This week, the Xbox Live Arcade brings us two new releases in the form of the Tetsuya Mizuguchi's highly anticipated shooter Rez HD and Chessmaster LIVE.
Many of you probably only know the original Rez from the famous internet story about the game and it's curious peripheral, the Trance Vibrator, posted at GameGirl Advance, but even without the more salacious aspect of the games history, Rez does have a cult following among former Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 owners.
At it's heart, Rez HD – like the original Rez, is a rail shooter that tries to draw the player in by presenting them with a world of color and sound that responds to their every action while simultaneously overloading the senses… and for those of you wondering, while the game does not support the original Trance Vibrator, it will support up to three Xbox 360 controllers for one player – allowing two to be used in that capacity.
Rez HD will be available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace at a cost of 800 points ($10).
Title: Rez HD
Developer: Q Entertainment
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 1/30/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E – (Everyone) Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Set in a cyberworld, the legendary fast-paced action-shooter Rez HD, created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, will provide the ultimate audiovisual experience as the player targets the enemies and hacks the system while creating their own beats. Rez will open your senses … let's go to synaesthesia was the watchword when Rez released in 2001 to become a fan favorite. The dynamic, total integration of visual presentation, sound and player input provides the ultimate audiovisual experience.
- Legendary gaming experience: Old-school vector style graphics, sensory response, and beat synchronization sets the title apart and is perfectly recreated in this port for Xbox LIVE® Arcade in high-definition and 5.1 surround sound.
- The world of Rez: Rez consists of five different levels, each with its own unique visual theme and style, musical track and a boss battle at the end. The game also features several different modes and lots of unlockable elements, giving it plenty of replay value.
- Game modes: Play through the five areas in regular or Score Attack mode. Go to the Beyond mode and try Direct Assault, Lost Mode, the free play Trance Mission, or take on all the bosses consecutively in Boss Rush.
- Feel the rhythm: To further enhance the Rez experience, artists including Coldcut, Adam Freeland, Joujouka, Ken Ishii and Keiichi Sugiyama (SEGA's Wave Master) contributed tracks to the game." – Xbox.com
Next up, we have Chessmaster LIVE from Ubisoft – which is, quite naturally, a chess game. While graphics may play a huge role in many titles, I think anyone familiar with chess knows that a chess game can really only be as good as it's artificial intelligence. It's because of this that I really can't say much else about Chessmaster LIVE as I've yet to play the game, not am I a good enough chess player to accurately judge how well the game plays. My advice to you is to try the demo and read any reviews that are released regarding the game before investing your 800 points ($10) in the title.
Title: Chessmaster LIVE
Developer: Ubisoft Sofia
Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 1/30/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E – (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Enjoy playing as a real strategist with the Xbox LIVE® version of the most-acclaimed chess franchise. Chessmaster LIVE allows you to challenge friends and players all over the world in thrilling contests and determine who's the real champ. Choose among several 3-D (or 2-D) sets and play against virtual characters or real opponents over Xbox LIVE. Solve puzzles and discover exciting variations of this classic board game. Beginners can learn the basics of chess, and veteran players can improve their mastery of the game with the advanced scenario. The game is yours … it's your move!
- The challenge of chess: Compete against advanced A.I. characters or challenge other Xbox LIVE members to a match.
- New message chess system: Start a game without any time limit, and play the game at your leisure over the course of days or even weeks.
- Chess puzzles and chess variations: Puzzle over a series of classic challenges such as "find the fork" or "mate in one," and experience new ways of playing chess including Dark Chess, Losing Chess, Extinction Chess, and Progressive Chess.
- Customizable environments: Choose from six 3-D chess sets and three traditional sets, each with their own distinct sound effects, piece and board design.
- Interact with opponents: Video options allow you to see your challenger during the course of the game." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade title, Boogie Bunnies just really didn't do anything for me. Sure, there were plenty of cute bunnies line dancing, but the game itself felt much like so many other puzzlers that I just didn't feel it justified the 800 point ($10) price tag attached to it.
January 30, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Microsoft, Q Entertainment, Rez, Shooter, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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A demo of Ubisoft's Dark Messiah: Might & Magic Elements for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions except Japan via the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
December 22, 2007
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, RPG, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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A demo of Ubisoft's America's Army: True Soldiers for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in The United States only via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 535.46MB.
