BUZZKILLER'S DOMAIN

Asylum (Silver Dollar Games, 80 Microsoft Points)

Asylum works as a reverse tower defense game with the goal of getting the monsters to escape their captivity in the asylum by reaching the exit on each level. The only things that stand in the way of freedom and certain death is a variety of towers out to shoot them.

CLICK HERE for the full review.

Celebrating it’s 30th anniversary this year, Atari’s Missile Command is considered by many as one of the greatest games of all time. The game is so popular that you can find it in any video arcade even today with people still inserting tokens to play it. There was just something special about a game that had you defending cities and shooting missiles out of the sky. The U.S. Military even played Missile Command for real during the first Gulf War shooting SCUDs out of the skies with Patriot missiles. I guess you can say that this classic game sure has an effect on today’s culture.

Released in 1980 during the height of the “Cold War” between the United States and the former Soviet Union, Missile Command had you defending six cities from total annihilation from a nuclear attack. These missile were considered MIRVs due to the fact that they can separate into split into multiple missiles to destroy multiple targets. Of course there’s also planes shooting missiles and the occasional smart bomb which is tough to destroy as well. Of course every world has it’s own defense system. Standing in the way of the nuclear holocaust were three turrets armed with a stockpile of missiles. Your mission was to destroy any missile that was raining down on you while defending the cities. If all six cities were destroyed, it was game over. This was represented by a big explosion and the words “The End” flashing on the screen.

Missile Command is a game where your high score was the only thing that was relevant. Scoring was determined by incoming missiles destroyed. The end of each level gave you bonuses based on the cities that were still standing, and missiles you had left. Bonus cities were also awarded based on your overall score. During my gameplay, my scores were in the 100,000 range which made me happy. World records on the other hand are made in the millions of points range. The current world record is 80,364,995 points set by Victor Ali in 1982. It’s safe to assume that I don’t think I’m going to beat that score anytime soon. Then again I don’t think that anyone else will either.

The arcade version of Missile Command was very unique. Since quick timing and accuracy was important for destroying the incoming missiles, a simple joystick just wasn’t going to get the job done. Instead what you had was a trackball which was able to move the cursor on the screen quickly. The game also had three buttons each controlling a tower. The arcade controls were perfect to me because I can get the cursor anywhere on the screen and fire my missiles. Home versions starting with the Atari 2600 unfortunately had you using the joystick which was adequate. Future versions of the arcade game could be found on practically any console using analog controls which were much better than the average joystick.

Missile Command had a quite an impact on popular culture throughout its 30 year history. It’s been mentioned in television shows, it’s been played in movies like Terminator 2: Judgment Day with Edward Furlong as John Connor playing it in an arcade and in 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High where the infamous “The End” message was displayed. There is also plans to make a big budget Hollywood movie based on the classic game. Let’s just cross our fingers and hope that Uwe Boll is not attached to the project.

I’ve always had fond memories of playing Missile Command in the arcade and the Atari 2600. To me it led to hours and hours of gaming goodness. These days I still play the game on my Xbox 360 with the Xbox Live Arcade version which features not only the original game, but also a high-def makeover as well. Sure the new HD look is great, but I still end up playing the original version more. Call me retro, but I still think that there’s nothing better than an original.

When I was at PAX 2009, there was no bigger buzz then with Klei Entertainment’s Shank. Everyone at the show wanted to get their hands on the game because of just how cool it was. When I asked about what console this game was coming to, they replied with they didn’t know. Well now we do. Klei has teamed up with EA to bring the 2D side-scrolling bloody story of betrayal and revenge to Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network, and PC this summer. Trust me when I tell you that this game is awesome and a day one must buy. Thousands of PAX attendees can’t be wrong can they?

Shank is also a finalist for “Excellence in Visual Art” at this year’s Independent Games Festival and will be featured at the IGF Pavilion during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco next week.

Here’s the trailer for the game as well from PAX 2009.

Shoot 1UP (Mommy’s Best Games, 80 Microsoft Points)

I bet that screenshot got your attention! Shoot 1UP is a shmup that allows you to have up to 30 ships (60 in multiplayer) on screen at the same time blasting away at enemies, huge bosses, and a chick with large mechanical breasts. All of this for only a dollar! What’s not to like about this game? Download it now!

CLICK HERE for the full review

Press Start Studio has announced a major DLC announcement for their hit game Twin Blades on Xbox Live Indie Games and on the iPhone/ iPod Touch. The new DLC, which will be FREE by the way, will include an immersive storyline, new slash combos, mini maps, all new environments, day and night cycles, and badass bosses. Of course the game will still have all the awesome zombie slaying action as you hack, slash, and shoot the undead while upgrading your abilities.

Like what you hear so far? Well check out the trailer below. The new DLC will be out before the end of this month. Enjoy!

