Fruit Ninja Kinect | Review

Chances are you've played some iteration of the incredibly addictive game, Fruit Ninja.  First appearing on iOS devices, developer Halfbrick studios has taken the very "touch-sensitive" experience, and re-tooled it (naturally) for the arm-swinging antics of a Kinect user.

I've sat on my Kinect now for a few months (not literally), waiting for something worth while to come along that will get me to power it up again.  Little did I know it would come in the form of a game that arleady exists and one I already own.  I have it for my iPhone, and iPad, I also just got into the beta on Facebook, but the Kinect version, has to be the ultimate version of the game.  Controls are simple, you wave your arms around like a ninja (imagine that) slicing and dicing delicious looking fruit.  This is really the most ripe fruit you can imagine displayed in a bunch of high-def pixels!



The Kinect version has a myriad of gameplay modes to choose, from the original arcade mode (60 seconds to slice as much fruit as you can, while avoiding bombs) to multi-player options that help stretch the quick ADD gameplay with a little longevity.  Sure, playing on a touch device does take a little less effort, but you don't get to bust it out at parties.



Ultimately, it's a console version of a bite-sized app, and I have to give kudos to the developer who can create an addicting game that transcends from one platform to another.  Will it change the way you play games, or is it the best Kinect game of all time?  No, but it sure is alot of fun, and I'm a fun-loving kinda guy.

It's raining.

Mashbuttons.com gives Fruit Ninja Kinect an 8 out of 10

MOON DIVER BY SQUARE ENIX REVIEWED WITH LOVE BY MASHBUTTONS.COM

Welcome once again my fellow arcadnaughts (yeah, yeah, it’s my term for arcade loving pioneers). Okay moving on, so back in the golden/silver age of arcades, March 1989 to be exact, Capcom introduced a new action fest named “Strider” (Google it youngsters). Set in the year 2048, Strider starred a young hero named Hiryu whom was tasked with the assassination of the dictator of his future dystopia. You, the player, had an 8 way joystick and two buttons. One, for slicing your plasma sword called a “Cypher” and one for jumping. Gameplay consisted of jumping, slashing, clinging to girders and sliding down ramps and causeways all while slicing everything insight like a crazy ADHD kid who’s lost his Ritalin. It was truly amazing and was quickly ported to home systems such as the Sega Genesis. Those were the days. Guess what? Those days are back and Square Enix has a beauty in store for you. I give you Moon Diver for download on Xbox Live Marketplace and my god, I am so glad I am not taking Ritalin anymore.

Moon Diver brought fond memories to my brain the second I started to play it. Here I was jumping around scrambling from platform to platform, dangling from ceilings and girders all the while slashing enemy hordes and mechanical what not. Had I been returned to 1989?? Nope, New Kids on the Block was defiantly not coming out of my Radio, but here we now have an incredible drop in drop out multiplayer experience much like Strider, in the sense that it can be played as a single player jaunt but soon it reveals that in order to truly spank this game right you will need a friend or two to join the cause. The reason? Individual player level-up abilities that are unique to each of the four playable characters.

The later levels of Moon Diver will have you wishing that you could mutate at will an extra finger because things start getting so frantic that you will need the aid of your comrades and their best defensive and offensive spells that they have had better leveled up at this point. Playing online was a blast! Because if you are playing with a group and your player takes a dirt nap you re-spawn wrapped up in glowing chains and one of your teammates can set you free to rejoin the fight. The Graphics are your typical Anime flair and seem to be a perfect fit for this type of downloadable. Squaresoft has been really surprising me as of late and I want the surprises to keep coming so please support the cause.Go to Xbox Live Marketplace download the demo then buy the full blown download.

Zircon’s gotta go pack his bags for E3, I got’s some people to meet and I hope to run into some fans as well so hopefully I can bring back a bag of swag to give away here on MashButtons, so keep your eyes peeled! Okay so I end these reviews with a quote (heck, I don’t know why) so here goes. “A Freudian slip is saying one thing but meaning your mother.”

Z man has left the blog….. No really I left like an hour ago.

