Splatters (Xbox Live Arcade) Review

Splatters was developed by Spiky Snail and released on the Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points a copy was provided for The Xbox Way (us) for Review .

Introduction:

Splatter is one of the few games on the Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace which addicted me for a long time. It is a colorful game which uses your mind in a genius way and uses your creativity and imagination in a high level to challenge you to complete each level.

While Most of physics-based games in the Xbox Live Marketplace end up being horrible and not worth your time because of their tricky or simply irresponsible physics, Splatters avoided all of these mistakes to make a perfect physics-based hitter.

Gameplay:

In the Splatters, you basically control triangular or rectangular bodies ready to die in Kamikaze Style In order to destroy diamonds and gold across a level. Of Course this isn’t all of the deal you can change its direction miss up with the physic in order to get even more destruction. However its worth noting Splatters has color restriction for example color Red Splatters can only destroy red diamonds but gold can be destroyed be any Splatter.

Splatters offer gamers a huge amount of levels and game modes as well as having a good social integration this helps in the replay value of the game.

There are three modes in the games:

1. Combo Nation            63  Levels


2. Master Shots              96  Levels


3. Become a talents       36  Levels

Become a talent is the first and mandatory game mode in this game mode you learn the game objectives and basics as well as a big variety of Stunts and Skills Which you will need in order to win in the following levels . There is about 12 Special Moves to learn this helps to keep the game fresh and keeps you addicted to it a bit longer.

[caption id="attachment_545" align="alignnone" width="560"] Fruits, Fruits, Fruits ![/caption]

Splatters also have social mode integrated which is (Splatters TV) In Splatters TV Player has the Choice to share their gameplay online to all Splatters Gamers across the Globe.

However there is no multiplayer at this point the replay value fall a bit. I really wanted to compete with someone on who will get a selected value first!

Category Score: 10/10

Graphics and Sound:

We made sound the in one category because the Splatters isn’t about sounds or graphic it’s about fun that is what I showed you on the gameplay section.

The guys at Spiky Snail Spent a good time making sure that the game has detailed levels, characters and obstacles and while having 100+ Levels they made sure that every level has the same crisp and clear graphic feel and a responsive frame rate .

[caption id="attachment_546" align="alignnone" width="560"] Double Splat ![/caption]

Spiky Snail team also did a pretty good job in the Sounds category of the game. Splat and Explosion Sounds help in make the game fell a bit more realistic

Score: 10/10

Conclusion:

Spiky Snail should be proud by what they created , they Simply created a hitter which offers fun gameplay to any gamer with the small asking price of 10$

Final Score:   9.5/10

Wreckateer (Xbox live Arcade ) Review

Wreckateer will be released on 25 July 2012 for 800 Microsoft Points. A copy of the game had been provided for Review.

Introduction:

Wreckateer which I like to call Angry Birds Kinect-Beater is a combination of angry birds + First Person + some wrecking with a topping of Silly Avatars. Now Really Wreckateer is easily the BEST Kinect game on the marketplace or even Kinect. It shows that this small piece of hardware can really do something other than misunderstanding your gestures.



Gameplay:

In Wreckateer you start your career as a building Wrecker trainee where Wreck and Tink train you to control missile and introduce you to two types of missiles: Flying and Regular one. After two to three missions you complete the training and then receive an email from King ordering you to destroy old houses because goblins are infesting it. At this point you start the main game objective which is wrecking old houses infested with goblins (The Bad Guys) Later in the game you will be introduced to splitting balls, explosive balls and the return of flying balls which helps in keeping the game fresh. However even after having all of these types of specials missiles you still have to use your mind in order to attack tactical places in the castles which will result in more destruction. The direction you cause will be represented in one of three medals: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

[caption id="attachment_464" align="alignnone" width="560"] Throw this one and wait for Explosions[/caption]

The game as I said previously uses the full ability of the Kinect Sensor with no significant failure and shows that the Kinect sensor can really achieve what we all thought it can achieve on E3 2009.