While at DigitalLife '07, I actually wound up running into Red Storm Entertainment's Randy Greenback on the floor and we discussed what the company hopes will set America's Army: True Soldiers apart from the other military simulations on the market – realism combined with teamwork.
Simply put, if you don't work with, and take care of, your teammates, don't expect to last long in America's Army. The game may have the real-life slower pacing of combat, but if you prefer being a one-man show, this is definitely not the title for you.
To assist in making players understand the need for true teamwork, the game will have such real world features as voice proximity (at a certain distance, your teammates can no longer hear you even if you shout), realistic injuries, a specialist system that makes each player a unique part of a team, a feedback system that rewards players who play the game as intended and of course, all the little touches that working directly with the U.S. Army allowed Red Storm Entertainment to craft into the title.
While I may be a fan of more run n' gun style shooters, I do believe this title could definitely interest those who find the somewhat over the top technology of the Ghost Recon series a little too unrealistic.
November 3, 2007
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, DigitalLife, FPS, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Looks like Ubisoft is trying to bring the Xbox 360 version of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 up to par with it’s just released PlayStation 3 sibling. Last week they made the original Throwback Pack a free download and have now released a second Throwback Pack as a free download.
"GRAW2 Throwback Pack 2 consists of 7 classic maps from Ghost Recon’s illustrious history. In addition to the 7 maps, there is a new game mode called Co-op Exfiltration. All of these maps have upgraded visuals and support all of GRAW2’s thousands of customizable game modes." – GRAW 2 Throwback Pack 2 dashboard description
Pretty nifty indeed – remember, free is always good.
August 29, 2007
Posted by nylatenite |
Downloadable Content, Free Stuff, Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Just a quick note here – Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb has announced that Ubisoft has made the Xbox 360 “Throwback Pack” for Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 a free download. The pack was previously priced at 800 points ($10) – no announcement was made regarding refunds for anyone who purchased it recently, so I wouldn’t hold my breath hoping for one.
August 25, 2007
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, Downloadable Content, Free Stuff, Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy, Ubisoft, Xbox 360 |
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This story has been sitting on my “to post” list for about a week now and seeing how as of tomorrow both player’s packs for the Xbox 360 version of Rainbow Six Vegas will be free downloads, I figured now was the time to post it.
Back on June 29th, Major Nelson reported that Ubisoft had finally fixed the problems they were having with the recently released Player’s Pack: Black Edition for the Xbox 360, and announced that the pack was supposed to have been a free download. As a way of making up for the confusion, Ubisoft had opted to put the “Black Pack” back on Live as a free download and announced that the older Player’s Pack: Red Edition would also become a free download effective July 6th – you know… today.
“Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas Black Pack Downloadable Content for Xbox 360 Live was originally intended to be free content for the fans of Rainbow Six Vegas. We apologize for the error. All players who purchased the Black Pack will be reimbursed automatically.* The Black Pack will be posted Saturday June 30th and will be free of charge. Also, as a token of our appreciation for the Rainbow Six community, we are making the Red Pack free as of Friday July 6th as well. Thanks for playing and we hope you enjoy this free content.” – Ubisoft
That’s a whole lot of freebie goodness right there, so if you have R6V and haven’t picked up either pack yet, you should be golden by the end of today. One last thing to note is that anyone who purchased the Black Edition pack during it’s short time as a pay download can expect to see a refund automatically within 8-10 weeks.
July 6, 2007
Posted by nylatenite |
Downloadable Content, FPS, Free Stuff, Tom Clancy, Ubisoft, Xbox 360 |
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A demo of Ubisoft’s Surf’s Up: The Video Game for the Xbox 360 is now available for download to all Xbox Live Members in Canada, Mexico and The United States via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Demo size is approximately 667.87mb.
June 23, 2007
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Once again the Xbox Live Arcade is looking back in time for inspiration this week as Ubisoft brings us a re-imagining of Broderbund’s 1989 classic Prince of Persia in the form of Prince of Persia Classic.
