All-Time Most Popular Games Tagged 'casual, action' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/alltime/casual/action/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> All-Time Most Popular Games Tagged 'casual, action' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg All-Time Most Popular Games Tagged 'casual, action' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/alltime/casual/action/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> en-us Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter is the third installment in the Ghost Recon series. The game marks the return of Captain Mitchell and this time he is equipped with the most advanced technology to be fielded for infantrymen.

The year is 2013 where a landmark transnational security agreement is being signed by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Elements opposed to this agreement have ambushed the meeting and have started a military coup to overthrow the Mexican government. Command your squadmates, armored vehicles, and close air support assets with ease and see what they see with your Crosscom to stop the insurgency and return Mexico to its citizens.

Battle in the streets of Mexico City, its outskirts, and various locales all rendered from real-world counterparts

GRAW also features an intense multiplayer for up to 16 players on Xbox Live with customizable gametypes and Coop mission campaign available only on multiplayer.
]]> 29 Jan 2007 06:52:13 Crash Bandicoot Crash Bandicoot is a platform game made by Naughty Dog in 1996 for the PlayStation, featuring the character by the same name. In it, Crash must fight Dr. Neo Cortex's henchmen in order to save Tawna, his beloved bandicoot girlfriend for revenge on Cortex.

Evil dr. Neo Cortex and his sidekick dr. Nitrus Brio have captured Crash and his girlfriend Tawna to experiment on them. Crash was rejected as a failiure, but Tawna is still at the clutches of evil scientist Cortex. It is up to Crash to rescue her.

In Crash' first appearance on the Playstation, you must run, jump and spin your way through this part 3D platform/part Side Scroller/part Mario 64 style adventure.
]]> 03 Mar 2007 02:03:56 Earthworm Jim You are Jim, an earthworm, who happened to be in the right place at the right time when a enhanced space suit landed on him transforming him into Earthworm Jim. He travels in pursuit of Psy-Crow to save Princess What's-Her-Name.
]]> 12 Feb 2007 07:02:07 RocketBowl RocketBowl Plus puts a futuristic twist on the traditional bowling experience. Bowl across the rolling contours of the RocketBowl Dome at the 1958 Kalamazoo World's Fair. Use special rocket-powered bowling balls to curve, boost, and hop your way over hills, around water traps, across bridges, and through winding chutes, all at a fun and relaxing pace. Knock over special 'dollar pins', collect bonus coins, and wager on matches against local pros to fatten your wallet and buy more advanced RocketBowl balls.
]]> 22 Sep 2006 04:10:41 Freedom Force Freedom Force is a computer game developed by Irrational Games and published by Electronic Arts in 2002. The player guides a team of superheroes as they defend Patriot City from a variety of villains, monsters, and other menaces. A sequel, Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich was self-published in early March, 2005.

The game is noted for its humorous but respectful evocation of the Silver Age of Comic Books; in particular, its visual style emulates the art style of the Marvel Universe co-creator, Jack Kirby. Also important is its versatile, expandable game engine, which has allowed a considerable fan-community to spring up. Total conversions featuring Marvel and DC Comics characters have considerably extended the life of an already entertaining game.

The alien mentalist, Mentor, fleeing Lord Dominion and his invading forces, heads towards Earth in a small spaceship containing many canisters of the mysterious "Energy X." Lord Dominion's ships pursue Mentor and destroy his craft just outside the Earth's atmosphere; the blast scatters containers of the substance over the metropolis of Patriot City. Energy X strikes several of the city's inhabitants, giving them superpowers that typically echo their personality traits (for instance, Minuteman and El Diablo) or draw on the situation they were in when energized (e.g., The Ant or Nuclear Winter). Most of the game is set in Patriot City, but a number of other locations and time periods are used, including magical realms, prehistoric times, and realms entirely removed from time and space.
]]> 03 Mar 2007 12:41:40 The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap When the sorcerer Vaati turns Princess Zelda to stone, Link embarks on a quest that will take him to places he's never imagined. Using the power of a mystical hat called the Minish Cap, the Hylian hero will shrink down for a massive quest... on a microscopic scale!
]]> 01 Dec 2006 08:09:05 Mega Man X Mega Man X, released in 1993 by Capcom, is the first game in the Mega Man X series. The first subseries of the popular Mega Man series, it was made primarily as a stepping stone between the NES and SNES incarnations of the original series. In Japan, it is titled Rock Man X. It was released on the SNES first, then ported to the PC in 1995. The game was remade in 2006 as Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (Irregular Hunter X in Japan), for the PlayStation Portable.