The Game also is the first game to use Avatar Famestar the new social integration created by Microsoft Studio for the games supporting it. Of Course all the game supporting are the games supporting Avatars. In Avatar Famestar there are challenges which you to earn fame, Fame can be redeemed for Avatar Stuff that can be used in games Supporting Famestar or other rewards. This can be used for showing people your achievements across all Avatar Famestar Supported games. This can be called as reinvention of wheel as some gamers think that achievements and avatar awards already do this. But this can still be called as a good social addition which is expected from Microsoft as Microsoft is concentrating on social addition for the last few months.



10/10

Graphics:

Iron Galaxy has done a pretty good job in the graphics of this game. This game was developed by Unreal Engine 3 the world leading graphics engine, this made the graphics in the game groundbreaking (well, a Kind of) and added a huge amount of destructibility which was requires in the game. The game also has realistic explosions and the Background Scenery also makes it a bit more realistic.

This game also supports avatars although they are not really realistic but this adds a bit if fun to the game.

10/10

Sounds:

The game features good explosion sounds and background sounds which makes it realistic however there is no real soundtracks

10/10

Conclusion:

Iron Galaxy should be proud for making such a good game and Wreckateer is Day One buy for any gamer who own Kinect and is worth each and every single penny you will pay on it . So I easily Award the Game with the Full Mark with my First Editor's Choice for the year !

Final Score:      10/10                     Editor's Choice                                                                                                                                           

 

Bang Bang Racing (Xbox Live Arcade ) Review

Bang Bang Racing was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points. A Copy had been provided for us for Review

Introduction:

Bang Bang Racing is one of the special games ever released on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

The Game Developers made the game special in every way: Gameplay, Controls and Specially Camera making it one of the most-have racing game and leaving a remarkable experience for casual or core gamers.

Graphics:

The game returns as to the days of top-down cameras racing game without decreasing the amount of fun or originality within the game.

The game has a highly detailed tracks, and highly realistic cars, crazy explosions and amazing animations everything in a game is presented in a clean and simple way.

[caption id="attachment_421" align="alignnone" width="560"] Will I Win or not ? Guess I will never Know ![/caption]

8.5/10

Sounds;

The game promises player clear engine sound and good soundtracks at menus good explosion sound and Splash Sounds.

7/10

Gameplay:

Bang Bang Racing has a Top down Camera Perspective. The main objective is to finish the race as the first position. Cars, Courses and events can be unlocked in Single Player mode. In addition to the single player there is a multiplayer mode allowing up to 4 players via split-screen and single player unlocks carry to the multiplayer portion of the game the game features four different race car classes, each with unique attributes: N-Dura, Evo GT, Protech and Apex. Within each class five different cars are offered for a total of 20 cars. Each car also features eight different paint liveries. Nine courses are available, and each can be played in a reverse layout. Additionally each course has multiple shortcut layouts, resulting in a total of 54 unique configurations

9.5/10

Conclusion:

Bang Bang racing is a must have racing game with one of the craziest explosions ever!

Total Score: 8.3/10

Hexic HD (XBLA) Review

Introduction:

Hexic HD is a tile-matching puzzle video game where the player tries to rotate hexagonal tiles to create patterns. The game was designed by Alexey Pajitnov , The creator of Tetris. Hexic HD is pre installed on every hard drive and can also be downloaded as a free download from the xbox live marketplace.

Graphics and Animation:

The game (As From the Title) Runs at 720p . The game has good animations, Explosions  and crystal clear (of course) crystals

Sounds :

The game Has good sounds but no sound tracks

Gameplay:

the game has a fun gameplay in which the player has to make patterns and cluster of similar hexagonal crystals .                                                                                                       The game has two main modes classic and survival

Conclusion:

The game has a fun gameplay good sounds and graphics but has no sound tracks and it actually does what is expected from a free game

10/10

Fifa 12 (Xbox 360 Game) Review

Introduction:

Whether you call it football or Soccer EA Sports has the best football videogame for you. This time FIFA 12 Ships with the all-new Player Impact engine which gives a richer simulation for football (or soccer) than any other FIFA Game made in the series without changing the core experience, gameplay or controls. The games also adds a new wide variety of celebrations as well as a smarter commentary

Graphics:

The game’s all-new Player Impact engine does a pretty good job in fixing popular glitches from previous FIFA games, enhancing celebrations and enhancing player faces to a whole new generation as well as showing little progress in enhancing the crowding system (Simply fans) to a more realistic and acceptable way. However, the games engine still has little flaws in celebrations as well as lacking behind in the crowding system (once again fans).

