Summer of Arcade 2010 XBLA

[Stoney Mason]

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
Hydro Thunder Hurricane
Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light
Monday Night Combat
Limbo

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[Robo]

Couple surprises there.  Monday Night Combat looks very TF2-y.  The only game of the bunch I have no interest in (at the moment) is Limbo.

[MCD]

yeah, limbo is interesting.

[Bebpo]

Castlevania sprite rip looks horrid.

Hydro Thunber XBLA looks sweet.  TR Diablo looks really solid. 

[The Fake Shemp]

Tomb Raider, Hydro Thunder and Lara Croft look like must buys. I'm going to pass on Castlevania and Limbo.

[tiesto]

Limbo looks kinda interesting but too floaty... CV looks wtf, wayyyyyy too zoomed out.

[cool breeze]

Lara Croft game looks great.  Getting that for sure.

[Robo]

I kinda like how zoomed out Castlevania is.  It reminds me of Lode Runner.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Castlevania looks like some kind of flash game.  Ugh.

Limbo is still beautiful as ever but I'm not sure about how well it'll play.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane and Lara Croft seem like day one no brainers to me.

[iconoclast]

Very weak lineup this year. The only game I'm looking forward to is Hydro Thunder. Kinda interested in Lara Croft and Limbo, Castlevania looks bad, and I couldn't care less about Monday Night Combat. Oh well, there's plenty of other good XBLA games coming out so whatevs

[demi]

Castlevania-

Stats and numbers and yummy Igavania

Lara Croft-

Could be neat. Getting a familiar vibe to it that really itches my nuts

Hydro Thunder-

Meh

Monday Night Combat-

Meh

Limbo-

Jonathan Blow game, refuse to ever support him

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I will say they seemed to have nailed the subtitle of the Castlevania game - Harmony of Dispair.  It certainly looks the part.

[MCD]

Limbo-

Jonathan Blow game

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.

[demi]

Is not? I thought it was. Convince me in your next post and I would consider buying it

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

It takes Jonathon Blow 10 years to make a game.  It's only been 2 since Braid.  You've got another 8 years before being subjected to him again.

[Enl]

Limbo looks interesting, but that Castlevania just reeks shovelware. For shame Konami.

[demi]

After some meticulous research, Limbo is revealed to not be anywhere near Mr. Blow the loser.

Limbo is cleared for purchase (pending not suckage)

[jiji]

Castlevania: Mugen Edition 

[drew]

yeah, i dont want any of those

[Stoney Mason]

E3 2010: Castlevania XBLA Preview
Don't despair -- now you can take a friend into Dracula's castle with you.
June 14, 2010
by Daemon Hatfield

We just played a couple games of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, the new six-player Castlevania game coming to Xbox Live Arcade this summer. Harmony of Despair is a 2D side-scrolling Castlevania that looks quite similar to the post-Symphony of the Night games we've been playing on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS for years. Apart from its looks, though, this is a pretty unique spin on the Castlevania formula. It's designed as a co-op game for up to six players that works like raids in World of Warcraft.

There are six levels, each guarded by a boss that must be hunted down and murdered. The maps are expansive, full of traps, shortcuts, and dead ends. Here's the thing: these levels and bosses are designed to be attempted many times over. Not only are the bosses powerful, but you only have 10 minutes to find them. You are more than likely to fail the first couple times you try. Luckily, you retain all the items and monies you collect on a "raid." So the formula goes: try a level, fail, buy and equip better items, and make it a little farther next time. You don't earn experience points and level up your character, but you are constantly finding new items and earning money that can buy you cool stuff. The next time you try that level, you'll be better equipped for it.


The more players you have the easier it will be to complete each level, but you can always fly solo if that's more your style (or if you're just unpopular). Five characters are available to choose from, each pulled from a previous Castlevania game. Alucard, from Symphony of the Night, is bound to be a popular choice. Shanoa, from Order of Ecclesia, is another option I noticed. Each character behaves as they would in their own game. Shanoa, for instance, can use her magnetic abilities to cling to certain hooks in the environment and gain access to new areas. The character you choose will determine the path you take to the boss. But they all have the same core abilities like slide, double jump, and backwards dash. Yes, with only five characters, you will be playing with twins in a six-player game.

