Shoot 1up

Following on from Decimation X it's another Indie Shmup on XBLA. "Shoot 1Up is a vertical scrolling shoot 'em up for everyone." And the developer does mean everyone! Put it on easy and you can joyously waltz your way to the end of game boss seen in the image atop this blog entry. Your eyes do not deceive you. The end of game baddie really is a chick with metal breasts that fire homing rockets in your general direction whilst wearing a smile. If that's too easy then there's more challenge from the Normal setting and if you prefer something more like bullet hell then there's a Serious setting just for you.

Straight into the action and you'll discover that your ship's main weapon is a rapid fire laser. A laser that you can't upgrade. In fact there aren't any weapon upgrades as such. There's something a little different at work here. The trick is to acquire extra lives as you progress! Now that might not sound like the ground breaking game mechanic you were looking for but the difference here is that as soon as you get an extra ship it immediately joins the ones you already have in the battle adding to your on-screen potency. Once you have more than one ship you then have the choice of deploying the extra ships around your central ship to give you a wider and more powerful spread of fire power or being extremely compact so as to sneak through congested areas. It's a nice mechanic that gives a decent level of strategy.

Shoot 1up is an excellent indie game. There are XBLA titles that would be too embarrassed to be seen out with Shoot 1Up on a Saturday evening without an hour or two of cosmetic surgery before hand.

Shoot 1up is another 80 MS point bargain that should not be missed.

Decimation X

Appearances aren't always what they seem and while it might appear to be just another Space Invaders clone Decimation X has character all of it's own.

The most important distinction is that the enemy firepower has been ramped up to truly intense levels and the player or players are issued with an assortment of power ups to even things up.

Once you've collected a few of these power ups the screen becomes awash with player bullets and it's a delight to behold. This might initially sound easy, but factor in defensive shields that don't regenerate between stages and you have a new problem to tackle. Thankfully there are collectables to manage this cover destroying curse but strategies will have to be worked out if you're to defend yourself and reach respectable scores.

Don't be put off by the apparent simplicity as there's a degree of subtlety to be found here. Decimation X is an enjoyable shmup and the perfect game to have a quick play to see if you can beat your previous high score. Apparently online leader boards are on the way. Until then the cock waving will have to wait. Oh and this is only 80MS points. That's 69p in real money. The price of a Mars bar or a packet of Polos if you live in London or the outer Hebrides.

Lode Runner Increases in Price

Lode Runner was released on the XBLA yesterday and if you were quick you'd have been able to pick it up for 800 points.

Apparently this was a mistake by Microsoft and today it's gone up to 1200. Also gone is a possible purchase from me and many others by the looks of it...

Link

Priceless... that's the GAMEOV3R Forum

You Sank My Battleship!

I've just seen what's new on the Xbox LIVE Arcade today and I'm deeply disappointed. Why? What's got you so worked up I hear you ask... actually I think these are just the voices in my head but that's probably for another time. It's not so much what's available today it's a pricing issue. Lately XBLA games seem to have been creeping up in price and often I haven't purchased a title purely because I feel it's too expensive. Now I'm not against games coming out at 1200 points or even more if they're offering something that's worth it, which brings me back to today and the arrival of Hasbro Family Game Night. Download the game room for free and then add in the games you actually want for Microsoft points. Perfect, why pay for five games in a pack if you only want to play one? So how many points? Go on have a guess... no really go on, it'll be fun... 400? Try doubling it. Yes 800 each! For Connect 4 or Yahtzee or Battleships?! Scrabble is only available in the US and Canada apparently. Who on earth thought that was reasonable? I mean the price, not that we can't get our Scrabble fix here in the UK.

Looking on Amazon.co.uk I see the game came out in November for the Nintendo Wii containing five games, adding Sorry and Boggle to the list above and now selling for £17.99 (which you could then trade in should you wish). If those five games were all available on the XBLA it would set you back £33.75! Makes the mind Boggle doesn't it? Let me think now... I've got 800 points and the choice is Rez HD or Connect 4, a choice I could make in my sleep! So come on now own up, was this your idea EA? Just admit it so I can lay off the exclamation marks! Bugger, there goes another...

Incidentally did anyone spot the women washing up in the background on the 50's game box while the men play?

