I want to kick this Sunday edition of the XBLIG Update by saying “Thank you” to the guys, whoever they are, that thought it would be cool to drop seven games in one day onto the XBox LIVE Indie Games Marketplace. We’ve been pretty streaky lately and to be honest I don’t like playing seven demo’s in a day — especially when not one, not two, but three of them are avatar related. Really I think I’m just coming down off my Breath of Death VII high, man what a great game that was. Before we go too far off on that tangent, let’s cover the ground rules; the descriptions of the following games are those of their respective developers, my crude and often callous commentary is in bold.
Singularity |
|
 |
Your ship is trapped in orbit around a black hole. Adjust your orbit and fire torpedoes to defend yourself and your mothership against destruction from approaching asteroids. You can’t escape… but how long can you survive?
Developer: Philip C Price: 80 Microsoft Points Almost interesting twin stick’ish game that envolves dancing around a black hole like object while doing some wickid calculus in your head to shoot objects in motion while accounting for the gravitational pull. Seems like a great concept but needed more. |
Slice & Dice Zombie Bunnies |
|
 |
An evil dude has unleashed the Zombie Bunnies and now you, HomeSlice, have to send them packing. Slice and Shoot the Zombie Bunnies with high scores, unique game look, and play style. Check it out now!
Developer: SolusG Price: 80 Microsoft Points I actually enjoyed this one! Shocking, I know! Mostly shocking because I imediately have dislike for anything that uses avatar models. I don’t really know why I have such contempt for them, possibly because I think they ultimately look fucking retarded on their own. But I digress, the game is like Dynasty Warrior only with waves of rabits, sort of. Well, I guess mostly in that you just mash buttons to swing a huge sword, but then you shoot sometimes too so I suppose the comparison falls apart quickly. Moving on.. |
Pop Dog |
|
 |
PopDog is a 2D scroller game where you try to pop all of the bubbles before time runs out. Made for the Old Spice Dream Build Play Challenge.
Developer: Cute Cat Games Price: 240 Microsoft Points Okay, so it’s a dog(+1) that pops bubbles(+0) that kind of look like crap(-1) on sceneries that kind of look like cra(-1) made by a developer that includes the words “Cute Cats” (+2) that is part of the Old Spice challenge (-2) that makes me pay to play ads(-4). For those of you keeping score thats -somebignumber. |
Space Maze |
|
 |
Guide the ball to the end of the level choosing the correct path. Be sure to avoid enemy balls and portals and collect as many stars as possible. Level selection screen allows you to keep track of level progress by showing the number of stars collected, the number of moves used and the time taken to complete the level. Use this to challenge yourself and acheive the best completion time possible.
Developer: Mouse88 Price: 80 Microsoft Points It’s like Don’t Save the Princes except it’s less clever and not as free. |
Avatar Hamster Panic |
|
 |
Race for the golden shake as you laser, shock, shrink, and crush your friends in this frantic multi-player spin-off of the classic game, Fall Down Forever.
Developer: yxrkt Price: 80 Microsoft Points Okay, you’re in a hamster ball, you’re likely drunk, and you’re with your homies. If these three planets have aligned appropriately, you may enjoy this game. Being the overly critical game otaku that I am, I have no homies, so I really can’t confirm this. I am, however, amused that it is literally a race to the bottom. |
Decay |
|
 |
In this thriller/adventure game you will enter a world between life and death. Behind every corner you will find out more about the complex and dark story that lies behind.
Developer: Shining Gate Software Price: 240 Microsoft Points A point and click adventure game that appears to explore the dilapidated world of a suicidal man. Now, obviously these are guesses at best, since all I played was the trial. Now to go ahead and date myself, it’s like The 7th Guest or The 11th Hour, or well any of those spooky point and click adventure/puzzle games from the 1990′s. |
Super Avatar Hero Force |
|
 |
Become a Hero. Rescue Kittens. Fight Zombie Avatars and Giant Robots. Save the City.
Developer: UberGeekGames LLC Price: 80 Microsoft Points I always feel like there is a direct correlation between how many opportunities it gives you to accidentally get to the buy screen by mashing the A button and how lame a game is. I think I counted three opportunities for this to occur in this game? Maybe? Anyways, the game leaves you stationary and lets enemies run at you while you kick and punch them in traditional comic book hero style. To be honest it’s like a jazzed up version of the shit salvation minigame from Dante’s Inferno. |
Juggler |
|
 |
In a post-apocalyptic future, the only way to save the world is by hitting balls with a paddle. Keep balls alive as long as you can to get the highest score and maybe a pony.
Developer: Dagrabbit Price: 80 Microsoft Points Okay listen, it’s like a block breaker, without the blocks, and with extra balls. Which is to say it’s a little lame, however the hilarious “story” given to you in a Star Wars like opening text thinger gets at least a hand full of funny points, too bad you can’t buy Microsoft Points with them. |