While many may recognize the title from the more recent games in the series, long before the game was reincarnated as a 3D action trilogy during the sixth console generation, it was a highly successful 2D side scrolling title that graced many of the platforms of it’s day. It’s that older game that’s being given the high-definition treatment along with a few new surprises.
As with the original, you take the role of the prince as he attempts to save the princess from the evil usurper Jaffar. Jaffar has not only claimed the throne of Persia for himself, but has given the princess only 60 minutes to make a fateful choice – marry him or die. Yes, the game isn’t about surviving to the last level, it’s about completing the game in the time provided. While you may have an unlimited number of lives to get the job done, the guards, traps and puzzles that you’ll encounter can slow you down enough to make completing the game impossible.
Is the game worth the 800 points ($10) that the Live Marketplace is asking for the title? Well, I’m going to guess that it’s going to really come down to how well the game controls. Getting through the game in the time provided is largely dependent on being able to control the prince effortlessly, and given the control issues many Live Arcade titles have had, PoPC could very easily become an exercise in frustration. My advice is to download and play the demo before you make any kind of a purchasing decision.
Title: Prince of Persia Classic
Developer: Gameloft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 6/13/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: T (Teen) – Blood & Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Prince of Persia® Classic is a remake of the original 1989 title, often referred to as THE game that kick-started the platforming genre. This new version features updated character designs, animations, visuals, and lighting effects, all transforming the game into a fresh, close to 3-dimensional look. New traps, puzzles, enemies, and achievements add to the excitement. It’s time to save the princess from her terrible fate!
- Updated and enhanced: All the character designs, animations, controls, and visuals have been completely updated to stunning effect.
- New content: In addition to the graphic refresh, new puzzles, enemies, and even helpful checkpoints further augment the classic experience.
- Athleticism and swordplay: Run, jump, and climb, showcasing your character’s athleticism, and buckle your swash with exciting sword battles.
- Three game modes: Normal Mode requires you to complete the game as fast as possible, with saves at the end of each level. Time Attack has you starting from the beginning if you fail to save the princess after the allotted sixty minutes. And Survival Mode challenges you to complete the entire game without dying. Good luck.
- Achievements: Twelve achievements are available, ranging from the simple (finding the sword in the first level) to the truly difficult (finding all the potions in the game, or finishing the game without dying)." – Xbox.com
Those of you interested in my thoughts on Pac-Man Championship Edition should check out my earlier post on the topic entitled First Impressions: Pac-Man Championship Edition. For those of you who don’t feel like reading through it, here’s the short version – let’s just say I really enjoy the game, but really wish they had also included a non-timed game mode.
June 13, 2007
Posted by nylatenite |
Classics, Platformer, Remake, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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The Game Feed is reporting that following criticism of their E3 build of upcoming Nintendo Wii title Red Steel, Ubisoft is taking the game’s controls and heading back to the drawing board… or at least the tweaking table;
“Ubisoft has recently told the French press that there will be significant changes to the gameplay of their Wii launch title before the game hits store shelves later this year. Although specific examples of the improvements have not been announced, Ubisoft briefly commented on the difficulty of refining the sword-fighting of Red Steel.” -The Game Feed
Those who watched any E3 footage of the game may have noticed the difficulty with both the aiming and swordplay aspects of the title, and it seems Ubisoft isn’t deaf to the complaints those problems have generated.
We’ll keep you updated on any new information regarding the changes being made to the game as it develops. Until then, check out The Game Feed’s article here and keep building up your arm muscles in anticipation of all the swinging you’ll be doing when the Wii is released later this year.
June 28, 2006
Posted by nylatenite |
Back to the drawing board, FPS, Oops, Ubisoft, Wii |
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A huge expansion pack for the Xbox 360 version of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace for 1200 points ($15). The pack, billed as the largest expansion pack ever offered for a game via the marketplace, adds a host of new multiplayer features. new weapons and graphical enhancements;
“One of the most popular multiplayer games on Xbox Live® has gotten even more intense with the release of a huge new package of downloadable content for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™. GRAW Chapter 2 introduces new maps, new game types, new camouflage, and new weapons—all part of this exciting package, now available in Xbox Live Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points.” -Xbox Live Marketplace
Check out the full details of what’s been added here.
June 22, 2006
Posted by nylatenite |
Downloadable Content, Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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