C - 4, K - 9, C - 5, it's a hit! on the GAMEOV3R Forum

Space Invaders 'Even More' Extreme

Space Invaders Extreme on the DS and PSP has been one of my most played hand held games for a while now, and has featured here on the blog before. It really is a great update of a classic and I just discovered there is going to be a version released for the XBLA!

It'll be getting an HD makeover plus Jeff Minter will be doing the visualizers for it. It's also set to feature up to 4 player co-op and versus modes. Co-op allows players to take on the Arcade Mode with more challenging enemies but with a shared life pool. Whether this will be online or not is unclear at the moment and unfortunately we have to wait until 2009.

Join the GAMEOV3R FORUM

Xbox LIVE Summer of Arcade

It's been quite a while since I purchased an Xbox LIVE Arcade title. There was a time I'd quite look forward to seeing what games would come out each Wednesday and try out the demo. A string of disappointing releases has gradually worn that away. They haven't all been awful, just a lot of very average games and I have more than enough games to not need average ones. This looks like it could all be set to change starting today with Geometry Wars 2 and the Xbox LIVE Summer of arcade.

By playing either the demos or full versions of the games below between the dates specified you'll also get entered into a sweepstake where you could win Microsoft points, an Elite console or a Gold subscription to LIVE. You can find all of the details here.

July 30 – August 5

The latest version of this great retro shooter.

August 6 – August 12

A mind-bending and artistic puzzle-platformer in which you manipulate the flow of time in strange and unusual ways... as opposed to completely normal and common ways.

August 13 – August 19

The classic eight-bit side-scroller reports back for duty in this HD remake.

August 20 – August 26

A reimagining of the classic arcade shooter created by the team behind the bestselling “PAC-MAN Championship Edition”

August 27 – September 2

An adventure featuring hand-drawn characters and an array of weapons to choose from as you defend your kingdom.

Check out the GAMEOV3R Forum

Assault Heroes - Why didn't I play this earlier??

I'd played the Assault Heroes demo way back when it was released and enjoyed it until I found myself face to face with a mechanical spider about halfway through the first level. I could not beat this metallic arachnid beast down, no matter how I tried. Consequently I didn't download the full version even though Lee raved about the game.

Last week, finding myself unusually stuck for a game to play, I decided to download the Assault Wars demo again. This time though I had a quick read of the control information. Ahh, so there are weapons you can cycle through and you can get out of your vehicle and your vehicle regenerates! Arachnid beast? What arachnid beast!? Some well place shots and this eight legged mechanical hell spawn was crawling back into it's hole wishing it had never been born. Or perhaps wishing I'd never been born.

I unlocked the full version and spent the next few days playing whenever I had the chance. It is a whirlwind of a game that doesn't ease off at all. If you've ever played classic Ikari Warriors or Commando then you'll feel at home with Assault Heroes. Assault Heroes takes these games, improves every aspect but retains a retro feel. It never once forgets challenge and the fun.

The enemies range from the weak, to the tough, to the insane, to the almost unstoppable. The stages take place on both land and water and you have the choice of driving or walking and, in the water, using a speed boat or a jet ski. There are machine guns, heavy canon, flamethrower, grenades and nukes all for your selection. These choices give you a varied range of tactical choices adding to appeal and longevity.

The sound is acceptable and I thought the graphics for an older XBLA game were of a very high standard. Sure there are rough edges but overall it looks rich and colourful. The water alone, lapping at the shore of stage one, is quite mesmerising. There are weather effects, day turns to night and the vehicles and animations are very convincing.

Four underground zones challenge you to get to the end without dying. Fail and you're kicked back up to the surface. No extra life and no achievement for you! Completing all four under ground zones in one game rewards you with Gamer Points though I forget how many. 20 maybe? It's something I've not managed yet. You even get a co-op mode. This game is full to the brim.

Full but short. Once you get the hang of it one and a half hours should see you through from start to finish but you'll have a blast the whole way through and considering this now costs 400 MS Points in the Classic XBLA Selection you should not ignore this game.

For more up to the minute gaming with Gameov3r check out the Forum. We always have our finger on the video gaming pulse. Though it's sometimes a bit difficult for Gameov3r's members to locate their own pulse. It's an age thing.

We don't do this for a living. We do it for fun!

Be careful what you wish for

This was one of those rare, very rare in fact, occasions when a game that I've wanted to see remade for a long, long time is suddenly released. Perhaps someone, somewhere was listening to me.

