LordGeo
12-25-2009, 07:48 PM
I've downloaded demos of some of the Indie Games on Xbox Live's Game Marketplace, but only recently have I actually bought some of them. These are the games that really caught my interest and definitely deserved my money, or at least was cheap enough to be worth a "What the hey, why not?"
The Arkedo Series (Specifically JUMP! and PIXEL) [240 Microsoft Points/$3 each]:
Development team Arkedo definitely knows how to make a fun retro-styled game, as both JUMP! and PIXEL are fun as hell platformers with a decidedly retro look. JUMP! requires you to gether all the bombs on a stage before they explode and then reach the exit... All without getting hit once, as you have no life bar; the game takes its graphical inspiration from Pitfall! (the original) and Indiana Jones. PIXEL is a more traditional platformer that is made entirely out of pixels but looks so modern at the same time; it's also more forgiving, giving you a life meter as well as the ability to save where you left off.
JUMP! is the first game in the series and PIXEL is the third; the second game in the series, SWAP!, is a puzzle game that I haven't tried. But the Arkedo Series is definitely worth the 240 MP/$3 for each game, each game is highly rated by gamers on Xbox Live and is also selling fairly well, staying on the "Top Downloads" list normally.
The Impossible Game [80 Microsoft Points/$1]:
This is an interesting timing-based game where you just have to get a box from end of a fairly long stage to another... On one try. And this is a very tricky stage that requires very precisely-timed jumps to get past triangles and giant gaps. Sure, you can just push the Y button and go into practice mode, but the games stops you after a bit, telling you to play the game normally to get the proper medal, which is the game's equivalent to achievements. Nothing much beyond what I said, but for that cheap it's definitely not a waste of Points, and going off of the high rating and continual appearance in the Top Downlosds list I am not the only one who thinks so.
I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1N IT!!!!!! [80 Microsoft Points/$1]:
This is the top-rated game on the service and is still fairly high on the Top Downloads list, but what exactly is it? It's pretty much Robotron 2084, but with robots replaced by zombies, a lack of humans to save, and the ability to go up to 4-players... Oh yeah, and a weird-as-hell song to go with it. Really, it's nothing really special gameplay-wise but the game does have a completely out-there style to it and the 4-player ability should make it a good party game, so I'd say it's worth the dollar you're spending to get it. It's not a shining achievement of what the Indie Games service can give us, but it is mindless fun and sometimes that's all you need.
Streets of Fury [240 Microsoft Points/$3]:
OK, I am saving the best for last, as I feel that this is the best game on the Indie Service right now. It's a beat-em-up in the style of Streets of rage, Final Fight, Guardian Heroes, etc., but mixed with the visual style of Mortal Kombat minus all that messy blood and gore. It uses a 3-plane movement system like Guardian Heroes, which you would think would get in the way but actually is kind of necessary due to the fighting system the game uses. There is a large focus on making giant combos strings, ala some 2D fighting games, which makes it definitely different from most beat-em-ups. The game is comepletely tongue-in-cheek with the visual style (there's only like 5 actors [probably the programmers themselves] and the only difference between copies of them are some moves, colors, and sizes), but that just adds to the fun of the game. Add in a nice unlocking system for more characters, difficulties, and even custom difficulty options (like increasing/decreasing enemy health, aggressiveness, and even enemy count) and this game has nice replay value...
Oh yeah, and did I forget that it can go up to 4 players and has two different scenarios to play through as well as survival and versus battle modes? I did, well now I said it. Streets of Fury is definitely the best game on the service right now, and I definitely am hoping for a sequel.
So, any Indie Games anyone else got and enjoyed?
The Arkedo Series (Specifically JUMP! and PIXEL) [240 Microsoft Points/$3 each]:
Development team Arkedo definitely knows how to make a fun retro-styled game, as both JUMP! and PIXEL are fun as hell platformers with a decidedly retro look. JUMP! requires you to gether all the bombs on a stage before they explode and then reach the exit... All without getting hit once, as you have no life bar; the game takes its graphical inspiration from Pitfall! (the original) and Indiana Jones. PIXEL is a more traditional platformer that is made entirely out of pixels but looks so modern at the same time; it's also more forgiving, giving you a life meter as well as the ability to save where you left off.
JUMP! is the first game in the series and PIXEL is the third; the second game in the series, SWAP!, is a puzzle game that I haven't tried. But the Arkedo Series is definitely worth the 240 MP/$3 for each game, each game is highly rated by gamers on Xbox Live and is also selling fairly well, staying on the "Top Downloads" list normally.
The Impossible Game [80 Microsoft Points/$1]:
This is an interesting timing-based game where you just have to get a box from end of a fairly long stage to another... On one try. And this is a very tricky stage that requires very precisely-timed jumps to get past triangles and giant gaps. Sure, you can just push the Y button and go into practice mode, but the games stops you after a bit, telling you to play the game normally to get the proper medal, which is the game's equivalent to achievements. Nothing much beyond what I said, but for that cheap it's definitely not a waste of Points, and going off of the high rating and continual appearance in the Top Downlosds list I am not the only one who thinks so.
I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1N IT!!!!!! [80 Microsoft Points/$1]:
This is the top-rated game on the service and is still fairly high on the Top Downloads list, but what exactly is it? It's pretty much Robotron 2084, but with robots replaced by zombies, a lack of humans to save, and the ability to go up to 4-players... Oh yeah, and a weird-as-hell song to go with it. Really, it's nothing really special gameplay-wise but the game does have a completely out-there style to it and the 4-player ability should make it a good party game, so I'd say it's worth the dollar you're spending to get it. It's not a shining achievement of what the Indie Games service can give us, but it is mindless fun and sometimes that's all you need.
Streets of Fury [240 Microsoft Points/$3]:
OK, I am saving the best for last, as I feel that this is the best game on the Indie Service right now. It's a beat-em-up in the style of Streets of rage, Final Fight, Guardian Heroes, etc., but mixed with the visual style of Mortal Kombat minus all that messy blood and gore. It uses a 3-plane movement system like Guardian Heroes, which you would think would get in the way but actually is kind of necessary due to the fighting system the game uses. There is a large focus on making giant combos strings, ala some 2D fighting games, which makes it definitely different from most beat-em-ups. The game is comepletely tongue-in-cheek with the visual style (there's only like 5 actors [probably the programmers themselves] and the only difference between copies of them are some moves, colors, and sizes), but that just adds to the fun of the game. Add in a nice unlocking system for more characters, difficulties, and even custom difficulty options (like increasing/decreasing enemy health, aggressiveness, and even enemy count) and this game has nice replay value...
Oh yeah, and did I forget that it can go up to 4 players and has two different scenarios to play through as well as survival and versus battle modes? I did, well now I said it. Streets of Fury is definitely the best game on the service right now, and I definitely am hoping for a sequel.
So, any Indie Games anyone else got and enjoyed?