Xbox Live Summer of Arcade Recap

[Don't Poke My Bobcat]

How come Scott Pilgrim vs. The World wasn't in this list? That has got to be one of the best downloadable games I've played in a while.

Its a licensed game. You'd have trademark/copyright issues if using another license to promote your own item (this case the SOA).

It is also the only reason it was a "timed exclusive" for the PS3, simply because XBox love their meaningless Summer of Arcade.

But agreed Scott Pilgrim (and Shank) gameplay wise are much better candidates than Hydro and Monday Night Combat for example. Games that will be dead very quickly indeed.

I see the appeal of the other games, but aside from Limbo I'm not considering getting any of them.

Arcade games are now just becoming "Retail Lite" which I feel belittles the original point of the installation, and why I'm slowly becoming put off by newer titles and looking back at older ones.

The problem with being "Retail Lite" is that you generally get compared to full retail and a retail game that does what you're trying to do can usually do it better. For the same price after two months generally.

 

[Doclector]

Monday night combat:

Amazing, if sometimes infuriating, multiplayer which perfectly mixes strategy with simple shooting skill, and an intense co op mode. Sure, it's stolen alot from TF2, but it's also vastly different, and hey, valve, this is what you get when you don't look after your console ports properly.

I actually don't think it took very much from TF2 at all. The only thing they have in common really is the style, and even that's unique. This is more like DotA from Warcraft three, but in TPS mode, and actually fun. Remember, TF2 wasn't the first one to introduce class play into games, and they won't be the last. Although I will admit that the Support's heal/hurt gun is a total rip off of TF2.

Well, I did say it is vastly different as well...and TBH I just really wanted an excuse to unleash that valve gag. >_>

 

[Swifteye]

How come Scott Pilgrim vs. The World wasn't in this list? That has got to be one of the best downloadable games I've played in a while.

Well it being a video game movie cash in and one that doesn't have online co-op probably brought it down. Also it being a beat em up and besides being scott pilgrim isn't really that much of a standout.

I'm going to get hyrdo thunder myself. I still have been meaning to add a racing game to my list and hydro games have never let me down before.

 

[migo]

Are they still doing the deal where you'll get 400 points if you buy 3 games, or did that expire?

It's rather weak either way since you need to spend 3600 points to get it. None of the games really strike me as being worth more than 800 anyway, so I'd still feel pretty ripped off.

 

[Vilcus]

Monday night combat:

Amazing, if sometimes infuriating, multiplayer which perfectly mixes strategy with simple shooting skill, and an intense co op mode. Sure, it's stolen alot from TF2, but it's also vastly different, and hey, valve, this is what you get when you don't look after your console ports properly.

I actually don't think it took very much from TF2 at all. The only thing they have in common really is the style, and even that's unique. This is more like DotA from Warcraft three, but in TPS mode, and actually fun. Remember, TF2 wasn't the first one to introduce class play into games, and they won't be the last. Although I will admit that the Support's heal/hurt gun is a total rip off of TF2.

Well, I did say it is vastly different as well...and TBH I just really wanted an excuse to unleash that valve gag. >_>

You also said it stole a lot from TF2, afterwards you said it was vastly different. Those two seem to contradict eachother. Don't worry, I'm not mad, as I love both games (don't own TF2, but a friend of mine let me try it on his PC, and I love it).

Also, wanting to use the Valve gag makes everything ok.

 

[AvsJoe]

If I had the BOX and the scratch, I would definitely go for Limbo and Lara plus either Monday or Vania. Probably Vania. But I don't have the scratchBOX so I will not be taking advantage of the great quality at low low prices.

 

[kristiankramer]

Tried Limbo. It's okay, but apart from the nice graphics it's just a puzzle game. No depth or story whatsoever. A tad overrated.

Lara Croft: tried the demo. Normally I do not like these kind of games, but it was really fun! May even buy it.

The others: meh.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Are they still doing the deal where you'll get 400 points if you buy 3 games, or did that expire?

It's rather weak either way since you need to spend 3600 points to get it. None of the games really strike me as being worth more than 800 anyway, so I'd still feel pretty ripped off.

The deals are really only good if you were going to get the games anyway, or thought two were super but one was just kiiiiind of interesting. I don't really think I'd recommend that people get all five unless they're simply rolling in extra cash, but there are definitely three solid games in this group. (My personal recommendations would be Limbo, Lara, and then Hydro Thunder, but I'm a complete sucker for the Hydro series. Your mileage may vary.)

 

[InvisibleMan]

Are they still doing the deal where you'll get 400 points if you buy 3 games, or did that expire?

It's rather weak either way since you need to spend 3600 points to get it. None of the games really strike me as being worth more than 800 anyway, so I'd still feel pretty ripped off.

The deals are really only good if you were going to get the games anyway, or thought two were super but one was just kiiiiind of interesting. I don't really think I'd recommend that people get all five unless they're simply rolling in extra cash, but there are definitely three solid games in this group. (My personal recommendations would be Limbo, Lara, and then Hydro Thunder, but I'm a complete sucker for the Hydro series. Your mileage may vary.)

I feel exactly the same way... Limbo, Lara Croft, and Hydro Thunder are the top three contenders in that collection. With the 400 point rebate, you end up getting all three for 3200 points. Not a bad deal, in my opinion!