

Still, there’s always been a feeling in my mind that I need to master Cyberball – probably because one of my best childhood friends was a master at the game and would (and still will) rave about just how intricate it was. Yes, I am that competitive about things like this – especially when it comes to playing against good friends.

When it comes down to it, my biggest problem with the game was that back in ‘89, I didn’t care much about the running game, and given the difficulty of mounting a really good passing attack in Cyberball, I was just doomed to failure. I finally overcame that shortcoming during the reign of the NFL2K series on the Xbox, but it really is too late to go back and change the past, isn’t it?

By now you’ve probably just scanned down to the relevant details of this release, so I’ll cut to the chase. Cyberball 2072 was Atari Games vision of what football would become in the future. It’s a rough sport that’s played with a bomb instead of a ball, where each team must find a way to score before said bomb detonates. Each team consists of highly specialized robots that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded for better performance depending on how your team is doing in the game. It’s a fast paced game and not one that will be to everyone’s liking – especially those of you who, like me in those golden years, greatly value the passing game over the running game.

Title: Cyberball 2072
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“Touchdown! Rediscover the arcade classic game Cyberball 2072™ on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your downfield for a touchdown. But watch out. The ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving. Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.

• Play selection: Call more than 100 plays for your robotic team.
• Beat the Coach: The Beat the Coach mode enables you to go up against the A.I., simulating a live opponent.
• Challenge Mode: The special Challenge Mode tests your ability to make the play under pressure.
• Improve your team: Build up your win record, and buy upgraded robots to improve your roster.
• Futuristic football action: Fast football action with robots. The ball gets hotter with each play and can only be reset by moving past the 50-yard line or scoring a touchdown. Keep your eye on the ball!” - Xbox.com

If robot football isn’t your thing, SNK’s Fatal Fury Special may fill your arcade needs for the week. While I do love SNK’s 2D fighters, Fatal Fury was never one that I played with any regularity. To me, it was (along with the Art of Fighting series) always the lesser of SNK’s fighters with both Samurai Showdown and King of Fighters constantly outshining it.

Since I don’t have much personal history with the game to go on here, I’ll stick with the basics and say that the Fatal Fury series did pioneer the concept of multiple vertical playfields for each level and was a source of constant tweaking which probably led to many of the features we see in fighters today.

Title: Fatal Fury Special
Developer: Mine Loader Software
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: T (Teen) Mile Suggestive Themes & Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“The grandmother of all fighting games is here, with FATAL FURY SPECIAL™, a unique adaptation of the original 1993 arcade smash Garou Densetsu Special. Experience all the great fighting game action, with added network play and high-definition display, now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Fifteen fighters (plus a special guest), gather for the match of the millennium. Can you beat them all?

• Fifteen (plus one) unique characters: All your favorite characters are here, including Terry Bogard, Billy Kane, Wolfgang Krauser, and a special hidden character.
• Classic fighting arcade action updated: The classic game has all the original features of the arcade smash, but has been updated for high-definition displays.
• Twelve unique achievements: Twelve new achievements, ranging from easy such as beating a fighter without sustaining any damage, to difficult, such as taking 10 straight wins on Xbox LIVE, are presented for you to master.
• Four leaderboards: Four ways to track your overall performance in the game.” - Xbox.com

As for last week’s titles, while I skipped Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I did pick up Streets of Rage 2 – and I can honestly say it’s a great port of the original game. I was a huge Streets of Rage fan back in the days of the Genesis and this one certainly brought me back to simpler times. I have heard that there are some issues with multiplayer online play (specifically co-op versus mode), but if you loved the game back then, you’ll still love it now. Highly recommended at only 400 ($5) points.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – CYBERBALL 2072 & FATAL FURY SPECIAL

It’s another week of Xbox Live Arcade double features as Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special find their way to the Xbox 360.

What can I say about Cyberball 2072? Well, to be honest, I’ve always stunk at it. Cyberball was one of those games that I would always see during my college years, and despite my love for football I just couldn’t do much at all with the game. (Though back then, I would absolutely kick your ass at John Elway’s Quarterback or Ten Yard Fight)

Still, there’s always been a feeling in my mind that I need to master Cyberball – probably because one of my best childhood friends was a master at the game and would (and still will) rave about just how intricate it was. Yes, I am that competitive about things like this – especially when it comes to playing against good friends.

When it comes down to it, my biggest problem with the game was that back in ‘89, I didn’t care much about the running game, and given the difficulty of mounting a really good passing attack in Cyberball, I was just doomed to failure. I finally overcame that shortcoming during the reign of the NFL2K series on the Xbox, but it really is too late to go back and change the past, isn’t it?

