2009 XBLA TITLES
0 Day Attack on Earth
Square Enix
TBA
A multiplayer overhead shooter from Square Enix.
'Splosion Man
Twisted Pixel
July 22
Born of plasma and flame in an underground military lab, 'Splosion Man can 'splode at will, propelling himself around a side-scrolling world and destroying everything in his way.
1 vs. 100 Live
Endemol, Microsoft Game Studios
June 3 US, TBA EU
From the makers of Deal or No Deal, Endemol, the world's largest independent production company, brings the popular television game show 1 vs. 100 to Xbox LIVE Primetime. The exclusive game pits one Xbox LIVE member against 100 others from around the world with a live host and great prizes. The goal of "the One" is to eliminate all the opposition by correctly answering questions, hoping that the opponents will answer incorrectly and be eliminated from the game. And stay tuned for 1 vs. LIVE, where one lucky winner will have a chance to compete against the entire Xbox LIVE community.
Arkanoid Live (58)
Taito
May 6 US / EU / JP
First appearing in the 1980's as a new style block-breaking game, Arkanoid appears on Xbox Live Arcade having accomplished even further evolution. Enjoy Arkanoid in high-definition with beautifully choreographed background movies and background music. Loaded with 120 stages in all and colorful cooperative and versus modes. As part of "TAITO's Collection Series", in which Taito's masterpiece games are remade, Arkanoid is remade with even cooler background movies and sound and loaded with colorful game modes. Within the simplistic block-breaking game element, and beyond effects incurred by items and the appearance of enemies, several kinds of new bosses appear in the final stage.
Banjo -Tooie (73)
Rare, Microsoft Game Studios
April 29 US / EU / JP
Colossal, immense, and gigantic; beautiful, gorgeous, and grandiose -- these are the words one thinks of when describing Rare's 2000 follow-up adventure to Banjo-Kazooie. Keeping consistent with the attitude found in this title, Rare has wittily named it Banjo-Tooie. Explore eight giant worlds, solve puzzles and help game characters to unearth jiggys, play as Mumbo, a T-Rex, Submarine, Money-Van, Washing Machine, and more, and learn more than 40 new moves on the way.
Blazing Birds
Vector2
May 20
An independent project designed using the XNA development suite and rewarded with a publishing contract on Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace via a win at the Gamefest 2007 Dream-Build-Play contest.
Blazing Birds is an action-packed, robotic sports game modeled after the game of badminton. The game was designed by David Flook of Ontario, Canada.
Bubble Bobble Neo
Taito
TBA
Clover
Binary Tweed
May 11 XBLCG
An independent project designed using the XNA development suite.
Set in a medieval world ruled by a monarchy with a welfare state, Clover tells the story of Sam, an adolescent teenager. Recently orphaned after his lone parent mother died in a shock attack on the proud nation of Sanha, Clover follows Sam's journey of discovery as he explores the land and events surrounding his loss.
Clover is a plot-driven platformer in the style of classic titles such as Fantastic Dizzy that sees the player solve logical puzzles by collecting items, talking to a diverse cast of characters and exploring artistically realized environments. The game innovates on its predecessors with modern gameplay mechanics, such as unique and forgiving alternatives to player 'health' and 'death'.
Death Road
Bloober Team
TBA
Death Tank (66)
Snowblind Studios, Microsoft
February 18 US / EU / JP
Death Tank is a fast-paced action game that rewards quick reflexes and cunning strategy. Devastating weapons and unique items give your tank unlimited destructive power. Eight separate landscapes react to tank combat, altering their shape when hit and providing an ever-changing environment in which to play. Battle with up to four friends on the same console, against multiple A.I. opponents in single-player combat, or up to eight tanks simultaneously in the Death Tank arena via Xbox LIVE for exciting co-op or chaotic free-for-all play! Crisp graphics and amazing effects coupled with fast-paced game play makes each battle a visceral experience.
FunTown Mahjong (44)
FunTown World Limited, Microsoft
January 28 US / EU / JP
This version of the traditional Chinese tile game is made for the whole family to play! It includes the ability to compete against your friends on Xbox LIVE or against AI opponents. You can also earn achievements, aim for the top of the leaderboards, and enjoy tons of exciting Mahjong variations!
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
SNK Playmore
June 24 US / EU / JP
The legend grows as this classic descendant of Fatal Fury arrives on Xbox LIVE Arcade. It's been 10 years since the death of Geese Howard. However, Howard's immense martial arts skills have been passed to his son, Rock. The new hero is joined by a cast of 12 new characters plus one returning fighter, Terry Bogard, for this tournament of champions. Representing the world's best, the maulers gather once again to crown the "King of Fighters." Garou: Mark Of The Wolves improves on the Fatal Fury system by adding three new battle formats, creating fights more furious than before.
