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Posted on: Apr 14, 2008
The Best XBLA Games You’re
Not Playing
WORDS BY: Dan Amrich
Puzzle Quest
Price: 1200 MS Points
What You’re Playing Instead: Lost Odyssey
Why You’re Not Playing It: Um, $15 for a Bejeweled clone? Didn’t we tell you to buy Psychonauts with that money?
Why You’re Missing Out: It’s not a Bejeweled clone – it’s a Bejeweled clone combined with an old-school RPG. It shouldn’t work, honestly — running from town to town, completing quests by, um, matching colored jewels — but somehow it proves to be downright addictive. Four character classes with four very different styles mean you can replay the campaign and learn new strategies the second time around, which in turn prepares you for the online smackdowns. Plus, outfitting your character with specialized weaponry and armor gives the game some RPG ownership; you build to match your play style. Don’t let the high price scare you away – this strange hybrid is weirdly compelling.
Poker Smash
Price: 800 MS Points
What You’re Playing Instead: Texas Hold ‘Em, or maybe Hexic HD
Why You’re Not Playing It: You want poker, not something pokeresque. Or you want a puzzle game without a trendy theme getting in the way.
Why You’re Missing Out: Open your mind. This style of puzzle gameplay has been released by Nintendo three different times — once as Tetris Attack for the SNES, once as Pokemon Puzzle League for N64, and once as Planet Puzzle League on the DS. There’s a reason: It’s awesome. Instead of battling gravity, you have to swap blocks around within the puzzle. Poker Smash throws an extra layer on top, rewarding you for creating poker hands like straights and flushes in addition to simple three-of-a-kinds. It uses both analog sticks brilliantly, and the slow-time feature keeps things from getting too crazy too fast (and helps you set up satisfying, devastating combos). Poker and puzzles, together? This is the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of XBLA.
PREV
Sat, 10/17/2009 - 21:20
Posted by wickland
I love these kinds of old school games. Brings back some memories.
Sun, 04/27/2008 - 18:45
Posted by EndrzGame
So right about Galaga, my favorite old school game. I remember pumping quarters into the cabinet at the local 7-11 when I was a kid, and I'm still playing it to this day. Good times.
Wed, 04/16/2008 - 18:44
Posted by chewbacca15
I completely agree about carcassonne once I started that I was addicted so im glad i got it for free but still even if its not free I would still recomend it
Wed, 04/16/2008 - 14:34
Posted by Spybreak
Yea I play all four of these. I love Carcassonne, Pac Man CE Edition, man if you don't play all the time you're rusty once you do, Puzzle Quest, and Poker Smash. I usually find myself playing Puzzle Quest on my DS more but I love to play Carcassonne online and offline. Poker Smash is a blast but I've never been able to play a game online.
Wed, 04/16/2008 - 11:06
Posted by ethanjude
Puzzle Quest has been one of maybe half a dozen Arcade games where you feel that the price was a steal. I put almost 50 hours into that game, and only paid $15 bucks. Not too shabby.
I've played a little Carcassone, and some Poker Smash and I hope to see both get some more long term love. Both are great games as well.
Tue, 04/15/2008 - 17:45
Posted by Bennanias
carcassone was amazing. if anyone is looking for a game, just message me and i would love to play. maybe even knock out those last achievements.
Tue, 04/15/2008 - 12:08
Posted by sHo76uNd3Wd
I got into Pac-Man CE a few weeks ago. That game is so addicting. You sit there and say I am only going to play one more and sure enough an hour later you are still playing trying to topple your high score. Just yesterday, I got my score up to 341k.
Tue, 04/15/2008 - 08:21
Posted by SilentMerc3nary
Carcasson was rubbish. Other than that, that list is awesome.
Tue, 04/15/2008 - 07:54
Posted by Grognard66
Good story. I also think that Cloning Clyde is one of the best overlooked games on Arcade.
Mon, 04/14/2008 - 19:00
Posted by InvertedSine
Great story! It really makes me want to try out some of these games. I was looking for something new that I didn't have to dedicate a lot of time and money too. Thanks for the re-reviews.
Mon, 04/14/2008 - 15:40
Posted by sneaky77
I have all the games listed here except astropop, I did get carcassone when MS offered it for free, although I did not quite figure out how to play it.
Mon, 04/14/2008 - 12:03
Posted by Mitch OXM
Poker Smash is faaaaaantastic. I love that game to death, and having seen a screenshot for it, I'll be going back to it tonight.
Carcassone as well. I also think folks skipped out on Catan.
Mon, 04/14/2008 - 11:48
Posted by Sanclus
I did buy Cloning Clyde for the same reasons stated above and it was fun, even though I have to go back and complete the game. Of the games listed in this article, I have Pac Man CE, Poker Smash and Galaga.
Daniel
Mon, 04/14/2008 - 11:29
Posted by freakwaph
I've wanted to point this out for some time now,
But a very underplayed and undertalked-about game is Cloning Clyde.
I bought it simply because of how silly it seemed, and I also beat it in a matter of a day or two, but it was a really enjoyable game to play. You got to combine your character with various animals including sheep and chickens and then got to use their abilities i.e. jumping further and flying.
it's a great game to check out, and I'm not sure how much it costs, but has anyone else played this little known XBLA game?