Xbox Indies News and Reviews

REVIEW: Super MechaMan

theXBLIG — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 12:00:21 GMT

Your natural inclination is to read Super MechaMan ($1.00) like ‘Mega Man’, thus assuming you’re getting yourself into some kind of very colorful and kiddish Mega Man-inspired platformer. That wouldn’t be wrong of you to assume, either, especially when some of the screenshots show off a character in a blue, mechanized suit, firing off blaster […]

REVIEW: BLASTEROIDS

theXBLIG — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 12:00:32 GMT

First off, if you find you have even a passing interest in BLASTEROIDS ($1.00) before reading this review, by all means, go and download DeadKings. BLASTEROIDS is a featured minigame there (along with Checkers & Breakout), and DeadKings is an excellent game that throws in everything but the castle sink. You’ll pay the same price, […]

REVIEW: Impossiball

theXBLIG — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 12:00:41 GMT

Two paddles, one ball1. The most simple formula in gaming. A lot of indie developers that are just starting out probably start out with that very formula. It’s easy, but nowhere near ‘unique’. No matter what name you give your version, Pong is still Pong. You can add your own style of paddle, design the strangest […]

Saturn 9: Great Game Just wish there was more

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:07:35 GMT

This game was really fun I just really wish it was longer!

REVIEW: DELTA

theXBLIG — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:00:33 GMT

Stuff like hermitgames‘ DELTA1 ($2.99) should really come labeled with a pair of warnings. The first is good news up front; the game is a fully-addictive arcade racer, has that ‘one more try’ quality that plenty of games aspire to but most don’t ultimately achieve. The second is not as good, and potentially hazardous to your […]

REVIEW: Nandeyanen!? – The 1st Sûtra

theXBLIG — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 11:00:53 GMT

It’s not every day your Bullet Hell stars a super long-nosed demon that’s been asleep for a few thousand years, only to be immediately thrust into a long-brewing battle upon waking. Oh, and your lady fox1 has been kidnapped. That’s bound to make anyone cranky. Nandeyanen!? – The 1st Sûtra2 ($2.99) gives you a shooter […]

REVIEW: Santa Slay

theXBLIG — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:00:04 GMT

Depending on when you’re reading this article… Happy Holidays! What? It’s not? Oh, I mean… er… well, you know. I’ve got a very narrow window of opportunity for this thing. Carry on, then. September is probably a little early for spending sprees and gift-giving (just don’t tell that to this consumerist economy of ours), but […]

REVIEW: Recall

theXBLIG — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 12:00:09 GMT

Looking past all the various skin on display in the image above (and throughout the entirety of the game, for that matter), Golconda‘s latest, Recall1 ($1.00), is actually a comprehensive treatise on lost memories and the connections we form with other people… … … Yeah, I can’t take it serious either. The premise is wacky stuff— super smart […]

REVIEW: G-Men

theXBLIG — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:00:49 GMT

It’s not the most glamorous job, and the stench has got to be unbelievable, but certainly garbagemen have to be considered among the unsung heroes of the world. They’re not curing diseases or inventing new forms of space travel, sure, but consider this ‘what-if’ for a second; a world without garbagemen. Huh? Huh? Yeah, we’d […]

REVIEW: Paintball Wars 2

theXBLIG — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:00:02 GMT

The original Paintball War came out at (what I consider to be) a turning point for first-person shooters on XBLIG, a time of enlightenment when developers really started to hit the mark in terms of control and design. It’s no surprise that the FPS flood doors swung wide open soon after. Almost two years on, […]

REVIEW: Xenominer Swarm

theXBLIG — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:00:56 GMT

Though some would classify the original Xenominer as a ‘sci-fi Minecraft‘ and nothing more on sight alone, it’s heavy emphasis on survival on a harsh planet made it much more than a simple clone. It’s one of the few games I’ve played on XBLIG where I was actively brainstorming ideas for a potential sequel, so sure […]

The Impossible Game Level Pack: STILL EASY

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:28:16 GMT

I wish they made more levels But game is pertty awesome I have to say :)

Microsoft’s Curious Decision on Content

Writings of Mass Deduction — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 19:21:06 GMT

The recent Microsoft layoffs, 18K in all and the largest in company history, has got a lot of media attention. I often wonder about the value of something like this. It may fatten up the bottom line, but will it do so enough to justify the bad press? In any big organisation there’s a lot […]

Xbox One’s ability to control your TV and cable box

Writings of Mass Deduction — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 15:33:28 GMT

One of the things that excited me about the Xbox One was its ability to control your television and cable box. At launch, in Canada, it could only control your TV, but they did relatively promptly roll out the ability to control your cable box as well. I know that it’s not as relevant in […]

“Quacamelee!” has me thinking

Writings of Mass Deduction — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 17:11:45 GMT