On my first try playing level one I ran around looting treasure chests and slicing up familiar skeleton enemies (I was Alucard). But I ended up running into a dead end and time ran out before I could make it to the boss. On my second try I had a better idea of where to go and eventually came face to face with the guardian: a two-legged, no-armed behemoth that shoots a giant laser and sprays poisonous blood. There is a nice bit of foreshadowing in this level, as you can see the laser blast piercing through the halls of the castle long before you reach the boss. When you whittle the boss's health down enough the floor will cave in and you'll plummet to a platform below – where a mess of enemies await. The whole gang was too much for me to handle and I met my second demise. This is where more players would come in handy. It's also possible to make it to the monster party ahead of time and clear out the enemies so that when you fall down with the boss it doesn't have any henchmen left.


To get your bearings and plan your route through a level, you can zoom way, way out. You'll be able to see all enemies and other players in the castle, but you're so small on the screen it's probably not possible to play this way. Each level will have a few special areas where you can switch your equipment, but you'll need to do it fast because the clock won't stop counting down. Enemies won't stand around waiting for you to finish, either.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is a fun new take on this long-running franchise and we can see why Microsoft picked it to be included in Summer of Arcade. Summer of Arcade starts in July so you won't have to wait long to posse up and go after those bosses.

http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/109/1097581p1.html

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Still not convinced.

[Vizzys]

saving points for puzzle quest 2

[demi]

So the formula goes: try a level, fail, buy and equip better items, and make it a little farther next time. You don't earn experience points and level up your character, but you are constantly finding new items and earning money that can buy you cool stuff. The next time you try that level, you'll be better equipped for it.

Hot hot hot

[AdmiralViscen]

Man is Castlevania ugly

[Smooth Groove]

And that's surprising?  Castlevania has been ugly since gaming moved beyond 16 bit. 

[OptimoPeach]

So the formula goes: try a level, fail, buy and equip better items, and make it a little farther next time. You don't earn experience points and level up your character, but you are constantly finding new items and earning money that can buy you cool stuff. The next time you try that level, you'll be better equipped for it.

Hot hot hot

This + co-op = boner city. I'd like some new sprites, but if the level design and boss encounters are halfway decent then I'll happily shell out some space dollars for it

[ferrarimanf355]

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is a day one download for sure, and I'll demo Monday Night Combat and see how it is.

[Bocsius]

Crazy Taxi? Anyone?

Bueller?

[ferrarimanf355]

Crazy Taxi? Anyone?

Bueller?

That's fall-ish.

[Bocsius]

Crazy Taxi? Anyone?

Bueller?

That's fall-ish.

 

[The Sceneman]

So the formula goes: try a level, fail, buy and equip better items, and make it a little farther next time. You don't earn experience points and level up your character, but you are constantly finding new items and earning money that can buy you cool stuff. The next time you try that level, you'll be better equipped for it.

Hot hot hot

This + co-op = boner city. I'd like some new sprites, but if the level design and boss encounters are halfway decent then I'll happily shell out some space dollars for it

I was hoping for the inclusion of a single player HD IGAvania option as well, but this does sound awesome. Day 1!

[The Sceneman]

And WTF, another Juno "indie gem" emo platformer? After Braid and Winterbottom I thought people were over this arty BS

[chronovore]

Couple surprises there.  Monday Night Combat looks very TF2-y.  The only game of the bunch I have no interest in (at the moment) is Limbo.

yeah, limbo is interesting.

Two truths can be discerned here: RoboJ is sometimes dead wrong, and MCD can't read good.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[Robo]

 

[MCD]

dammit

[Cravis]

Can't wait for Hydro Thunder.

