All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'Xbox, casual' on The Great Games Experiment All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'Xbox, casual' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'Xbox, casual' on The Great Games Experiment en-us Psychonauts Embark on a unique third person psychic adventure through the minds of misfits, monsters and madmen....

For years, the Psychonauts have deployed their psychically-armed operatives all over the world, but this time trouble is brewing in their own boot camp. A deranged scientist is abducting camp cadets for their brains. One student, a mysterious and powerful new arrival named Raz, stands alone against the lunatic. Raz must develop and unleash an arsenal of paranormal powers including his most powerful weapon of all: the ability to launch himself telepathically into the minds of others. Ultimately he must enter the psyche of his worst enemy and destroy his dark plans at their source while trying not to lose his sanity in the process.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 11:14:08 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) is about the return of Sega's mascot, Sonic and introduction to the blue hero's friend, sidekick and surrogate brother Miles 'Tails' Prower.
Dr Eggman/Robotnik is at it again, attempting to take over the world with his army of robots (each one containing one of Sonic's captured friends as before), a deadly new weapon, the Death Egg and now he just needs the seven Chaos Emeralds to complete his plan. Naturally, Sonic simply can't stand by and let this happen, so he goes after the Doctor again, with Tails in tow to retrieve the Emeralds and put a stop to Robotnik's plan.
Sonic 2's gameplay is vastly similar to that of Sonic's previous adventure, a simple run and jump play-style while still maintaining the speed aspects of Sonic 1. It also introduced new opportunities of play with the introduction of Tails, such as the memorable Sky Chase Zone and the fact that Tails could spin his trademark twin-tails and fly, though players were not given control of Tails' unique ability until Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994). Sonic 2 also deviated from the rotating maze-style Special Zone of Sonic 1 and introduced a half-pipe style Special Zone where the player can retrieve a Chaos Emerald, a format still used in modern Sonic games such as Sonic Heroes. And this was the also the first that really introduced an incentive for collecting the Emeralds; Only when you had all of the Emeralds could you see the real ending (as in Sonic 1) AND transform into Super Sonic who was much faster and invincible as long as you kept collecting those rings. It was also the first Sonic game to introduce a multiplayer mode, where you could either race a friend in split-screen mode, or your friend could jump into the main adventure and control Tails any time.
Sonic 2 is well-renowned among gamers in general and Sonic-fans and is still regarded by many as a classic component of the early 90's gaming scene and some still refer to it as the greatest Sonic game to date.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 01:48:12 Sonic The Hedgehog 3 The storyline picks up shortly after the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Dr. Robotnik's[1] space station, the Death Egg, has fallen out of orbit after his mech suit exploded in his final showdown with Sonic, causing critical damage to the ship.

However, instead of impacting the planet, the Death Egg crash-landed on Angel Island[2][3], a mystical floating landmass previously believed to exist only in legend. As Dr. Robotnik repairs the ship he meets up with the Island’s sole inhabitant, Knuckles the Echidna. Knuckles is the last surviving member of an ancient civilization, whose ruins and relics are scattered throughout the island. He is also the guardian of a set of Chaos Emeralds, which are the source of the island’s levitation powers.

Knowing Sonic and Tails will try to track him down, and realizing he can use the Chaos Emeralds to power the ship, Robotnik deceives Knuckles into believing Sonic is trying to steal his emeralds, and he’s come to help him. Shortly after, Super Sonic and Miles “Tailsâ€
]]> 10 Feb 2007 02:29:37 Lego Star Wars 2 Lego Star Wars 2 is perfect for that lover of the first Lego Star Wars. Yes, the second one is now out! This time, with the ability to mix and match characters, Lego Star Wars 2 hosts the original trilogy. This game also has a key feature of vehicles in the game. When your finished with all the action of fighting for characters and studs, go play free play and use ships to blast down the death star. Available for two player action... Lego Star Wars, well, kicks butt!
]]> 20 Dec 2006 02:54:31 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 Super Mario War Made with Microsoft's Game Studio Express by loving fans. This is basically a 2-D version of the 64's Smash Bros. game. The game supports up to 4 players going head to head and has various modes such as: capture the flag, race, deathmatch and more. The game also comes packaged with a level editor so you can make new levels to smash your friends! This game is tremendously fun and is definitely worth a download, especially because the full game is completely FREE!
]]> 16 Jun 2007 12:54:52 Lego Star Wars 2, The Original Trilogy Lego Star Wars II is the sequel to Lego Star Wars.

You will make your way through the different episodes, collecting Minikits, Power Bricks and Studs. And also unlocking new characters to use or to buy.

The place where you buy things is in Mos Eisley Cantina, as Dexters Diner is not in the trilogy.
]]> 02 Jan 2007 10:17:49 Marvel vs. Capcom 2 There really isn't much of a story to this game. There's an evil character named Abyss who is destroying the Earth. Ruby Heart discovers this, and characters are sent to destroy him. Unlike the first game, there was only one ending no matter who the game is completed with.

The gameplay has fairly standard fighting controls (two punch, two kick, two assist). There are also combo and super combo moves, as well as combos that can be done with more than one character.

Probably the most unique thing about it is the diverse cast. One side of it comes from all over the comic world, and the other side comes from some of the great 2-D fighting games of all time. Finally getting to fight using such big names that people never expected to be in the same game together was and still is a huge deal.
]]> 15 Mar 2007 06:09:39 Forza Motorsport Are you passionate about cars and racing? Then, Forza Motorsportâ„¢ is your game. Own, customize, and race your favorite cars in the most technologically advanced and realistic driving sim yet.