Microsoft’s done something interesting with July’s free “Games With Gold” offering. They held over “Max: The Curse of Brotherhood” for a second month, and added “Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition”. If you have an Xbox 360, and are considering these games, then suddenly an Xbox One just got about $30 cheaper for you. Guacamelee! STCE […]

Risky behaviour in video games (and other media)

Writings of Mass Deduction — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:54:44 GMT

Keen-eyed viewers will notice that I haven’t exactly been posting up a storm, lately. In real life I have a business to run, and this is our busy season and it’s really time I focus on that (and family, and chores, and all the other non-optional elements of life). That said, I read an article […]

My Thoughts On: “Edge of Tomorrow”

Writings of Mass Deduction — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 22:17:06 GMT

Ever seen “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray? This is like that, but with power armour. It reminds me a bit of what “Starship Troopers” ought to have been, as the book that movie was based on featured power armour even if it was conspicuous by its absence from the film. The movie isn’t lighting up […]

Xbox 360 indie review: “STRACO : Purge and Conquest”

Writings of Mass Deduction — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 07:47:15 GMT

The original STRACO, “STRACO Episode 1″ to be specific, was an interesting mash-up between action shooting and tower defence. It was much improved after a 2.0 update was released for it (that, thanks to plumbing the indie channel for hidden gems, I got right off the bat). It’s finally got a well deserved sequel, and […]

My Thoughts On: “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

Writings of Mass Deduction — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 07:25:13 GMT

Not directly game related, but I wanted to add my thoughts on the film “X-Men: Days of Future Past”. Firstly, game players may find a familiar theme in [spoilers ahead!] the early moments of the film where our heroes in the far dystopian future escape the wrath of the Sentinels by, effectively, reloading a save […]

Xbox 360 (XBLIG) review: Match with Wally

Writings of Mass Deduction — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 07:59:28 GMT

If you’re like me, and you like dry/dark humour, then I strongly recommend you watch this video, and jump right to the 25:05 mark: This is a video made by someone else, not me. Feel free to watch the whole thing if so inclined, but it’s just past the 25 minute mark where I really […]

…this is now.

Writings of Mass Deduction — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 07:58:28 GMT

Here we have an updated list. Instead of hundreds of views for the top country, we have tens of thousands. Keep in mind too, that this does not include those who read WMD over RSS, which is how the majority of the site’s viewers do it. Being an English language site, English-speaking countries understandably top […]

That was then….

Writings of Mass Deduction — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 07:22:02 GMT

Back in Mar. 11th 2012, I saved a list of all the visitors to the site to date. The slight number of views reflects how early in the site’s history it was. It’s an interesting time capsule. Tomorrow, I’ll update it with a current list. All Time Country Views United States 661 United Kingdom 275 […]

Xbox 360 (XBLIG) review: Rock Bottom

Writings of Mass Deduction — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 07:12:57 GMT

“Rock Bottom”. It comes to us from the publisher of “Get Rich or Die Gaming” and “The Rise of Gaddafish”, and it’s equally zany. You don’t play “Rock Bottom” for a cohesive story, you play it for craziness for craziness’ sake. You’ll either find them endearing or annoying, so a free trial is in order, […]

Xbox 360 review (XBLIG): The Impossible Game Level Pack

Writings of Mass Deduction — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 07:46:30 GMT

This is more a “be aware this thing exists” post, be cause if you played the original “The Impossible Game” and enjoyed it, then why wouldn’t you want a whole new long and incredibly difficult level to try (and repeatedly fail) to beat? And that’s exactly what “The Impossible Game Level Pack” would have offered, […]

Avatar Legends: 2360:

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 08:25:05 GMT

i can see the effort put into this game. it looks great and has a interesting leveling system and it has charm

but... i personally gound the lack of auto-aim unforgivably annoying, i found it easier to move my avatar around to hit enemies rather than my crosshair... it's the only reason i don't play in more than short spurts

The changing PC gaming market

Writings of Mass Deduction — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 07:45:54 GMT

I’m almost finished going through the archives of old articles I had once authored, and then not posted for whatever reason. This one is from December 14th, 2010, and it’s largely complete. ==== Further proof that people who say that PC gaming is dying simply don’t get it. What’s happening is that PC gaming is […]

Another day, another Halo post

Writings of Mass Deduction — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 07:59:21 GMT

This may be the last time I comment on the Halo Master Chief Collection for a while (though I remain excited about it). A few observations: - all of the maps from the console Halo games have been included here, but none of the maps specific to the PC games are included (the first two […]

Used games

Writings of Mass Deduction — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 07:15:37 GMT

Here’s an article I wrote in 2010, in the very early days of the site. Apparently I was authoring up a storm, but not posting them. No, I don’t know why. I am frequently surprised when video game publishers complain about used game sales. I worked on the front line of used game sales at […]

So what about the other four Halo games?