I logged onto XBL the other day and my eyes were immediately drawn to the advert in the corner of the screen. The Atari coin-op classic Warlords was available for immediate download. I was more struck with disbelief and suspicion than excitement. Is that REALLY Warlords? It's can't be any good. Can it?

I downloaded the demo and plunged straight into the new HD remake. Wow it certainly look up to date and yet it's still instantly recognisable as Warlords. The gameplay is faithful to the coin-op original and works well usung the 360 pad. Playing this with 4 friends could be a lot of fun but I have reservations and seeing as the demo doesn't allow multiplayer...... The playing arena feels too enclosed, almost claustrophobic. While the gameplay is faithful it feels dated. I'm not going to get into a huge review here because my views are based solely on the demo but the over riding feeling for me was that it could have been so much better. I can't help but think that Atari haven't spent a lot of time thinking about this or spent much cash on it.

As with other Atari remakes the original is included and a quick go reveals that it hasn't aged particularly well. The gameplay is tough and completely unforgiving. It's far tougher than I remember too! I think I must've become to accustomed to softly, softly modern games like GTAIV. I used to be ok at Warlords but now I find it as hard as trying to thread a needle after an evil and wicked witch has turned my hands into pigs trotters.

Maybe this is all a bit harsh after all it is only 400MS points. I just can't help but think that I'd play this for 30 minutes and never touch it again. As I said my views are based only on the demo and perhaps the full version would change my mind. The problem is that the demo doesn't make me want to download the full version.

It's always disappointing when a retro classic gets released and it fails to satisfy. It's worse still when it's a game I really wanted to see re-released. I'm going to be careful which games I wish to see re-released in future.

If you could have one game remade on any current generation machines what would it be? Be careful what you wish for though, it might just come true! Gameov3r FORUM time.

What's In A Name?

Puzzle Quest turned out to be a bit of a surprise hit on both the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP and then later on the Xbox LIVE Arcade and PC. Using a Bejeweled style puzzle game for the battles in an RPG proved to be an addictive combination, rather than the horrible clash of genres it could quite easily have been.

Anyway, D3 and Infinite Interactive recently ran a little competition to name the upcoming expansion pack coming to the XBLA very soon. Unfortunately I missed this as the closing date was 31st March. I therefore apologise that I was unable to prevent the winner from...errr...winning. So now you're all dying to know what won I won't keep you waiting any longer, but I forewarn you it's right up there with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as titles go (although I'm sure the pack won't be as disappointing as that movie was). Here we go then, wait for it... "Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - Revenge of the Plague Lord"... I can almost hear the stifled giggles from here. The two titles it beat to the top spot were "Sorceress of Malbec" and "The Scourge of Antharg". This game more than most could help more people cross over to RPG land but then you go and make it sound just like any other one.

I'm so gutted that my titles were never given the chance they so rightfully deserved, so I'll do the next best thing and put them up here so both the developers and any other unfortunate people reading this can see what they missed out on.

Up first is "Attack of the Magnetic Unicycle Smugglers", or maybe even "Fight of the Fantastic Forklift Overlords", possibly too many F's in that one I grant you but this last one took me ages to come up with, "Spite of the Amateur Harpoon Zombies". All of these conjure up far more excitement within me than any Plague Lord ever will and I'm sure you're all with me... hello?... Anyone?...

I'll get me coat. I'll be on the GAMEOV3R forum if you need me...

“Who [still] wants some?”

Duke Nukem Forever. Let me rephrase that. Duke Nukem is taking Forever. It’s almost 10 years since we last saw Duke tackling alien scum and his chart rival the Space Marine. Ten years too long.

Thankfully there’s an official 3DRealms trailer that’s been doing the rounds lately suggesting that Duke is well and truly on the way and will be released soon. Or soon’ish. Or something. Anyway, the trailer shows Duke lifting a bar bell, puffing on his signature cigar, while all around him alien creatures get increasingly angry. As the trailer fades to black Duke can be heard saying, “I’m looking for some alien toilet to park my bricks, who’s first?” The original Duke is well known for his cheesy one-liners and the trailer alludes to that same sense of humour. Hmm … I don’t know about you but I’m struggling to get excited by Duke Nukem Forever.