Use race earnings to buy upgrades and aftermarket parts, so you can transform real production cars into high-performance racers. On the track, experience an impressively accurate simulation, while putting your performance-tuned creations to the test against the online gaming world on Xbox Live®.


  • Make every car yours: Collect models from more than 60 top car manufacturers, including Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, and Dodge. Trick out sport compacts with real-world body kits, rims, spoilers, decals, side skirts, fender flares, and hood scoops. Add motorsport decals and team paint-schemes to supercars, GT racers, and exotics. Transform production cars into racetrack monsters.

  • Tune it up: Take your car to the garage and install alternative engines, suspension kits, bolt-on superchargers, brakes, rims, racing slicks, and more. Fine-tune gear ratios, fuel-mapping, forced-induction pressure, tire temperature and pressure, and ignition timing for the ultimate setup.

  • Experience the most technically advanced driving simulation on Xbox: Top automotive engineers teamed with experienced programmers to create an advanced physics engine forForza Motorsport, designed to simulates authentic car performance. Cars incur damage and wear, which affects car performance. Advanced tire and suspension models respond to heat and pressure changes as well as weight transfer and aerodynamic load.

  • Drive in gorgeous track environments: From the famously challenging Nurburgring Nordschleife to the spectator-lined streets of Rio de Janeiro, race on meticulously designed tracks with an incredible sense of speed and realism.

    • * Check out the revolutionary A.I. Drivatarâ„¢ technology: Train your own A.I. “Drivatarsâ€
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 10:25:06     Dr Robotniks Mean Bean Machine Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a video game within the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. The game is a modified version of the Japanese puzzle game Puyo Puyo and has characters from the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

    Dr. Robotnik has hatched a plan to ensure that no music or fun remains on Mobius. To do this, he kidnaps the citizens of Beanville and stuffs them into a giant robotising machine called the Mean Bean-Steaming Machine (hence the name, Mean Bean Machine), so that they become his robot slaves. The player must now defeat each of the robot guards and Robotnik himself to foil his evil plans.
    ]]>     11 Feb 2007 04:30:07     Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Kyle Katarn, savior of the Valley of the Jedi, must once again wield the force to save the galaxy from the evil empire. While investigating a far-away imperial outpost, Kyle discovers a sinister plot to imbue Imperial soldiers with the force. And to top it all off, he has to re-learn all of his force powers as he goes.
    ]]>     22 Jan 2007 10:36:44     Guilty Gear XX #Reload
    ]]>     20 Aug 2007 01:05:07     Rampage World Tour Rampage World Tour was a reinvention of the original arcade classic; created for Midway Mfg. by the original designers, Jeff Nauman and Brian Colin and the crew at Game Refuge Inc.

    The game follows George Lizzy and Ralph as they smash and fight their way through hundreds of cities around the Globe. This update game added dimension to the characters andadvanced the storyline, but stayed true to the user-friendly "there's no wrong way to play it" gameplay mechanic of the original.

    Though incredibly violent, the game treats all interaction with a cartoony, blood-free, tongue-in-cheek approach that keeps the action light-hearted and appealing to players of all ages.

    This "Sequal" has spun off a number of additional "Rampages" on a number of platforms .. but many feel that RWT was the best of the lot.
    ]]>     12 Jun 2007 11:06:40     Mappy Game play

    The player guides Mappy the police mouse through the mansion of the cats called Mewkies (Meowky in the U.S. version) to retrieve stolen goods. The mansion has six floors of long hallways in which the items are stashed. The items come in pairs; should Mappy get the same items twice in a row, the player earns more points. In addition to Mewkies, the boss cat Nyamco (Goro in the U.S. version) also roams around. He is faster, but less clever, than the Mewkies. Should Mappy get an item wherein Nyamco is hiding behind, the player gets a bonus of 1000 points. He only hides behind an object for three seconds, though.

    Mappy and the cats move between the floors by bouncing on trampolines at the ends and middle of the hallways, and landing on a floor in the way up, but not on the way down. The trampolines will break if Mappy bounces on them continuously. When they pass in the air, Mappy is unharmed by the cats, but should Mappy run into a cat anywhere else, he will lose a life.

    If Mappy tarries too long, a "Hurry" sign appears and the music and the cats are faster. A level is completed when all the loot is retrieved. If the player waits too long after this, the cat coin "Gosenzo" will drop onto the top-middle platform and chase Mappy in a manner similar to the Mewkies.

    Many of the hallways have doors which Mappy can slam open or shut to temporarily knock out the Mewkies or Nyamco. Some of these are special "microwave doors" which release a wave which sweeps away any cat in its path (even off the edge of the screen). Every Mewky is 200 points; Nyamco is a multiplier of 200 points times 2. Any cat that is swept away reappears after a short while, jumping from the top center opening in the roof.

    The third level and every fourth level after that is a bonus round. Mappy, unbothered by the cats, must bounce across a series of trampolines, popping suspended balloons along the way. A bonus is awarded if all the balloons are popped before the music ends. It is possible to pop the Nyamco balloon even if there is one balloon above him, because Nyamco will break any trampoline and will grab one balloon above him for Mappy.

