The story in the game is very simple; aliens are trying to take over your planet and you’re fighting back. As you go from level to level, you will encounter very different types of aliens that become hard to defeat and come in greater numbers. The boss battles get progressively harder, too. The story mode is the full story mode, including the Plutonium Pak, from the original computer game. XBLA didn’t jip us on the good story which was a big plus.

As for the online play, Duke Nukem 3D can get really intense. One of the biggest drawbacks of the online play is that you cannot pick what level or how many people you want to play. However, other platforms had more online game options like capture the flag and tag. For what Duke Nukem 3D has in the way of online play for the 360, it’s still pretty good if you can find enough people to play with online. This game also has and option for system link and online Co-OP

Overall, this is a very good XBLA game. Story mode is very good, but the online play could have been done better.

Genre: First-Person Shooter    Developer(s): 3D Realms (Apogee Software)    Publisher: Take-Two   Microsoft Points: 800

-Jesse Large

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Zombie Apocalypse
Genre: Shooter
Release Date: 9/23/2009
Developer: Nihilistic Software
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment Inc.

Game Rating: M (Mature)
Blood and Gore
Language
Violence

Microsoft Points 800

What can I say about zombies other than anything with them is always a good thing. Nihilistic got this game right starting with the controls. The gameplay is simplistic with straightforward playability. Zombie Apocalypse has a natural pickup and play element despite a small learning curve to the game,

There is no real background as to what caused the zombie infection or a clear escape path, just survival. The graphics are good, but the real innovation within this game is the moving scenery that can destroy, damage and kill your zombie horde. If used properly you can make the background of dangerous moving objects work for you in helping to dispatch zombies.

The zombies get progressively harder to beat over time and there is more of a balance to weapons and zombies in the game than others in the genre. There are many weapons you get to use like flamethrowers, shotguns, chain guns, and, of course, teddy bears that say “I’m stuffed with love and C4”. There are some funny comments from some of the characters when clearing out a level . I won’t spoil the fun, but you have to hear some of their comments to believe them.

Multiplayer gives up some achievement points just for playing online, and completing levels gets easier with the help of up to four people playing online in co-op.  At times slogging through the game and killing so many zombies may seem to be mountainous, but killing zombies for me is always fun and never gets old. Be warned that the content in this game is not recommended for kids and is lengthy. So if you are looking to add some quick gamerscore, it will not happen on this game.

Online Interactions
Not Rated by the ESRB
Players 1-4
Co-op 1-4
HDTV 720p
In-game Dolby Digital
Online Multiplayer 2-4
Co-op 1-4
Leaderboards

Game Achievements:

Environmental Awareness (5 points)
Kill a zombie using an environmental hazard in any game mode

Gas Powered (5 points) Complete an entire arena, getting every kill with the Chainsaw

Gun Shop (5 points)
Kill at least one zombie with each weapon type in any game mode

More the Merrier (10 points)
Kill 10 or more zombies at the same time in any game mode

Socialite (5 points)
Play in an online multiplayer game

Tour of the City (15 points)
Complete each arena at least once in the same game in any game mode

Can’t Touch This (20 points)
Rack up a 100x multiplier in any game mode

Friends in Low Places (20 points)
Save 25 survivors in any game mode

Interior Decorator (20 points)
Kill 25 zombies in any game mode using environmental hazards

A Week To Live (25 points)
Complete 7 days in any game mode without dying

Hotter Than Hell (25 points)
Complete the final day of the “7 Days of Hell” unlockable mode

Anniversary of the dead (45 points)
Complete the Final Day, in either Single or Multiplayer, and finish the game

Multiplayer action: Spill zombie guts side-by-side with up to four players in online or local multiplayer.

Devastating weapons: Burn, saw, and dismember the undead with ten devastating weapons.

Fatal hazards: Butcher the walking dead using jet turbines, wood chippers, and other fatal hazards.

Survival strategy: Survive over 50 stages of brutal carnage in seven brain-splattering locations.

Bonus game modes: Re-live the apocalypse with seven challenging unlockable game modes

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The highly anticipated XBLA game has finally come to  Xbox Live. Our first impressions are that the game plays well and the levels and missions are visually appealing. The use of nonconventional shading and backgrounds for sometimes 2D scroller sections of the game will emerge you into the Shadow Complex world and define you experience. Facing mysterious organizations and blasting you way through enemies is the art and science of this fast paced shooter.  The game is loosely based upon Orson Scott card’s Empire novel. Which we might add is a great read if you like fiction novels.

The plot of shadow complex is very liner in nature and doesn’t allow for exploration of environments that a 3D gamer would be use to doing. This is typical of a 2D side scroller from years past.

If you are old enough to remember the 16bit and 32 bit games of the past, Shadow Complex will please your senses.  There are a few brief moments where there are some 3D sequences, however that is not the reason you buy this game.  Shadow Complex is simply out the best 2D side scroller you will ever play. There is a fine mix in the game between item acquision and exploration within the game mechanics. The main character can reach level  50 if you have the stamina, intellect and the reflexes.

Beating the game in 2 hours is a very hard XBLA achievement and sometimes we think that it is crazy to add achievements that are so time consuming that people will abandon even trying to obtain them.  There is a distinctive look and feel to Shadow Complex and sometimes the main character (Jason) feels like he is solid snake.

Shadow Complex will be remembered as a game that has the heart of a 3D game in a 2D presentation. We highly advise you try and then buy this game. The investment of time to complete the game will obviously depend on you individual skill level. However our experience has been between 22-35 hours.

Raymond A. Monaco

Founder

Zombiemafia

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‘Splosion Man can basically do one thing, ‘splode, which is his way of solving just about every problem he encounters. Pretty much all of the buttons are mapped to this one technique. You can ‘splode continuously three times, then ‘Splosion Man turns charred black to inform you of his need to charge back up, which he does automatically. Sounds a bit simple, and it is, but it is definitely not easy. You ‘splode into enemies, you ‘splode up walls, you ‘splode down shafts, all the while learning the most essential skill of the game, timing. Just as in other hit platformers, such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Donkey Kong, timing is everything. The first few levels are a breeze, but don’t be fooled; the rest of the levels and bosses offer a great challenge for veteran gamers, while making it possible for novices to build their skill level as they go.

There are 3 worlds to choose from, each one containing about 17 levels. ‘Splosion Man offers both single and multiplayer modes, each containing around 50 unique levels. Not bad for 800 points ($10.00). Single player mode contains about 6 hours of continuous game play, available in Normal difficulty as well as an unlockable Hardcore degree. Multiplayer, while available up to 4 player co-op, can be fun but is often not because of lag times of the other players. The main feature of multiplayer is that you can ‘splode off of other characters, but if the other character is lagging (which is usually the case) then it messes everything up. There seems to be some synchronization problems with the multiplayer mode, which will hopefully be straightened out over the next couple of months.

Overall ‘Splosion Man is a great buy for the money, and a really fun game to play. The simplicity of the controls makes the game attractive to casual game players, and the graphics are nicely polished in all areas of the game. Twisted Pixels really got a lot of things right with this title, which makes us eagerly anticipate their next XBLA release.

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