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At E3, Sierra Entertainment showed off three titles that are planned for release on Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade. All three games definitely fit with the platform's casual audience and each one provides a unique and enjoyable experience.
The first XBLA title that Sierra showed me was Battlestar Galactica. Based on the Sci-Fi channel series of the same name, this game takes you through the space-battles from the first three seasons of the show. This space-shooter lets you control various Vipers as you take on the Cylons, or in Multiplayer Mode you can play as either the Cylons or Humans. While you get the feeling that you can fly in all three dimensions in this game, you are actually restricted to a 2D plane in order to make the game reachable to a wider audience. As the Cylons, you get to pilot one of four types of Raiders (each of varying attributes). As the Humans, you can control a Viper II, Viper VII, Raptor or the Maelstrom variant.
Switchball is Sierra's second title for Live. This is your classic ball-rolling puzzle game that we have seen re-imagined several times in the past few years. Switchball adds several twists to the genre that really makes the game both challenging and fun. You will have to navigate your ball across narrow and precariously positioned pathways lined with fans, boxes and tons of other obstacles that will have you considering your environment on many levels. The game is called Switchball because you will transform your ball into several different types in order to navigate the puzzles. Need to move heavy boxes? Change into the metal ball. Need to float to a higher level? Change into the float-ball. Need to speed or jump past obstacles? The charge-ball is the right choice. The levels contain just the right change stations you need in order to solve the puzzle and it will take some crafty thinking to get past each of the progressively harder puzzles.
The last Arcade title that Sierra is planning on releasing is a strategy game called Commanders: Attack!. This Final Fantasy Tactics style turned-based strategy will have you pitting your small army against another in order to take over an enemy base. The game features a 1930's art deco style, but with highly advanced robotic forces. You can play against just one opponent, or three others in a massive every-man-for-himself battle. The game's Story Mode will take you through 15 missions or you can take on individual opponents in a Versus Mode.
All three of these games are scheduled to release by the end of 2007, and all three of them look like they will be a lot of fun. Casual gamers will definitely want to keep an eye out for these games, while more hardcore players won't want to overlook them either. |
