QUICKLINKS:
Xbox Live Arcade Reviews A - N | Xbox Live Arcade Reviews O - Z | Xbox Originals A - Z
Our Xbox Live Arcade ratings system
We've given every game a 'buy' rating of 'Yes', 'Maybe', or 'No'.
Yes means this is a very high quality game, and we have no problem recommending it to anyone as long as they like the genre.
Maybe means we think the game is good, but not necessarily for everyone. If you know the game or like the sound of the description, go for it.
No means that we don't recommend the title at all.
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Games listed in alphabetical order
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Battlezone
Price: 400 Points
What was fun in 1980 doesn't necessarily equal fun in 2008. What you get with Battlezone is a classic game that was a lot of fun 'back in the day', but is completely lost in translation when given to a modern audience. While those who played the original and feel like reliving their childhood gaming experience may find something to like here, everybody else will be a little bit confused. While it's not a terrible port per se, with online modes and leaderboards thrown in for good measure, we can't see this holding your interest very long with much better shooters available. At least they're not trying to get 800 points out of us for it, so that's appreciated.
Worth buying? No
Ikaruga
Price: 800 Points
There are already an assortment of 2D scrolling shooters available on the Xbox Live Arcade, so we're always very wary when yet another one is added to the growing list. In this case, Ikaruga is already a proven critical success, after being released on both the Dreamcast and Gamecube in one form or another. Now, it's available for the almost criminal 800 points, and it combines what made the initial shooting experience so much fun, and then adds leaderboards, cooperative multiplayer and more, and is one of the more challenging experiences up for download. If you like shooters, you'll like Ikaruga.
Worth buying? Yes
Lost Cities
Price: 800 Points
Card games on the XBLA are a hit! That's the logic, anyway, with games such as Uno still remaining ridiculously popular and other titles such as Catan bringing a more strategic view to the table. Lost Cities is similar to our strategic friend, with the goal of the game to invest in expeditions to help further your progress in five different cities. The options here are thin, however, with only a bare-bones single player mode and some online multiplayer. The charm of other card games available simply isn't present, but the game isn't terrible either. If you've been desperate to have another shuffle, then this may be your cup of tea, but if you weren't interested in XBLA card-games before... this won't change your mind.
Worth buying? Maybe
Mr. Driller Online
Price: 800 Points
The idea of putting the classic puzzle game on the XBLA and adding in an online mode seemed like a solid one; so it's a shame that Mr. Driller Online simply doesn't deliver the gaming goodness that its previous editions have. With so many puzzle games available for download, you have to seriously ask yourself whether this is going to be a game that you play with your mates continually, or is it merely a hit of nostalgia that you'll grow tired of after a few minutes of playing it? For fans of Mr. Driller, this could be worthwhile; others should think twice before purchasing.
Worth buying? Maybe
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Price: 800 Points
Rocky and Bullwinkle was one of our favourite cartoons growing up as a kid, so we had a kind of excitement when we heard there was going to be a version available for download. Our excitement stopped when we found out all the title gave us was a bunch of mini games. Our excitement was never going to return when we played the game and realised just how simplistic and... well... not fun the experience was. Then we realised it cost 800 points, and we were nearly sick. These kinds of compilations don't work here, and this is nowhere near worth the asking price, even if your kids are begging you to buy it for them.
Worth buying? No
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