For the sake of full disclosure, we loved Duke Nukem 3D when it was first released over 10 years ago. So, we might be a teeny bit biased, but that doesn't keep Duke from being one of the best FPS games on XBLA. In fact, we'd say it is the best, with no disrespect to Marathon or Doom. For 800 Microsoft Points, you get a substantial campaign and 8 player online multiplayer and co-op. Not too shabby. Check out the latest XBLA in Brief to see all the reasons why Duke Nukem 3D is worth it. (Warning: the video is mildly NSFW.)
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The itch is back once again. The itch to give away free stuff, of course. This week, we've got eight download codes for Feeding Frenzy 2. Yes, we are giving away a chance to live the life we've all always dreamed of. Of course, we're talking about a life under the sea. It's not all brine and escargot'zes though. It's a fish eat fish world, so you'll have to keep your eye out in Feeding Frenzy 2. For your chance at a free copy, just follow the directions below.
Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite fish to eat.
You may leave one comment per calendar day, eastern time. Posters of multiple comments in a single calendar day will be disqualified. We'll accept entries until 12:00PM noon eastern Friday, September 23rd, 2008. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. This giveaway is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec).
Later today, we'll pick eight winners via a random drawing.
Eight winners will receive a copy of Feeding Frenzy 2 worth $10.
It seems like it took forever, but Duke Nukem 3D is now finally available on Xbox Live Arcade. Take on the role of Duke Nukem, badass with a heart of gold, whose mission is to save the planet earth (and its chicks) from a horde of alien scum. The Xbox Live Arcade version sports saved films, a new rewind feature (no more constant saving!), and online multiplayer and co-op for up to 8 players. If you've never played Duke, we suggest you give it a try. It really is a great shooter, and introduced many previously unseen features in the first person shooter genre (like payable strippers, for example). The full version can be yours for 800 Microsoft Points.
Capcom has announced that Mega Man 9 will be landing on Xbox Live Arcade October 1st, a mere two weeks hence. Strangely, the Blue Bomber's retro revival will be hitting both the Wii and Playstation 3 a week earlier (that's next week for those keeping score) on September 22nd and 25th, respectively. Why the wait for the Xbox Live Arcade version? Capcom isn't saying, but we have a feeling it might have something to do with a certain gum chewing, ass kicking XBLA game needing a little elbow room next week.
File this under 'how did we miss this?'. A new trailer for Duke Nukem 3D was released earlier this week, and let's just say that it got our nostalgia zones all tingly. Sure, Duke brings back some good, good memories, but the trailer also reminds us that the Xbox Live Arcade version of Duke Nukem 3D is packed with new features. At the top of the list is 8 player online co-op and deathmatch (the original only supported 4 players). Let's not forget the ability to save and share gameplay videos either, or the ability to rewind the game when you die (no more saving every 5 seconds, hooray). Now, we might be a little biased, but we'd say that Duke Nukem 3D looks to be the best frakking Xbox Live Arcade game ever and you should buy it when it releases next week.
Or, you could, you know, wait to hear how the game actually plays over Xbox Live.
Tipster VIP0R informs us that someone at Microsoft may have made a little boo-boo this morning. While browsing Inside Xbox, VIP0R came across the page pictured above. According to the page, the Sierra Online's Zombie Wranglers is already available on Xbox Live Arcade. Unfortunately, this contradicts the fact that the game is not, in fact, available on Xbox Live Arcade. VIP0R informs us that the link in the page led to a blank page. Furthermore, it seems the Inside Xbox page has now been replaced with a more appropriate page regarding Feeding Frenzy 2.
Does this mean we'll be seeing Zombie Wranglers next week? It's possible, though certainly not assured. Heck, it's possible the image above is no more than Photoshop trickery, though it looks legit to us. We'd be happy to see Zombie Wranglers release next week, so long as it doesn't interfere with the launch of Duke Nukem 3D, of course.
Okay, we have to come clean: we haven't actually bought Braid. Yes, we dumped effusive praise upon its digital being. We even devoted an entire feature to convincing people how great it is, but still we did not buy it. Why? Because we were awaiting the learned opinion of one man. Yes, that man is (of course) Soulja Boy. We'd like to attempt to summarize his opinion of Braid but, frankly, it has a profound eloquence that cannot be captured by mere mortals like us. Suffice it to say that you're just going to have to watch it yourself. Find it after the break (it's NSFW, by the way).
