Hands-on with upcoming Xbox Live Arcade games:
RayStorm HD - Released back in 1996 on the arcade and 1997 for the original PlayStation, RayStorm is being brought back to the masses via a release on the Xbox Live Arcade in the form of Raystorm HD. The modes provided include: Arcade Mode, Extra Mode, 13 Plane Mode, and Ranking Mode. Arcade Mode is the arcade version with all the original features. The Extra Mode is the home console remix version. 13 Plane Mode is a single-player mode that, of course, features 13 planes thrown into the mix. Ranking Mode allows players to play through the single-player and register their score in an online ranking. On top of that, players are able to save replays and download replays from their friends. There are four planes (2 which are unlocked) to play with and 8 stages to play through. On the 360 controller, the A button is used to fire the laser, X and Y buttons for special attacks, and pressing the X and A buttons together trigger another special attack. After playing a few hours through the levels, it can be said that RayStorm HD should please hardcore fans of the scrolling shooting genre with its addition to the Xbox Live Arcade library.
Tower Bloxx Deluxe - The idea behind Tower Bloxx Deluxe is to do one of the following: build the highest tower, build as fast as you can or build the biggest city. Each of those tasks have their own game mode such as Quick Game (build the highest tower), Time Attack (build as fast as you can), and Build City (built the biggest city). Time Attack is the most thrilling of the allotment as it is tense and makes for a good game for players that are trigger happy. On my first time through the Time Attack, I was able to get over 38 blocks in under 87 seconds. Racing the clock, which starts out at 30 seconds and increases every time you pass a checkpoint, Time Attack has turned out to be the most entertaining game mode. The controls on the Xbox 360 controller are fairly simple due to that the A Button is the only button that has a gameplay serving function. Players can also change the camera view with the Y button and move the view point with the Left Thumbstick. Tower Bloxx Deluxe should turn out to be a quick 15-minute-fix for any gamer looking to pass time.
Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment - Serving as one of the first big releases on the Xbox Live Arcade in the role-playing genre, gamers should cross their fingers that Vandal Hearts performs exceedingly well so that more classic RPG franchises see their release on the service. If the recent preview version is to be judged, then the quality of the game is bound to impress. The objective of the game is to maneuver characters across the battlefield on a grid to defeat enemies by taking turns. Players are eligible to upgrade their character’s skills in battle by training in those skills individually such as: melee fighting to become a better warrior, sniping enemies to improve ranged attacks, using magic to become a better spellcaster. Vandal Hearts doesn’t have the most beautiful character art nor does it have the best introduction to the plot, but there’s a great game to behold once gamers move past the first few hours of gameplay – even if they can’t stand the voice-acting.
Calendar of Upcoming XBLA Releases:
September 16: Panzer General: Allied Assault
September 23: Ion Assault
September 30: Lucidity, Military Madness
October 7: South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play!
TBA (September – October):Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – Commander’s Challenge, Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment, Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures, Episode 2: The Last Resort, Peggle Nights, Diner Dash
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