Weekly XBLA Update: 1/30/08 - Rez HD & Chessmaster LIVE
Today is a fairly epic day in the life of XBLA, as we see the updated HD version of the Dreamcast classic Rez released from Q Entertainment and creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi. One less-publicized aspect of the game is the rumble functionality: connect all four Xbox 360 controllers and place them on your body for pulsing rhythmic fun (Fruit Brute recently had the opportunity and had controllers placed in the small of his back and beneath his feet, but your proclivities are your own business!). How's that for a "last-gen" feature, eh?
Of course I do feel a little sorry for today's other XBLA release, Chessmaster LIVE, simply because its release comes under the shadow of Rez HD. But with the increasing presence of board games on XBLA, Chessmaster is a welcome and almost inevitable addition to the scene.
Both games will set you back the relatively standard 800 Microsoft Points.
Rez HD: 800 MP
Set in a cyberworld, the legendary fast-paced action-shooter Rez HD, created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, will provide the ultimate audiovisual experience as the player targets the enemies and hacks the system while creating their own beats. Rez will open your senses … let's go to synaesthesia was the watchword when Rez released in 2001 to become a fan favorite. The dynamic, total integration of visual presentation, sound and player input provides the ultimate audiovisual experience.
* Legendary gaming experience: Old-school vector style graphics, sensory response, and beat synchronization sets the title apart and is perfectly recreated in this port for Xbox LIVE® Arcade in high-definition and 5.1 surround sound.
* The world of Rez: Rez consists of five different levels, each with its own unique visual theme and style, musical track and a boss battle at the end. The game also features several different modes and lots of unlockable elements, giving it plenty of replay value.
* Game modes: Play through the five areas in regular or Score Attack mode. Go to the Beyond mode and try Direct Assault, Lost Mode, the free play Trance Mission, or take on all the bosses consecutively in Boss Rush.
* Feel the rhythm: To further enhance the Rez experience, artists including Coldcut, Adam Freeland, Joujouka, Ken Ishii and Keiichi Sugiyama (SEGA's Wave Master) contributed tracks to the game.
Chessmaster LIVE: 800 MP
Enjoy playing as a real strategist with the Xbox LIVE® version of the most-acclaimed chess franchise. Chessmaster LIVE allows you to challenge friends and players all over the world in thrilling contests and determine who's the real champ. Choose among several 3-D (or 2-D) sets and play against virtual characters or real opponents over Xbox LIVE. Solve puzzles and discover exciting variations of this classic board game. Beginners can learn the basics of chess, and veteran players can improve their mastery of the game with the advanced scenario. The game is yours ... it's your move!
* The challenge of chess: Compete against advanced A.I. characters or challenge other Xbox LIVE members to a match.
* New message chess system: Start a game without any time limit, and play the game at your leisure over the course of days or even weeks.
* Chess puzzles and chess variations: Puzzle over a series of classic challenges such as "find the fork" or "mate in one," and experience new ways of playing chess including Dark Chess, Losing Chess, Extinction Chess, and Progressive Chess.
* Customizable environments: Choose from six 3-D chess sets and three traditional sets, each with their own distinct sound effects, piece and board design.
* Interact with opponents: Video options allow you to see your challenger during the course of the game.
tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 30 January 2008
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: chessmaster live, rez hd, weekly xbla update, xbox 360
I'm glad they kept that feature, but honestly the PS2 Trance Vibrator is just a much better shape than the controller for being inserted somewhere.
Like under the cushions of the couch.
...or between them.