    The eighth to tenth levels have bells, which Mappy can hit so that it temporarily knocks out any cats below. Starting from these stages, the "Hurry" sign will also appear earlier, and there are more Mewkies.

    The player uses a left-right joystick to move Mappy and a single button to operate the doors.
    ]]>     30 Jun 2007 11:52:44     Outlaw Golf An incredible golf engine, stellar physics and excellent graphics combine with fierce competition, mortal danger and shapely women in this no-holds barred game of golf. Play seven games for one to four players on three unique courses where some hazards have two legs!
    ]]>     12 Feb 2007 04:22:19     Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 This one was a HUGE departure. Ditching the 2 minute time limit and giving you larger levels to free roam (which become a later mainstay for the series) was a HUGE addition to the series.
    ]]>     12 Feb 2007 06:22:24     Voodoo Vince If you like funny, offbeat character platformers with nifty mini-games and vehicles, Voodoo Vince is for you.
    ]]>     04 Dec 2006 06:59:57     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     Pong PONGââ€
    ]]>     13 Jan 2007 02:32:44     Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 The first game available on the PS2 and Xbox (though it was still available on the PS1 and N64). Graphics upgrades were very noticeable due to the hardware change, but this game also introduced the manual, to allow players to rack up even bigger combos!
    ]]>     12 Feb 2007 05:58:49     Myst III: Exile
    Myst III: Exile transports players 10 years forward in the Myst universe, where a new villain lies in wait. Saavedro, played by Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif, has been hiding on Atrus's Ages, awaiting his chance to gain revenge upon Atrus and his family. Inadvertently, Atrus himself has provided that chance. He and Catherine have reestablished contact with the D'ni, a race of people whose knowledge enables them to write the special linking Books first encountered in Myst. Atrus hopes to see the D'ni civilization restored to its full potential, and his efforts to do so provide the perfect impetus for Saavedro to orchestrate his revenge. Players must track Saavedro through five surreal Ages, solving puzzles and uncovering the truth behind this new adversary and his devious plot. Only then can disaster be averted and the fate of thousands ultimately be determined.

    This game features the same point and click interface as Myst and Riven, but uses 360 degree scrolling technology for a truly realistic gaming experience that highlights the quality that makes this series so popular; the exquisite rendering.
    ]]>     21 Dec 2006 09:40:35     GUN GUN is an action-packed game set in the wild west.

    You start off as a hunter Colton White who works with his father Ned (voice by kris kristofferson) until something changes Colton's life forever. A long winding plot unfolds as you have to explore the lawless West to uncover the dark truth.

    GUN is a fantastic 3rd person shooter with plenty of side missions to break up the main story. There is plenty of Old Western movie references and the atmosphere of the West is captured perfectly.

    The action never stops. If riding horseback and shooting outlaws is your thing, then this is definitely your type of game!
    ]]>     12 Jun 2007 06:04:11     Splinter Cell Chaos Theory In Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory you need to follow the main objectives without being detected by the enemy. You'l also have a few bonus objectives each level which you don't need to complete, but they give you a nice reward for after you beat the game.
    In this game you play as Sam Fisher, and you are walked through alot of the parts through a com-unit.
    Throughout Splinter Cell: Chaos theory your objective is to stay in the shadows and stealthily make your way through the levels.
    If you succesfully finish all the bonus objectives you can unlock "costumes" for Sam Fisher to wear when you replay levels in the game, and cheats such as unlimited ammunition and health.
    This game also has up to 4-player Co-Opertive mode to play nine extra levels with your friends. Plus a versus mode where the mercaneries need to protect the computer terminals against the spies which have to hack them without being found by the merceneries.
    ]]>     12 Jun 2007 10:45:09     Virtua Tennis 3 The third entry in Sega's smash-hit tennis franchise, designed for the advanced Lindbergh arcade board. AM3 developed the PS3 version of the game, Sega got Sumo Digital to get the Xbox 360 (w/ live), PC and PSP ported.
    ]]>     09 Dec 2006 05:41:52     Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is a fighting game produced by Capcom, released in 1997 on Capcom's CPS-3 hardware, which is a continuation of the famous Street Fighter series. It is the third and final game in the Street Fighter III series.

    Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike was re-released in 2006 in the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection for the Playstation 2, along with every version of Street Fighter 2.

    Category: 2-dimensional fighting game

    Developer: Capcom
    ]]>     17 Jun 2007 06:11:38     Blitz Blox A furious block-dropping game that pits you against your opponent on the same playing field. Defend your blocks, attack your enemy's blocks. Make use of special blocks to turn the tables. Play against calculating AI or against another player

    Developer: Blade Edge Software
    ]]>     15 Dec 2006 02:02:43     Outlaw Golf 2 The shameless bunch from the Outlaw series returns to the repressed world of golf with their outrageously twisted antics. Bodacious babes and deviant dudes take to the course and give a whole new meaning to “playing from the rough.â€
    ]]>     22 Feb 2007 07:51:25     Onimusha - Warlords Onimusha: Warlords is the first game of the Onimusha series.

    The game features samurai Samanosuke Akechi, modeled after actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, determined to save Princess Yuki of the Saito clan and defeat Nobunaga, resurrected after signing a pact with demons. The game also features Kaede, an expert female ninja who provides Samanosuke with information. Kaede was originally sent to assassinate Samanosuke by the Iga clan of ninja, but had a change of heart and develops trust and deep feelings of love (as shown in Onimusha Blade Warriors) for the samurai and agrees to join him as his confidant. Samansosuke travels throughout all of Inabayama Castle where he searches for clues of Princess Yuki's whereabouts, finds special weapons, and solves various puzzles.
    ]]>     24 Jun 2007 06:10:37     Whacked! A crazy arena combat game, this was the first game to come out for the Xbox, Live enabled.