Writings of Mass Deduction — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 07:23:31 GMT

I guess I’m buying all the numbered Halo games again, and I’m looking forward to it. With today’s official announcement of the “Master Chief Collection” of Halo games, which I absolutely plan to purchase, it’ll be the third time I buy the original Halo, the third time I buy Halo 2, the fifth time I […]

WP / Xbox One / W8 review: “Halo: Spartan Assault”

Writings of Mass Deduction — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 07:32:54 GMT

There are no shortage of “Halo: Spartan Assault” reviews out there, but I suspect relatively few reviewers have played it on “phone”, “tablet/desktop/laptop”, and “console”. Hey, it should have made the list of “Games I’ve Bought Twice” (or more). But I have played it on all of the above. I first purchased it on Windows […]

Uncharted movie

Writings of Mass Deduction — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 07:07:11 GMT

Wow… I had totally forgotten that I had written this piece back in early 2013. But I read some fans complaining about how the proposed (and still unfilmed, last I heard) “Uncharted” movie was coming along. It reminded me a lot of fan reaction (mine included) to the plans for a reimagined Battlestar Galactica series, […]

Xbox One review: “Max: The Curse of Brotherhood”

Writings of Mass Deduction — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 07:26:35 GMT

I’ve had an Xbox One since near launch, but not played a lot of games on it. Not because there aren’t good games on it, there are, but because I’ve been using the Xbox One for other things, such as controlling my TV and Xbox Fitness. But I couldn’t resist trying “Max: The Curse of […]

Why Microsoft did Indie Games first – will others follow?

Writings of Mass Deduction — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 07:19:00 GMT

Don’t worry, more reviews are coming soon. For the time being, though, I’m enjoying trolling through my “Drafts” folder of un-posted articles. I wrote this in 2011. Not sure why I never posted this one. At the time I was pondering the question… “Why Microsoft did Indie Games first – will others follow?” ==== If […]

My first thoughts on the completed development of Shutshimi

Extra Guy — Fri, 09 May 2014 01:24:21 GMT

Here we are on the release date for Extra Guy’s first game, Shutshimi. I’m pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team. Working with my partners at Neon Deity Games has been an absolute pleasure, and...

Extra Guy is now developing video games

Extra Guy — Wed, 07 May 2014 14:29:10 GMT

Hey guys, it’s been a minute. We kind of developed a game in the time I was gone! We formed up a team called Neon Deity, got serious about it, put the official corporation stamp on ol’...

Face-Plant Adventures: Challenging, surreal and stand out

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 19:59:33 GMT

Face Plant Adventures is about a plant, a sentient plant, with a face. It brings to mind Audrey II of little shop of horrors, except quite a bit more mobile, and a little less sinister.

The game is far from attractive, being limited by the restrictions of the xbox live indie games size limits. But what it does have is an appreciation for that limitation, it's a game of surreal landscaped and grungy 80's punk comic visuals.

GLOBAL HAWK: Oh joy.

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 06:03:11 GMT

Looks like Archor is back with more crap. I'm not sure if someone is actually paying for his God awful games, with each one being the same thing (take Google Maps and put avatars or awful vehicle models in the map that have no animations whatsoever), but somehow this guy keeps on putting them out. They're the same thing every time. There was one I recall that let you turn your character into a giant ship. You then could fly it around the map, and even though buildings (nothing has collision, not even the ground). Not sure what boats Archor has seen, but that's not how they work.

Lifeguard: ...

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:54:04 GMT

Please... to the creator(s) of this game... just stop.

Saturn 9: Pretty Decent

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 07:56:51 GMT

Magic Racing Rally: Childhood memories, through the haze

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 05:20:26 GMT

Did you ever have one of those rugs in your room or front room when you we're young? I would be of a road, that would be just the right size for your toy cars to fit on. You would leave the cars on there, your mum or dad would walk into the front room barefoot, there would be a lot of shouting and then you'd be sent to your room.

Mummies Rising: Ugly, boring, not worth your time

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 05:32:02 GMT

The areas are bland and look the same everywhere, the enemies are absolutely brain dead (pun possibly intended) and can't figure out how to get around a pillar, and half the time are a mile behind you and are of no threat to you. Not sure if they just spawn really far, but for the most part you just stand around in the dark waiting for something to happen.

Tiles With Buddies: A poor copy of a pale imitation, just disappointin

XBLA & XBLIG Ratings — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:57:53 GMT

It is probably not fair to Tiles with Buddies for me to compare the game to scrabble, yet it doesn't help that I did indeed play several Scrabble games this past week and as such comparison is inevitable.