It boggles the mind why they only have 5 playable characters in a 6 player co-op game. It's not like they ran out of games to rip sprites from 

[tiesto]

It takes Jonathon Blow 10 years to make a game.  It's only been 2 since Braid.  You've got another 8 years before being subjected to him again.

Has Jonathan Blow made anything else other than Braid?

[chronovore]

It takes Jonathon Blow 10 years to make a game.  It's only been 2 since Braid.  You've got another 8 years before being subjected to him again.

Has Jonathan Blow made anything else other than Braid?

Yeah, he made "Demi Mad."

[The Fake Shemp]

 

[The Sceneman]

It takes Jonathon Blow 10 years to make a game.  It's only been 2 since Braid.  You've got another 8 years before being subjected to him again.

Has Jonathan Blow made anything else other than Braid?

Yeah, he made "Demi Mad."

very good! Limbo looks so arthouse and lame. Boycotting that stinky turd. Zomg black and white :rolleyes so artistic.

[The Sceneman]

TBH only definite on the list is Castlevania, and Hydro Thunder looks pretty fun. Monday Night Combat looks polished but Im not really big on competitive multiplayer games. But a trailer for it did day: "Shoot him in the pants, hes got candy" so I dunno. Will wait for the word on the street

[pilonv1]

Spend the money you would spend on Monday Night Combat and buy TF2 instead.

[The Sceneman]

Can't wait for Hydro Thunder.

It boggles the mind why they only have 5 playable characters in a 6 player co-op game. It's not like they ran out of games to rip sprites from 

Maybe some extra characters will be unlockable? Bit this is IGA so you can count on distinguished mentally-challenged decisions being made.

[Trent Dole]

Any release dates for these fuckers yet?

[The Sceneman]

Ive got TF2 on Orange Box, only played it once. As I said Im not big on competitive multiplayer, especially trying to get into one with a well established hardcore community.

[The Sceneman]

Any release dates for these fuckers yet?

they are coming out weekly throughout July.

[chronovore]

Ive got TF2 on Orange Box, only played it once. As I said Im not big on competitive multiplayer, especially trying to get into one with a well established hardcore community.

Wha'...? Then why buy TF2 or Monday Night Combat at all? It's entirely based around competitive multiplayer!

Edit: hurrrr. Reading comprehension FTL. OK, part of Orange Box. NVM, that's fine. If you want, we can pop a few of the TF2 'cheevs which don't require ranked matches.

[Sho Nuff]

I got to play Limbo, it was pretty slow paced but the graphics were really fucking awesome

[cool breeze]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2010-castlevania-harmony/700130

Castlevania looks cool.  I like how you zoom out the map a lot and see shitta Shanoa from shitty OoE falling behind.  pallet swap Jonathan

[Beezy]

Yeah, that vid sold me on Coopvania.

[demi]

Told yall. HOT

[Saint Cornelius]

Oh yeah, I'm getting all these fucking games.

[cool breeze]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2010-castlevania-harmony/700392

please buy this game 

[ferrarimanf355]

Never played a Castlevania game before, but that does look good. I'll try it.

[Stoney Mason]

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]
[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[Saint Cornelius]

Wow even the Lara Croft game looks interesting, and I can't stand the Tomb Raider franchise!

[Stoney Mason]

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[Stoney Mason]

Limbo, July 21: This black and white puzzle platformer will draw you into its surreal world.
Hydro Thunder Hurricane, July 28: This multiplayer racer on water is a cult favorite from back in the Dreamcast days.
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, August 4: A Symphony of the Night-style Castlevania game designed for six-player co-op.
Monday Night Combat, August 11: A multiplayer, Team Fortress-style third-person shooter.
Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light, August 18: This isometric co-op adventure is a big departure from previous Tomb Raiders.

Each game will set you back $15. Microsoft will be rewarding gamers that download all five titles with 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), so you basically get one for free. Download at least three and you'll be reimbursed 400 Points ($5).

[The Fake Shemp]

I am probably going to nab Hydro Thunder, Castlevania and Lara Croft. I love, love Summer of Arcade.

[demi]

I will get Castlevania and probably Limbo if it's good.