Toy Soldiers (Microsoft Game Studios, Signal Studios, 1200 Microsoft Points)

Toy Soldiers reenacts the first great war, but with children’s toys. This tower defense game has you defeating wave after wave of enemy soldiers before they reach your toy box. The best part is that you can take direct control of the action as well. A great game that is fun for all gamers both casual and hardcore.

CLICK HERE for the full review.

MotorHEAT (Milkstone Studios, 240 Microsoft Points)

Get behind the wheel of a superfast sports car with the only goal being to drive as fast as you can while dodging traffic. There is no accelerator and no brakes. It’s just you, the road, and your need for speed. MotorHEAT will bring out your aggressive driving nature just like when you we’re playing the Burnout games.

CLICK HERE for the full review.

Lazy Raiders (Sarbakan Game Studio, 800 Microsoft Points)

The laziest adventurer in the world is on the search for the 16 Lost Relics. Guide Dr. Diggabone through more than 80 levels which will have you tilting and flipping each maze to acquire valuable loot while avoiding various dangers. By the way, beware of the thief who’s out to steal your treasure.

CLICK HERE for the full review.

This summer, Ignition Entertainment and Zombie Studios bring you a near-future first person shooter that will offer quality military shooter action that’s usually reserved for retail games, but on a downloadable scale. Blacklight: Tango Down is a shooter featuring fast paced action, deep customization, and a fun multiplayer experience that will be available on Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network, and PC.

Using the power of Unreal Engine 3, Blacklight: Tango Down will take players to the fictional world of Blacklight where both old-world architecture and modern sci-fi lighting come together to look futuristic alien and hauntingly familiar to some of our real world settings. The game also features exciting multiplayer gameplay with your traditional deathmatch, team deathmatch, and control point game modes. Near the launch date, more game modes will be announced.

Customization will also play a part in this unique game which separates Blacklight from other shooters. You can alter and upgrade not only your character through experience gained in battle, but also your weapons. Weapon customizations will unlock as you gain skill and experience points and will include more basic add-ons like sniper scopes as well as more complex enhancements, such as improved accuracy.

Not much is known about Blacklight: Tango Down, but as new intel becomes available, we’ll bring it to you. Until then I have some screenshots and a trailer to check out. Enjoy!

TRAILER

SCREENSHOTS

Since November 10 of last year every gamer across the world got their hands on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. We all bought in to the tremendous hype of the game especially after the success of Call of Duty 4. For the first month it was gaming bliss as we would gather titles and emblems, customize weapon loadouts, and have fun with ll the killstreaks. The fun unfortunately didn’t last long. Soon after, the hackers and glitchers arrived and ruined the game for everyone. Javelin Glitches, Elevator Glitches, Speed Skating Glitches, Care Package Glitches, Negative XP Hacks, Tactical Nuke Boosters…the list goes on and on. No matter how many times the crew at Infinity Ward tries to patch it, the hackers ruin the game again. Enough is enough! It’s time to move on.

Fast forward to today. March 2, 2010 marks the day when Infinity Ward’s worst nightmare arrives. A day when legit gamers all over the world trade-in their broken copies of Modern Warfare 2. A day that marks the true arrival of Modern Warfare. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is here! EA and DICE have felt your pain and anguish and they’re ready to reward you. They also know you’ve waited all this time for some real combat that doesn’t cater to random noobs, sniper wannabes, and dual shotgun wielders. They welcome you to a game where skill outweighs luck, a game where teamwork and communication are the keys to success, a game where there is no boosting for a stupid nuke, and a game where knifing your enemy gives you a sweet reward…their dog tags.

Now I know that there are still a few of you that are clinging to hope that Modern Warfare 2 will get better. Maybe it’s because you really want that new map pack. Then again some of you think that the game is not broken at all. Maybe that’s because you guys don’t play anything other than Hardcore Search and Destroy where the glitchers and boosters won’t show their faces. Once you venture away from that game mode, you’ll really see what everyone’s been taking about on every gaming website and YouTube video.

I know that some of this may sound a bit fanboyish, but let’s face facts. What I say about Modern warfare 2 is the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts. Yes, I bought into the hype of Modern Warfare 2. When I was at E3 last year, all I cared about was Modern Warfare 2. Sadly, all I saw was a demo video, but I still had high hopes for the game. After it’s release, all I wanted to play was Modern Warfare 2 both in single and in multiplayer. In 2009, I named Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 the “Game of the Year.” For a time, it really was worth the prestigious title. Now with all the glitches and hacks ruining the game, I wish that I didn’t.

As I begin a new venture tonight into another Modern Warfare game, I can only hope that myself along with the rest of the gaming community are leaving the hackers and glitchers behind. Only time will tell. If you are one of the legit gamers, then I welcome you to Bad Company 2. If your one of the others, then do us all a favor and stay with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, because your not welcome here in Bad Company 2.