While I wait, forever, for Duke Nukem Forever it looks like 360 owners will be getting the chance to replay the original PC game Duke Nukem 3D. Scott Miller, top man over at 3D Realms, has confirmed that Duke’s seminal PC classic is coming XBLA. Apparently the discussions to get Duke a Marketplace Green Card began last August. I’m not sure if I think 3DRealms just move extremely s l o w l y or whether Duke is constipated and couldn’t force himself to use an alien as a toilet even if he wanted to. And I'm sure he does.

Duke will definitely be on our screens again sometime and it’ll probably be an XBLA appearance first. Forever really is a long time you know.

Trailer

Whoops! Sorry, wrong one!

Here’s the official trailer. Have a listen to his voice at the end of the trailer…

Is it me or does Duke’s voice sound, well, a little, erm, not quite as manly as he used to? Sounds almost like he has a kazoo lodged at the back of his throat.

It's time to kick ass, chew bubble gum and check out the Duke Nukem thread on the Gameov3r FORUM.

Rez HD XBLA Review

Finally Rez gets the second chance it absolutely deserves and also in a way that will enable more people to experience the game without feeling like they'd be risking money on a full price release. So what does this HD version bring to the table then? Well the obvious HD widescreen visuals and 5.1 surround sound, perfect just got better.

For those that are experiencing the game for the first time I'll do my best to describe it. Bare with me now this won't be easy. Essentially the game is an on rails shooter but to categorise it as such doesn't do it any justice what so ever. Rez is the greater sum of all its parts.

It all starts off in a fairly tame manner with some sparse graphics, ambient music and the shots you fire creating some sort of rhythmic sounds. As you progress through the level the things you see start to build up. You'll travel past all manner of objects made up of brilliant colours in a fascinating combination of wireframe and solids. The music begins to grow, the beat gets stronger and as it does so the controller pulses in time to it all. The further in to the level you get the more your senses are assaulted. Your eyes see these wonderfully imaginative shapes and colours, the music surrounds you and still everything you do happens exactly in sync, the controller vibrations get stronger and stronger and your little guys legs begin to kick on screen (and so will yours for that matter). It draws you in deeper and deeper and you won't want to get out any time soon.

If you like your game graphics to be more abstract than reality based you'll absolutely love this. For those in to art, the game is dedicated to the painter Kandinsky during the ending credits and if you look up some of his work you can see where some of the inspiration came from. Kandinsky claimed that he heard sound when he saw colours and when senses overlap in this manner, it is called "synaesthesia". As they said back in 2001 when this first came out "let's go to synaesthesia".

The 5th and last area in the game is the most awe-inspiring of all and I'll say no more about it for fear of spoiling it for you. You will see the final level reasonably easily too, this isn't a particularly long game but you will want to play through it again and again and there are many things to unlock such as different game modes. The thing is though you really won't care. You'll notice I've spent nearly all of this short review describing the experience, what you'll see, hear and feel rather than what you actually do and that's because Rez goes beyond gameplay and is such an amazingly well put together experience you really should be prepared to at least give it a go. I have no doubt that the game isn't for everyone but a review is supposed to be a personal opinion and my personal opinion is that you really couldn't ask anymore from the game than it gives, even more so based on the fact that it'll cost you just 800 points. That's why I'm awarding it the first ever top mark from GAMEOV3R.

Turn up the sound, dim the lights and immerse yourself in a gaming experience you won't forget.

Customer Satisfaction

Why is it that when dealing with companies today it's very rare you get a completely hassle free experience with helpful customer service? It seems even the simple act of buying a bag of crisps is fraught with problems these days as things now have to be scanned and typing in the number manually must only be considered as a last resort. I think the lady in the shop would still be frantically rubbing the packet over the glass panel in an effort to read it had I not fetched another bag to try.

The latest for me has been switching over my broadband and telephone, not to another company, just to a faster service with my phone line rental included in the price. I've been putting it off for a while thinking that if something is working DON'T mess with it! In the end though it seemed daft not to take up the offer seeing as it'll save a bit of money.