By now you’ve probably just scanned down to the relevant details of this release, so I’ll cut to the chase. Cyberball 2072 was Atari Games vision of what football would become in the future. It’s a rough sport that’s played with a bomb instead of a ball, where each team must find a way to score before said bomb detonates. Each team consists of highly specialized robots that can be repaired, replaced or upgraded for better performance depending on how your team is doing in the game. It’s a fast paced game and not one that will be to everyone’s liking – especially those of you who, like me in those golden years, greatly value the passing game over the running game.

Title: Cyberball 2072
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“Touchdown! Rediscover the arcade classic game Cyberball 2072™ on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your downfield for a touchdown. But watch out. The ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving. Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.

• Play selection: Call more than 100 plays for your robotic team.
• Beat the Coach: The Beat the Coach mode enables you to go up against the A.I., simulating a live opponent.
• Challenge Mode: The special Challenge Mode tests your ability to make the play under pressure.
• Improve your team: Build up your win record, and buy upgraded robots to improve your roster.
• Futuristic football action: Fast football action with robots. The ball gets hotter with each play and can only be reset by moving past the 50-yard line or scoring a touchdown. Keep your eye on the ball!” - Xbox.com

If robot football isn’t your thing, SNK’s Fatal Fury Special may fill your arcade needs for the week. While I do love SNK’s 2D fighters, Fatal Fury was never one that I played with any regularity. To me, it was (along with the Art of Fighting series) always the lesser of SNK’s fighters with both Samurai Showdown and King of Fighters constantly outshining it.

Since I don’t have much personal history with the game to go on here, I’ll stick with the basics and say that the Fatal Fury series did pioneer the concept of multiple vertical playfields for each level and was a source of constant tweaking which probably led to many of the features we see in fighters today.

Title: Fatal Fury Special
Developer: Mine Loader Software
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/05/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: T (Teen) Mile Suggestive Themes & Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“The grandmother of all fighting games is here, with FATAL FURY SPECIAL™, a unique adaptation of the original 1993 arcade smash Garou Densetsu Special. Experience all the great fighting game action, with added network play and high-definition display, now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Fifteen fighters (plus a special guest), gather for the match of the millennium. Can you beat them all?

• Fifteen (plus one) unique characters: All your favorite characters are here, including Terry Bogard, Billy Kane, Wolfgang Krauser, and a special hidden character.
• Classic fighting arcade action updated: The classic game has all the original features of the arcade smash, but has been updated for high-definition displays.
• Twelve unique achievements: Twelve new achievements, ranging from easy such as beating a fighter without sustaining any damage, to difficult, such as taking 10 straight wins on Xbox LIVE, are presented for you to master.
• Four leaderboards: Four ways to track your overall performance in the game.” - Xbox.com

As for last week’s titles, while I skipped Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, I did pick up Streets of Rage 2 – and I can honestly say it’s a great port of the original game. I was a huge Streets of Rage fan back in the days of the Genesis and this one certainly brought me back to simpler times. I have heard that there are some issues with multiplayer online play (specifically co-op versus mode), but if you loved the game back then, you’ll still love it now. Highly recommended at only 400 ($5) points.

LAZY DAY TRAILERS: HEAVENLY SWORD: LEGEND OF THE SWORD – PART FIVE

The fifth and final installment in Sony’s animated Heavenly Sword series has been released and as predicted last week, Nariko’s clan didn’t take too kindly to their heavenly warrior being born a girl. Still, Nariko undergoes her training with the clan to become the warrior of legend. The story has once again rapidly moved forward and leaves us at the scene of what will most likely be a great battle – and possibly the opening of Heavenly Sword.

The word on Heavenly has been pretty mixed so far, but I’m not about to give up hope on this one yet, though I am tempering my expectations quite a bit.

Those of you looking to play catch-up with the series should check out the below videos in their proper order.

• Heavenly Sword – Official website
• Heavenly Sword: Legend of the Sword – Part Five – GameTrailers.com
• Heavenly Sword: Legend of the Sword – Part Four – GameTrailers.com
• Heavenly Sword: Legend of the Sword – Part Three – GameTrailers.com
• Heavenly Sword: Legend of the Sword – Part Two – GameTrailers.com
• Heavenly Sword: Legend of the Sword – Part One – GameTrailers.com

PLAYSTATION 3 SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATED TO V1.92

If you own a PlayStation 3 and have logged onto the PlayStation Network in the last day or so, you have undoubtedly noticed that there is a new system update available for the console. System Update 1.92 doesn’t seem to add all that much to the mix, as according to the PlayStation 3 System Update page, the only addition in the update are some additional tweaks to backward compatibility.

"New for 1.92: Playability status with the PS3™ system has changed for some PlayStation®2 format titles. To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles (coming soon)." - PlayStation.com

My guess is now that the latest model PS3s are shipping without hardware based backward compatibility, we’ll be seeing that message in quite a few of the upcoming patch messages.

• PlayStation 3 System Software Update – PlayStation.com