9/10

Gameplay:

The game’s gameplay, controls and core experiences is still very similar to previous FIFA games but the new graphics engine gives the game a little bit of new feeling , The game has new skills , celebrations and fixed judging glitches , The game also fixed a variety of achievement glitches in Ultimate team  However, the game still has some random achievements glitches and by the way EA has listened to the fans and changed the achievements in the game unlike previous FIFA games which has only one achievement list used in all of them

9.5/10

Sounds:

The game has good crowds anger shouts (yeah really) , support for Custom soundtracks as well as a selection of  different songs on the disc . the games in match sounds gives you an overall experience that you are in a real match and the commentary AI is smarter than ever with new sentence which he uses Usually in the right time which makes it rare to hear the same comments more than twice in a match .However, as I said he usually uses it in the right time so sometimes you may find him saying comments very late or just messing up with the comments.

9.2/10

Conclusion:

The game offers great improvement over other FIFA games but still has some but acceptable glitches .

The Good:

1. Great improvement over previous games


2. Sounds are very realistic


3. Still has the experience which fans want


4. Fixed many glitches


5. Super graphics

The Bad:

1. Still has some glitches


2. There are  still some problems in the commentary

9.3/10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Xbox 360 Game) Review

Introduction:

The best-selling franchise in Xbox 360 history is back, with this slogan Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launched, to complete the story which most of us loved. The game also launched with an all-new social service similar to Battlefield’s Battlelog called Call of Duty: Elite which has a free and paid membership, the paid membership gives gamers new content for MW3 every month in the form of drops which is a very good addition to keep the game fresh. However, Does MW3 have a visible visual improvement over the previous Call of Duty game developed by infinity ward? If you want the answer for this question you are free to read the review below for this answer.

Gameplay:

The core controls and gameplay experience does not differ from the previous infinity ward developed Call of Duty (Modern Warfare 2). However there are still additions to MW3 over MW2 one of these additions is MW3 Survival Mode which is similar to Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombie Mode, there are two main differences in Survival Mode over zombie Mode they are:

1. You’re not fighting zombies this time (of course) but this time you’re fighting different military units of different countries


2. Enemies Spawn at tactical places and use different weapons unlike Zombies which only melee hit you


3. You’re not only attacked by main (or simple) military units   but also by Juggernauts. Helicopters
   Attack dogs , Chemical Warfare and more.

The other difference in MW3 is that you have the ability to get extra Special Ops Missions by paying Call of Duty: Elite Premium Membership which gives you extra Special Ops Missions as Content Drops.

Another Difference is the Face – Off mode which is available as a playlist which lets you to choose to fight between 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3, Multiplayer Maps does not work in Face Ops Mode, Instead you can Download Maps Made especially for Face-off mode as drops from Call of Duty: Elite if you are an Elite premium member or by Downloading Content Collections with the exception of Aground and Erosion Which are available to all of call of duty gamers out of charge so they can try it out.

9.5/10

Graphics:

Unfortunately Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Graphics is hardly better than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Graphics, As Both of they use the same engine with small differences, However the full ability of MW3 Engine is show in maps like Oasis which is the best map rendered in the series, in mw3 the destructive ability of the engine is shown as well as the explosion simulation ability. However, Mw3 destructive ability is very limited unlike Battlefield 3 which has a separate engine for destruction. But it is worth noting that Battlefield 3 runs at 30 FPS (Frames per Second) as a price for its destructive ability while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 runs at 60 FPS (Frames per Second) but at the price of giving the gamers a limited amount of destructive ability.

