Years ago, summer was a barren wasteland for gaming. Companies wouldn’t dare release a triple A title in July or August, instead opting to prepare for the holiday rush. Fast forward to 2010, and publishers aren’t afraid to deliver quality games, especially Microsoft. Its Summer of Arcade, which began in 2008, features five excellent Xbox Live Arcade games, and this year’s lineup has something for everyone. To prep you for this gaming goodness, we created this quick preview guide.
Note: Each game costs 1200 Microsoft points, and Microsoft will give you an additional 1200 points if you purchase all five. If that sounds crazy, the company will send 400 extra points your way for buying three of these games.
Limbo (July 21st)
Buy it if you love: puzzle games, the color black.
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Playdead’s captivating 2-D adventure casts you as a young boy who plunges into limbo in search of his missing sister. Every few moments, you must complete a puzzle that may involve pushing objects, clearing gaps or luring bad guys into traps. The creepy looking graphics and challenging gameplay make Limbo a must play, especially if you crave something different.
Hydro Thunder Hurricane (July 28th)
Buy it if you love: the original Hydro Thunder, G-rated water sports.
Watch the game in action.
The original Hydro Thunder launched on Dreamcast eleven years ago, and now we’re set to receive a brand new sequel from Vector Unit that retains the spirit of the first game while incorporating new locations and high definition graphics. Just like its predecessor, Hurricane lets you race supped up water craft through a variety of cool tracks, ranging from lost ruins to Area 51. As you navigate through dangerous waters, you’ll need to make split second decisions to blow by the competition and reach the finish line.
We enjoyed the game at E3, and can’t wait to experience this promising follow up.
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (August 4th)
Buy it if you love: sharing a castle with five roommates, 2-D side scrolling games.
This new vampire-hunting sequel embraces the series’ 2-D roots while incorporating two features that separate it from the prequels. First, you can zoom out the camera to see the entire castle, which displays monster and boss locations; it’s without question the coolest thing to happen to a Castlevania in years. The primary reason you’ll need this, of course, is to keep tabs on the five other monster slayers running amok. Harmony of Despair lets up to six gamers team up to complete a board, working together to kill enemies and throw switches, but don’t worry if you’re antisocial, as Konami’s latest also has solo play.
Monday Night Combat (August 11th)
Buy it if you love: third person shooters, tower defense.
In the future, people ditch football and watch this incredibly violent sport where two squads grab machine guns and wage war for tons of loot. This easy to play and satisfying shooter features plenty of thrilling gunfights and different classes to master, but Monday Night Combat also has elements of tower defense, where both teams can activate turrets and upgrade them over time.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (August 18th)
Buy it if you love: sexy treasure hunters, co-op gameplay, tomb raiding.
Miss Lara returns in this co-op adventure, where she teams up with an ancient Mayan warrior named Totec to stop an evil spirit and its minions. Two players work to beat the game’s many traps and enemies, and solo adventurers can ditch Totec for some personal time with everyone’s favorite heroine. The co-op, plus the new isometric perspective should go a long way to boost Croft’s popularity.
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