This is sort of a slow week for XBLA. It's not that the games -- Feeding Frenzy 2 and Domino Master, lest you haven't heard -- are bad. It's just that they aren't exactly mind-blowing either. But hey, we can't have AAA, hardcore titles every week. Where would we find the money, right? Besides, Grandma likes dominos. Rather than driving all the way over to her house so you can play in person, now you can save the hassle and do it over Xbox Live! Find out just how easy it is in our latest episode of XBLA in Brief.
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With two very remakes under its belt -- Pac-Man CE and Galaga Legions -- it looks like Namco Bandai has some more arcade remakes in mind. Speaking to MTV, Tadashi Iguchi, director of the team that made both Pac-Man CE and Galaga Legions, revealed that there are plans to do more remakes, which he refers to as "reconstructions". "I would like to make an action game with the same team again," says Iguchi, adding that a specific title has not been chosen, but he is "interested in making games that players who liked games in the 80's will enjoy." Might we suggest Rolling Thunder? Pleeeeease?
Another week, three more games on Xbox Live Arcade. We've got Samurai Shodown II, Shotest Shogi and Rocket Bowl, a classic fighter, a Japanese board game and a wacky bowling game, respectively. As is our sworn duty, we take a look at all three of them in the latest XBLA in Brief. Check out our latest installment and find out which ones are for you.
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As a general rule of thumb, there is one thing that can make an awesome game even awesomer. That one thing, as we're sure you've already guessed, is a chainsaw. Smart company that it is, The Behemoth has announced that not only will upcoming Castle Crashers DLC add two new characters -- the King and the Necromancer -- but also a chainsaw. Why is there a chainsaw in what is obviously a medieval world? Shut up is why.
Those of you experiencing connection problems -- like us -- fear not, for The Behemoth has promised that fixing the technical issues in Castle Crashers is "top priority." Considering that the patch has no given release date, that makes the release of the DLC even more nebulous. Other details, like the price, are also up in the air. Here's hoping we get our patch and our DLC sooner rather than later.
XBLA is packed to the brim this week with three full releases landing on the Xbox 360's download service. All told, we have Gin Rummy, Shred Nebula, and Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball. One of them is a wacky sports game, one is a space shooter, and one is a card game. See if you can guess which is which! Failing that, you could always just watch the latest episode and find out if any of these are worth your time and money.
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It's time for a special Friday Fanswag boys and girls. We've gotten our hands on five redemption codes for Shred Nebula from CrunchTime Games. Not only that, but we've scored five CrunchTime T-shirts to go along with each copy. In case you haven't noticed, CrunchTime has a sweet logo. Even if you don't know who the folks at CrunchTime are, you'll be proud to wear their shirt. It just so happens that Shred Nebula is a nice space shooter with deep play mechanics and online dogfights, so it's win-win, really. To enter:
Leave a comment on this post telling us about your favorite space battle.
Only one comment will be accepted per person. Posters of multiple comments will be disqualified. We'll accept entries until 5:00PM, Eastern Time, Friday, September 5th, 2008. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. This giveaway is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec).
Later today, we'll pick five winners via a random drawing.
Five winners will each receive a redemption code for Shred Nebula on XBLA and a CrunchTime Games T-shirt, worth a total of $25.
It was once rare for Xbox Live Arcade to receive two games in a single week. Heck, it was once rare for XBLA to receive one game in a single week. And here we are, getting three in one week. All told we have Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball, Shred Nebula, and Gin Rummy. So, we've got a party sports game, a space shooter and a card game. The only question now is whether or not anyone will want to open their wallents after the veritable treasure trove of games that dropped in August. Both PvN Dodgeball and Shred Nebula will set you back 800 Microsoft Points. Gin Rummy is a mere 400. All three are now available on Marketplace for your perusal.
We recently got a chance to play some dodgeball with Blazing Lizard. Specifically, we're talking about the company's new Xbox Live Arcade game, Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball. Even more specifically, we got a chance to try out the game's various multiplayer modes. Those following the game may recall that originally the game was to contain only a no-rules, non-traditional version of dodgeball, but Blazing Lizard decided to delay the title in order to add some more traditional modes. We got to try out both of these new modes as well as the original free form mode known as Combat Dodgeball. Read on for our hands-on impressions of each mode.