MashButtons’ first experience with Dungeons & Dragons is Daggerdale

Okay folks, I am going out on a limb and trying my hand at my first D&D product. Daggerdale is the recent game to be released by Atari. Focusing on quests, looting and leveling up, Daggerdale is chock full of all these as you work your way up the Tower to fight the evil within. Whether you choose to play alone in the campaign mode or play online with up to three other people there is a lot of replay value behind this title to keep people coming back for more. So how will this hold up against other titles in the genre, especially with this being an XBLA title.

Well, this is a tough one as I feel it has potential, but the bugs eat away at the features that could make this a very solid dungeon crawler. We will get to the bugs in a bit since you all should know about what makes Daggerdale fun none the less. Easily the four player multiplayer, using a microphone or not, it is way more fun with the more people you have playing, that is unless you are playing with people that have a much higher level than you. The graphics look good, but the hack and slash action is where it is at. And the more you take down, the more loot you get, oh yes, there is looting along with character customization with level. I played through the game with the rogue and will most likely give another class a chance shortly, but the character was fast, able to attack from afar, and battles were a challenge at times. With all the elements in place that make a solid action-RPG, where did this gem go bad?

Well to start, the screen tear when moving the camera a bit too quickly and having the camera get stuck behind objects, which is one of the bugs to be listed. Another bug was a game freeze each time I interacted with the dwarf giving me my first quest instructions, after the third attempt after reset, reload, and an attempt the next day. The solution was to create a new character. Now for the matchmaking transitioning to the last bug encountered. Like I said, it sucks when you are a lower level than your teammates, not only because you die a lot, but a number of times, which increases your chances of falling into a mapping black hole, forcing you into a reset where you lose both the loot and the gained experience. All semi irritating on occasion, the frequency is what has me chomping at the bit for a patch.

Dungeons & Dragons Daggerdale, though fun when and if it is running on all cylinders, is equally irritating to the point of being unplayable with the bugs that need to be patched. Once patched, it would be a great XBLA action-RPG that could outdo Dungeon Siege III, another title in the same genre that also is also scheduled to be released this month.

Alice: Madness Returns comes with original PC game!

In a generous offering today, EA announced with the impending June 14th release date of Alice: Madness Returns, that buyers will be treated to a one-time-use code allowing the download of the original American McGee's Alice for play on either the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation Network.

This is huge, as this marks the first time American McGee's twisted third-person platformer will be on a console, and given how long ago it came out, really does make sense for those who never got a chance to play it the first time.  I still have the PC title, that I can't even play on my Mac anymore.  Ah, past choices, they're always getting in the way of your future opportunities!

One can also purchase the stand-alone downloadable port for 800 Microsoft Points, or $9.99 on the PSN, if one was so inclined.

Check out some screens from the oldie (but goodie) title below, and for even more in-depth details on the sequel, you can also check out AliceMadnessReturns.com

Atari's next Ghostbusters to be downloadable in 2011

Atari has provided our office with screens of Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime, their downloadable title to be released on XBLA, PSN, and Windows PC this Spring. This top down action game will still have a number of weapons along with massive supernatural foes. Take a look and keep an eye out for more as we get closer to release and be sure to stock up on MS for the soon to be available XBLA titles to be released in the next month.

Blade Kitten available now for download

I know I am a day late to the party but better late than never, amIright? Blade Kitten is available now on PSN, XBLA, and PC which features a cute but not so cuddle protagonist, Kit Ballard and her sidekick Skiffy on her quest to track down the scum of Hollow Wish.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light | Review

Rounding out the 5-week Summer of Arcade is Eidos and Crystal Dynamics attempt at re-inventing Lara Croft; this time by shifting the perspective, dramatically changing the control scheme and placing a little less focus on exploration and more on combat. But this time, you're not alone...

Click past the break for our full review

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair | Review

Synopsis: It has been a while since wanna be vampire slayers have been able to play a Castlevania title on anything other than a Nintendo handheld. Well the time has come for Konami to give back to its fans with the release of Harmony of Despair, exclusively for the Xbox Live Arcade. This iteration introduces features that are new to the series, changing up how you play Castlevania games. In Despair, the player gets to choose from a number of lead characters from Castlevanias past to take on the big, bad Dracula, but this time the battle can be taken online in an up to six player coop gameplay. On top of the online coop gameplay, a competitive survivor mode is available to slay other players. Now that I have been grinding single player and rushing multiplayer levels, here are my impressions of time spent with Koji Igarashi’s latest masterpiece, Harmony of Despair.