    Developed by Presto Studios and published by Microsoft in 2002.
    ]]>     02 Dec 2006 08:56:45     Outlaw Volleyball Outlaw Volleyball combines the fun gameplay of Virtua Tennis 2K2 with the outrageous humor of Outlaw Golf and South Park. The game is sand volleyball in 16 different environments featuring 16 characters, each of whom are available as teammates or opponents. Feel the action as you Spike or Die with fabulous babes and guys with attitude. Up to four people can compete as they dive, spike, jump and lob the ball for total victory. Play well and your team will gain momentum, play badly and so will your team. It's Hot Babes! Hot Spikes! Hot Sand! on your Xbox!
    ]]>     22 Feb 2007 08:03:45     Outlaw Tennis Outlaw Tennis is a top quality tennis sim combined with the outrageous characters, play modes and humor of the Outlaw series of games. The Fighting/composure system that is unique to the Outlaw series adds a whole new dimension to the otherwise conservative world of tennis. Get ready to hit the courts, beat the daylights out of your opponent and cause a “racquetâ€
    ]]>     22 Feb 2007 08:10:41     Rugby League "Rugby League" is the video game adaptation of the great sport of Rugby League developed in New Zealand by Sidhe Interactive.

    Rules of the sport taken from Wikipedia:


    "The aim of the game is to score points by carrying an oval ball up the field towards the opposing team's in-goal where the ball is grounded to score a try (worth four points). This is to be done by the attacking team within a "set of six" tackles allowed before the ball must be handed over to the opposition. At the end of a set of six, unless the attacking team is in good field position from where they can attempt to score a try, the team with the ball will usually elect to kick the ball to the adjacent end of the field, thereby forcing the opposing team to run the ball from as far away from their own try line as possible. The opposing team attempts to prevent the attacking team from carrying out this objective by tackling the player with the ball. After scoring a try the scoring team then has the right to attempt to kick a goal (worth a further two points if successful). The kick may be taken from any point on an imaginary line parallel with the touch-line and through the point where the try was scored. The team with the most points at the end of two 40-minute halves wins."


    Despite some gameplay flaws and crude graphics the sport was faithfully recreated in its video game incarnation and its success with fans led to the production of a sequel.

    Rugby League broke the global record for most pre-orders at one game retailer (EBGames Eastgardens in Sydney) that was previously set by Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
    ]]>     01 Mar 2007 12:55:20     Rugby League 2 "Rugby League 2" is the second video game adaptation of Rugby League by New Zealand developer, Sidhe Interactive.

    Rules of the sport taken from Wikipedia:


    "The aim of the game is to score points by carrying an oval ball up the field towards the opposing team's in-goal where the ball is grounded to score a try (worth four points). This is to be done by the attacking team within a "set of six" tackles allowed before the ball must be handed over to the opposition. At the end of a set of six, unless the attacking team is in good field position from where they can attempt to score a try, the team with the ball will usually elect to kick the ball to the adjacent end of the field, thereby forcing the opposing team to run the ball from as far away from their own try line as possible. The opposing team attempts to prevent the attacking team from carrying out this objective by tackling the player with the ball. After scoring a try the scoring team then has the right to attempt to kick a goal (worth a further two points if successful). The kick may be taken from any point on an imaginary line parallel with the touch-line and through the point where the try was scored. The team with the most points at the end of two 40-minute halves wins."


    Rugby League 2 was a much more polished game than its predecessor and was lapped up by fans. There is hope and demand from the fanbase for a next-generation update.
    ]]>     01 Mar 2007 01:07:30     Batman Vengeance Batman Vengeance is a video game in the Batman universe developed and published by Ubisoft. It was released over a period of time on all of the major platforms, starting with the PS2 version on October 15, 2001 and ending with the PC version a year later on October 8, 2002. The game is based on the animated series The New Batman Adventures, which in turn is an expansion of Batman: the Animated Series. Spanning 5 episodes, presented in a style intended to emulate that of the animated series, Batman Vengeance takes the Caped Crusader through 19 levels of gameplay up against a series of familiar villains unknowingly involved with one central plot to wreak havoc on Gotham City. Presented in a more stylized golden age comic book appearance that communicates attitude and personality through deceptively Spartan artwork, Batman engages in a variety of different gameplay modes (e.g. traditional third-person platforming and vehicle-based gameplay) in his pursuit to rid Gotham City of its most notorious criminals.

    It starred Kevin Conroy as the role of Batman. He reprised it from the successful animated TV show as did Mark Hamill, who voiced the criminally insane Joker.

    In Batman Vengeance, the gritty underworld of Gotham ignites as Batman becomes the target of a nerve-rattling conspiracy. After the Joker plummets to his death in an attempt to kill Batman, Gotham's criminals quickly escalate their schemes to gain power. Batman discovers subtle links in these seemingly unrelated crimes, but is forced undercover after being framed for an attack on Commissioner Gordon. Hunted by the police, the Dark Knight must pinpoint the unseen enemy weaving this sinister web before Gotham City falls to a fiery demise.
    ]]>     02 Mar 2007 04:36:43     Enclave Overview

    In the game, players can choose to take on the role of either an agent of Light, or a soldier of Darkness, complete with separate and unique missions reflecting the nature of that decision. Battle takes place in an atmospheric medieval realm where spellcraft and sorcery combine with wood and steel to create awesome weapons, and powerful magic spells.

