XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – TEMPEST & SENSIBLE WORLD OF SOCCER

Xbox Live Arcade swings for the fences this week as two highly anticipated titles make their way to the Xbox Live Marketplace. It's a double feature of epic proportions as both Tempest and Sensible World of Soccer prepare to thrill (and possibly disappoint) gamers around the world.

First up, we'll talk about Atari's Tempest. If I recall correctly, Tempest was born of a nightmare designer David Theurer had one night and turned out to be a dream come true for arcade players everywhere. The game's premise is fairly simple – you control a ship that travels along the edge of various segmented 3D geometric configurations. Enemies appear at the far end of each configuration and travel towards your ship at the top – naturally, your job is to stop them before they get there or avoid them. As with most games from the era, you also have a limited supply of smart bombs for when things get a little too hectic.

Fast, addictive gameplay is what Tempest is all about – and I really hope that Stainless Games doesn't do their usual botch job on the "enhanced version" of this one. Tempest deserves better – as do most of the classic Atari XBLA games.

Title: Tempest
Developer: Stainless Games
Publisher: Atari
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 12/19/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E – (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Tempest® is one of the most well-known arcade games of all time, a true classic in the realm of video games. This intense shooter requires lots of skill and lightning-quick reflexes. Use unlimited firepower to shoot and destroy enemies in a large geometric battlefield.

Download the full version to play this classic arcade game in its original form and completely re-stylized versions featuring evolved graphics and newly introduced Throttle Monkey™ mode.

• Next-gen presentation: The game supports 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, including HDTV, with full-screen anti-aliasing and Dolby Digital surround sound.
• Arcade integration: Check top scores on the Leaderboards and master 12 challenging Achievements." – Xbox.com

Of course, our friends from across the ocean are a bit more thrilled about the second of this week's Live Arcade releases – Sensible World of Soccer. Now while I certainly wonder how it is that gamers from countries where soccer is known as football (something that seems to be a bit of a sore point too, mind you) would embrace a game that called itself soccer, there really doesn't seem to be any question that swos has a serious following. I don't doubt that Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb is thrilled to be getting this one into the Arcade so he can stop hearing about it from fans in the comments section of every new XBLA announcement.

Needless to say, this one is a soccer game (that's right – it's soccer!) – and supposedly a really good classic version of it. I've never played swos and It may not be for everyone, but it's reputation alone says you should at least give the demo a try.

Title: Sensible World of Soccer
Developer: Kuju Sheffield
Publisher: Codemasters Online
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 12/19/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E – (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Sensible World of Soccer™ is the classic nineties soccer game reborn with enhanced graphics! Play against your friends online in this fantastic pick up and play soccer extravaganza. Experience all the excitement of a full season or enter into a quick game against your friends.

Want to be more hands-on? Manage your team over a full season with a fully immersive tactics editor to put yourself in control on the way to the title.

• Online play: Take on your friends online in this fun, fast-paced soccer game.
• Updated for Xbox LIVE Arcade: Play a fully updated Arcade version of this classic game.
• Classic and Enhanced modes: Play online with the graphics you remember, or with the new enhanced HD visuals.
• Retro experience: Utilizing the original '96/'97 code, widely recognized to be the best incarnation of the SWOS series, we are able to deliver an authentic, retro playing experience.
• Influential game: SWOS is one of the ten most influential games of all time. Play the only version that lets you experience both classic SWOS and modern enhanced SWOS." – Xbox.com

As for last week's Live Arcade titles, there's not much to say. I expected big things from Arkadian Warriors, but the game (or at least the demo) just never seemed to deliver. While Arkadian Warriors does indeed play quite a bit like Diablo, it never really captures the same feel. I don't know if it's the cutesy characters, the easy battles or just the way the game presents itself (it often comes across with a very generic RPG vibe), but the game never truly grabbed my attention. I certainly wouldn't call it a bad game, and much like Exit, I do plan on going back and seeing if maybe I'd like it a little more if I was in a different mood. Arkadian Warriors is certainly one you'll need to try for yourself.