9/10

Sounds:

MW3 weapons have different sounds from each weapon to another. However, firing sound difference is clearly noted between weapons from different categories Anyway the weapon firing sounds doesn’t differ mainly from MW2 Weapon sounds which is expected as weapon models doesn’t usually change as the game end and start at the same point .

9.2/10

Conclusion:

MW3 is a great game and is ideal for most of the core fan of the series however the lack of a clearly visible change in visuals and the limitation of the destructive ability in the game may be a trouble for some fans of the series since its release.

The Good:

1. Call of duty: Elite is a very good social addition to the series and its features really fit MW3


2. The game new content drops system keeps the game fresh


3. The New Survival mode is a good alternative for BO Zombie Mode and feels original


4. The New Face-Off Mode is a good addition and will satisfy many fans who would like to test their combat abilities against an individual player


5. This time the developers fully use the ability if the engine producing fantastically rendered maps like Oasis


6. The game still runs at 60 FPS

The Bad:

1. Limited Destructive ability


2. Not much visual improvement over MW2

Final Game Score: 9.3/10

Microsoft Comic-Con Plan

Larry Hryb Major Nelson has released the following Schedule for Xbox activity in Comic-Con:

Xbox will be at the 42nd annual Comic-Con International in San Diego next month with a whole bunch of stuff going on. On the show floor, you can find us at Booth #5252.

Show Hours:
Preview: Wednesday, July 11, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday, July 12, – Saturday, July 14: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 15: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The full list of Xbox 360 Comic-Con International 2011 activities include:

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get early hands-on with the most anticipated blockbuster of the year, “Halo 4”! Comic-Con marks your first chance to play visceral and immersive multiplayer of “Halo 4.” So bring a friend and get ready to jump into the action!

Additionally, you’ll have a chance to receive special prizes at the booth and meet the creative visionaries behind “Halo 4” and “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” during special signing events. Check back here or Halo Waypoint for more details and exact times.

Xbox Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel 
Legends Room – Hard Rock Hotel
207 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Thursday, July 12 – Sunday, July 15, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Get an early taste of the upcoming Xbox 360 blockbusters and Xbox LIVE Arcade titles with us. Be sure to stop by the Xbox Lounge at the Hard Rock to play highly anticipated games like “Forza Horizon,” “Fable: The Journey,” “Dance Central 3,” “Assassin’s Creed III,” “Resident Evil 6,” “Borderlands 2,” “Hitman: Absolution,” “Sleeping Dogs,” “Deadlight,” “Wreckateer,” and more. And, after you try some of the new games, check out the HBO GO and Crackle apps on Xbox LIVE.

Xbox 360 at NERD HQ
Block No 16 Union and Spirits
344 7^th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Thursday, July 12 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday, July 13 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.;
Saturday, July 14, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday, July 15, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Xbox 360 is joining forces with Zac Levi’s Nerd Machine again this year as the official console of NERD HQ, a four-day offsite experience exhibiting the best of technology, gaming and entertainment at Comic-Con. Check out blockbuster titles including the intense and reborn Lara Croft in “Tomb Raider,” a brand-new map from “Gears of War: Judgment,” “Hitman: Absolution,” and more playable titles.

Xbox Panels:

The Fiction of “Halo 4”
Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
Thursday, July 12, 4:45pm – 5:45pm

“Halo 4” heralds the return of one of gaming’s most iconic heroes, the Master Chief, in a new, epic sci-fi saga. Expanding and enriching the narrative, 343 Industries, with very special guests, will share how the development of stories across the Greg Bear Forerunner saga, the Karen Traviss Kilo-Five trilogy, “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn,” “Halo 4” Campaign and “Halo Infinity Multiplayer” have become connective tissue for “Halo 4.” Don’t miss the exciting premiere of the “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” trailer as well as Q&A with our special guests! Panelists: Brian Reed, Franchise Writer, Armando Troisi, Narrative Director, 343 Industries, and “Forward Unto Dawn’s” director, cinematic director and writers (to be announced). Moderated by: Frank O’Connor, Franchise Development Director, 343 Industries.