    Story

    Enclave takes place in a world literally torn-apart by magic. A millennia ago, the dark armies of Vatar had battled the people of Celenheim to the brink of destruction. During the final, desperate battle, a lone figure, clad in a wizard's robe, appeared high atop a ridge, staff held upraised in both hands. Defiantly, he slammed the staff hard into the ground, unleashing the terrible fury of nature itself. In that single night, the world erupted. The skies grew black, and the earth turned red with fire, chaos, and blood. The Rift raced forward, tearing the ground apart, and destroying everything in its horrifying path. In the aftermath, the demon Vatar and the mysterious wizard had disappeared, and were both assumed dead.

    Light had separated from dark, and the world had been been split in twain. The new "island" of Celenheim was protected on all sides by an abyssal rift, and its people safe from the dark twisted forms now struggling for survival on the other side. To the people of Celenheim, these creatures became known as the Outlanders.

    The inhabitants of the Enclave, as it came to be called, grew strong and prosperous over the centuries, nearly forgetting the bitter hatred harboured for them from those confined to the war-ravaged plains of the Outland. But now, after hundreds of years, the Rift has begun to seal, even becoming crossable in places. The very earth is healing beneath their feet. It's only a matter of time before another full-scale war erupts, threatening the very existence of Celenheim.

    Non-player characters (NPCs)

  • Alecto: The leader of the Ancestors.

  • Ancestors: The people of Meckelon.

  • Durzu: The boss of the "Outland wastes" map. It looks like a larger version of the regular Stone Gnomes that also appear in that area. It is equipped with a relatively normal right hand and a left hand that looks like a monstrously huge sledgehammer. In the contrary to the Stone Gnomes, Durzu has a more Goblin-like head. Durzu attacks by creating a huge shockwave (Quakefist) with its left arm that can not only cause severe damage, but it can also knock the player down in the lava. It is also capable of spawning Stone Gnomes by making a throwing move with its right arm.

  • Fyrlakith (sometimes known as simply "The Dragon"): A boss in the level "The guardian". Like said, it appears to be a large dragon with four legs and two bat-like wings. Fyrlakith was sent by High wizard Zale to guard the "Tome of souls" and is not going to let anyone slip away with it during his (it seems to be a male) watch. He flies around the level and occasionally stops to breathe fire at the player. His name, Fyrlakith, roughly translated into English means "flying fire-breather".

  • High wizard Zale: The wizard who defeated Vatar.

  • Head Councellor Mordessa: The evil sorceress who wishes to revive Vatar and together with him, rule over the world.

  • Scaara Warrior: These strange frog-like humanoids live in The Sanctuary which they fiercely protect. They all wield tridents and are excellent swimmers.

  • Skeletons: There are several types of skeletons in the game, but they all act and fight in the same way. They come in the following types and grow stronger in that order:

  • Skeleton
  • Undead
  • Grim skeleton
  • Shadow skeleton
  • Dread skeleton/Dread archer
  • Hellbone

  • Stone Gnomes: Small, magical creatures born out of lava and fire. They appear only in the Outland wastes area as Non-playable character's, but they also appears as playable characters in the Dark campaign.

  • Vatar: A mighty demon who is the incarnation of evil in Enclave.

  • Wraiths: are small, ghostly creatures that mostly haunts deserted buildings such as the Mansion of Dreams. Wraiths resemble skulls with flowing hair. They come in four different types.

  • Lesser Wraith: They come in small groups and are white in colour. They can attack only once, then they disappear for good.
  • Shadow Wraith: Appears more rarely and usually alone. It has more health than the Lesser Wraith but can likewise only attack once.
  • Mist Wraith: It is faster than the others. It's actually a transformed Lich. They rarely attack until they return to their Lich form.
  • Hell Wraith: Doesn't seem to appear normally. However, the Hell wraith is included in the game's registry files.

  • Zurana: A boss-character. Once an ambitious sorceress, Zurana was consumed by evil forces when she tried to control a demon using the Tome of Souls. She now appears as a large demon-like skeleton. She has made the Underworld her headquarters and the "Underworld Spawn" (which consists of re-animated skeletons) are actually too afraid to protest. She possesses an immense physical strength which she demonstrates after the player has seized the Staff of the Earthspirit. When Zurana faces opponents her own size she usually slashes at them with her long claws. Her left arm is covered in a bony plate that acts as a shield. Zurana has an old mansion located south-west of the rift which the player must visit in the dark campaign to recover the Crystal of Eversi.