What got me thinking about this was all the Xbox LIVE problems over Christmas and unless I'm unlucky again, still continuing to this day. It seems the demand for the free XBLA game Undertow has tipped LIVE over the edge again with many people unable to download it at the moment. Of course the way my luck is I bought Undertow when it came out back in November. For people struggling you have until Sunday to get it for free. For people in my position I'm told that a call to Xbox LIVE support will result in a credit of 800 points. I fully intended to try this out today but having got through, the first thing I was asked for was my serial number. Silly me. No problem though, the lines are open until 10pm, I can phone when I get home from work. Which brings me nicely back round to the broadband and telephone upgrade.

I do indeed now have free line rental but with one catch... I can't actually make any phone calls. I guess I should be grateful really, at least my internet connection still seems to be worki.....................................................................

Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards

Cast your votes in the Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards 2007

Award categories that are open for public voting include:

* Best Overall Arcade Game
* Best Classic Game
* Best Original Game
* Best Family Friendly Game
* Best Competitive Multiplayer Game
* Best Cooperative Multiplayer Game

Cast your vote here

War!

What is it good for? Video games. Say it again! Huh! War!

I’ve been daydreaming. Happens to me all the time. It’s not usually about war nor is it usually anything that's fit to be written about on here and rarely does it culminate in a revelation and a gaming idea that someone, somewhere just has to develop and release.

Atari! Sit up and pay attention because that someone is you. The platform is XBLA and the game is Warlords.

Warlords appeared in arcades 28 years ago and a year later on the 2600. It can be described as a 4 player Breakout, last man standing, Pong hybrid type of game with the added element of being able to catch the “ball” and then launch it at your chosen target. The chosen target usually being the person currently in the lead. This added a strategic element to the game and also the ability to unfairly gang up on the player you liked least or that smelled like Gameov3r.

My daydream turned the ridiculously simple and addictive Warlords into a stunning HD environment on XBLA. Even with only these visual updates the game would be great on XBLA but add to the mix some new features, a single player adventure mode of increasing difficulty, obligatory achievements to gain a maximum of 200 Gamer Points, make it 400 MS Points and this could not fail.

There again perhaps Nintendo’s Wii Ware would be a better platform seeing as 360 owners consistently ignore XBLA classics.

What game would you resurrect from bygone eras and have remade for the latest generation machines? Head over to the GAMEOV3R FORUM and tell us. Our great leader, Gameov3r, wants the Commodore 64 game Groovy Garden remade for DS. I wonder about him sometimes. Now, if only he'd said BC's Quest for Tires.....

GripShift Review XBLA

GripShift has been available on the PSP and PS3 network for a while now but only recently made it to the XBLA. Knowing virtually nothing about it I downloaded the demo as I do with most XBLA new additions not really expecting much. I usually keep an eye on metacritic.com also as you get a great idea of whether a game is even worth doing that. As the reviews for it started to build up most of them seemed to agree on a figure around 7/10, not bad.

My first try didn't really 'grip' me. The handling didn't feel quite right and the hand brake was severe, flipping you 180 degrees with a short touch. Something made me keep coming back to it though and I did so 3 or 4 times before I actually bought it. The more you play the more the handling makes sense and eventually you become an expert at it. You can even steer, boost and hand brake turn in mid air which is absolutely necessary on the challenge levels which I'll get to in just a bit.

The game itself has several ways of being played. It plays as a kart style racer with the usual range of power ups to collect but also a hint of Wipeout due to the placement of boost to collect on your way round to keep up your top speed. The tracks themselves are more Wipeout than anything also, being suspended in mid air with huge jumps and loop the loops. Great fun, and that's before you even try the challenges. These play like a cross between a driving and a puzzle game. There are 3 times to beat on each. Firstly just getting from start to finish as fast as possible. This being a little bit of a puzzle game means that this can be achieved by missing out huge chunks of track, usually by launching yourself high into the air. Secondly there are stars to collect littered around each track. Collect them all and cross the finish line as fast as possible. Thirdly there is a GS token on each level, often hidden off the normal track so you have to work out how to reach it and then again cross the finish line. You'll need a decent time on each to do well on the score boards, but you can try as many times as you like and you only have to complete one objective on each try.

It's the number of ways to attack each one that makes it great. Sometimes it's obvious which is the quickest way and other times it requires a lot of thought plus trial and error. Could I hit the barrier at the side of track to launch me into the air and jump that huge gap? Try it! The answer is often yes. Then you look at the online leader boards and find out that people are doing the same thing 10 or 20 seconds faster than you. There must be another short cut! It's very addictive and rewarding when you discover these new ways, and each medal earns you credits to unlock new vehicles, graphics or even more music tracks.