The Mega Man series has always been an action game that focuses on "run-and-gun" gameplay. The player takes control of Mega Man X ("X" for short), a Maverick Hunter who seeks to stop Sigma's rebellion against humans. After an introductory stage, the player is presented with a stage selection screen that depicts eight Maverick boss characters.

After the player selects a Maverick to battle, X is teleported into the Maverick's base of operations. The player must dodge obstacles, destroy enemies and other hazards, and keep their life bar as high as possible. Defeating a stage and its boss Maverick rewards X with the boss's weapon, which can be used in a rock-paper-scissors fashion to defeat other boss characters. This mechanic is carried over from the Mega Man Classic series; Capcom maintained the tradition throughout the new series, with a few twists. In the X series, completing a stage may affect the environment of other stages, possibly making them easier or more hazardous.
]]> 02 Mar 2007 02:12:59 Contra Playing with fire and murder in the eyes.
Keep squeezing that trigger and never let go.
If it moves, shoot it.
If it doesn't move, shoot it anyway just to be sure.
]]> 09 Dec 2006 09:14:23 Fable: The Lost Chapters Once upon a time...

Scratch that, this is no fairy tale.

Imagine a world where every choice and action determines what you become. Where you evolve in real time based on every little thing you do. Fable is an RPG action adventure unlike any you've ever dreamed of. And now more than ever - with extra quests, additional customization, and extended content - your destiny is yours to choose!

Evolve in Real Time - Your decisions make you a hero, villain, or anything in between. Your actions determine how you look and how others react to you.

Expanded Content - Discover additional regions, storylines, and side quests as well as new optional missions.

Fable is designed to offer pure, concentrated role-playing, with a primary emphasis on open character development and influential interaction with the game world. The game begins as the player's character enters the fantasy land of Albion, a growing, interactive environment that develops and changes with each new event. The character grows and changes as well, beginning the adventure as a youth but slowly aging as he or she lives life in Albion, gaining wrinkled skin, graying hair, and (hopefully) becoming quite elderly by the end of the story.

The game is designed such that every choice and action the character makes can have an effect on his or her development. Physically active characters become more fit, while those who spend their time studying the arcane arts may develop receding hairlines. Characters who spend time working in the hot sun will get a tan and individual wounds heal into distinct, telling scars. Less tangible characteristics mature according to behavior as well. Players are free to commit nearly any conceivable action, but acts of cruelty will lead to vilification by NPC townsfolk, while noble and altruistic deeds may inspire loyalty and adulation from the masses.

It is important to note that instead of focusing on a limited number of scripted "good versus evil" plot points, character development in this game occurs mostly through hundreds of minor day-to-day decisions that gradually come to define and refine the player's place in the game world. In short, !Xbox gamers are offered a virtual lifetime of choices to play through. Fable is developed by Big Blue Box, an affiliate of Lionhead Studios, whose popular Black White shares the theme of free-form, consequential character development over a broad span of time. (http://www.starpulse.com/Video_Games/Fable/Summary/)
]]> 24 Jan 2007 07:52:51 Earthworm JIm 2 Earthworm Jim 2 is a platform video game released in 1995. It is a sequel to the original Earthworm Jim.

Earthworm Jim 2 follows the exploits of annelid superhero Jim and his new sidekick Snott as they try to rescue Jim's beloved Princess What's-Her-Name from a forced marriage to the nefarious Psy-Crow. While chasing them across the universe, Jim comes across the summer homes of a number of villains from the first game, including Evil the Cat and Bob the Killer Goldfish.

The game originally appeared on the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES and PC, with enhanced versions later released on the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It was also ported to the Game Boy Advance.

Like the original game, Earthworm Jim 2 contains a lot of irreverent, random humor. It also features more diverse gameplay than the original, with each stage having a different style and mission, as well as various new weapons.
]]> 02 Mar 2007 05:09:24 Kameo: Elements of Power From legendary game developer Rare comes Kameo: Elements of Power, a larger-than-life journey full of intense combat, magnificent exploration, and innovative morph-into-monster action.

The future of the world depends on Kameo, who must master her new ability to transform into various warriors and harness their elemental powers to save her family from Thorn, the evil troll king.

In true Rare fashion, the world is wondrous and immense, the puzzles and challenges are brilliant, and the creature-oriented combat and exploration is innovative and unique.
]]> 04 Feb 2007 02:56:24 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1989 platformer video game for the NES by Ultra Games/Konami based on the popular animated series and comic books. It is also the first video game ever to be based on the series. The same year, Konami released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, an arcade game by the same name but unrelated to this NES title. The game was converted for many home computers. In February 2007, the game would appear on the ESRB site as a Virtual Console title.