The other new Xbox Live Arcade en
trant last week was GripShift, a game that I still have not had the opportunity to really sit down and play – probably because of the fact that I wasn't exactly thrilled with I tried it for the PlayStation 3. I'm going to suggest you try this one first as well – and really, that is always the best advice for Xbox Live Arcade titles – that's why the demos are there.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – ASTEROIDS / ASTEROIDS DELUXE

Hey, you! Straighten up that tie and tuck your shirt in – you're in the presence of royalty today. Two more all-time classic arcade games come to the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade as both Atari's Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe make their way to the marketplace in one neat package. That's right, you get both games for 400 ($5) points.

Now I won't lie – given the way Missile Command turned out, I am a bit concerned for Atari's dynamic duo. There are quite a few ways his one could be screwed up, and as always, the thought of the 360's controller and classic games makes me cringe. Microsoft, I implore you – release an arcade style controller already – It really is tiring dragging out all the equipment I need to make my customized X-Arcade stick work with the 360.

There's not much else to say about these two, as I'm sure just about everyone reading knows what they are all about. Give the demo a try and decide if the games are worth the five bucks for yourself. (and if you're a PlayStation 3 owner and feeling a bit left out at the moment, I will advise you that I think Super Stardust HD (available via the PlayStation Store) is a worthy modern day successor to the genre and a steal at $7.99.)

Title: Asteroids / Asteroids Deluxe
Developer: Stainless Games
Publisher: Atari
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 11/28/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Two of the all-time classic arcade games come to Xbox LIVE® Arcade in Asteroids©, Asteroids Deluxe©, a combo of intense action where players must save earth from a deadly bombardment of asteroids. The full historic game is available in its original form, along with a completely re-stylized version featuring evolved graphics.

• The original Asteroids: Released in 1979 by Atari, the simple black and white game was a masterpiece of vector graphics game design, and had millions of arcadegoers entranced by its simple mechanic of controlling a spaceship firing at and destroying asteroids.
• The release of Asteroids Deluxe: The sequel to the original, released in 1980, Asteroids Deluxe featured the same classic gameplay but added a new shield feature and dangerous satellite enemies. Play both the original and its sequel in all of its classic old-school style.
• Next-gen evolution: But now, both games have evolved. Support is provided for both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, including HDTV. Full-screen anti-aliasing and Dolby Digital surround sound complete the gaming experience.
• Throttle Monkey mode: Both game versions come with a high-speed version known as Throttle Monkey. Can you survive?
• Achievements and leaderboards: Twelve new achievements for you to earn, and new leaderboards to conquer. Show your friends who is the master at Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe." – Xbox.com

As for last week's Live Arcade release, Undertow just wasn't everything I hoped it would be. As I mentioned in last week's post, I was hoping for a side scrolling, twin-stick shooter and instead found myself playing a side scrolling team based shooter with serious gameplay issues.

THE LATEST FROM BEN HECKENDORN – THE NESTARI

It’s been awhile since we last checked in with console hacker extrordinaire Ben Heckendorn, so we figured it would be time to head over to his website and see what he’s been up to. Turns out, it’s another handheld system – the NEStari.

This time, Ben has taken an Atari Flashback 2, one of those "Nintendo on a chip" systems and some technical know-how and built a combination Atari 2600 / NES handheld. I don’t know about you, but I really do wish I had this guy’s technical expertise – I’d probably spend all day building consoles. (ok, I’d at least spend all day starting console projects)

Be sure to check out his earlier projects if this is the first time you’re visiting his site – you’ll probably be drooling in no time flat.

• The NEStari – BenHeck.com

MAKE YOUR OWN ATARI 2600 CARTRIDGE LABELS

Yeah, it’s a slow news day. I woke up late and even after an hour of scouring news sites, I can’t find anything really all that interesting to post that won’t take up the whole day to write up – not even a damn video. So instead, I’m going to resort to fluff. Now, I wouldn’t give my readers just any fluff mind you, it’s got to be somewhat entertaining fluff. Keeping that goal in mind, I present to you the Atari 2600 Label Maker. Now you too can create labels for games that you think should have been on Atari’s classic system.

