XBLA-in-Brief posts (Subscribe to this feed)

X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Diner Dash, Gyromancer

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 18th 2009 at 6:45PM }

This week brings two casual games to Xbox Live Arcade. For puzzle fans, we have Gyromancer (1200

, $15), an RPG take on PopCap's Bejeweled Twist. For those who prefer something a little more manic, there's Diner Dash (800

, $10), which tasks players with running a restaurant and keeping customers happy. If you've ever dealt with real customers before, you'll know that keeping them happy is harder than it sounds.

See both games in the latest episode of XBLA in Brief.

Download the trial version of Diner Dash
Download the trial version of Gyromancer

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Encleverment Experiment, NBA Unrivaled, 0D Beat Drop

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 11th 2009 at 4:45PM }

There are three games up for grabs on XBLA this week, and all of them offer something different. Encleverment Experiment (800

, $10) seeks to test your brain power as well as the brain power of your friends (or random strangers on Xbox Live). Meanwhile NBA Unrivaled (1200

, $15) brings arcade basketball with massive dunks (and odd character animations). Finally, 0D Beat Drop (800

, $10) ... drops some rhythm-infused puzzle action onto XBLA. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if any of them are up your alley.

Download the trial version of Encleverment Experiment
Download the trial version of NBA Unrivaled
Download the trial version of 0D Beat Drop

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Wallace & Gromit Episodes 2-4

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 4th 2009 at 3:00PM }

This week's episode of XBLA in Brief will likely seem a bit familiar. The reason for that is because the trial version of the final three Wallace & Gromit episodes is exactly the same as the trial version for the first episode. Suffice it to say that you won't see anything new if you've already tried the first episode. For the rest of you, watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if the charm of Wallace & Gromit appeals to you.

Download the trial version of Wallace & Gromit Episode 2
Download the trial version of Wallace & Gromit Episode 3
Download the trial version of Wallace & Gromit Episode 4

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Inferno Pool, Rainbow Islands

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 28th 2009 at 2:45PM }

Once again, a new week has brought two drastically different titles to Xbox Live Arcade. Inferno Pool allows gamers to play a fast, frenetic round of multiplayer pool (all in what appears to be a bar in Silent Hill). On the other side of the coin, we have Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure, which has players killing adorable enemies with rainbows. Both are available for 800

($10) and you can see what they're all about in this week's XBLA in Brief. Enjoy.

Download the trial version of Inferno Pool
Download the trial version of Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Tower Bloxx Deluxe, Panzer General: Allied Assault

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 21st 2009 at 6:20PM }

Up for offer on Xbox Live Arcade today are two diametrically opposite titles. Tower Bloxx Deluxe is a puzzle game that requires a grand total of one button to play, while Panzer General: Allied Assault is a strategy / card / board game with more rules than you can shake several sticks at. Depending on your mood, present company or your feelings toward the construction industry, either game might appeal to you. As such, they are both priced equally at 800

($10). Watch the latest episode of XBLA in Brief to find out if either one is for you.

Download the trial version of Tower Bloxx Deluxe
Download the trial version of Panzer General: Allied Assault

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Sam & Max Season 2, Axel & Pixel

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 14th 2009 at 4:00PM }

We've got two click-em-ups up for grabs this week. One -- Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space -- is a buddy comedy fueled by crime, conversation and jokes, while the other -- Axel & Pixel -- is a puzzle solving affair rendered with bright colors and quirky animation. We're not sure what we did to deserve two point-and-click adventure games this week but, frankly, we're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially considering these aren't gifts at all.

No, they cost real money. 1600

in the case of Sam & Max, and 800

for Axel & Pixel.

Download the trial version of Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space
Download the trial version of Axel & Pixel

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: South Park, Lucidity

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 7th 2009 at 4:15PM }

Two pleasantly surprising games on Xbox Live Arcade this week. First, there's South Park: Let's Go Tower Defense Play!, which is a tower defense game based on South Park, of all things. Then there's Lucidity, an original puzzle platform game from LucasArts. After taking a quick jaunt through the trial versions of both games, we're pleased to say that both of them are quite enjoyable. See what you're in for in the latest XBLA in Brief, and then decide if either game deserves your 800

($10).

Download the trial version of South Park
Download the trial version of Lucidity

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Military Madness, Football Genius, Bust-A-Move Live!

by David Hinkle { Sep 30th 2009 at 3:30PM }

There are three new titles available to anxious Xbox Live Arcaders this week, and even though your usual host is off gallivanting around some spooky hotel, we wouldn't dare dream of not highlighting them in a new XBLA in Brief video. So strap yourself in and prepare for quite the eclectic mix of titles -- Military Madness, Football Genius and Bust-A-Move Live -- in this week's XBLA in Brief!