The game begins with all four Ninja Turtles: Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael, who can be rotated through at any time during gameplay. The turtles are practically identical except for their weapons, which differ in attack speed, range, and damage (i.e. Donatello's bo has the best damage and range, but the worst speed). The player travels through the first 5 levels using an overview map to enter various sewers, warehouses, and other areas which lead to the goal of each level. Along the way the player fights various enemies which range from Foot Soldiers and Rat Kings to bomb dropping-blimps and chainsaw-wielding baddies. Each turtle serves as a life, and there are only 2 continues. Later in the game, the player is given several opportunities to rescue those who been captured after failing in combat.

Donatello: Has great reach, but his weapon is slow and doesn't hit small targets with a standing swing. His Bo does the most damage of all the turtles and is the best for boss fights.

Raphael: The Sais have the worst reach and flexibility of all the weapons in the game. They are noticeably slow, but he does most damage to some enemies - especially on later levels.

Michelangelo: Average character all around. Doesn't have a downward attack like Donatello or Leonardo, and while his nunchaku weapon is weak, once he has taken half damage his weapon becomes as strong as Donatello's.

Leonardo: With his ninja swords he has long reach and the greatest weapon range when swinging, but doesn't do much damage. Fortunately, he seems to take less damage from smaller creatures as well.
]]> 03 Mar 2007 01:33:16 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Link, after setting sail for new experiences and adventures, finds himself caught in a squall at sea. Helpless in spite of his valiant efforts to last through the storm, he is overwhelmed by vicious waves and lightning...

Some time later, a gentle girl named Marin discovers him washed up on Toronbo Shores.. the beach of Koholint Island. She finds a way to get him home and takes care of him until he finally awakens. Marin and her father, Tarin, explain to him where he is, and after he sets out to reclaim his sword, he encounters a mysterious owl... The owl cryptically warns Link about the perils this island faces should the Wind Fish be disturbed from his slumber, and thus Link decides he must do something to save them.

This owl guides him throughout the rest of his journey, slowly helping him uncover just what exactly is going on. Link learns that, unfortunately, in order to save the islanders he had grown to love, and to set himself free, he must also end a dream, a romance that he might not want to... To save all those people he had come to know and cherish from the Wind Fish's Nightmares, he would also have to end the illusion that caused them to exist in the first place.

It's a heart wrenching choice to confront, one that Link no doubt regrets with every deep ache of his very soul.. but the only alternative was to let the Nightmare take over and destroy everything.. This was the only fate he could offer them...

A tragic, touching tale that is told in the simplest way, Link's Awakening is a dream that I'll always hold dear to my heart...
]]> 08 Feb 2007 11:34:05 Mega Man X3 Mega Man X3 was released in 1995 by Capcom. It was the third game in the Mega Man X sub-franchise and the last to appear on the Super Nintendo. An enhanced version was also released on the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and PC in Japan and Europe in 1996, and the PC version arrived in North America in 1998; the enhanced version included remixed music and anime-style cutscenes. It is currently available in the anthology collection Mega Man X Collection, which includes the first six Mega Man X games and Mega Man Battle & Chase. The PlayStation version of X3, not the SNES version, appears in the X collection. Mega Man X Collection was released for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 on January 10th, 2006.

Like its predecessor, Mega Man X2, Capcom included the C4 chip to allow for some limited 3D graphics and transparency effects. Mega Man X3 was the first game in which Zero is a playable character in addition to X.

Mega Man X3 is an action game where the player is given a selection screen of stages to begin. When selected, the player uses Mega Man X to blast various enemies throughout the level and reach the boss character, where defeating it wins the stage and earns a new weapon for the player to utilize.

The story of Mega Man X3 revolves around a Reploid scientist named Dr. Doppler. In the year 21XX, the threat of the Mavericks had been neutralized thanks to Doppler's technology, which prevented the Mavericks from going berserk. The reformed Reploids had formed an utopia near their new mentor called Doppler Town. It seemed that all was well, until the former Maverick Reploids suddenly reverted and once again began causing trouble. Dr. Doppler was held accountable, and X and Zero were sent out to contain the new threat. They were soon after called back to Maverick HQ, which was under attack by Doppler's forces.

