Last summer, in the new release dead zone between E3 and the holiday season, Microsoft launched a hit program now known as the “Xbox Live Summer of Arcade.” While everyone was waiting for Fallout 3 and Fable II to hit, they could still enjoy themselves with games like Braid and Geometry Wars 2. This year, Microsoft is continuing the program by releasing a game a week for five weeks starting July 22. With a couple of remakes and a slew of entirely new properties you should be able to find something to tide you over until the blockbusters like Halo 3: ODST and Splinter Cell: Conviction drop in the fall. Here’s a quick look at what to expect from the best of the best Summer of Arcade XBLA releases:
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 - Perhaps the most popular “versus” fighting games ever makes its triumphant return to current generation consoles this summer. That means there’s no need to dust off your Dreamcast every time you want to dragon punch Mega Man or tear up Chun-Li with Wolverine’s Adamantium claws. Complete with 56 characters from Marvel Comics and Capcom titles, Xbox Live multiplayer, and enhanced HD graphics, tag battling against friends and foes has never been better. Of course, for the purists, there are also options included to keep the game looking and feeling like it did in the arcade.
Trials HD - Trials HD is a simple, physics-based motorcycle racing game that challenges players to from start to finish across a wide variety of 2D courses. With a large number of obstacles one each course, the danger of spectacular stunt bike crashes is ever-present. The game will start with 50 tracks that can be played in either Race or Skill mode, but the game offers a variety of tools to keep the racing unique and interesting. The ability to create and share tracks using a level editor and tools to customize your racer will allow players to really take their own experiences away from Trials HD.
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