Praise: To start my review, I need to preface it by saying that this is not like the Castlevania titles you have played on the Nintendo handhelds, as there are six levels, all timed, and you do not level up. I know that sounds like all of the key elements to a Castlevania title, but there is still a lot of fun to be had, mainly with the online coop, as you and up to six other players storm each castle to loot for new items and make your way through large bosses until you get to take on Dracula. Each level is large and hard to explore all the rooms within the half hour time limit when playing alone, increasing replay value, but when playing coop it seems like plenty of time, and the best part is that if you or your teammates find a chest with items, everyone on the team gets the contents. If you die before completing the level, you still get to keep the items earned throughout the level to equip or sell before you retry.

Gripes: Not all change is considered good in my opinion as I am sure I value different aspects of games than most of our viewers and after spending a couple hundred hours with previous Castlevania titles, there are a number of things I wish went unchanged. The first being timed levels, sure it is enough time to play through the level but at the same time, it is not enough time to really explore the environment. The ability to level up is no longer available and the way in which you increase your character’s stats are by getting new equipment, either from chests or through the shop, and you are unable to change equipment and items on the fly, but have to do it from designated spots in each level. Lastly, the difficulty in single player is significantly harder than playing through cooperatively, resulting in repeated grinding to get money and new equipment to ease the physical beat downs from bosses.

Overall, your gameplay style would really be the biggest factor in regards to your appreciation for this title. If you are a glutton for punishment, when playing single player or do most of your gaming online with others, you will like Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. However, if you don’t like playing online or do not have a gold membership, then you may want to pass on this. While it may not be the title you were expecting, it does still offer a lot for the 1200 MS point pricetag, such as huge 2D side scrolling levels, looting, and support for future DLC of levels and characters.

Mashbuttons.com gives Castlevania: Harmony of Despair a 7 out of 10.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is available now for the Xbox Live Arcade.

Lara is back in downloadable form, this time with a partner

That's right, Tomb Raider is coming back this summer, toting the Guardian of light suffix along with coop gameplay and being downloadable on XBLA, PSN, and PC. Not being a fan of the previous titles, this has indeed sparked some interest. Guardian of light is scheduled for release on August 18th as part of the annual Summer of Arcade for 1200 MS Points. The new trailer can be found below.

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum | Review

Synopsis: Neo Geo is pushing out fighting titles on XBLA this year like Activision is releasing Call of Duty titles and multiplayer maps. The most recent title provided to us is NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, which is a tag team two on two fighters consisting of new and old fighters that have appeared on NeoGeo systems on such titles as Fatal Fury, Samurai Showdown, and King of Fighters. To give it that new car feel, SNK Playmore has redrawn the characters and backgrounds in high definition. Lastly, little did I know before doing my research on this title, but it was an arcade and PlayStation 2 title that was originally released in 2005. Without further ado, let’s see how SNK’s recent downloadable throwback fighting title stacks up in a genre that is making a large comeback.

Praise: Unlike SNK's previous fighting titles, battle coliseum has a large selection of competitors with a wide variety of fighting styles, although I still found it hard to stray from using Mr. Big and of course, the well-known Terry Bogart. Being that I am much more familiar with the move lists from Street Fighter IV, since that was the last fighter I have been playing, I felt it fitting to take advantage of the practice mode to get the moves down, then single player to see how I fare against computer AI, then finally ending with Xbox live multiplayer to see how I rank worldwide with the occasional trash talking. Surprisingly, the online aspect of the game has a pretty active community, as it seems a lot of Xbox live arcade titles tend to be harder to find matches nowadays. The gameplay is a lot of fun as fighting is fast paced and actions are very responsive while the character editor allows you to adjust the colors of characters and outfits, providing individuality to your fighters when playing online.

Gripes: I do have to address some things I noticed while reviewing this title starting with the graphics. SNK Playmore boasts that this has been redrawn in high definition, however, the appearance while playing does not appear to look that way. The backgrounds looks bright and flashy, however, the characters looks rather flat and jagged. Though I do have a decent fight stick to use when playing this genre of games, However, I realize a lot of our viewers may not own one, so upon playing Battle Coliseum with the Xbox controller, matches can be rather unforgiving, sometimes resulting in what looks like you are stuck in a glitch leaving you vulnerable to be hit until you pull off the intended move. Lastly, it is not too hard to find a match if you set the region to worldwide, but if you try to refine the matchmaking to region for example, it usually will not find a match and can take a while to find an opponent if you choose to create match.