However, the two did not realize that while Doppler was indeed behind the new Maverick threat, someone else was pulling his strings. As if that wasn't bad enough, one of X and Zero's old enemies is back from the dead, ready to take them down.
]]> 02 Mar 2007 02:48:09 Toejam & Earl
Toejam said,
Check it out... We're Toejam and Earl. And we ran into a small problem. More specifically, a large planet (I shoulda never let Earl drive...). Help us hunt down the pieces to our rocket ship and we'll let you jam out some tunes on our megawatt rapmaster. Deal?
]]> 08 Feb 2007 05:23:16 Quest for Glory 3: Wages of War The third game in Quest for Glory series is set in the Africa-like world of Tarna, where you travel with your new liontaur friends you have met in the second game. Shortly after your arrival, you learn about the conflict between the liontaurs and the neighbor Simbani village, populated by the leopardmen. It is now time for our hero to become a skillful diplomat and to prevent an upcoming war between the two nations.

The gameplay system of "Wages of War" is the same as in the two previous games. The game plays like an adventure, with puzzles to solve and characters to talk to, with the additional of RPG elements: combat (action-based) and character development. You can play as either a fighter, a thief, a mage, or a paladin, and raise your skills directly after battles or by performing various actions. Graphics and interface underwent a major change. This is the first 256-color Quest for Glory game, and the first one to utilize the new, icon-based interface.

(from the Moby Games QFG3 page)
]]> 05 Dec 2006 11:32:14 Orbz Orbz is an action/arcade game set in colorful 3D environments. The object of the game is to shoot your orb at targets located throughout 14 distinct courses in a race to score the most points. Game play contains both intense action and also strategy in planning the best scoring shots. Power-ups, like the "Money Shot" and "Curse of the Goober", are also available to either give you a scoring advantage or to slow down your opponents.
]]> 22 Sep 2006 01:57:51 GISH As an amorphous ball of tar that rolls and squishes around, players experience a one-of-a-kind, 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game featuring unique gameplay only provided by GISH.

Developer: Chronic Logic
Publisher: Chronic Logic
Release Date: September 2004
]]> 22 Sep 2006 06:29:09 Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a video game released in 1994 for the Super NES and Mega Drive/Genesis by Activision. It was ported to the Sega Mega-CD (1994), Sega 32X (1995), the Atari Jaguar (1995), PC (1995), and the Game Boy Advance (2001), with the last one ported by Majesco. Pitfall: TMA was also the first commercial game released for Windows 95.

In this game, the player takes the role of Pitfall Harry Jr., son of the hero of the original game, who has to find his kidnapped father.

An extra feature in all versions is the ability to play the original Pitfall! (the Atari 2600 version) after finding a secret doorway. The doorway can be found by looking for something that seems out of place. The Mega-CD, 32X and Windows ports contained extra (and expanded) levels and other enhancements over the earlier versions.
]]> 02 Mar 2007 06:57:03 FizzBall Why has everyone fled the islands? There's not a person in sight! Who will feed the animals and find out what scared the people away? Professor Fizzwizzle, of course!

Bounce bubbles, rescue hungry animals, and solve a mystery, all at the same time! Download FizzBall now, and get playing!

- Over 180 levels of brick-busting, animal-rescuing mayhem!
- Includes over 40 special bonus levels!
- Easy to learn and control
- In the Animal Sanctuary you can visit the animals you've rescued!
- Over 60 adorable species to rescue!
- Special kids' mode with more forgiving gameplay and educational quizzes!
- Win dozens of cool trophies by accomplishing special feats!
- Compete with players from around the globe for online high scores!
]]> 27 Nov 2006 03:12:42 Wing Commander II Released in 1991, Wing Commander 2 is a sci-fi space simulation that is a continuation of the storyline that was told in the original Wing Commander.






"Ten years ago, you were the Hero of Vega Sector, idol of millions - the starfighter pilot who single-handedly turned the tide of a major Kilrathi invasion. Then something went wrong.


You were disgraced, court-martialed and transferred to a backwater outpost. For years, your lightning-quick reflexes and instinctive dogfighting tactics went to waste while the Kilrathi killed your closest friends on the front lines.


But Mankind still needs a hero, now more than ever before. And you're still the best pilot in the Galaxy. You've got just one chance to prove yourself, just one chance to keep the Terran homeworlds from falling to the massed armada of the Empire of Kilrah."



Think you can handle it, flyboy?"





Again most of the game is spent flying missions in space for the Confederation in the continuing war effort against the fearsome Kilrathi Empire. When not flying missions, the player is also able to explore the "TCS Concordia" and talk to fellow crew-mates. A greater emphasis has been placed on storytelling, which gives the player a greater scope on the people fighting this war. The mood is darker than the original, mainly due to the fact that the Humans are in fact losing the war.


