It seems that every gaming website out there likes to focus their attention on the big releases or the latest and greatest news coming out from major developers and console manufactuers. I notice a lack of video game advice on the internet. I mean what games should I get?
The Xbox Live Marketplace is huge, and has a lot of variety and you can get lost in the sea of drabness. You just bought a 360, and with the latest round of price drops, is a great deal for anyone looking to take that plunge from your ten year old Playstation 2. Here are in my opinion the five best games that are on the Xbox Live Arcade. My criteria is simple, they have to be cheap, so games that are 400 to 800 MS points. We all love Braid and Castle Crashers, but I think there are a lot of titles that are worth more for their money then those triple A titles. I’m not including games like Uno or Undertow because the majority of us got those for free with various promotions. Alright, now that we got the rules under control here’s my list:
5. N+ – 800 MS Points
N+ is a great game that combines a lot of different styles of gaming and wraps in a nice, modern looking package. The game is about a ninja and the main goal is to get through each of the game’s hundereds of levels by finding a switch and going to the coresponding door. The game starts off fairly simple and you could probably rush through it and be no better off. But the challenge of this game comes from collecting as many of the gold pebbles as possible to increase the amount of time (or points.) This leads you often into redoing flustrating levels just to shave that little extra bit from your time total. With a recent expansion pack, (and more on the way we presume) N+ is a great title to start off your Xbox Live Arcade Library.
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 89 arcade – 400 MS points
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a game many of us over the age of 22 remember fondly as we used to bug our moms and dads to give us quarters anytime we saw one of these machines. The game is the quinessential “beat ‘em up” as you play as one of the four turtles each with a respective color and weapon. This game is a blast from the past that holds up surprisingly well. If you are strapped for cash and want that Castle Crashers experience, try this cheaper version. Call up four of your friends and enjoy running through the cartoon world of the late 80s.
3. Doom – 400 MS Points
Doom was the best PC game of the early 3D computer era. It had decent graphics, took the FPS to levels Wolfenstien 3D only wished it could go, and attacked networks across the corporate and educational world by storm. This game not only shows you the ropes of what has become the most popular genre of video games, but also the most ripped off of video games. You play as a space marine trapped on an unknown planet and you must kill or be killed. Let’s face it this game isn’t known for its compelling story, its about blowing the crap out of things. The levels feel dated, and yeah you’ve played better, but for 5 bucks this is a very entertaining way to spend an afternoon. It also has Co-Op which is highly popular among geeks trying to get girlfriends. Try it.
2. Bomberman Live – 800 MS points
Bomberman is a classic title that has been around since the days of the NES. It has seen many iterations on literally every platform and generation imaginable. This time around it take the classic gameplay seen in the Super Bomberman era and applies it to the fast paced action of online multiplayer. While it may seem like a simple game the game gets pretty crazy when multiple bombs are going off and you can watch as the chain reactions trap and blow up your friends. There is literally infinite replayabilty from this title and you’ll feel like its more then worth the 800 MS points. You can play against live people or bots. The easy to understand controls make this the perfect party game for your friends who may not be the most familiar with the latest and greatest gaming. The aestetic also appeals to women, so if you’re trying to get your girlfriend to waste some time with you on the console you should try this out.
1. Geometry Wars – 400 MS points
The first must own 360 games also comes in first on our list of the top five cheap xbox live arcade game. You can play this game for five minutes or five hours and it will be fun regardless. This game combines old school shooter tech, with stunning visuals and just addictive gameplay elements. For instance, I spent three hours one day trying to get the achievement for lasting a certain amount of time without dying or shooting anything. I recommend this game before jumping into the sequel that just hit, as it is half the price and all the fun.