“Gears of War”: Past, Present & Future
Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
Friday, July 13, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

G4 TV Host Morgan Webb, will serve as moderator as legendary video game developer Epic Games comes together to discuss the past, present and future of the “Gears of War” franchise. The creative and technical minds behind one of the most successful game franchises in history will be on hand to share experiences with attendees. Panelists include: Epic Games’ Design Director Cliff Bleszinski and Director of Production Rod Fergusson, writers Tom Bissell and Rob Auten, and the voice of Baird, Fred Tatasciore. This panel will feature an extended Q&A session.

“Halo 4”: A New Campaign and “Halo Infinity Multiplayer”
Room 6DE, San Diego Convention Center
Saturday, July 14, 3:15pm – 4:15pm

“Halo 4” marks the beginning of a new saga in the blockbuster franchise that has shaped entertainment history and defined a generation of gamers. Developed by 343 Industries, get a glimpse at how they have taken “Halo 4” in new directions, introducing an ancient threat and the Master Chief’s greatest challenge, as well as an innovative and fresh new take on multiplayer in War Games and Spartan Ops. Panelists: Kiki Wolfkill, Executive Producer, Josh Holmes, Creative Director and Frank O’Connor, Franchise Development Director and others to be announce soon.

Harms Way(XBLA) Review

Introduction :

Harms Way is developed by Bongfish and was released on December 8, 2010 for free as one of the finalists of the Doritos-sponsored "Unlock Xbox" competition in 2010, this game has a wasteland-like setting and feeling.

Gameplay:

In the game the player has the choice to choose between being a turret or being a driver. as a Driver you should try to get to the first position (of course) while avoiding being hit by a turret, while being a turret you try to hit enemy drivers  so that your driver will (hopefully) get the first position

Graphics :

Th game has a variety of highly detailed cars and good sand and dust simulation as will as good fire effects and explosion simulation

Sounds:

The game has excellent engine sound, wheel sound, fire and explosion sound but has no Sountracks

Conclusion: 

The game has a fun gameplay super sounds and graphic and made an unexpected progress for a free game

9.75/10

The Maw (Xbla) Review

Introduction:

From the Twisted pixel comes The maw an action adventure game on Xbox Live Arcade , This game is fun but it's story is really small and lacks any hardcore elements so it is a casual game.
Gameplay:


In this game you take control of an unnamed aliens which looks really close to an ant which controls a strange translucent alien , at the beginning of the story the ant is arrested by some robotic cops and later the location is exploded , In each level you eat a different creature which gives you a different special power every time to help you complete the level , the main objective in each level is to pass it and make the maw eat the creature there

8/10
Graphics:


The game's graphics are terrible and has nothing to do with being even close to realistic and it looks like that twisted pixel wanted that . The world graphics and water simulation gives you a felling that the game is a an animated painting , the game also has a acceptable explosion animation and a very good physics engine

6/10
Sounds:


The game has a lack of any sounds exept in rare parts of the game and explosion sound and many other small sound with a semi-complete lack of any sound tracks

7/10
Conclusion


The game is fun but has a big lack in sounds and graphics
The good: fun gameplay
The bad:1. the story so short 

2. Terrible graphics and sounds

3. Story is unexplained

 

6/10

Air Band (Kinect Fun Labs) Review

Introduction:

Air Band is the one of the must fun Gadgets in Kinect Fun Labs which utilizes its ability to track hand clearly and to use tour as a background but it is still a Tech-Demo.

Animations & Sound:

The Game has great translucent musical instrument simulation and good hands tracking as will as many sounds and tracks for its tree instrument : Drum, Piano, Guitar across all of its Genres.

9/10

Gameplay :

The games has a simple fun gameplay and promises casual gamers mainly families an hour or two of fun Gameplay.