Wing Commander 2 bettered the original in every regard, from the updated graphics engine to the detailed script. It is considered an all-time classic within the gaming world.








Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 18 Feb 2007 11:05:29 Wing Commander III Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger is the second sequel in the Sci-Fi Space Simulation series created by Chris Roberts.







"Professionally scripted and filmed in Hollywood, ORIGIN's multi-million dollar production combines the entertainment of film-making with the interactivity of computer gaming. The result is a spectacular spaceflight adventure.


Adrenaline, romance, danger -- Wing Commander III has all this and more. This sequel completes the turbulent chronicles of the Terran-Kilrathi war. The final showdown takes place on one of the homeworlds -- Earth or Kilrah. But only you can write the ending..."









Released in 1994, Wing Commander III was the first game to be marketed as a true "Interactive Movie". It was received with much critical-acclaim due to its high playability, state-of-the-art in-game graphics engine plus well scripted, produced and acted FMV sequences, all of which contributed to the games deep and absorbing atmosphere.


Wing Commander III was the first game in the series to use Full Motion Video as the primary story-telling device and is considered to be one of the best and successful examples of FMV use in a video game. The interactive element takes form during conversation cut-scenes where the player is asked to make a choice on how to proceed. This is done by either by giving a positive or negative response when prompted and this in turn affects the mood of the characters involved, altering theyre behaviour during missions and future conversations.


This was the final game in the Wing Commander series to deal with the Terran-Kilrathi conflict. As with the previous games, it is possible to play a winning or losing path, depending on the players performance during space-combat. The destruction of Earth or the Kilrathi's home planet of "Kilrah" is at the end of one of these two paths. However the series does continue with Wing Commander IV and Wing Commander: Prophecy.






Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 19 Feb 2007 09:11:53 ThinkTanks

Charge in, take aim and take off!


ThinkTanks is a tank combat game designed to be a blast for the new and experienced gamer alike with lighthearted, fast paced pandemonium. Either battling against brain-hungry bots in solo play or going head-to-head against others online, ThinkTanks has something for everyone.

Solo Play


You find yourself in a ThinkTank... just one of many brain slaves imprisoned by Alien Mind Control-- only you have managed to escape their brain rays. But the moment you are free, you are besieged on all sides by insane bot-tanks. You must destroy or be destroyed and keep on your toes at all times. Luckily you can collect powerups that give you wacky weapons to help you stay alive. As you progress through each level, the bot tanks get smarter, stronger and crazier as Alien Mind Control reprograms the bot tanks to match your wits. Your goal is to beat the bosses, then rescue your brain-brethren and continue the fight on other worlds.

Quickplay Battle Mode


Upon entering, you are immediately engaged by heavy artillery. This is no-holds-barred warfare and to the victor go the points. You can be catapulted or thrust in any direction by rolling over the boost and jump pads to escape attack or rush the enemy. The lush, green hills are scattered with bots on the warpath, bots choking in their own smoke, floating orbs with special powers and ammunition, boulders, trees, AND the dreaded pit of doom. The goal here is to keep your brain intact, and triumph over bots of every shape, size, speed and skill.

Scrum


You are cast into a veritable feeding frenzy of tanks. You need to simultaneously track the position of your tank relative to the scrum ball using your radarscope, while navigating your tank along the bumpy terrain. If you are quick enough to pick up the ball yourself, you must make a mad dash to the goal, evading the thirsty pack of mad bots heavy on your trail. You win by capturing the most scrum balls in the allotted time.

Both On-line BattleMode and Scrum games have team-play variants and online chat that allow players to play together cooperatively.
]]> 22 Sep 2006 01:35:46 RoboBlitz Blitz is a young and capable robot working as a technician in the Opera Point Orbital Defense Station and Space Cannon facility. His job description includes: fueling generators, rewiring electrical systems, re-balancing busted conveyors, spinning massive fans, and even molding giant railgun slugs. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it! Thankfully, Blitz has a trusty sidekick named Karl, who helps out by designing new weapons and tools. We'd tell you more, but then we'd have to EMP you...
]]> 06 Dec 2006 11:37:33 Wing Commander I Set in the year 2654, Wing Commander tells a tale of mankind's struggle for survival in a ferocious war between the Human Confederation and the warmongering Kilrathi Empire, a fierce bi-pedal feline race.





"You're a starfighter pilot, the best of the best, but nothing in your training prepared you for action this hot. Deep space dogfights against Kilrathi aces are deadly, and the future of humanity is on the line each time you fly!


Wing Commander puts you in the middle of the most intense starship action you've ever experienced outside of a movie theatre. But in Wing Commander, you're the star!"