All in all, I really do not have any problems with battle coliseum as the gamplay was solid and was able to find matches quickly most of the time. If graphics are important, then you may quickly be turned off to this title, but if you have ever been a fan of any SNK fighter, then you will have a good time with this, plus the 800 Microsoft points price tag is another great incentive to purchase as there is a good amount of replay value behind this throwback. So who will you choose to enter the coliseum and do you have what it takes to make it through?

Mashbuttons.com gives NeoGeo Battle Coliseum an 7.5 out of 10.

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is available now for the Xbox Live Arcade.

Get your Winterbottom on the cheap with XBL DOW

That is Xbox Live Deal of the Week of course! This week's deal of the week brings you The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom for the low low price of 400 MS points, coming to the price of just around two energy drinks. Well worth it in my opinion, no go out and buy it, if you have the points and the patience.

Metal Slug XX | Review

Synopsis: Metal Slug is back, this time in the form of an XBLA release toting an XX suffix. Of course we got a review copy from our friends at SNK Playmore to take me back to the days of arcades, quarters, and Neo Geo. This time around, we get two additional characters to choose from, Ralf and Clark from King of Fighters to help the returning cast of warriors. On top of seven stages, each with multiple paths to play through, there is a combat school which is loaded with more than 70 missions to complete. Multiplayer is also available in this release to play through the missions side by side with a partner, and what is a Metal Slug game without the Slug vehicles; as you have six to use throughout the missions. To preface the review, I’m a huge fan of Neo Geo titles, run and gun shooters, and nostalgic remakes, so the Metal Slug series holds a place in my heart along with taking loads of money from me to get the number of releases across multiple platforms. It’s time to storm the beaches of Garbage Island and take on Morden’s forces in another off the wall shooter which is Metal Slug.

Praise: There is a huge amount of replay value from the available characters, each with their own special weapons and moves; on top of that, there are a variety of Slug vehicles which help with blowing stuff up. While Metal Slug titles have always been true to its roots, XX seems to add more than games I grew up on, with a longer game, multiplayer coop, and combat school missions. Each of the seven levels has multiple paths, so it is easy to go back and play through multiple times and experience things not seen in the first playthrough. For those new to Metal Slug, you can expect to find a satirical cartoon looking 2D platformer with a variety of weapons and large bosses to take down while playing through only takes about an hour, but you WILL play it again, especially with a friend and a second controller. Combat school is what I probably enjoyed the most; because it is easy to pick up and play through the missions, but combat school provides a number of trials to complete in order to rank up.

Gripes: It is always fun to play coop from time to time and Metal Slug XX gives you that option, unfortunately every time I try to find or create a match, I am sitting waiting for five minutes before I give up and go back to single player. Like my issue with the Mega Man games, your range of fire is extremely limited, being that you can only shoot horizontally and vertically, unless you are in a Slug vehicle. The other Metal Slug titles are ten dollars or 800 Microsoft Points, but this new entry is fifteen dollars or 1200 Microsoft Points, and while this does have some additional content over previous releases, it still doesn’t feel like it warrants the increase in price.

Overall, Metal Slug XX is rather entertaining, while not perfect, it holds enough replay value to keep you playing for a while. Unfortunately, due to the price tag and lack of people playing online, you may want to rethink purchasing if online play is important to you. This does stick to its roots, so anyone familiar with the series should consider adding XX to their library, and with the download being pretty small, you will not need to clear up space on your hard drive to download and start the running and gunning. With the multiple paths on each level, the replay value is there and will keep you coming back, whether you want to play through over and over again or just to pick up and kill some time.

Mashbuttons.com gives Metal Slug XX 7 out of 10.

Metal Slug XX is available now for the Xbox Live Arcade.

Classic DOOM II on XBLA today - lets play co-op!

Revisiting the classics; that's the definition of nostalgia, and today marks the release of another great classic; Doom II for the Xbox Live Arcade (Sorry PSN).  You know the drill, unless you were too young in 1994 for mommy and daddy to let you play, (I actually wasn't too young, but I did have to hide the game myself from the ol' 'rents at the time) Doom II was the follow-up to Doom I, and introduced new weapons, monsters (Hellions) and environments (Hell).

