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Shadow Complex promises to impress
Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Action, Downloadable Content, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,
Whatever line there was between retail games and downloadable titles has essentially been torn down.
You can now download full retail games straight to your console thanks to the new Xbox 360 Dashboard Update. And the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade has been rock solid.
But wait. There’s more.
The final release of Summer of Arcade hits this week - on Wednesday precisely. And it’s been getting stellar reviews.
IGN calls it “one of the best games yet in 2009” - that’s out of all games, not just XBLA titles. MondoXbox says it’s"capable of rivaling even many of the retail games out there.”
Shadow Complex further blurs the line between retail and downloadable games - if not completely destroying that line.
Shadow Complex is a Metroid/Castlevania-style game that features 2.5D side-scrolling action gameplay. Based on the praiseworthy reviews, this one sounds like a winner.
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Halo 3: ODST Firefight map screenshot blowout
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Bungie, First Person Shooters, Microsoft, Screenshots, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
One of the biggest updates coming in Halo 3: ODST is the addition of the Firefight mode. Firefight lets you team up with three other friends to take on round after round of enemies. It’s a nice divergence from the standard Halo 3 multiplayer fare, and makes ODST a very attractive package. I was able to spend about 90 minutes playing Firefight yesterday, and I’ve gotta say, I can see this being a new favorite. Firefight is to Halo 3: ODST what Horde is to Gears of War 2 - it allows you to team up with friends against a common enemy, and it doesn’t end until all four of you are dead at once.
We will have our Firefight impressions up in just a bit, but for now, check out all the screenshots we’ve amassed of the maps we were able to check out. There are definitely more, but what we’ve got for you is a look at Crater (Night), Security Zone, and Alpha Site. Have a look at our Halo 3: ODST Firefight Map Screenshot gallery.
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How are you liking the 8/11 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Marketplace,
Yeah, in case you forgot, today is the day that the masses (including you) get access to all the fancy new features in the latest Xbox 360 Dashboard Update! I’m talking about things like Netflix Movie Parties, Games on Demand, the Avatar Marketplace, etc. You can get the full scoop on all the updates, both major and minor, at the link below. What we wanna know now, though, is how you are liking it. Let us know in the comments.
Oh, and remember, there is more to come in a couple of months, as we still have Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm, and Zune Marketplace with 1080p instant-on movie streaming to look forward to later this fall.
Read More 
| August 2009 Dashboard Update Details
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Trials HD arriving on Xbox 360
Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Downloadable Content, Microsoft, Platformers, Release Dates, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,
That’s right, folks - the next installment in the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade is about to drop! Trials HD is coming this Wednesday for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).
Be prepared for a “full-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing platformer” that includes fifty stages as well as a level editor. Trials HD is an enhanced version of Trials 2: Second Edition.
Sounds like it may be a solid entry in the XBLA line-up. I’m amped to check this one out.
In fact Trials HD already has a few scores listed on Metacritic. Eurogamer boasts Trials HD “may end up being the best thing on Xbox Live Arcade all year.” Woah! Could it surpass ‘Splosion Man?!
The truth is revealed: Halo 2 causing holdup over Xbox Live 100 Friend Limit Increase
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Bungie, Culture, First Person Shooters, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
A few days ago we posted an editorial begging Microsoft to fix the Xbox Live friend limit that is currently imposed upon both Xbox Live and Zune users. Well, after years of being vague about it, the truth has finally come out. According to G4, a high-level Microsoft employee has revealed that the reason that the friend limit hasn’t increased at all, even after the launch of the Xbox 360, is Halo 2.
Halo 2? Yes. You see, original Xbox games have the friend limit hard-coded into them, and Halo 2 is an original Xbox game. Since it is still so popular, Microsoft thinks they need to keep supporting it. If they increase the friend limit, they need to take Halo 2 offline.
Please, for the love of all that is sane in the gaming world, implore your friends and countrymen to switch to Halo 3, or the upcoming Halo 3: ODST, so that we might have a more social Xbox Live.
Oh, and this still doesn’t explain the whole Zune Social thing, and Microsoft’s belief that it has to be tied to Xbox Live, for whatever reason!
TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled arrives tomorrow on XBLA
Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Action, Downloadable Content, Release Dates, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,
That’s right, the arcade classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time comes out tomorrow, August 5th, on Xbox Live Arcade - as part of XBLA‘s ‘Summer of Arcade.’
Re-Shelled promises updated 3-D graphics with the same masterful gameplay. Four player co-op and survival modes will be available both online and locally.
It seems like if you played the 90’s arcade title, you know what to expect. Still, keep your eyes peeled on the game’s Metacritic page for reviews to start pouring in.
It’ll cost you 800 Microsoft Points ($10.)
And by the way, here’s XBLA’s ‘Summer of Arcade’ Lineup:
- OUT NOW: ‘Splosion Man 800 Points ($10)
- OUT NOW: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 1200 Points ($15)
- August 5: TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-shelled 1200 Points ($15)
- August 12: Trials HD 1200 Points ($15)
- August 19: Shadow Complex 1200 Points ($15)
Read More | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Bethesda’s WET gives you a Shot at Love and prizes
Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Action, Culture, PlayStation 3, Third Person Shooters, Xbox 360,
Well, okay. Maybe not a shot at love, but something you will love—prizes. Bethesda released a music video called “Shot At Love”, which depicts victims of Rubi Malone, WET’s leading lady, singing about love (yes, really). To help spread the word, Bethesda is giving out prizes to those that share the video. Simply watch the video, register and you will be given a link to distribute among your friends and any of those lovely social media sites. The more people watch the video from you, the more chances you have to win prizes. This is what you will get:
- 5 video shares: 3 exclusive wallpapers
- 50 video shares: Exclusive WET poster signed by Eliza Dushku
- Grand Prize: Custom WET bundle
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start sharing! WET will be available for the Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3, September 15th.
EA Summer Showcase from ComicCon 2009
Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360,
San Diego ComiCon gives us the opportunity to geek out on all things pop culture for four days – not including preview night. But we all know four days is never enough! EA held a summer showcase where we got access to demo most of their upcoming game titles without the sweating, over-crowding and amazing smell a comicon can offer. The EA Summer Showcase was held at the Onyx in San Diego as somewhat of a pre-con treat. Getting to play Brutal Legends while nibbling on some amazing free cheese and slider burgers is what I believe heaven will be like.
But along with the cheese also came other great games: G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra, Left 4 Dead 2, The Saboteur, Dead Space Extraction, Dragon Age: Origins, Hasbro Family Game Night 2, Littlest Pet Shop Online, Madden NFL 10, MySims Agents, Need for Speed NITRO, NERF “N-Strike” Elite, Spore Hero and Spore Hero Arena.
Spoilers? Brutal Legends can have my babies – like now.
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‘Splosion Man Review: This game is a blast!
Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Action, Downloadable Content, Reviews, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade,
‘Splosion Man, currently available for the Xbox 360 on Xbox Live Arcade, is a 2.5-D action platformer where the goal is to “splode” your way through levels.
You play as a guy who can ‘splode himself - which essentially propels him into a jump. The controls are simple - A, B, X, and Y all do the same thing; yeah you guessed it, ‘Splode. You can also perform wall-kicks, akin to many platformers like the more recent Mario games. Of course, instead of just kicking of a wall, you ‘splode off of it.
However, the game’s not so simple once you get going. The catch is that you can only ‘splode three times while in the air before either coming back down to the ground or briefly sliding down a wall to recharge your ‘splode-ability.
Click to continue reading ‘Splosion Man Review: This game is a blast!
Hands-on with the August 11 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Features, Microsoft, Reviews, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Marketplace,
This morning, Microsoft hooked us up with an early preview of the next Xbox 360 Dashboard Update. We were able to get a look at the new Netflix features (which no longer require a PC,) the Avatar Marketplace, Game Ratings, Games on Demand, and more. While more coveted features like Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm, and Zune Marketplace won’t be landing until the fall, the update is still a solid one. Here are our thoughts on the next update, which lands on your Xbox 360 on August 11 (or sooner if you apply for early access!)
Click to continue reading Hands-on with the August 11 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update
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