Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade download service has been one of my favorite things about the Xbox 360 thus far. For between $5 and $15, you can download any number of classic arcade titles or even newly developed games created specifically for Xbox Live Arcade. Most of the games fall for $5 or $10, and you can demo any of them before buying. Despite this, I’m still going to review all the ones I’ve bought so far.

“Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved” is the quintessential Arcade title, from what I understand, since it was the standout title at the system’s launch, and has maintained its popularity. I’ve written about it once before, in a way, talking about the freeware PC/Mac clone “GridWars.” The guy who wrote “GridWars” has since received a cease and desist notice, and for good reason – it’s pretty much the exact same thing! The thing in question–an exceedingly frantic arcade shooter that takes advantage of the new-ish technology that is dual analog sticks–is definitely worth the $5 they’re charging. Verdict: Buy.

“Lumines Live!” is an enhanced port of the PlayStation Portable puzzle game/launch title. The player must make 2 x 2 blocks of one color out of 2 x 2 mixed color blocks that fall. It’s really, really fun. Unfortunately, the pricing structure is, shall we say, lacking. It costs $15. I can understand this. There’s a lot more content here than your average Arcade title. Unfortunately, it’s going to cost you more to get to the entire game: Another $7.50 for the advanced pack, consisting of another mode and a bunch of skins, and another $1.25 each for the full allotment of levels for mission mode and puzzle mode. Verdict: Try before dropping what is already a large amount of points on a game and then being prodded to spend more on it around every corner.

“UNO” would be a port of the card game you played on family vacations and when the electricity went out as a child. Live Arcade needs more stuff like this (I’d kill for Live “Scrabble”). You can just chill out and play UNO with people online–it’s a very polished adaptation. Also, some people have Xbox Live cameras so you can make fun of the people with and laugh at their reaction after you play that skip card. Verdict: Buy, assuming you have an Xbox Live Gold account and can play online multiplayer.

“Assault Heroes” is some kind of unholy combination of “Smash TV” and “Geometry Wars,” with a dash of “Contra.” For $10, you get a top down shooter with dual analog controls and getting in and out of vehicles. It controls like pie, and not just any pie, but the most awesome pie you have ever tasted. Unfortunately, the game is a bit short, but the achievements give it a bit of longevity. Verdict: Buy.

“Zuma” is a Popcap game, which means you can get it on PCs, Macs, iPods, cell phones and probably abacuses. It’s just as fun here, and controls well using the 360’s analog stick. Side note: The entire concept is a blatant ripoff of a 1998 Japanese arcade game called “Puzz Loop.” $10. Verdict: Try, you make the call. It’s also on the DS as “Magnetica.”

I would say one major downside to the Arcade is the glut of, well, arcade games. The service is cluttered with them. This in itself is not terrible, though more original content is always preferable to a reheated arcade port. The problem is the Xbox 360’s D-pad. It’s just not any good for old-school stuff that requires precision like Pac-Man. For the lack of a better term, it’s mushy. It makes playing games like Pac-Man an exercise in frustration.

“Gauntlet” and “Smash TV” are online-capable ports of the classic cooperative arcade games that control well, unlike many. Nothing exciting to report, but they’re only $5 each and awesome for chilling out and playing coop, same screen or online. Verdict: Buy.

“Street Fighter II” is self-explanatory. Unfortunately, the Internet play is laggy if you can even find anyone playing, and it’s less-than-suited to the 360’s controller layout. Verdict: Try, and don’t buy for the Live play.

It’s worth noting for the broadband impaired that a fair few Live Arcade titles are on store shelves in a compilation called “Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Vol. 1” or some such wordage. However you have to do it, I definitely recommend checking out some of the games tucked away in that Xbox Live Arcade button in your Games blade. There are some real gems, and unlike Nintendo’s Virtual Console games, the ports on here get enhancements like leaderboards, achievements and online play. New game every Wednesday, guys.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 24th, 2007 at 9:50 am and is filed under games, reviews.