Escape Goat Review

Gamergeddon — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 15:45:22 GMT

We have been following MagicalTimeBean’s Escape Goat when it was first released on Xbox Indie Games two years ago. Since then it has made it through Steam’s Greenlight system and is now available to buy on Steam. I think it is about time we review it. Escape Goat is set in a prison in which you must escape from while rescuing other goat prisoners. The prison is split over several areas and each have five rooms which you must complete to rescue a goat. Each area has a general theme such as ice, fire and industrial, the style of hazards follow them. The game is part puzzle and part platform game. The first area introduces you to the game with simple platform style gameplay and brings in new elements such as switches and a new sidekick which is a mouse. The mouse can not be directly controlled by yourself, but it can be used and recalled at any time, otherwise it will simply automatically follow the wall and/or ceiling until it dies. The mouse can be used to reach otherwise unobtainable areas such as through small gaps or high platforms, or simply as a distraction for the enemies to fire upon. The combination of using your character and the mouse brings in some great puzzle ideas and the game does a great job of bringing it together. For example one level may require your mouse to press a switch at the right time while you travel across a moving block. Fairly accurate timing is required […]

Wyv and Keep exploring PCs and XBLIG on June 14, beta available now

Armless Octopus — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:33:28 GMT

A Jolly Corpse has revealed a release date for their long-in-development puzzle-platformer, Wyv and Keep. The co-op treasure-hunting game is coming to Desura (for Windows, Mac and Linux) on June 14 for $9.99 (or two licenses for $15). If you’re feeling impatient, you can nab the beta version right now, and it will automatically update to the full release on June 14. An Xbox Live Indie Games version will be available on or around June 14 (depending on the peer …

DLC Quest/Live Freemium Or Die Review

Gamergeddon — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:27:58 GMT

DLC Quest recently launched on Steam after enjoying a lot of success with their Xbox Indie Games version last year. The PC release comes with the original story and the second chapter Live Freemium Or Die, which also launched on XBLIG as a separate game this week. DLC Quest pokes fun at the sometimes thorny issue of DLC found in games. We can all agree that DLC can go a bit too far; Horse Armour in Oblivion, Capcom’s on-disc DLC and many more. The game style is platform based and you start with a basic game and must purchase the DLC to unlock content such as initially being able to move your character left and jump, through to music and animations. The game itself is fairly basic in terms of gameplay. You search the world for coins and bonus DLC packages while performing tasks for some of the NPC’s in the game. One task has you quite literally grinding to progress, 10,000 button presses to turn a wheel or you can purchase the DLC shortcut for instant completion. Everything is tongue in cheek and references a popular meme or game and is fun to get them all. The story length can catch people out as the game can be completed in a very short period of time, almost over before you can sit down. Let the credits roll and continue the game for more content. Granted it does not extend the game massively, 30 or so minutes in total. But it is fun while it lasts and […]

DLC Quest now available on Steam and includes a new campaign

Armless Octopus — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:25:23 GMT

The one problem we had with DLC Quest when we monkeyed around it last year was that the cheeky experience was all-too brief. Going Loud Studios is attempting to remedy that situation for the new Steam release, which includes a new campaign called Live Freemium or Die. The Steam version is on sale for $2.39 until March 25, and then it will bump up to its standard $2.99 price. The new campaign is also available as a standalone title on …

Bad Caterpillar review: Creepy Crawly

Armless Octopus — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:37:14 GMT

Bugs. People hate them. The theory is that the circle of life would unravel completely without them providing one of the lowest ends of the food chain, but most folks can’t resist the urge to smash them on sight. Some go so far as to say they would eliminate them for good if they could. An opportunity to do just that, at least digitally, came up way back in the 80s with Centipede but it didn’t last. In fact, bugs …

Ascent of Kings review: Mini Metroidvania

Armless Octopus — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:25:17 GMT

The king is dead. That’s how Nostatic’s newest Xbox Live Indie Game Ascent of Kings starts out. It’s a somber beginning what is otherwise a breezy and carefree exploratory platformer. Your quest to become the new king is a fun, albeit short one despite this. The journey begins much to the chagrin of your father, who believes you to be too young to handle the rigors ahead. Youthful confidence prevails and you set out on a quest for kinghood in …

Best selling XBLIG games of 2012 revealed

Extra Guy — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:02:15 GMT

Microsoft’s Major Nelson has revealed the top 20 selling Xbox Live Indie games on his blog, and we’re unsurprised to find that almost half of the list is made up of crafting titles. If we’ve learned anything...

Deep Cave developer Pennybridge bringing two games to XBLIG

Extra Guy — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:04:16 GMT

Pennybridge Indie Game Studio’s The Deep Cave is one of the highlights on Microsoft’s Xbox Live Indie Games channel. While the developers of good games sometimes go missing in action after a couple releases (RIP Parasitus developer...