Xbox Live Arcades "Mutants And More!"
June 28th - July 4th
I consider this weeks Xbox Arcade Deals Of The Week to be mediocre at best, but I am happy to see "Lara Croft And The Gaurdian Of Light" on sale. I had a blast with this game, I'm hoping that this sale will promote the game even more than its 150,000+ downloads already. Below is a list of all the games on this weeks Xbox Live Arcades Deals Of The Week, with the very loosely themed "Mutants And More!", along with a brief description and a MetaCritic Score.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Reshelled - 400MP(50% off)
Ubisoft
4-Player Co-op
MetaCritic Score: 60
User Score: 75
Turtles in Time Re-Shelled is a side scrolling beat 'em up. Players control the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael. Each playable character has his own strengths and weaknesses. Up to four players can play simultaneously, and can play any combination of local and online multiplayer. Players are given a basic control setup, with jump, attack, and special attack buttons in addition to movement. Certain button combinations can execute special moves, such as a sprint, dash attack, or special attack. New to the remake is the ability to attack in eight directions, as opposed to the two directions of the original version.
Other enhancements were made to Re-Shelled over the original game. The graphics were recreated completely in 3D, with players now moving in and out of a true 3D camera. The opening and closing cinematics were redesigned with a stylized comic book feel. The vocal quips of the arcade version return, albeit re-recorded by the cast of the 2003 cartoon. The music has also been updated, with the original theme song from the being replaced. Re-Shelled also features Survival and Quickplay modes as well as leaderboards which track a player's high score.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light - 400MP (50% off)
Square Enix
2-Player Co-op
MetaCritic Score: 85
User Score: 86
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a departure from the main series as being a third person adventure game. Instead it is a non-linear "arcade-inspired" action game played from a raised viewpoint similar to isometric games using a fixed camera.The game also features cooperative gameplay, and players can take control of either Lara or an ancient Mayan tribesman named Totec. Each playable character possess unique weapons and skills. Like with some previous installments, Lara retains her dual pistols with infinite ammunition and a grappling hook, which she is able to use to cross gaps and which Totec can tightrope walk across. Totec carries spears which can be used both as a weapon and on the environment, for Lara to climb on. Both characters carry unlimited "bombs" that can be dropped and detonated. Tombs can be explored and some have "booby-trap puzzles" to solve. The game does not have any loading screens once a level is started.
Guardian of Light may be played with a single player, and a second player may join at any time, whether online or locally. In the single-player campaign the only playable character is Lara; Totec cannot assist and Lara has all the tools required along with new abilities to make it through her own unique adventure. Puzzles and parts of the map are also different. Creative director Daniel Neuberger said that this was because he did not want the player to get frustrated by having to rely on AI. The campaign features eight to ten hours of gameplay.
X-Men Arcade - 400MP (50% off)
Konami
4-Player Co-op
MetaCritic Score: 70
User Score: 53
The object of X-Men Arcade is to progress as far as possible while surviving attacks from Magneto and his minions. The character is controlled with a standard joystick, an attack button, a jump button, and a mutant power button. In addition to right and left, the character can move up and down the screen as well which adds a three-dimensional feel to the game. Every character is able to fight with punches, kicks, or other close combat attacks. Each character also has a unique mutant power which can be used to defeat all or nearly all enemies on the screen. The use of a mutant power is very effective, but also costly since it causes a character to lose three health points. Normally, a character who drops below four health can no longer use any mutant powers, but it is also possible for characters to obtain bonus mutant powers which can be stored like items (similar to Golden Axe 's magic powers). In the Japanese version, the power items are used up before the health, and there are also power-ups and health packs throughout the level.
Comic Jumper: The Adventures Of Captain Smiley - 400MP (50% off)
Microsoft Studios
Single Player
MetaCritic: 74
User Score: 69
Comic Jumper: The Adventures Of Captain Smiley is a 2.5D action game in which the player must defeat enemies to progress. The main gameplay revolves around using Captain Smiley's dual pistols and platforming across levels broken up by various segments which include melee combat, on-rails shooting and quick time events. In keeping with the game's abstract humor, Captain Smiley can call on the game's developers to perform a special attack, in which live action footage of Twisted Pixel employees is shown over the gameplay, with the developers destroying nearby enemies.
By performing well in each issue players can earn extra cash on top of their base fee. Additional bonuses can be earned by fulfilling reader expectations, which involves things such as completing a certain section without getting hit. Cash can also be earned by completing special challenge levels or exploring the main base and conversing with characters. Money earned from the levels can be spent on upgrades to Captain Smiley's abilities or to unlock various content, including concept art, interviews, gamerpics and two additional levels for 'Splosion Man. Purchased items and abilities also increase the amount of money Captain Smiley earns from missions.
Hard Corps: Uprising - 600 MP (50% off)
Konami
2-Player Co-op
MetaCritic Score: 75
User Score: 65
Hard Corps: Uprising features two main game modes, Rising and Arcade. In Rising Mode, players can collect points throughout levels which are then used to purchase various upgrades and customizations for weapons, armor and character abilities. Rising Mode also features a health bar, similar to the Japanese version of Contra: Hard Corps, allowing the player to take more than one hit before losing a life. Arcade Mode is a harder game mode in which the power-up shops are removed.
Many new moves have been added. The character can dash, dash in mid-air, double-jump and deflect enemy projectiles by bouncing them back. Additional moves can also be purchased in Rising Mode.
Weapons include the standard rifle, the machine gun, the spread shot, the crush gun (shoots arcing grenades), the heat gun (shoots large blasts of fire) and the chain laser (homes in on enemy targets). As in Contra III: The Alien Wars, the player can carry two weapons and switch between them at any time. By collecting the same weapon several times the player will improve its firing rate and power. Other weapon upgrades are available in Rising Mode as well.