While it’ll probably only keep you occupied for a few minutes, it’s better than nothing, right? Personally, I figured since Madden is released on every system anyway, why not look at it as a 2600 game too. (Click here)

Well, I’m going to get back to doing something constructive now – like playing through the BioShock demo yet again. I’d suggest you do the same. Enjoy.

• Atari 2600 Label Maker – labelmaker2600.com

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – MISSILE COMMAND

As we celebrate Independence Day today, I ask the question "what would the 4th of July be without some fireworks?" – Well, thankfully Xbox 360 owners won’t have to find out the answer to that question as Atari’s 1980 coin-op classic Missile Command makes it’s debut in the Xbox Live Arcade.

Since I’m sure most of you are familiar with the original game, let’s talk a bit about what you may not know about Missile Command. Missile Command was inspired by an older game called Missile Radar which was, not coincidentally, made by Nutting Associates – a company that once employed Atari’s founder Nolan Bushnell.

The game took roughly six months to design and was, at one point during it’s development, more complicated than the game many of us know and love. In one early version, the six cities the player is charged with protecting were connected by railroad tracks. Trains carrying missiles traveled on those tracks and replenished the three missile bases. Naturally, should a missile hit any of the railroad tracks, the rail link to the missile base would be severed and re supply would be impossible. When you think about it, that means that pretty much every missile that was on screen would have to be shot down, not just the ones that threatened the cities themselves.

The railroad concept was eventually scrapped in order to make the game more accessible to the public, which was probably a good idea as Missile Command is a rough enough game without that added challenge. While I don’t believe that we’ll see that feature as a bonus in the re-imagined Xbox Live Arcade version, Atari has seen fit to upgrade the game’s graphics to high-definition standards and added a "Throttle Monkey" mode – a faster paced version of the game.

While I loved Missile Command as a kid, I’m approaching this release with a little bit of trepidation – Missile Command was designed to be controlled via a trackball, and I’m really not sure how well the control scheme is going to transfer over to the Xbox 360 controller. Since there’s a demo available, I’d highly suggest you try the game before you make any decision regarding a purchase.

Title: Missile Command
Developer: Stainless Games
Publisher: Atari
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 7/04/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"In one of the most well-known arcade games of all time, players must defend the coast from mysterious enemy invasions in Missile Command®. Try your hand at this classic arcade game in its original old-school form, then experience the completely re-stylized version featuring evolved graphics and the newly introduced Throttle Monkey mode. 

• Cutting-edge next-gen graphic and sound support: Support for 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, including HDTV, with Dolby® Digital surround sound and full-screen anti-aliasing.
• Full Xbox LIVE® support: Player profiles, leaderboards, and twelve all-new achievements are available for missile commanders.
• Accessibility: The game features a rich and immersive environment, and is fun and easy to play. Defend the coast against all comers!" – Xbox.com

Due to time constraints, I decided to pass on trying Carcassonne last week – so I really don’t have much to report on that end. A few friends have mentioned that they enjoy the game, so maybe I’ll take a look at the demo in the coming days. Finally, in an update to last week’s post regarding Carcassonne, the game has been rated "E – (Everyone)" by the ESRB.

ALONE IN THE DARK SITE LIVE

Many people may credit Resident Evil as being the first survival horror game, but those of us who were PC gamers back in the day know better as we got the first true taste of the genre with Infogrames 1992 release Alone in the Dark.

The series has had a rough go of it since that first release, but Atari is hoping to turn that around with the first next-gen offering of the series. They took another step towards that goal recently when they brought the Alone in the Dark official website online. Give it a check out here and keep telling yourself that Atari won’t screw this one up.

ATARI TO LOWER PRICES ON ENTIRE “CURRENT GEN” LIBRARY

Gamespot is reporting that while at E3, Atari announced that effective June 1st, they will be lowering the price of all their games for current generation games (Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube and Gameboy Advance) to $19.99. In addition, all of Atari’s current PC titles, with the exception of Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, to $19.99 as well. Check out the full Gamespot article here for more information.