Gel, Set & Match (73)
Gastronaut Studios, Microsoft
May 20
Gel is a puzzle game in which players use a small character to move colored blocks and arrange them into formations. Players can also customize their characters with a variety of zany costumes.
HoopWorld
Streamline Studios
TBA 2009
HoopWorld is an over-the-top, three-on-three multiplayer trick-game that fuses elements of arcade-style street basketball and the ancient Mesoamerican game of tlachtli to create a unique hoops experience. Through the combination of stylized multi-ethnic characters, multiple hoops, richly imaginative interactive locations, and an innovative points system based on collaborative ‘tricking', HoopWorld is a new experience in what a downloadable arcade game can become.
Ion Assault
Coreplay, Black Inc
Q3 2009
Like Geometry Wars and Super Stardust HD, Ion Assault has you control a spaceship and blow wave upon wave of alien enemies to smithereens, using all manner of weaponry and power-ups. Ships can be upgraded as you progress through a storied campaign spanning four scenarios.
Joy Ride
Big Park, Microsoft Game Studios
TBA 2009
Avatars, start your engines! Full of wild driving fun, Joy Ride will get your adrenaline pumping as you tear up the track with your friends, or jump, flip and trick your way through the Stunt Park as you work with the whole community to unlock rewards. Joy Ride is completely free to download and gives you all new ways to play, whether you’re looking for a quick game or a deep, custom social experience, all on Xbox LIVE.2 Design your dream car or purchase new tracks, game modes and avatar items. You can share the racetracks and game modes with your friends so no one is ever left out.
Lode Runner (76)
Southend Interactive, Tozai
April 22 US / EU / JP
It's an all-new Lode Runner gold mine -- 3-D graphics, frenzied 2-D action, lodes of modes, 220 levels, multiplayer options, puzzles, a level editor and more! Run, climb, blast blocks, outsmart enemies and grab the gold on your own or with a partner. It's classic action with "lodes" of new twists. Battle up to three friends on Xbox LIVE in a frantic game of tag, where the first to die is the first to avenge ... as an enemy. Survive endlessly spawning foes to earn medals. Create devious levels to challenge the Community. For long-time fans or first-time runners, it's the mother lode.
Madballs in Babo : Invasion
HeadGames
July 15
Madballs: Babo Invasion is a fast-paced multiplayer game where armed ball-like "Babos" navigate maze-like worlds in a free-for-all firefight or team-based combat. The game offers an arcade-style single-player mode and the optional depth of multiplayer team and class-based gameplay. It also features top-down and chase cam views, new weapons, and lush 3-D environments. Multi-player Competitive Mapping, a first-of-its-kind game feature, supports the Invasion game mode, adding a major strategic and competitive element to gameplay.
Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers (79)
Stainless Games, Wizards of the Coast
June 17
Duels of the Planeswalkers takes players on a journey through a Multiverse in which they take on the roles of Planeswalkers, powerful wizards who battle others for glory, knowledge and conquest. Throughout their journey, Planeswalkers battle with, or against each other in lush interactive 3D environments. Similar to the Magic: The Gathering trading card game, Planeswalkers are equipped with an arsenal of spells and creatures that if used wisely will help advance the Planeswalker through the game.
Extending the game experience beyond the confines of the traditional card game, players can opt to battle real life opponents online. Also available are a variety of strategic single-player game scenarios.
Miner Wars
Keen Software House
Autumn 2009
Miner Wars is a 6DOF underground and space shooter played in a fully destructible environment and is a combination of single player story game and MMO. As a player, you operate an advanced mining ship in an open world asteroid belt area. You dig kilometers of tunnels, harvest the ore, travel the solar system, fight your enemies and discover mysterious alien secrets. Game play is led by an epic story and is a combination of a single/multi-player game, cooperative, or you against everyone.
The story will introduce you to many types of missions: rescue, exploration, revenge, base defense, theft, transportation, stealth, search and destroy, pure harvesting, racing or just flying around and destroying everything you see.
Perfect Dark
Rare, Microsoft
Winter 2009
In Perfect Dark you assume the role of Joanna Dark, a secret agent working for the secret Carrington Institute. Your mission is to rescue a kidnapped scientist and unravel the mystery of the dataDyne Corporation. Along the way you will get mixed up in alien conspiracies, government cover-ups with people trying to kill you at every turn!
Plants vs. Zombies
PopCap Games
TBA
Help! The zombies have invaded! And don't look now, but they're coming for you next! You'll need to think fast and plant faster to fend off this mob of helmet-clad, pole-vaulting zombies.