Shortcuts:

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: The Warriors, Zombie Apocalypse, Ion Assault

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 23rd 2009 at 3:45PM }

Three new games hit Xbox Live Arcade this week. We've got a brawler in The Warriors, a twin-stick shooter in Zombie Apocalypse and ... something different in Ion Assault (in a good way). Join us for the latest XBLA in Brief, as we take trial versions for a spin and see just what each game is about. Should you decide to take the plunge on any, each game will set you back 800

($10).

Download the trial version of The Warriors: Street Brawl
Download the trial version of Zombie Apocalypse
Download the trial version of Ion Assault

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Bubble Bobble Neo, Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 17th 2009 at 7:20PM }

It's a double dose of XBLA this week, with the release of both Bubble Bobble Neo and Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge. The former is a classic Taito arcade game, while the latter is a standalone expansion to Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Both of them have their charms and both, as it happens, cost 800 ($10). Watch this week's XBLA in Brief and see if either one tickles your fancy.

Download the trial version of Bubble Bobble Neo
Download the trial version of Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Sonic & Knuckles

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 9th 2009 at 4:45PM }

If you were a Sega Genesis gamer growing up, then this is a special week for you. This week marks the release of Sonic & Knuckles (400

/ $5) on Xbox Live Arcade. Sonic & Knuckles, as you will no doubt remember, was once the most amazing piece of technology ever created. It's not quite as amazing these days, but it's still a great platformer. It still "locks on" to the first three XBLA Sonic games as well. Combine Sonic & Knuckles with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and you've got the best Sonic game ever made.

Watch this week's XBLA in Brief and get a glimpse of the days when Sonic games were still good.

Download the trial version of Sonic & Knuckles

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Yo-Ho Kablammo, Defense Grid

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 2nd 2009 at 6:00PM }

Two new games find their way onto Xbox Live Arcade this week, and they are about as disparate as two games can be. First, there's Yo-Ho Kablammo (800

/ $10), the second place winner of the 2007 Dream-Build-Play competition. It features pirate ships, monkeys, mines, treasure, and plenty of sea battles. On the other hand, we've got Defense Grid (800

/ $10), a tower defense game featuring some nice graphics, lots of different towers and multiple enemy types.

Take a look at this week's XBLA in Brief and see if either one piques your interest.

Download the trial version of Yo-Ho Kablammo
Download the trial version of Defense Grid: The Awakening

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Watchmen 2, NBA 2K10 Draft Combine, Invincible Tiger

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 27th 2009 at 5:45PM }

The Summer of Arcade is finally over and, in a seeming effort to console us all, Microsoft has released not one, but three new games onto XBLA. We've got two beat-em-ups and one basketball game this week, in the form of Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2, Invincible Tiger and NBA 2K10 Draft Combine (we'll let you guess which categories those each belong to).

NBA 2K10 Draft Combine (400

/ $5) is probably the most interesting of the bunch, as it lets you create a player that you can later import into the retail version of NBA 2K10 when it releases later this year. Meanwhile, Invincible Tiger (1200

/ $15) is a unique brawler inspired by old kung fu movies and Watchmen ... well, Watchmen 2 (1200

/ $15) is exactly like the first one. Whether or not that's a good thing, we leave to you.

Check out the latest XBLA in Brief and get a taste of what each game has to offer.

Download the trial version of NBA 2K10 Draft Combine
Download the trial version of Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2
Download the trial version of Invincible Tiger

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Shadow Complex

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 19th 2009 at 3:15PM }

This week's XBLA in Brief is a little different. Normally we only take the trial version for a spin, but we were lucky enough to get our hands on the full version of Shadow Complex last week, so we've spent quite a bit of time with it. We've already handed the game a great review, now you can see what all the fuss is about.

The full version is 1200

($15).

Download the trial version of Shadow Complex

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Trials HD

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 12th 2009 at 4:15PM }

The Summer of Arcade continues this week with Trials HD. Probably the least talked about game in the Summer of Arcade, we're happy to report that it seems like a solid title. It evokes the simplicity of Excite Bike as well as the zen state brought on by a perfect run in games like Tony Hawk. It also includes plenty of broken bones and explosions. So, something for everyone, really. Check out the latest XBLA in Brief and see what you think. The full version is 1200

($15).

Download the trial version of Trials HD

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