    • Player character classes

    Light Side classes

    Knight
    The Knights are strong warriors, revered and feared from their bravery and valor in combat. They are picked out even as young boy, and go through a rigorous training in the Ancient Code of warfare. Among the people of Celenheim, their bravery on the battlefield and skills in melee combat are unmatched. While superior in hand to hand combat, the Knights abilities in ranged combat and magic are very weak, and more often than not they resort to using the sword and shield.
    Huntress
    The Huntresses of Aylewood are more nimble with the bow than anyone else, perhaps even the Dreg'Atar Assassins. The Elves have a natural vision that strongly exceeds that of any other races. They are secretive however, and not even the Queen herself and the Assembly really know where they come from or how they trained.
    Wizard
    Wizards are powerful wielders of elemental magic and have a wide array of devastating spells at their disposal. Unlike the rogue Sorceress of the Outlands, the Wizards of Celenheim are trained after strict rules and conduct within a guild structure. This is necessary for Enclave, and the wizards themselves. They are one of the strongest assets to Celenheim, and very loyal to the Queen and her cause. On the downside, Wizards are physically very weak, and nearly useless in melee combat.
    Druid
    The Druids are a secret order, which lives on its own independently of the Enclaves government or the Assembly of Six. Nature itself shapes them as their guardians, with knowledge and memories passed from generation to generation. They are seldom seen outside their own kind, but have a strong affinity to sense disturbances in the balance of nature. And the Outlanders are the worst disturbance of them all.
    Engineer
    The Gnomes are very important to the people of the Enclave. They are skilled craftsman, workers and engineers of the populace, and unmatched in their dexterous skills in handwork. But just as they are skilled in creation, they are very talented in destroying things as well, having a penchant for experimental explosives and demolitions.
    Halfling
    The Halfling have always been faithful to the elves in the lands of Celenheim, and often taken into services as spies or scouts. They are very fast, agile and can hit their enemies hard, in spite of their small size. Although the halflings are indeed fast, they are somewhat lacking when it comes to physical strength.
    9320 Battle droid
    A bonus-character with tremendous strength. This robot-warrior can be unlocked by accumulating 13000 gold pieces in the light campaign. It is equipped with a vastly powerful rocket-launcher

    Dark Side classes

    Berserker
    Every year, the strongest warriors in the Ogre clans battle amongst one another in a duel to the death. The survivor is bestowed the great honor of being sent to Ark Moor, to be enlisted in the services of the Head Councilor Mordessa herself. The Berserkers are the front-line soldiers of the Outland armies. Their size, strength and skill in warfare make them the perfect warrior. War is all Ogre knows. They are not famous for their brains, they have little intelligence. But they are strong, cruel, and brutally efficient in melee combat. Their greatest weakness is their lack of speed.
    Assassin
    The Assassins of Ark Moor are bred from birth under a very strict and dangerous program of training. Every waking moment since infancy they are molded and shaped into cold and precise assassins. The Assassins don't rely on strength, but on skillful marksmanship and backstabbing.
    Sorceress
    The sorceress are powerful wielders of magic, having at their finger-tips the strongest offensive magic of the Outlands. Their training goes only from one Sorceress to her disciple, and they tend to be loners. Therefore the High Council of Ark Moor has to search the lands for them, and convince them to join their ranks with the promise of powers. Because the sorceress tend to be very ambitious and keen on power. While being powerful magic casters, the Sorceress is fairly inferior when it comes to melee combat, and may only wear light armor.
    Lich
    Who could possible know more about life than those returning from the dead? Many beings in the Outland are denied the luxury of a peaceful death. The High Councilors of Ark Moor use Liches, undead magic wielders among their ranks. With theirs souls trapped, and an existence in constant agony, they have no choice but to obey the commands of their creators.
    Bombardier
    The bombardiers consist of the most crazy deranged fanatics on the entire continent. Their task is probably the most dangerous of all: sabotage and blow up enemy installations including the enemy themselves. In addition, they work to keep their own siege weapons and installations intact, in the midst of the most furious battles. The Bombardiers are of average strength in melee combat. Their true strength lies in their ability to create bombs and set deadly traps.
    Goblin
    These small creatures are the standard cannonfodder in the Dreg'Atar armies. They are fast and vicious but lack physical strength. A Goblin is nevertheless more cunning than a Berserker and even a Bombardier and sometimes offer an intelligent conversation. They are known for inventing the "Grease bomb" that works like a Molotov Cocktail. They also invented the explosive arrows. They prefer using axes in battle and like to sneak up on their foes. They speak with a re-mixed grammar of Swedish.
    Fetica
    This is a bonus character unlocked when you find all the gold (13000 gold pieces in all) in the dark campaign. The Fetica is equipped with a rocket launcher. The game indicates that Fetica is featured from "Enclave classic".

    Locations in and around the Enclave

    Ark Amar
    A harbour located in the south-west parts of the Outlands. The harbour of Ark Amar is known for its cold, shark-infested waters. This is where the ships used to stop before sailing on over the vast seas. Most of this harbour is now under control of the Dreg'Atar.

    Ark Moor Citadel
    Mordessa's base of operations, located in the northern Outlands. This fortress is located on a small mountain placed in the very middle of a deep, lava-filled canyon. Ark Moor Citadel is heavily protected by Mordessa's most powerful warriors.

    Aylewoods
    A prosperous and mysterious forest located near the southern parts of the Enclave. Aylewoods is a magnificent forest consisting of healthy trees, clear lakes and steep hills. This forest is protected mostly by Druids and elves and serves as an available refuge for the queen and the assembly of six.

    Celadia Village
    A small village located near the northern parts of the Enclave. This village was deserted after a raid and is now under the control of the Dreg'Atar.

    Iellon Outpost
    This fortress is squeezed in between two cliffs near a very narrow portion of the rift. Iellon Outpost was built in order to keep the Outlanders from building a bridge across the rift. The outpost is also used for storing dangerous criminals, both Outlanders and Enclave members.

