Yesterday I was introduced to an Xbox Live Arcade game that I was previously unaware of (well, sort of). Namely; Bionic Commando Rearmed.
The game is an updated version of an 8-bit NES classic where you use a bionic arm to navigate through levels and defeat bad guys. True to the 8-bit gaming age, this game requires a huge amount of dedication to complete (also see Megaman 9!). The only thing weird about Bionic Commando Rearmed is that I couldn’t understand why it was rated 18.
That was until today, where I did a little bit of research…
Bionic Commando Rearmed is rated 18 due to the original controversial ending being kept and graphically enhanced. I don’t really want to spoil anything, but for those who want to know as badly as I did, you can view the original ending below.
According to Capcom:
“It was a tough decision to make, but it came down to either paying homage to the original game and taking the higher rating hit, or to watering down one of the most important scenes of the original,” (Capcom commented in regards to the rating).
Well, I for one respect their decision. The huge amount of dedication gone into this update is obvious within minutes of playing this game. It really comes across as a labour of love.
Anyway, if you haven’t had the chance to play it I strongly advise you check it out. For 800MS points you are getting a fantastic deal considering some of the alternatives priced of that and above.
After the release of the new Halo Wars playable demo (last night I believe) I finally got around to trying it out for myself.
The demo features 2 tutorials (basic and advanced controls/mechanics), followed by 2 sample levels. Each level/mission is also complimented by some great cut scenes which really add to the excitement.
As it’s been a while since I last played a realtime strategy game, I started off with the tutorials (If you have little patience though you can skip these). I advise you give them a whirl though as whilst the controls are very basic, it still helps to ensure you don’t miss out on any possible features (it also kinda gives you an extra 2 small levels to play through!).
As I began the first tutorial I was a little put off by the camera sensitivity. I felt that it shot around far too quickly. Stick with it though, as once you get into your first proper mission you will have gotten used to this and realise why it moves so fast (With several units and main bases, it really helps to be able to reach them quickly).
Apart from the little initial camera “issue” I really enjoyed the demo. I found it very easy to pick up and play. On normal difficulty the game wasn’t too easy or too hard. The second mission was challenging but in no way frustrating. The graphics look nice and I can really see the gameplay becoming very addictive. The Halo Wars demo has also made me want to play through Halo 3 again, which I haven’t had the urge to do in quite some time.
So, if you have some time to spare this weekend, I strongly advise you give this demo a try!
As part of increasing gamerscore, I thought I’d list some of the PC games available that allow you to play on Xbox Live and earn more achievements. All you need is your account details, and you can sign in when playing these games much like on your Xbox 360.
PC games which you can increase your gamerscore with:
Fallout 3
Quantum of Solace
Grand Theft Auto IV
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
Lost Planet Extreme Condition – Colonies Edition
Universe at War: Earth Assault
Gears of War
The Club
Kane & Lynch – Dead Men
Halo 2
Shadowrun
Viva Pinata
The beauty of playing PC games with achievements is that if you have the same game on your Xbox 360, they count as separate games. Therefore you can achieve 1000 gamerscore on Fallout 3 (Xbox 360) and another 1000 on Fallout 3 (PC).
Another thing worth mentioning is that some of these games are PC exclusives. Dawn of War 2 will only be available on the PC (or so they say). Halo 2, whilst not exactly a PC exclusive, is the only version that contains achievements. So this game is definitely worth playing through again (it also comes with additional multiplayer maps and upgraded graphics. I myself have also played online at various times recently and have always been able to find loads of matches full of other players).
I don’t usually like to post links to other blog articles as I like to try and keep everything on here unique (as why else would anyone bother coming here?). Today I came across an article that really struck a chord, and I think it’s important to spread the word/awareness of the topic.
The blog talks about Microsoft raising the cap on downloadable content achievements/gamerscore and it’s potential negative effect on games/gaming through exploitation.
“While it’s nice that every game now has 1000 original points, this DLC policy has undone the “ease of comparison” idea that was part of the original intent of the first policy revision.”
“if asked the question, “Are developers ripping us off on DLC or exploiting achievement whores?” my answer for now would be, not YET, for the most part. 2009 will be a telling year for DLC though, and things could shift in that direction.”
The blog article provides some very good examples of early signs of cracks appearing in the current system, and where it could potentially get out of hand.
This new feature contains a top choice each month of my most favourite games. By “game of the month” I don’t necessarily intend to pick from the releases during that period, but more the games I personally have enjoyed playing most.
Xbox 360 Retail – Gears of War 2 Wow this game is good! I probably don’t need to mention anything about this game as nearly everyone owns it. However, I will say that playing through the main campaign was one of the most exciting experiences I have ever had on the Xbox 360. The story is a huge improvement on the last game (which was also fantastic), and it really builds more on the characters and atmosphere.
I really could go on for ages about everything I love about this game, but I will try to keep this short. I’ve heard that some people have had issues with the multiplayer modes (even after the recent updates), but I personally have only had a great time online.
Xbox 360 Live Arcade – The Maw Most of you who have already read this blog know how much I love this game. This was a very pleasant surprise and a really refreshing and enjoyable experience. I’ve heard that Twisted Pixel are making some more levels (with additional achievements), and I really can’t wait.
The Maw sets a really good example for Xbox Live Arcade games. The price was very reasonable (800MS points), it came with free gamerpics and a premium theme (all themes usually cost 250MS points), the gameplay was great fun, the graphics were impressive (for an Arcade game), and there was no glitches. I love it! More games like this please!
Honourable Mention(s) Fable 2: Knothole Island – Amazing experience. I hope Lionhead do more DLC for this game. Eternal Sonata – This game is gorgeous! I just haven’t had the time to play it enough this month.
Main Disappointment(s) Spiderman: Web of Shadows – Glitchy and dull. Not quite as good as Spiderman 3, which wasn’t particularly brilliant either. Rayman Raving Rabbids – Not as good as on the Wii. I can’t even play this for the easy achievements because it’s so boring.
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Yesterday I was introduced to an Xbox Live Arcade game that I was previously unaware of (well, sort of). Namely; Bionic Commando Rearmed.
