Yay!

Apple Jack - 80 MS points. It looks like there's a new top platformer on the Xbox 360. Apple Jack is a platformer starring a boy with an apple for a head as he chucks enemies across the game's 100 levels Mario 2 style. There's something oddly satisfying about throwing a panda at a dishwasher, and watching as they explode into a shower of coins. And then if you throw enemies into each other in succession you can build up a combo to rain even more coins everywhere. The controls are as solid as you can get, the character sprites utterly charming, and the combo system reaches dangerous levels of addiction. As you progress, the levels open up into more puzzle elements, forcing you to only throw enemies at others of the same color, or to ride atop some enemies to reach new areas, keeping the gameplay variety high throughout the long adventure. Did I mention that there are 100 levels? Yeah, we're definitely getting way more bang for our buck than we have any right to. If you miss the days of mascot platformers, or just 2D platformers in general, then download Apple Jack. If you think animals like owls and pandas are adorable, then download Apple Jack. If you enjoy happiness, then download Apple Jack. Maybe I'm going a little overboard, but you definitely owe it to yourself to at least give Apple Jack a try, you won't be disappointed.

Amoeba Generator - 240 MS points. Amoeba Generator puts you in control of an amoeba with the simple premise of "bigger things eat smaller things." Well, that's not the only premise of the game, as it also branches into minigames at key points to break up the gameplay into a side-scroller, colonial defense game, and others. But the game ultimately revolves around making your amoeba bigger and stronger through absorbing particles and other amoeba in the environment. Your amoeba is also immune to poisonous particles that are floating around, which can be fired at other amoeba to shrink them for consumption. There's a lot to see and do in Amoeba Generator, and more importantly, it's all worth seeing and doing.

Ay?

Kubrik 3D - 80 MS points. The idea of 3D Tetris has always been appealing to me, so Kubrik 3D automatically drew my attention on premise alone. Instead of Tetris pieces though, Kubrik 3D has a variety ranging from single blocks to four-block T-shaped pieces. Rotating pieces in 3D is easy enough, and you can rotate the pit so that you can get a better viewing angle for placing blocks. Other than that, typical Tetris rules apply: clear a row (in this case, an entire level of the tower) to score more points and increase the level. Unlike Tetris, I'm not sure this one's for everybody, but it's at least worth checking out if you find the idea of 3D Tetris as intriguing as I did.

Mind's Eye of Jupiter - 02 - 240 MS points. You can be forgiven if you forgot about Mind's Eye of Jupiter, since it's been almost a year since episode 1 hit the indie game marketplace. Like the first, it plays as a first-person adventure game, with options to interact, look, and talk to context relevant objects and people you come across. This one continues from where the last one left off, though I can't say it drew me in as much as the first one. But if you played the first episode way back when, or downloaded it more recently thanks to a price drop, then it's worth checking out the second chapter to see how the story progresses.

Rock a Block - 80 MS points. This is one of the strangest racing games I've seen yet. You and an opponent control cubes bouncing along roller-coaster like courses. You can only progress along the course though when the colored side of your cube matches the color of the track. So instead of holding an acceleration button, you need to constantly flip sides using the left and right bumpers to keep your cube bouncing along the course. It definitely takes an adjustment, but I found it pretty fun one I got the hang of it. There are plenty of courses and cubes to choose from, each with their own strengths and quirks, which are gradually unlocked as you play. If you're willing to take a chance on a completely unique competitive experience, then give Rock a Block a download.

Solar Hoops - 80 MS points. Solar Hoops is the exact opposite of Peggle. You still drop a ball that bounces off of pegs trying to land in a goal, but instead of destroying the pegs you are placing them. It's more of a puzzle game than the addictive casual experience of Peggle, with set locations where pegs could go and your task to place them properly to land a ball in the static basket.

Plasma Spheres 2 - 80 MS points. Plasma Spheres 2 is the definition of an "Ay?" game. It has solid mechanics. You shoot enemy balls with ricocheting bullets to clear the level for a new wave of enemies. You also have a grappling hook at your disposal to latch onto specific points in the environment or enemies, which can help you move faster to higher points in the level. But at the same time, there is something about the game that prevents me from becoming truly hooked into it. The presentation is somewhat lacking in polish, but that can be forgiven. I suppose it comes down to a lack of personality in the game. Once you start playing Plasma Spheres 2 you'll be having fun blasting spheres to oblivion, but it lacks that oomph to make you come back to it time and time again. Maybe I've just played too many of these games and am getting picky, so I'd still recommend trying it for yourself, but I just haven't been motivated to come back for a second or third round after playing it once.

Classic Baker's Dozen - 80 MS points. This is a version of Solitaire that I had never played before, so the game deserves credit for being able to teach a new card game. I'd still say I prefer Klondike solitaire, and using a real deck of cards, but it's well made so those in the mood for some baker's dozen should take note.

Nay :(

A Game of Hockey - 80 MS points. It's pong, but with two paddles to control instead of just one. At least the music is kind of catchy.

Avatar Paintball - 240 MS points. Who wants to play a third person shooter with terribly inaccurate weapons and no way to tell where your player is aiming? Yeah, me neither.

Penkin Ball Dodge - 80 MS points. Balls fall from the sky and you control a poorly drawn penguin as you try to dodge them. There's also a mode with two smaller penguins you need to protect from the balls, but this isn't much more fun.

Avatars Skate - Old Spice - 80 MS points. Yet another poorly made Avatar game created in the name of deodorant. This one is a skating racing game, though it seems like it's only a skating game because the developer(s) didn't want to bother with programming accurate controls and just went with a floaty physics instead.

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