XBLIG Update: The Cherry Picked Edition

It’s official, XBLIG developers don’t want me to ever stay caught up on these updates. I think something like 25 games have come out since my last update. Needless to say you wont see that many below. I decided to instead cherry pick the ones I liked best and put them together in a single update and forget the rest exist. Sorry! The reality is, there are a ton of very good games on the list today, so get your points cards ready. The descriptions of the games below are authored by the games’ respective developers, our commentary is in bold.

Avatar Racedrome
	Take your avatar for a rollercoaster drive at the Racedrome! Battle it out on 16 twisty tracks with fierce computer opponents, or online over Xbox LIVE. Includes a rewind feature so you can retry those risky maneuvers. Developer: Juan Alberto Munoz Price: 80 Microsoft Points As you know, I have instant dislike for all things avatar related. I make an exception in this case because Avatar Racedrome is filled with some good old fashioned arcade style racing that actually doesn’t suck.

Bloom＊Block
	Let’s bloom flower with Popo! This is a greening 3d puzzle. Rules are simple. The game is cleared if flowers can blossom in the faces of all blocks. It is a failure when stepping on the same face twice. When it is a little action frequency, it is a high score. Let’s play BloomBlock! Developer:* DoeraiGames Price: 240 Microsoft Points A cute and unique puzzle game worth taking a look at.

Rock4U
	Eat all gems to get to the next level. Puzzle your way through by sliding blocks and other obstacles. Use the magic apples to approach the level literally from a different angle. Kill annoying bugs by dropping blocks on them before they catch you. – classic game with modern look & feel – simple game play – dazzling graphics – fantastic music & sound effects – high scores Developer: TrackThisOut Price: 80 Microsoft Points This puzzle game incorporates a good deal of mechanics you’ve seen in other games into a pretty complex little package. The learning curve and brain tantalization levels seem appropriately high.

LOL LOL Kitty Commando
	In 1993 a group of Satanic Estate Agents bought up property in key areas of the world to act as a demonic staging area and gateway to the depths of hell, summoning forth unspeakable evil. LOL LOL Kitty, a weaponized house cat and government black project is deployed by the US Military in order to take out the trash. Developer: PhoenixSS Price: 240 Microsoft Points This game is disastrously difficult but makes the list for its hilarity. The controls seem to be in desperate need of a tune up, so maybe demo it and see what you think.

Zombie Estate
	Survive 25 waves of zombies in this retro-3D shooter! 30 characters to choose from, over 20 weapons at your disposal, and thousands of zombies to kill! Play with up to 4 players in this action-packed adventure! Can you survive in Zombie Estate!? Developer: JeremyVerchick48 Price: 80 Microsoft Points People, you have no idea how close I was to being done with zombie themed games. I mean, I thought they were beaten to death, I still do really, but Zombie Estate gets a reprieve for being “WTF AWESOME.”

Ranger
	Take control of the deadliest ranger the elven race has ever known. Use magic arrows and summon dragons to bring down waves of enemies you never thought possible. There are several modes of play for both novice and experienced players. Developer: Silver Dollar Games 2 Price: 80 Microsoft Points Holy shit people, I thought Silver Dollar Games had forgotten how to make games. But here they are throwing out a perfectly acceptable game that actually has merit. The game does seem to have a learning curve to it, but for the most part has some really enjoyable “f yeah!” moments.

Avatar Ninja
	NINJA POWER! Prove your skills as a shadow warrior by beating other trainees in the ancient ninja training course! Races on top of water, killer traps, shurikens… Will your reflexes be up to the task? Developer: Milkstone Studios Price: 80 Microsoft Points I included this one because it was made by Milkstone, who are responsible for both MotorHEAT and Wool, both of which kicked ass. This one’s level of ass kickery is subdued by the lack of a tutorial or explanation of gameplay. Which is to say, I don’t know what I’m doing in it well enough to know if its any good.

JoyJoy
	Experience the fluid and intensely satisfying action of radiangames JoyJoy, the happy twin-stick shooter. This is the first game in the radiangames series. radiangames JoyJoy was the #1 US-ranked game in the 2010 Dream.Build.Play competition. Developer: radiangames Price: 80 Microsoft Points This game is just pure delight to play. I’ll have a full review of the game up eventually, that is if I can ever manage to pry myself away from playing it long enough to write one. Seriously, it’s my new favorite XBLIG twin-stick shooter.

Paipa
	It is the year 1866. The Queen has sent the interplanetary steamer HMS Victoria to claim Mars in the name of the British Empire. You are an engineer responsible for the pressure release valves on deck 43. To release water pressure you have to connect the valves on both sides of the console by rotating pipes and working with tools. Developer: Papercut Price: 80 Microsoft Points This one is basically the mini-game from Bioshock fully fleshed out into a solid puzzle game. It incorporates concepts from the standard block drop into it as well. I can’t help but think this thing would be fantastic on the iPad.

Gerbil Physics 2
	Our gerbil friends are back and they are more foolhardy then ever! Help them learn the impact of ropes, slingshots, bombs, disintegrators and machine guns on their slight furry forms. Venture into heaven, hell and several places in between exploring 40 new levels, mini-games, and dastardly puzzles. Gerbil Physics 2 is the most fun you can have with gerbils whilst still being borderline legal. Developer: Beringela Price: 80 Microsoft Points Cute, funny, and smart; if you are looking for a solid physics based puzzle game this one is worth checking out.