Weekly Xbox Indies - 4/8/10
I've been dreading this week on the Xbox indie games channel for a while now. You see, Old Spice is sponsoring it's own Dream Build Play competition this year (thankfully there's still a regular Dream Build Play competition too), and that means a deluge of ad-games full of Old Spice product placement. And not one of them features even one hot shirtless guy. How can you advertise deodorant without letting some guys take their shirts off? I say all of the games should all be disqualified based on that fact alone. Then again, most of the Old Spice games aren't very good, so I don't suppose Old Spice can afford to be picky about entrants.
Aside from things that are old and not so spicy, there is a small selection of good games this week for the little indie service that could. There's a touch of space colonization that would make Einstein's theories proud and an addictive new take on the music game genre. There's even and piece of educational software that might help you learn Japanese so you can play import games. Check out all of this week's games and reviews after the break.
Yay
Relativity - 240 MS points. Relativity does a nice job of straddling the line between being a space colonization game and an RTS. Building and upgrading your colonies and ships is done through a simple, clean interface, which then leads to flying off in one of your new ships to terraform other planets and build new colonies. This style of game is already scarce on the 360, and would be worth a look anyway even if that was all that the game had to offer. But what Relativity really adds to the gameplay is physics. No, not the typical videogame "stack boxes in entertaining ways" physics, we're talking about E=MC² time-and-space-bending physics. To help illustrate the physics in play, the game is displayed on a grid format with planets and other high gravity objects creating a sunken depression in the grid. As your colonies build up you can develop technologies like light-speed travel and massive bombs which have a really slick rippling effect on the grid that can even go so far as to knock enemy ships into planets and even knock planets out of orbit. If you're looking for something along the lines of Civilization with more of an action focus and a unique take on physics, then Relativity will last you a long time.
Tunescape - 80 MS points. Tunescape is a very difficult game to describe and convey just how much fun it is. Shapes fly across the screen in time and tune with original musical tracks, and you collect those shapes to get a high score. The shapes come in blue, green, and yellow varieties, each of which powers up special abilities like a speed boost, shield, and gravity effect that pulls all shapes toward you momentarily. There are also score multiplying orange stars to collect, and evil red enemies that make you drop lose stars if you're hit. Maybe that sounds exciting to some of you, but I honestly wasn't expecting much going into the game. And now I can't stop playing. The music is very well done, and gives each level it's own unique personality. And as you replay the levels you begin to recognize the songs more and more, so that you know when the music will pick up and spew out more point multipliers. Oh, and did I mention that you can also use your own music stored on your 360's hard drive? The only CD I have loaded on my 360 is the Persona 3 soundtrack, and it worked gorgeously with the game changing patterns to fit each unique beat. You can play Tunescape as a zoning out type of game, and just let the music play as you play. But for high score addicts, Tunescape has all the trappings that will keep you coming back for one more song to beat your previous best.
Ay?
Project Delta - 240 MS points. Project Delta is a space shooter with some light RPG and customization options. As you earn cash you can buy upgrades for your ship and weapons, which in turn lets you pirate bigger enemies or collect more cargo to turn into more cash. The game starts out very slow, with your ship barely able to take a few hits before getting a game over screen, but after a decent amount of asteroid mining you should be able to afford weapons and shields to stand up to the opposition. But be careful, because the enemy AI is very aggressive. It seems like just one stray bullet hitting an enemy will set all ships in the general vicinity into a frenzy, so it's best to hone your twin-stick shooter skills before trying to take on too many enemy ships.
Let's Learn Japanese: Beginner - 80 MS points. I've always wanted to learn Japanese, and though I took some classes in the language a few years ago, not much has stuck. So I was excited when I saw Let's Learn Japanese and thought it might be a good second chance at learning the language. If you're currently a student and taking early Japanese classes, then I can heartily recommend Let's Learn Japanese as a great study companion, featuring flash cards and quizzes for Hirigana, Katakana, and over 2000 Kanji. But if you're leaning the language fresh, you may want to look elsewhere. Having 2000 Kanji is impressive, but with no pronunciation guide all this will help you do is read the language, somewhat, and not actually speak it.
Newton Vs The Horde - 240 MS points. Unsurprisingly, the best of the Old Spice ad-games is the only one that doesn't include the words "Old" or "Spice" in the title. Newton Vs The Horde is a physics based defense game, where zombies make their way across trap-laden levels, and it's your job to trigger the traps or plant new ones to stop the undead in their tracks. The Old Spice presence is quite noticeable and irritating, but I will give the developers credit for creating what is actually a pretty good game if you strip away the product placement.
Nay
Xstronauta - 80 MS points.
A Game For Alexander - 80 MS points. At the very least, check out the official trailer for the game.
Old Spice Racers - 240 MS points.
House of Spice - 80 MS points.
Tripple - 240 MS points.
Zombie Square - 80 MS points.
Old Space - 80 MS points.
Old Spice: Fresh Card Game - 240 MS points.
Playing With Humans - 80 MS points.
Truth or Treason - 80 MS points.
Updated Games
yOm_fury
Soulcaster
Missile Escape
Catch22
Exisled
I downloaded and tried all the old spice games...and bought the racing game. It's a great update to the nintendo game uniracer. And at $3 I can play with my brothers in Connecticut since it's the only one with online support.
Also, there appears to be a gay character - a big gorilla with lipstick and daisy dukes. And, while very, VERY hairy he IS shirtless. Not my type at all, but all that fur does appeal to some...
The card game doesn't make much sense since anyone you play with is in the room with you and can see your hand...and the physics game needs better on-screen instructions. The shooting game is okay, but got monotonous very quickly, particularly since you can only play alone.
Thanks for the site! I love it!
Old Spice Racers was a tough call, and almost up in the maybe category. Ultimately I decided not to recommend it because races in the game have fairly ridiculous requirements, like 7 monotonous laps through very simple courses. Maybe I should get back in the habit of writing some explanation for the "Nay" games. I just hate crapping all over people's games and the things I would say about some of them makes it much more merciful to just say nothing at all.
Maybe you had to love uniracers to get the game. I think it would be fun on the iPad...but I can understand it might not appeal to some.
Good call putting Relativity as your first review 'cause there is something really special about that game.
Tunescape surprised the heack out of me too. The only tracks I have stored on my HDD are intergalactic Planatery by the Beasty Boys (very appropriate) and my girlfriends AQUA album... (Oh don't be like that. I saw you miming along with Barbie Girl)