The majority of the game takes place within the cockpit of various space fighters. Depending on how well one performs while in action, the player may find themselves on the winning or losing path thus altering the plot accordingly. Medals and the respect of your wingmen are gained if performance is exemplary, in turn leading to a more effective attack wing. In between space-flight missions the player is free to roam the legendary carrier "TCS Tiger's Claw" and have conversations with their fellow crew mates, learning more about the horrors and triumphs of the bloody war that is now being fought.


When Wing Commander was released in 1990, the in-game graphics and space-combat engine were a step above all other products during that period. The game was even one of the first to use the new Sound Blaster for PC's, adding to the already cinematic feel of the game.


The strong script and characters which has been a staple through out the series are the primary reason why the Wing Commander has gained such a strong following over the years. That combined with movie-like presentation and strong gameplay has made the venerable Wing Commander a classic among gamers and critics.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 11 Feb 2007 07:47:45 Zap! Experience the excitement that brought down the house at IndieGamesCon 2004. Zap! - a 2D vector graphics multiplayer team action strategy game that plays like a cross between Robotron and Tribes with the graphical blend of Asteroids and Pac-Man. As a 2D game Zap can be played with keyboard+mouse or (recommended) a dual-analog gamepad. Zap has several game types, including CTF, Zone Control, Retrieve, Soccer, Hunters and Rabbit, and it supports familiar features like hierarchal V-menu chat and recorded voice.
]]> 22 Sep 2006 04:19:19 Marble Blast Ultra Marble Blast Ultra is the latest in the classic Marble Blast series. Get ready for an arcade action masterpiece with stay-up-all-night gameplay and an insane level of visual polish.

Suitable for players of any age, Marble Blast Ultra transports you to a futuristic 'astrolab' arena suspended high in the clouds. Compete against each other by navigating your marbles through moving platforms and dangerous hazards, while collecting rare gems and power-up enhancements, in an effort to complete each course in record time. Compete head to head in Xbox Live Arcade multiplayer.

Dale Nardozzi - TeamXbox said,
Marble Blast Ultra is one of the more entertaining Xbox Live Arcade games; it stands alone in its genre.
]]> 26 Sep 2006 04:25:14 Tyrian Need we describe the best of all shmups?
]]> 09 Dec 2006 09:25:39 Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is the fourth installment of 1992 survival horror video game series Alone in the Dark created by Atari. The game was released on several platforms including PC, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Sega Dreamcast and PlayStation 2.

Edward Carnby's best friend, Charles Fiske, has been found dead off Shadow Island, a mysterious island near the coast of Maine. Carnby's investigation quickly leads him to Fred Johnson, who informs him of Fiske's search for three ancient tablets with the ability to unlock an incredible and dangerous power. Johnson pleads with Carnby to take the place of Fiske and reopen the investigation in order to recover the tablets. Carnby accepts the mission making it his life's goal to avenge Fiske's death and find the tablets.

Carnby isn't alone on his quest. Aline Cedrac, an intelligent, determined young archaeologist joins Carnby on the mission to Shadow Island. This high-spirited adventurer has taken it upon herself to find the missing tablets, but is there another reason she was so determined to come to Shadow Island? Time will surely reveal the secrets and the intentions, so on October 30, 2001 they approach Shadow Island.

From their first steps on Shadow Island in the cold winter night, Carnby and Aline are immediately confronted by terrifying, evil creatures that are determined to halt their progress. Throughout the course of their investigations, every step they take, every corner they turn, they are met with suspense, intrigue and a sense of impending doom. Relying only on their instincts and limited resources, Carnby and Aline must destroy this sinister evil and uncover the truth.

The player takes the role of either Edward Carnby (a rugged paranormal investigator) or Aline Cedrac (a feisty scholarly type), and find themselves marooned on Shadow Island, a haunted place where the shadows are rumored to come alive. The player soon comes under attack from "Creatures of Darkness" that appear out of nowhere and seem to be living shadows. These "Creatures of Darkness" are eventually revealed to be reptilian, silicon-based life forms from the center of the Earth, an enormous world of dark caverns known as the "World of Darkness". Shadow Island apparently contains one of the many entrances to this underground world. True to their name, the game's enemies are averse to light (which apparently turns them into sand), and this figures heavily in gameplay. Players can use their flashlight to repel certain creatures, and killing them is accomplished with such light-producing ammunition as "magnesium bullets" and "phosphorus shells."