    The Sanctuary
    The Sanctuary is located deep below a lake located in the north-west parts of the Outlands. This is where Zale is said to be held prisoner. The base is partly underwater and is protected by the frog-like Scaara Warriors.

    The Howiling Chambers
    After finding Zale a secret door is opened leading to the Howiling chambers. The Howiling Chambers are full of traps. This was built to test goblins skills.

    Ungard Mines
    These mines are very old, even older than the rift. The Ungard bridge located deep in the mines is one of the few places where it's still possible to transverse (walk across) the rift.

    Ur-Annon Island
    This island is Mordessa's personal lair and is located in the southern parts of the Sea of Sorrow. The island itself is barren and life-less. The only sign of inhabitance is a small fortress protected by the most powerful Dreg'Atar warriors.
    ]]>     01 Jul 2007 07:29:01     Final Fight Final Fight is a classic beat 'em up series from Capcom. It is considered to be Street Fighter's "cousin", and the two series are set in the same universe (characters like Guy, Hugo Andore, Rolento, Cody Travers and Poison have all appeared in later Street Fighter installments). Final Fight was originally released as an arcade game and was ported to several platforms, including the Super NES, Sega Mega-CD, Sharp X68000 and Game Boy Advance. It features former wrestler (as seen in Saturday Night Slam Masters), and mayor of Metro City (Capcom's fictitious city, modeled after New York City), Mike Haggar.

    The story of Final Fight involves the abduction of Haggar's daughter, Jessica, because he would not work with Mad Gear to ensure their dominance of the streets. When the Mad Gear thug Damnd contacts Haggar and informs him, Haggar calls up his daughter's boyfriend Cody and his sparring partner Guy, and the three vigilantes head into the streets to bust Mad Gear's skulls, fighting their way through the hordes of goons littering the city (including the Rastafarian thug Damnd, the "Japanophile" Sodom, former Red Beret and militia leader Rolento, corrupt cop Edi. E, and the ill-tempered Abigail), to get to Mad Gear's boss, Belger.

    Final Fight, whilst following in the footsteps of Double Dragon, was an innovative and balanced game. Unlike several beat 'em ups before it, Final Fight featured very large and detailed sprites for its day, and the controls were quite fluid and simple. Beginners could take to the game quickly, yet the game was balanced and difficult enough to ensure even experts could always expect a challenge for every new play. The game also began the strength-based, speed-based, and average character variety that countless other beat 'em up and other genres derived, as one controls Haggar (very powerful yet very slow and vulnerable to attack), Guy (very agile and can use hit-and-run, yet has weak offensive power), or Cody (who balances strength and speed, being an excellent choice for beginners). It also featured very long levels and various powerful enemies that could easily crowd the screen and had several fighting tactics against the player. It was not uncommon to hear people talk of how crowds would gather to watch whoever was playing the machine at the time.
    ]]>     05 Apr 2007 11:59:05     Ghost Recon In Ghost Recon, you lead the Ghosts, an elite American infantry unit using the most advanced technology the USA has to offer, onto the front lines and into the battle. The Ghosts are the spearhead of the US Army's quick response. They are the first unit deployed into dangerous situations and the last ones to leave when things get rough. As the leader of a platoon of Ghosts in the field, it is your responsibility to select your frireteam members, train them, kit them out and command them once the shooting starts. You control them as they seek to execute your orders, which you give during the heat of battle, and complete their missions. Particularly spectacular performance and the completion of special objectives will unlock Specialist characters, who bring new weapons and new levels of expertise to your platoon.
    ]]>     12 Mar 2007 02:13:36     Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an action-adventure game that spans the events of Mortal Kombat II, starting with the aftermath of the first Mortal Kombat. The game centers on two members of the Shaolin Order, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, as they travel through the realms in an attempt to thwart Shang Tsung's plans to dominate Earthrealm.

    The game features three main modes of play. Aside from a single-player mode, the game has a co-operative mode, where two players can work together through the game, with access to some areas and items that are inaccessible in single-player mode. There is also a versus mode, where two players can fight against each other in some of the arenas featured in the game.

    In addition to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, the game features other characters from the Mortal Kombat series. Some are there to aid the main characters, including Raiden, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Jax Briggs and Sub-Zero, while others serve as the game's bosses, including Kitana, Mileena, Jade, Reptile, Baraka, Goro, Scorpion and Kano. Some of these can be unlocked to become playable characters in the various modes of the game.