R-Type Dimensions (77)
Southend Interactive, Tozai
February 4 US / EU / JP
R-Type Dimensions combines the genre-defining coin-op classics R-Type and R-Type II, with a twist. Although classic gameplay remains untouched, R-Type Dimensions elevates the experience to greater heights with brand-new additions and enhancements. For the first time, R-Type Dimensions allows multiplayer co-op play locally or over Xbox LIVE for up to two players. Fight through all 14 Bydo-infested stages in the original 2-D or all-new 3-D graphics with the ability to swap back and forth between the two seamlessly. Strike down the evil Bydo Empire and save the earth in R-Type Dimensions.
Raskulls
Halfbrick
TBA 2009
Raskulls is an entirely original puzzle platformer with a rich single-player campaign and addictive online multiplayer component. Gameplay blends platforming, puzzle and racing. With hundreds of blocks arranged in Tetris-style fashion throughout each world, players must use a block-smashing wand to find their way through the level in the most efficient way possible. Some levels are simple point-to-point or lap footraces, while other modes involve diffusing bombs and conserving block-bashing "ammo". Up to four players can race with heaps weapons and powerups in a huge variety of levels and modes.
Rocket Riot (82)
Codeglue, THQ
June 17 US / EU / JP
Rocket Riot is an action-packed side-view shooter featuring a bazooka-wielding jetpack soldier. With a highly stylized 8-bit era feel, players blast their way through the environment against enemies or multiplayer foes online. Navigating through a completely destructible environment, players can uncover special power ups or even burrow into different areas of the map.
Samurai Shodown : Edge of Destiny
SNK Playmore
November 2009
Celebrate the 15th anniversary of the revered weapons-based fighting franchise with the most brutal and visceral Samurai Shodown installment ever produced -- Edge of Destiny. Set in 1791 during the twilight days of Japan's feudal Edo period, Edge of Destiny reveals a society on the brink of collapse, as encroaching Western influences threaten to overrun the ancient, once-hidden culture of lords, serfs, and samurai.
In the midst of this chaos and upheaval, the Lord of Amori-han bravely chooses to raise an orphaned European princess as his own daughter. This brave young girl, Suzuhime, matures to become a warrior representing both East and West. The insidious Golba, a veteran of the U.S. Revolutionary War, ranks paramount among her foes, and a cadre of like-minded fighters flock to Japan to halt his dark plans for global domination. Familiar faces from past Samurai Shodown games (including Haohmaru, Nakoruru, and Ukyo) battle alongside newcomers from all corners of the Ear th to put an end to Golba’s villainous designs. Victory on this crucial conflict comes by any means necessary -- even if it means ending a melee with grisly dismemberment or decapitations!
Serious Sam HD
Croteam, Majesco
Summer 2009
Serious Sam HD will re-imagine The First Encounter, and be created by original developer Croteam.
The chaotic first-person shooter, where enemies spawn and overwhelm from every angle, will return with online co-op for four friends. The surreal Egyptian setting will be spread across 12 levels, and we're promised dazzling, revamped visuals.
Shadow Complex
Chair Entertainment, Epic Games, Microsoft
August 19
Shadow Complex is set in the compelling universe of Empire, Orson Scott Card's best-selling novel outside of the famed Ender's Game series. The game provides a fresh twist on classic side-scroller action by delivering an original single-player adventure that unfolds across a range of non-linear levels. Gameplay centers around exploration and fast-paced combat as players gather power-ups to overcome obstacles, thwart enemies, and delve into a mysterious and challenging world.
Shadow Complex propels lost hiker Jason Fleming into the hollows of government conspiracy, dark politics and military upheaval. When Jason and his girlfriend, Claire, accidentally stumble upon a rogue paramilitary group called the Restoration, it soon becomes clear that the faction's intent is to set in motion a chain of events that will cause America to collapse into a civil war. Assumed to be a government agent, the Restoration captures Claire, and while this initially fuels Jason's motivation to find justice, he soon discovers the magnitude of what the sinister offshoot has planned. Along the way, Jason acquires many high-tech "toys" the Restoration is developing, and eventually becomes a super-powered engine of destruction.
South Park
Doublesix, Microsoft
Fall 2009
Based on the Emmy- and Peabody-award winning show, this South Park game is coming exclusively to Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2009.
The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai (75)
Ska Studios, Microsoft
April 1 US / EU / JP
The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai is a 2-D stylistic action platformer for Xbox LIVE Arcade showcasing fast action, deep gameplay, and a unique visual style. An undead samurai dishwasher in a dystopian universe is on a quest for revenge against the evil cyborg army. To dispatch hordes of zombies, cyborgs, and robots, the Dishwasher has at his fingertips a devastating array of attacks using ancient blades, disturbing machinery, and screen-obliterating Dish Magic. Compete with the rest of the world in a variety of speed run and high score challenges to become the most formidable Dishwasher yet!
