Entries in XBLA (26)

10:00AM

QCF: Sonic: The Fighters

hat pops into your head when you see these next three words?

"Sonic the Hedgehog."

Were you thinking about a fighting game? Probably, because you've more than likely seen the title of this article, and you're reading this review. But hold on there, did you think of a good fighting game? Probably not, right? Well, buckle up, because this could be an interesting ride.

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4:51PM

Bullet Heaven HD, Episode 59 - Ikaruga

n this episode of Bullet Heaven, we take a look at the fantastic Ikaruga, released on XBLA in 2008. Simplicity and beauty come together with brutal difficulty and sublime control... but how does it stack up? 

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3:39PM

QCF: NiGHTS into Dreams HD

Any Sega Saturn fan worth his or her salt has seen, heard of or played Sonic Team's NiGHTS into Dreams at some point. Like many of the best cult classics out there, it took a while for NiGHTS to achieve mainstream popularity despite critical success, and it became a title that was well respected and sought after long after the Sega Saturn died. 

When Sega began porting Saturn and Dreamcast classics to this generation's systems, NiGHTS into Dreams almost instantly became one of the most-requested titles by fans. For years they begged and now, Sega has finally delivered with NiGHTS into Dreams HD.

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11:45PM

QCF: Double Dragon Neon

You know those nostalgic feelings you get when you see or hear something that makes you feel like you're a single-digit age again? I freaking love that feeling. I've said before that you can't really make nostalgia for yourself, but when others manage do it, it can be a great thing.

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5:48PM

PAX Prime 2012: Nights--Hands-on interview with Jeff Beckham

I once read an article in an old issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly that compiled and listed the top 100 (domestic) video games of all time. While the list contained many of the games I was apparently savvy enough to pick up before they were considered all-time greats, there were a great many from a system I never had until long after its demise: the Sega Saturn.

One such game was NiGHTS Into Dreams, a game that debuted the Saturn 3D Analog Controller and came pretty close to being un-classifiable. Was it a platformer? Flight-sim-lite? A racing game?

One thing was certain: it was very popular, and very scarce in my neck of the woods, but I managed to track both it and a Saturn down to see what all the fuss was about which, all told, was a very long endeavour. And worth it. But now, there's a better way for people to be able to experience this goodness; recently, NiGHTS Into Dreams was announced as a downloadable title on the PSN and XBLA Marketplace making this fairly highly sought-after title much easier to obtain and experience on platforms that much better accommodate NiGHTS' ambitious features.

And while I could go into the finer points of what makes NiGHTS great, it's a 16-year-old game and this isn't a review. But chances are, if you're reading this, you already know NiGHTS is awesome.

I caught up with Jeff Beckham at the Sega booth for a bit of Q&Q about the upcoming PSN and Xbox 360 HD downloadable version of NiGHTS Into Dreams!

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4:47AM

QCF: Dust: An Elysian Tail

Turmoil reigns heavy in the kingdom of Falana as hundreds of troops lay waste to the land. Led by an intolerant general who’s bent on the extermination of an entire tribe, all hope falls on the summoned hero of the blade and his...ferret with wings. Xbox LIVE's Summer of Arcade comes to a close, and to end the annual line of releases is Dust: An Elysian Tail, an indie developed platformer from Dean Doodril of Humble Hearts (this dude is the entire studio).

Dust has come a long way since we last saw it at PAX East. With nearly nine years in the making, Dust takes an assortment of familiar conventions from gaming’s past and blends them into a formula that delivers one of the most memorable experiences in video games this year.

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6:15AM

QCF: Deadlight

The splintering crash of planks litters the ground as Randal Wayne bursts through and races down the residential streets of Seattle, boring into home after home to escape the ever-growing reach of the undead, the shadows. Microsoft’s Summer of Arcade is in full swing yet again for 2012, and Tequila Works has rolled out their inaugural release, Deadlight for Xbox Live Arcade. Zombie games have far exceeded the threshold of saturation in today’s market, but boasting the talents of individuals with backgrounds ranging from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe to Blizzard Entertainment, Tequila Works managed to infuse innovative yet subtle nuances on the aging side-scroller formula.

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12:30PM

Trouble Witches Neo! REVIEW (XBLA) - Bullet Heaven HD, Episode 52

It has been a long time coming and finally, the oft-requested Trouble Witches Neo! Gets a review. It's not often that an indie game get this level of treatment on the XBLA marketplace, but does Trouble Witches Neo! live up to its expectations? 

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