    Shaolin Monks has a gameplay device called the Multi-Directional Kombat System, which gives players the ability to attack any of the enemies that surround them fluidly. The engine allows the player to maintain combo attacks across multiple enemies, and even continue their combos after launching an enemy into the air through a powerful attack or a throw. The main characters also have many of the special moves that they've had in the fighting games of the series. Combos and special moves are upgradeable through the earning of experience points. These are mainly gained through defeating opponents, with the combo system multiplying the value. The environment plays a vital role in the game, as there are several hazards that will instantly kill an enemy, such as pits in the floor or rotating wheels of spikes. Using some of the environment in this manner, as well as attacking or destroying certain objects, serve as a puzzle-solving element to unlock secrets in the game.
    ]]>     10 Feb 2007 03:12:20     disney's extreme skate adventure Skate through the large and imaginative worlds of Walt Disney Pictures' presentation of Pixar Animation Studios' "Toy Story 2," "Disney's Tarzan" and "Disney's The Lion King" along with the most memorable characters from each film. Using cutting-edge technology from Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 game engine, Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure lets you perform fun and unique skating tricks as their favorite characters, "Extreme Skate Crew" member or unique Create-A-Skater creation. You'll be able to skate through real world locales as well as be magically transported to environments from the films where you can use bamboo rafts, frying pans and hover-boards, solving puzzles as you go.
    ]]>     22 Feb 2007 08:51:33     Destroy All Humans Use destructive weapons and innate mental powers to take on the most feared enemy in the galaxy - Mankind! Play as Crypto, an alien warrior sent to Earth to clear the way for the Furon invasion force.
    ]]>     31 Jan 2007 05:21:26     Tony Hawk's Undeground MASSIVE departure for the series. New completely free-roam style throughout levels and beefed story mode make this almost a completely different game.
    ]]>     12 Feb 2007 06:26:34     Fifa Street 2 This game has everything we've come to expect from the street series... plus soccer. The multiplayer aspect can pretty much give this game all the replay value it could ever have.
    ]]>     11 Feb 2007 04:51:47     The Matrix: Path of Neo In path of Neo you play the main character of the Matrix trilogy: Neo. The game starts with the taking of the pills and then takes you through the main parts of the three films.

    This has all the main characters in with good likeness and a great soundbytes from all the actors.

    You can wield a multitude of weapons to wield and plenty of kung foo moves to master. Not forgetting the obligatory focus or "bullet time" which makes all your moves slower and more spectacular. Skills are acquired throughout the game and allow for some awesome feats including flying and stopping bullets.

    The whole of the game is broken up with extended parts to the movie and actual film footage from the trilogy.
    ]]>     13 Jun 2007 09:45:21     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     Delta Force: Black Hawk Down In late 1993, the United States launched dual military operations in Mogadishu Somalia. Delta Force Operatives and Army Rangers were sent in to capture Somali warlords and restore order. Experience the intense combat of Operation Restore Hope in this ground breaking first person shooter. As a Delta Force operative participate in a number of daring and intense raids against the oppressive Somali warlords in and around Mogadishu.
    ]]>     20 Feb 2007 11:48:44     Conker Live and Reloaded The game features intense Deathmatch and Campaign story-line modes via Xbox Live and System Link, and players can compete as one of six combat specialists across multi-mission campaigns covering Old War and Future War. The warfare promises to deliver the non-stop action, humor, and innuendos Conker is famous for.

    Also included is the critically acclaimed single-player game, Conker's Bad Fur Day, completely recreated for the Xbox with stunning graphics and unparalleled attitude.
    ]]>     01 Feb 2007 11:59:31     Myst IV: Revelation
    Within the visually awe-inspiring world of Myst, a gripping family drama will slowly unfold. In Myst IV Revelation, players finally learn the fate of Sirrus and Achenar, two villains first introduced in the original Myst. The brothers have remained trapped in separate prison worlds, abandoned by their father for crimes they had committed. Players are engaged in uncovering the mystery surrounding a little girl's disappearance, daring to venture deep inside the intense worlds of the villainous brothers. Understanding their motives is key to the success of the investigation and will be a true "revelation."

    Myst IV: Revelation uses the same 360 degree panorama view as Myst III: Exile, but with even more impressively rendered environments.
    ]]>     29 Jan 2007 08:42:19     Mortal Kombat: Deception Mortal Kombat: Deception is a fighting game in the controversial and bloody Mortal Kombat series. Deception was developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in October 2004. A GameCube version was published in January 2005.

    Mortal Kombat: Deception precedes Shaolin Monks (in release date only) and follows Deadly Alliance. MK:D was released in two versions for the Playstation 2 and Xbox, a regular version, and a "Kollector's Edition" which added a metal trading card and a bonus disc containing a history of Mortal Kombat, several video biographies of characters, and an "arcade perfect" version of the original Mortal Kombat.
    ]]>     10 Feb 2007 01:18:40     Painkiller You play as Daniel Garner, a seemingly regular guy who has been killed in a horrific car accident. Trapped in a dark and unwelcoming world between heaven and hell, you struggle to uncover the reasons why you've been denied entry into heaven. Awaiting your purification, you must fight through an endless number of demon soldiers as you attempt to stop an imminent unholy war.

    --from game website
    ]]>     31 Jan 2007 02:28:25     Buffy the Vampire Slayer The game's story is an original, but it happens at some point during the third season of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. The basic story is that there's a gang of vampires who, believe it or not, want to kill humans. They also want to sacrifice one so The Master (a very powerful demon) can be reincarnated.

    The main character is Buffy Summers. She's an average high school student in all ways except that she's the Chosen One, and must defend the world from demons and vampires. The other big names from the cast are in this game as well (Spike, Angel, Willow, Xander, Giles, etc...) and unlike Buffy, they're actually voiced by the actors from the show.

    The gameplay is a mixture of action and some puzzle solving. While the game does focus more on hand-to-hand combat than anything else, there are also some alternative weaponry (a water gun that shoots holy water, crossbow, hellfire, etc...).

    This game is unique because it's a genuinely good licensed game. Fans of the show and non-fans alike will enjoy this game. It was put together with the same kind of humor that fans enjoyed from the show, and it still had a good game behind it. It would still be a good game even without the license, which is something that many licensed games shoot for but can't accomplish.
    ]]>     15 Mar 2007 05:21:36