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Posted on: Apr 14, 2008
The Best XBLA Games You’re
Not Playing
WORDS BY: Dan Amrich
Galaga
Price: 400 MS Points
What You’re Playing Instead: Call of Duty 4
Why You’re Not Playing It: So old, you don’t care anymore – more like Grampalaga. Besides, you already bought it on endless Namco Museum reissues, and in those, it featured two-player support.
Why You’re Missing Out: Galaga is one of those games that will improve all your basic gaming skills – reflexes, timing, shot prediction, accuracy. It’s geek boot camp — you’re not good at games until you’re good at Galaga. The game’s “twin fighters” mechanic has never been done better — the alien enemies can steal one of your ships in reserve, then you can rescue it for double the firepower. Plus, the ability to start at later stages makes Achievement whoring pretty easy. But really, if you value your shooter skills, you should be sharpening them at least once a week with Galaga.
Astropop
Price: 800 MS Points
What You’re Playing Instead: Mr. Driller Online
Why You’re Not Playing It: It came out so long ago, you didn’t even know it existed.
Why You’re Missing Out: Magical Drop II was a fantastic, fast puzzle game that garnered a small cult following on Neo Geo. Astropop is Magical Drop, straight up copied and wrapped in an outer-space story. Pull bricks from the ceiling, rearrange them to match like-colored bricks, and make them disappear lest the wall crush you. The pull-and-push mechanic is demanding and, like the best puzzle games, can turn frantic quickly. Hey historians: This is one of the few games that appeared both on in the Arcade of the original Xbox and in the 360 refinement. You didn’t buy it last time, so here’s your second chance.
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?