Today's release isn't just a simple port, in fact, we're calling it Doom IIi (2.5), as it adds even more enemies, 32 new levels and co-op mode over Xboxx LIVE or system split-screen, deathmatch, and a never-before-seen bonus chapter "No Rest for the Living". 

All this can be yours for 800 MS Points ($10).  You know you want to check it out.  And check out some screens below.

First trailer of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an adventure

Lara Croft is back, in an adventure you actually may want to play.  Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a download-only title (available this summer on Xbox Live, PSN and Steam) that's different than any other Tomb Raider you've ever seen.

Presented in an isometric view (think Diablo, or most recently Torchlight), and you have an idea of the style here that Eidos  and Crystal Dynamics are going for.  Little is known of the game so far, except this time Lara will not be alone, and there's some co-op flavor built in here. Eidos has just released the first official trailer; and we've embedded it below.

Check it out, and let us know what you think.  This seems like a title I could get behind.

Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition| Review

Synopsis: Fans of Atlus’ previously exclusive to PC first person brawler can now play Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition on their console through Xbox Live Arcade. Players take on the role of Ghat, who has just killed Father-Mother and is being persued by his brothers and sisters while being accompanied through the land of Zenozoik by his companion Deadra to reveal the reason of this sin. Are you still with me? It is confusing at first but if you give it time, it will shortly start making sense. New to the Ultimate Edition are a handful of features that will have those that have already played Zeno Clash on the PC, coming back for console seconds, such as online coop or local split-screen Pit and Tower Challenges, Rush mode for time trial runs of your favorite levels, and new weapons, moves, and Character Awareness. Here is my review of Mad Max beyond Bettlejuice Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition.

Praise: Goodbye realistic gameplay and environments and hello bizarre and twisted trip. Zeno Clash has an incredible environment which looks like something out of Beetlejuice and has a cast of characters that look straight out of a Mad Max movie. From the twisted and deranged landscapes and creatures to the scripting and soundtrack, this game is a fun ride from start to finish. While there is plenty of content to keep players coming back for the Rush mode and coop challenges, you need to make sure that you have enough hard drive space as this bad boy takes up one and a half gigs of space. What really changes this title from others in the first person genre is the combat, sure you can use guns that are just as unique as the land of Zenozoik, but the majority of the game was with your fisticuffs. It took some time to get used to but was entertaining and didn’t feel overly repetitive, as the environment and characters kept my attention.

Gripes: Some other items that also took my mind of the first person brawling were the hit detection and weapon crosshairs throughout battles. You can kick enemies when they are down, but in order to do so you have to use the punch buttons while looking down but if you’re not looking down past an unforgiving angle you will still be throwing bows in the wind. Weapons don’t seem overly powerful which provides a good balance, but the crosshairs were five little dots that were hard to see, so most of the time it was more effective to fight hand to hand or with melee weapons. Lastly, the majority of time I tried to play coop in the prime time evening hours, I could not find people to join when I created matches, however it was easy to find matches to join, but still had times where no available matches were found.

Overall, this was a fun title and is just the right length, coming in at right around five hours to complete. There is a lot of content available for the fifteen dollar price tag, while still providing a decent amount of replay value. If you are getting this title for the online coop, then you may want to make sure your friends have it first so that you know you have people to play with. Atlus had done a great job with this title from the gameplay to the world of Zenozoik.

Mashbuttons.com gives Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition a 8.5 out of 10.

Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition is available now 1200 MS Points on Xbox Live Arcade.

Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition finally slated for release May 5th

This first person brawler is soon to be re-released to console gamers XBox Live Arcade next week on Cinco De Mayo. Those unfamiliar with this PC title can expect to find a unique artistic world along with satisfying up close combat, coop online play modes, and improved animations from the original. One of the highlighted gameplay features exclusive to the Ultimate Edition is Awareness System which notifies the you, Ghat, what enemies you will be up against along with their location by on screen indicators.

Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 | Screenshots

Following up on the announcement of the sequel to Bionic Commando today, we wanted to bring you a slew of new screenshots to peruse.  You can check out the teaser trailer here, screenshots below.