Light plays a significant role in this game. One of the game's main gimmicks is the use of a flashlight that players can use to light up the game's darkened pre-rendered screens, revealing hidden details and uncovering items.
]]> 11 Mar 2007 06:23:46 The Fancy Pants Adventure Fancy Pants Adventure is a smooth, flowing side scroller. You can do back flips, roll down hills, and run up walls all while wearing your fancy pants. There are three levels that end with a final boss fight.
]]> 27 Dec 2006 04:45:57 The Thing "The Thing" is a continuation of the story that was told in the original 1982 film of the same name. The game is moulded in the Survival-Horror style with a bent towards action and is viewed in the third-person.

After the events of the film and the apparent destruction of the U.S research base in Antarctica, a military rescue team is sent in to investigate the area and seek out any survivors. Throughout the game the player learns of the fate of the previous inhabitants and of the virus which caused those horrific events.

The player takes on the direct role of Captain Blake. Blake is in charge of a crew and is able to give orders such as follow, stay, attack or perform special functions. Team-mates vary in ability, some being medics while others are geared towards fighting and engineering. Blake is also able to give and retrieve weapons and ammunition from team-mates when needed.

Paranoia plays a major part in gameplay dynamics as well as in the film as potentially anybody could be infected with the strange virus. Team-mates are prone to being spooked when certain events occur and Blake must try to calm them by either giving them weapons and ammo, stimulants or more importantly by testing each other for the virus. A limited amount of testing kits can be found scattered around the place and allow the team to determine whether or not they are infected - leading to trust gained if clean, and lots of blood and death if not...
]]> 01 Mar 2007 12:15:08 Poom Poom is a little bit puzzle and a lot of action. The object is to keep the ball bouncing as long as possible .
]]> 19 Dec 2006 12:31:53 Lode Runner: The Legend Returns From the box description:

You're the ultimate thief, racing underground through the Evil Empire to regain your people's treasures. You'll be a rich famous hero-if you're not ripped to bits by the deadly Mad Monks, that is.
]]> 02 Feb 2007 06:12:09 Digger Digger was released by Windmill Software in 1983, popular in the era of the IBM PC with a CGA graphics card and monitor. Digger was resurrected by Andrew Jenner in 1998, when he reverse engineered it to run using VGA on fast Pentium based computers. The source code of the remastered version was released under the GPL with permission of the original author Rob Sleath.
]]> 24 Dec 2006 02:53:39 Electricman 2 Take control of Electricman in the quest to become the most powerful being the the stick man universe. You have different martial arts skills and superhuman powers that you can use. The normal fighting moves can be used as many times as needed, while the super moves require battery power to perform. Also, some of the moves are context sensitive, and Electricman will perform a different move depending of if someone is behind or in front of him. After every match, you are given a code that can be used to continue your progress after you decide to take a break.
]]> 09 Mar 2007 06:15:32 Diesel and Death You are Death, and you are in a motorcycle race against Diesel. Race across a junkyard and either be the first one to cross the finish line, or be the last one alive. There are powerups to pick up that can damage your opponent. The powerups range from sludge that can be shot out the back, to a flame thrower on the front of your bike, or even a nuclear bomb. Beat Diesel to the finish, or destroy him in the process.
]]> 09 Mar 2007 05:57:26 Maelstrom You pilot your ship through the dreaded "Maelstrom" asteroid belt -- suddenly your best friend thrusts towards you and fires, directly at your cockpit. You raise your shields just in time, and the battle is joined.

The deadliest stretch of space known to mankind has just gotten deadlier. Everywhere massive asteroids jostle for a chance to crush your ship, and deadly shinobi fighter patrols pursue you across the asteroid belt. But the deadliest of them all is your sister ship, assigned to you on patrol. The pilot, trained by your own Navy, battle hardened by months in the Maelstrom, is equipped with a twin of your own ship and intimate knowledge of your tactics.

The lovely Stratocaster R&R facility never sounded so good, but as you fire full thrusters to dodge the latest barrage you begin to think you'll never get home...
]]> 03 Jan 2007 02:46:07 Batman and the Cobblebot Caper Penguin is at it again, and you, Batman, must save him. Kick, punch, Batarang, and glide your way through levels trying to stop Penguin.
]]> 02 May 2007 12:53:02 QWERTY Warriors QWERTY Warriors is a typing game. Enemies will come at you from all directions, but you cannot move. The only thing you can do to survive is to type the word that is below the enemy. If you type the word correctly, you will shoot and kill whatever is coming after you. Powerups such as full health or a bomb will show up. To use the powerups, you must type the name of it correctly.
]]> 13 Mar 2007 04:58:18 Blast Miner Blast Miner is a physics based action strategy game where you use TNT, gas cans and stones to cause huge explosions to dig through the earth. It's awesome, seriously just play the demo or watch some gameplay movies. Explosions people! You can't go wrong with that.
]]> 22 Dec 2006 05:39:21 Neon Wars An easy to pick up arcade game that keeps you coming back for more. The graphics are great and the music keeps your blood flowing.