It's one of the largest XBLA games available at nearly 150MB but it's also one of the most polished and largest in variety with 120 challenge levels, 25 race tracks and 20 death match arenas. I'm a bit ashamed to say that the number of 7/10 reviews delayed me buying this even on my third or fourth try of the demo. It made me question why I was enjoying it so much. It's not a bad score by any means but pretty average on most review scales. This game is way above average though and for 800 points (£6.80) it's one of the best value games on the XBLA at the moment and easily goes into my top 10.

Oh I nearly forgot that it does feature online racing and death match modes too which I've yet to even try. It makes its mark even without it though.

GAMEOV3R score then.....

SWOS AWOL

Today finally for hundreds of fans and months of waiting Sensible Soccer made it's way onto the Xbox LIVE Arcade. Originally set to be released on a date way back in August, it was held back due to concerns over the quality and in particular the online play.

So after all this time things should be absolutely perfect right?!... Wrong.

Although the game was available to download earlier on today it has since been pulled with the following having been posted on Major Nelsons blog.

"This game has been pulled. I’ll post an update when it is available again. In the meantime, if you downloaded this busted version, please delete it and when the new one is available you’ll be able to downloaded it again (at no charge if you purchased it.) While you do that, I’ll go yell at some folks for letting this happen. Apologies and the moment the proper version is available I’ll update this post."

After the mess up with the new video download store things appear to be going a little pear shaped down at Microsoft. If it was any other game it'd be more understandable but to still not have it right for whatever the reason doesn't exactly instill much confidence in the final version does it? Did anyone actually manage to download this earlier and find out what the problem is?

UPDATE: This version incorrectly disconnected users that attempted to connect to Xbox LIVE.

The official Microsoft announcement states that an incorrect version was made available. If that is the case I'm a bit unsure as to why it's still being worked on now.

UPDATE 2: 21.12.07 The fixed version is now available.

Pay a visit to the GAMEOV3R Forum or just leave us a comment right here

Carcassonne Free XBLA Download

All you 360 owners have until 7:59am tomorrow to download Carcassonne for free from the XBLA, or if you happen to be in Korea you'll get Hexic 2 instead. Carcassonne is actually a conversion of a board game but I have to say I wouldn't fancy having to work out all the scores at the end myself. You'll see what I mean once you play it. It's a pretty good little strategy game that doesn't take long to learn but there are many tactics to perfect. And just to make the deal even sweeter you can delight in the fact that I actually paid for my copy! Bah!

Tetris Splash Out

This Wednesday a game called Tetris Splash made it onto the XBLA. You guessed it, it's Tetris with a fishy theme. A little bit on the pricey side at 800 points (£6.80) considering the formula hasn't changed, but then if you don't have Tetris it's a decent enough version with upto 6 players in its online mode, but I have a problem...

On the day of release a whopping 14 additional chunks of content was also made available none of which extends the gameplay in any way. Want to add a fish of your choice that will swim around in the background? You gotta shell out for it. Choice of backgrounds while you play? You guessed it, pay for it. If you want the lot it'll cost you an extra 1200 points (£10.20)! For fish and backgrounds?! Now fair enough very few will probably want to download the whole lot, at least not at that price but surely this kind of stuff should be in the game? As a matter of interest the game itself is one of the smallest downloads from the XBLA I've seen at around 24Mb. Hmmm something smells fishy. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

I love the XBLA just like I love the Nintendo VC but I really hope once the Wiiware channel starts that it doesn't set off down this route and I hope we don't start to see more of it on the XBLA. I'm very disappointed in you Microsoft, anyone would think you were just out to make as much money from us as you can!... What's that Bill? Oh, you are.

What's the difference between a fish and a piano? You can't tuna fish! Find more childish humour on the GAMEOV3R Forum

Drug Habits

Pac-Man is one my all time favourite games. He’s recently been given a new lease of life on XBLA in Pac-Man Championship Edition and if you’re a self confessed game addict and haven’t played this yet, you really must!

Our unmistakable little yellow friend first has come along way since his early pill popping days down the local arcade. He invaded our homes on the Atari 2600 before appearing on almost everything that had a microchip in it. Often these games were unofficial clones, some better some worse than their licensed counterparts, and sometimes more cunningly disguised so as not to tempt prosecution! Stand up and be counted Hungry Horace!