The King of Fighters Sky Stage
SNK Playmore
TBA
This bizarre top-down shooter uses characters from the tournament brawler franchise The King of Fighters as heroes shooting through space and blasting away at evil.
The Maw (76)
Twisted Pixel
January 21 US / EU / JP
The pinnacle of alien evolution, Maw is a cowardly fat blob concerned mostly with snacking and lounging. He can, however, absorb the traits of anything he eats, is virtually indestructible, and can grow to unlimited size. If he wasn't a danger to all life in the universe, he'd make the perfect pet. In this action/adventure game, he's the best friend of our hero Frank, and only by working together can Maw eat their way to freedom.
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (89)
Lucasarts
July 15
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is a completely re-imagined version of the first game in the series that adds updated high definition graphics, a re-mastered musical score, and full voiceover.
The Warriors: Street Brawl
CTXM, Paramount Digital Entertainment
TBA
Available on Xbox LIVE Arcade, The Warriors: Street Brawl features six missions of three levels each for a total of 18 arcade-style battles. Staying true to the movie, The Warriors: Street Brawl begins at the gang summit in Van Cortland Park and continues as players fight hordes of notorious rivals in a life or death battle to their home turf. Players can become one of the iconic Warriors, including Swan, Cochise, Vermin or Rembrandt, as they try to uphold the gang’s reputation as one of the toughest factions in New York. The tension builds until the epic beach showdown against Luther, devious leader of The Rogues.
Tour de France 2009
Cyanide Studio, Focus Home Interactive
July 15
Tour de France 2009 on Xbox LIVE Arcade is the official simulation of the world's most famous cycling competition, reproducing with an extreme fidelity all the upbeats that make the Tour de France one of the most exciting and intense sport competitions of today.
Choose your team from one of the 18 Pro Teams available, and lead it to victory through the 21 official legs of the edition 2009 of the Tour! Race through the classic landscapes that make up the charm of the Tour de France – forests, coastlines, steep mountains – but don’t fall asleep admiring the beautiful scenery! The other teams are determined to win the Tour, so you will have to battle fiercely! Early breakaways, fights for jerseys, sprints and your tactical sense will be crucial to winning the challenges.
Trials HD
RedLynx, Microsoft
August 12
Put on your helmet, and rev your way through Trials HD, a fully-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing game in stunning HD graphics. Tear up more than 50 tracks and test your metal in two unique game modes: Race and Skill. Create, share and download an unlimited number of free tracks with the level editor, and customize your rider to fit your personality.
Uno Rush (77)
Microsoft
March 25 US / EU / JP
Uno Rush is a challenging and exciting party card game for up to four players. Developed by the same team that brought the original, best-selling Uno to Xbox LIVE Arcade, Uno Rush boasts a wide range of gameplay and social features -- multiple variants, house-rule options, local and Xbox LIVE multiplay, camera support, avatar support, and more -- plus fast-paced gameplay to keep the party going.
Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram (73)
SEGA
April 29 US / EU / JP
A remake of the Dreamcast entry in Virtual-On, the renown mech combat game. Oratorio Tangram is an update to the original Virtual-On and features two new mechs and revised play mechanics. Although the arcade version saw limited distribution in the U.S., it was an instant classic on both sides of the Pacific.
Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram isn't the typical fighting game by any stretch of the imagination. You pilot a giant Gundam-like machine in a 3-D arena armed with three different weapons which can have altering effects depending on the situation their employed and the movement of your mecha.
Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures
Telltale Games
Episode 1 : Fright of the Bumblebees - May 27 (73)
Episode 2 : The Last Resort - TBA
Episode 3 : Muzzled! - TBA
Episode 4 : The Bogey Man - TBA
Join Wallace and his dog Gromit in a series episodes of of grand adventures create by Telltale Games, the minds behind the Sam & Max game series and Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People.
Worms 2: Armageddon (81)
Team17
July 1 US / EU / JP
The second XBLA Worms game features many classic weapons as well as the best from Worms Open Warfare 2.
Zombie Wranglers (49)
Frozen Codebase, Vivendi Games
May 6 US / EU / JP
Be very, very quiet ... we're wrangling Zombies!! Save the city of Potters Field from an infestation of zany zombies in the quirky and comical Zombie Wranglers! Armed with a trustworthy Wrangler-Pack and your own unique special abilities, play as one of the four gallant apprentice Wranglers and rescue your neighborhood before it's too late!
2010 XBLA TITLES
Fez
Polytron, Kokoromi
Q1 2010
An innovative platforming game, Fez allows players to manipulate 2D platforming worlds in three dimensions -- with a quick tap, you can spin your flat world around to give you a new perspective and all-new gameplay area. Find hidden items placed on the opposite side of solid walls or bring a platform from miles away to right underneath your feet with just a simple spin of the world.