7/10

Conclusion :

The game has good animation &sounds as will as fun gameplay and musical instrument simulation

8/10

Battle Stuff (Kinect Fun Labs) Review

Another Free Kinect Fun lab gadget from Hyundai
Introduction :
This game has a Fun Gameplay but its pixel graphic doesn't actually fit in the game Main idea and concept .
Graphics and sound
The games animation and sounds ara pretty good but as I said before it's pixel style won't appeal to the fans of it main idea (fighting)
Gameplay
The games gameplay is fun but it's controls are the worst controls I have ever seen in a game

Conclusion
The game is really fun and enjoyable but it's control and graphics are lacking behind .

Junk Fu (Kinect Fun Labs) Review

Introduction:

Junk Fu is one of the best Gadgets available in Kinect Fun labs , as it promises fun gameplay as well as a cleaned and polished UI wish makes it more than just a tech demo

Gameplay:

You play as an unknown charcter which has to cut and slice garbage . You will have just 3 lives after that.... you guessed it , GAME OVER

As the gameplay is fun AND Clean it gets a

10/10

Animation And Sounds:

The Game has good and slick animation as will as good cutting sounds

10/10

Conclusion :

10/10

I Am Super (Kinect Fun Labs) Review

Our First Kinect Fun Labs Gadget Review it will be short as they mainly don't have much to offer,

Introduction:

In the game the player plays as a superhero which has one of 4 ability's : Freeze,Atomic,Heat or Storm.  As a Superhero you can Burn your sister freeze your furniture or do any other type of Stuff

10/10

Animation and Sounds:

The game promsises good effect sounds as will as having good ability animation

9.5/10 : As this is what I expect from a FREE Fun labs Gadget

Conclusion:

The Game offers fun gameplay as will as good sound and animation and is perfect for a FREE fun labs Gadget

9.7/10

Minecraft : 360 Edition (XBLA) Review

Introduction :
Minecraft Xbox gamers your wait is finally over! The 360 edition was released but this time with a whole-new graphics system, Split-screen for HDTV users, a new crafting system as will as running in 60.0 frames per second and busting over 400,000downloads in the first day and 1,000,000 downloads in the first week it is defiantly worth checking

Graphics:

Although it runs in sub -HD If Compared to other games which uses the vortex engine it does a really good job in the graphics and running at a BEAST 60.0 Frames Per Second even in Split-Screen it really gets the perfect mark in Graphics

10.0/10.0

Gameplay :

Each you play the game you will remember your childhood when you were playing with LEGOS Most of the LEGO Games don't actually use your imagination as Minecraft Do ans with an All new Crafting System and a-must-have-been-made Tutorial it gets the perfect mark this Round.

10.0/10.0

Conclusion:

Minecraft: 360 Edition  is a must have masterpiece and deserve its price for using you imagination the right way

10.0/10.0

Trials Evolution (XBLA) Review

Trials Fans Rejoice The Successor for 2009 Best-Selling XBLA Trials HD game has finally arrive with great improvements and surprises for fans across all the section

Graphics:

Trials Evolution was updated with an improved lightning and graphics system with the addition of outdoor tracks and great improvement in the details of the track, background as well as the bike details itself.

So in this Category it gets a 10/10

Sound:

The game has a clear and wonderful engine sound but the sound tracks in the game simply wont appeal to many game so it still gets a 9/10

Gameplay:

In this section Trials Evolution was shown to have a fun gameplay implementing outdoor tracks as well as fun skill game with the addition of Driver licenses which gives the player a tutorials about new skills each time he is entering a new track difficulty as well as have a new feature called Track Central which allows player to share their tracks with all the people on Xbox live who own the game as will as having a more powerful editor so here it get 10/10

Conclusion :

It is one of XBLA best games and is actually a real sequel for trials HD and is an honor for the Trials series in the ending trials evolution is worth its 15$ or 1200 ms points price and we thank Ubisoft, Redlynx and Microsoft game studios for developing such a good game

9.5/10 *****