Atari 2600 Screenshot

Our wafer thin pal put on a few pounds and became American, no I mean, spherical (sorry! ;) ) in later games. He even found himself traversing a place named after him. I'm sure had Pac-Man known about Pac-Land before he started running around mazes being chased by ghosts he'd have gone into real estate.

Even as late as 2003 Pac was still at it and, as with most drug users, he'd gone onto the hard stuff. Glue pills no longer did it for him so concrete power pills were the order of the day.

Next a surprising move, family friendly Nintendo teamed up with Namco and brought us an all new take on the Pac-Man series. "Pac-Man vs" was a multi player affair in 3D mazes and was revealed to a sneering and sniggering E3 the very same year. Was this the best Nintendo could do? It seemed so as Sony swept all aside at the huge show.

Gamecube Pac-Man Vs – released as a bonus disk with R:Racing Evolution.

But Pac-Man's never say die drug habit is insatiable and he's back again, on Live Arcade. The Live Arcade is getting quite a few excellent retro futuristic and classic remakes and Pac is right in there with them. Gorgeous to look at and slick to play. This has lost none of the simplistic original charm but has certainly upped the ante and added new gameplay features, tactics and even more charm. This game will keep you going for a long time.

It's a little pricey at 800 points when the likes of JetPac Refuelled, Sonic, Track and Field and more are a mere 400 but it is worth it.


If you fancy giving Lee or I a challenge for that No.1 spot on the Gameov3r Friends Leaderboard then get Pac CE downloaded, join the FORUM, add our Gamer Tags and get munching! Come on! You know you can’t resist a challenge!.

Giraffetastic!

So Jeff Minters long awaited Space Giraffe finds its way to the XBLA today for the measly sum of 400 points and it has created quite a stir already but not all for the right reasons.

The Official Xbox Magazine review had this to say about it:
The Verdict 2/10 - BROKEN
Just really bad. Lacks a single redeeming quality, or it's busted to varying degrees in its own design, quality or basic functionality. No gamer of any stripe should bother.

Jeff didn't take this too well and launched into the following tirade:
"OK, I found him (the reviewer)on the Partnernet leaderboards. Come to think of it I remember having seen his entries before because they were a bit unusual. He's on as 'OXM Dan' and he has NO achievements at all for Space Giraffe. It's really pretty hard to play SG for any length of time and get no achievements whatsoever; there are a few that are given out fairly easily by way of encouragement. Genius-boy here has managed to get none at all... In short, the leaderboards show that OXM Dan was playing the game in about the most shit way possible, and being absolutely crap at it. The leaderboards also show a lot of other people playing the game rather well, so we know it's not the game at fault here. Basically he was just rubbish."Burn!"

So after taking all that on board I've given the demo a go. I'm not going to do a review here I'll just give you an idea of what it's about in one sentence. It's very Tempest, very trippy (did you expect anything else?) with the big difference being that rather than trying to stop enemies reaching the edge, in Space Giraffe you actually want to gather them there for execution in the most profitable manner. That one sentence is probably more help than the whole of the tutorial!

As much as Jeff Minter is revered as a legend I think this time he only has himself to blame for some of the low scores this has been getting. The biggest reason some people aren't 'getting it' is down to the awful tutorial. The clues in the word surely... 'tutor'! You're supposed to tell me what I'm doing and how to do it well, not just tell me to “stay in the power zone!”, what's the damn power zone and how exactly do I get into it?! Argggh!
I managed to extract a few more clues from the “How to play” section but not much. “Keep an eye on my Power Zone and do the right thing to keep it extended” it says... the only thing I can see extending at the moment is my middle finger towards the TV screen!

Sorry Jeff but if people aren't playing your game right it's because they have no clue how to and there's only one person to blame for that. Having learned one technique 'the bull move', I started enjoying myself even though I'm still not always sure when I'm aloud to perform it! It's a shame as I'm really starting to like this game and I will probably download the full version and find out how to play it 'properly' elsewhere. In fact for anyone that's still interested http://www.llamasoft.co.uk/games/space-giraffe-walkthrough is the place to visit for just that. Now why isn't all that help in the game itself Jeff?

Our Giraffe is in another castle indeed.

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