Easy enough to pick up for some casual play but difficulty picks up for intense competition for high scores.
]]> 28 Dec 2006 03:55:07 Base Jumping Base Jumping is a game that tests your reflexes. When the countdown reaches GO, you hit the spacebar to jump off of your platform. Then, as you are falling, you have to hit the spacebar again to open your parachute in time to slow you down. You are racing other base jumpers, so you have to time the opening of your parachute. Open it too early and everyone beats you to the ground. However, if you open it too late, you will lose health from the impact. After you win your league, you are able to buy medikits to restore any health you may have lost during the prior rounds. Make it through the leagues and become the best base jumper around.
]]> 09 Mar 2007 05:19:33 Mole Hunter You get point by hitting the moles quicky, if you hit two moles in half second you get a x2 multiplier, if you follow hitting in half second will get up to x6 multiplier. At the end of the game you can save your scores locally and try to beat your Top 8 scores later.
]]> 03 Feb 2007 09:40:45 Acidbomb Acidbomb is a fifty level puzzle game where you must find the pistons used to trigger a bomb and defuse them before time runs out. There are many bombs scattered around the world, from biological bombs that have hair-sensitive triggers to napalm bombs that are exploding at the seams, to nuclear warheads that have challenged even the highest trained bomb defusal agent.
]]> 22 Feb 2007 07:56:20 Chalk Chalk is an arcade style scrolling shooter with a different kind of control scheme. Instead of shooting, you only have a piece of chalk with which you can draw. The way you defeat the enemies is different depending on the type. Some require all of the green dots to be connected, and others need to have their bullets connected back to them. There are bosses at the end of each level that will take a bit more thinking to destroy. The game is controlled entirely with the mouse, but the keyboard can be used as well.
]]> 30 May 2007 06:39:39 Easter Avenger The temible easter rabbit has chocolated your father, and you will have to help Pascual, an easter egg, to avenge his horrible fault. Easter Avenger is a platform game, when you will have to defeat the Easter Rabbit camarades through 3 diferent worlds composed by 12 stages. Awesome boss battles, power ups, many different weapons. A great challenge for the gamers. The game is completly freeware and it wons a lot of awards including the sony playstation artfutura "best finnished".
]]> 31 Jan 2007 11:10:26 Monkey on Your Back On a small, uncharted island a mysterious organization is breeding Bio-Enhanced Animal-Cyborgs at the bidding of the brilliant, albeit evil, Dr. Randolph Montague Krenwinkle. In a small cage down in the deepest level sits Nim, a rebellious test monkey who has acquired a secret and powerful ability. An experimental treatment has given Nim enhanced psychic powers that allow him to take control of any human simply by jumping on their backs! Now is his one chance to escape. Use Nim’s ability to take control of scientists, soldiers and A-Bots! Blast and sneak your way through the Krenwinkle facility in a desperate attempt for freedom! Revel in the ironic justice of using your enemies against each other! Experience innovative action gameplay on your phone and with a monkey!
]]> 23 Feb 2007 12:23:01 Produce Panic This game is in no way condoned by Jesus, the Catholic Church, or any standard of human decency. It deals with mature subject matter and may not be suitable for anyone needing adult supervision or pre-school toys.

Welcome to the first Penny Arcade game for the PC! Produce Panic Features the Fruit F%$ker 2000, but is based on the whole series in general. This game is something of a genre variety pack in that it has a little something for everyone. Run (or fly) around as your favorite juicer in an all out death match, or play cooperatively with friends and compete against other teams of Fruit F@$kers to capture their receipt so they can be taken back to the store. There will also be racing and space dogfights. A little something for everyone!

Let the juicing begin!

WARNING: This game deals with mature subject matter. It may not be suitable for anyone needing adult supervision or pre-school toys. This game is in no way condoned by Jesus, the Catholic Church, or any standard of human decency.
]]> 22 Sep 2006 04:49:49 Blocksum Blocksum is a very new typed action puzzle game. For everyone who can add numbers to 20.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 07:04:52 Nikujin In Nikujin you play a ninja, who's goal is to progress through a ninja fortress of increasing difficulty, utilizing your ninja skills to ensure your survival.
]]> 29 Jun 2007 02:36:41