Earlier today, SpikySnail's Niv Fisher was overheard banging on about great games going AWOL on Xbox Live Arcade. Being men and (where the circumstances call for it) ladies of honour, we thought we'd extend an olive branch on Microsoft's behalf.
Below you'll find a number of forthcoming downloadable projects that aren't, to our collective minds, getting their due - some confirmed for release, a few unconfirmed, and all crying out for a pinch or two of publicity.
1. Alien Spidy
I laid hands on Enigma and Kalypso's many-limbed platformer in summer last year, and found it to be far tougher and more interesting than the dusty Nickleodeon presentation suggests. You're an extra-terrestrial arachnid, obviously, marooned on Earth after journeying here in search of his girlfriend, Virgi. But enough of tortuously labyrinthine plots - it's all about those puzzles. Spidy can spit and swing from weblines after the example of Capcom's Bionic Commando, and his world is held together by an affable physics system which calls to mind the PSP's LocoRoco.
The game sports 69 levels split across three environments, and if you're at all inclined to score-chase, you'll play the bulk of those levels twice or thrice over. It's hard as nails later on, seemingly - in one level, a bubble-encased Spidy must navigate a maze of sea urchins with a pair of piranhas in hot pursuit. A release date has yet to be confirmed - "2013" is as specific as it gets. Don't let this one die, Kalypso. There's room for at least one more platform game on Live Arcade.
10 comments so far...
Windowlicker79 on 15 Jan '13 said:
SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE, SHENMUE!!!
Sorry. I just really, really, really want to play the final part of Shenmue. Its been 11 years since I first finished Shenmue 2 and I've been left waiting for a conclusion ever since, as I imagine many other people have too. I need to kill Lan Di!!!
If Shenmue HD is ever released they they will have to do the final part. They can't just leave a whole new generation of fans waiting to see what happens!
Fingers crossed for news at E3 this year...
Alaric14 on 15 Jan '13 said:
Skies of Arcadia is all but confirmed at this stage. Great game, surprisingly dark for something with a cutesy art style. If only they could replace "Crimson" with "Panzer" and add an extra "o" to the word Dragon for their next project, I'll be an extremely happy man. I've been playing through Panzer Dragoon Saga again on my Saturn the last week. Still leaves me speechless, it was a game well ahead of its time whose only misfortune was the fact that it was on SEGA's machine rather that Sony's, otherwise it would have been readily available today.
ChillieBonBon on 15 Jan '13 said:
Crimson Dragon has seemed to be in development for ages and, looking at the video, it seems half decent as well.
Danish82 on 15 Jan '13 said:
Alaric, couldn't agree more. Panzer was way ahead of its time, in fact, on of those rare games which I think I must have completed several times. Plus, with each completion, I discovered more having improved my dragon... Does anyone ever remember finding the baby dragon after one of the mutations?! So regret selling it on eBay a while back for £100!
Would love to see Shenmue as well!
Alaric14 on 15 Jan '13 said:
Ah, yes, the baby dragon who would randomly fly off and find items! I traded him in for the all-powerful Solo Wing, I just like having the power to transform and alter my dragon's stats. I once had a completion where I found all of the rare enemies (Golia Trackers were a pain to find) and a dragon hologram device Edge could access from camp (I believe a little girl in Zoah gave it to me). The last time I played PDS I randomly found Paet's room, too.
I hope that £100 was well spent, Danish. Really, I do.
I should get back into Panzer Dragoon Orta. There was a time when I could finish that beauty on the hardest modes, now I'm probably going to get my arse kicked.
Danish82 on 15 Jan '13 said:
God, that brings back many good memories! So much to do and explore over 4 discs... Don't make em like that (much) these days... Considered buying a Saturn back but the game is going for much higher now, keep hold if it!
MacPsych91 on 15 Jan '13 said:
Panzer Dragoon Saga = My favourite game of all time! Just thought I'd throw that out there. Shame Crimson Dragon is a direct part of the series but it does look fantastic. Skies of Arcadia is another favorite of mine so to see the possibility of a re-release makes me very pleased indeed!
Bezza89 on 15 Jan '13 said:
I know I asked about Arcade titles, but I didn't expect an article dedicated to me 100% no fooling. Thanks Ed!
OXM ETboy on 16 Jan '13 said:
I live to please
FishyGinger on 16 Jan '13 said:
Oh you and your puns.