XNA Community Games

[sjewkestheloon]

I couldn't find a thread about these games so thought I'd make my first new thread here in years.

I have spent a bit of time over the last few days going through some of the demos on the Community Games area of Xbox Live and have come across, in amongst the huge amounts of shite, a few gems. I thought it could be a good idea to have a recommendation thread so that we can support the indie community without become disheartened by all the snake clones and countless me too puzzle games.

Groov - this 200 point game initially looks like a plain Geometry Wars clone but is well worth sticking with. Similar to Rez or Meteos, every action in the game adds to a musical track, including your shots making up the keyboard line and enemy explosions adding drums, vocals, brass, etc.

Unlike GW the graphics are very simple and clear, and in my opinion, are superior to that game simply for the fact that you can see everything all the time. Some may take issue with the controls of the ship which are responsive but take in a certain amount of physics ensuring that a smooth arc of movement is far quicker and more effective than a 180 change in direction.

As for the game modes, you start with an Original Mix mode that starts out slow and then builds up in intensity with various waves and increasing fire power. You have 3 lives and a 3 special options that, if activated on the 1/4 beat of the track, slows down everything on screen allowing you time to clear off some of the pressure or move to a better spot.

When you have activated all waves in that mode you will unlock Expert Mix in which you start at the highest wave with small variations and no extra lives. I have been playing this mode obsessively but have not yet managed to beat the high score, a feat that unlocks another game mode called Jam Session.

For the sake of 200 points, I think that the game is an absolute gem.

Blow - This is a more unique affair and costs 400 points. The premise involves setting up fans over attractive looking natural stages to lead bubbles over a set amount of triggers and into an exit. You have a limited number of coins and fans cost money depending on the power setting that you give them. You can also add hot or cold elements and strengths to your fans causing the bubbles to rise or fall respectively.

As an experience, the game is incredibly relaxing. The sweet twinkle of the soundtrack and slow luxorius movement of the bubbles create a relaxed atmosphere and make a refreshing change to the usual high velocity games that I play.

I have only played through the first few levels so far but each seems to be completable in several different ways and with 70 on offer there is a fair amount of gameplay in the main mode. Also included is a challenge mode in which levels are procedurally constructed offering a near infinite variety of stages to play on. I haven't played with this mode extensively yet but it seems that you can also collect fire items while playing in challenge mode that can then be sold to allow more gold in challenge mode.

Again I think that this is an absolute must and is far better than many of the XBLA games.


Some other interesting looking games that I won't go into depth about now:
Carneyvale Showtime
Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp
Machiavelli's Ascent
Miner Dig Deep (this looks bloody brilliant)
Writer's Block
Waepon of Choice
Toxic

Anyone played any of these or recommend any others?

Edit: Not one reply? I thought that this place would be interested in supporting the indie community. Seems a great way for developers to build a reputation and actually pull some money in. I'm disappointed.

[tommyb]

Rumble Masseuse! (sp?)

[sjewkestheloon]

Yep, some of them are shocking, but lets concentrate on the positives eh?

[No_not_like_Quake]

I bought Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp. It's a good platform/puzzle game for the price.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Groov while cheaper than a 2 penny whore, gets old quick and left me ending up saying, why did i spend that 2.50?

Biology Battle is a very good arena shooter. In my opinion better than Geometry Wars.

Not much appeals to me on there.

[sjewkestheloon]

Groov while cheaper than a 2 penny whore, gets old quick and left me ending up saying, why did i spend that 2.50?

Biology Battle is a very good arena shooter. In my opinion better than Geometry Wars.

Not much appeals to me on there.

Not checked Biology Battle out yet but I have heard very good things about it.

I think one of the reasons that I like Groov is that I find it mroe manageable than GWs. I like playing some of the modes in GW2 but just can't seem to click with the standard shooting modes.

I realise that I haven't mentioned Duality: ZF yet, a game I'm very much looking forward to after seeing the videos linked in the dev forum section.

[No_not_like_Quake]

BB is good. Maybe not quite as good as I made it out to be in the shmup section but better than most arena shmups. I quite like multiplayer.

Also, Ultratron, originally a PC game, is worth a look. Starts out very slow but builds intensity gradually. Whether fast enough for your tastes is up to you.

[Doctor Fugue]

Thought I would resurrect this thread because the other Indie Games thread has gone a little off course and this one isn't specifically for STG.

Also, it is very difficult for someone who does not at least try all of the Indie Games to find the one or two percent that are worth playing. Maybe if the original thread creator is still reading we can compile a small list.

There are others I want to mention, but recently Arkedo Studio (who made Big Bang Mini and Nervous Brickdown for DS) released their first in what appears to be a series.

Jump - 240MP - Arkedo Studio
A 2D platform game where the player must defuse bombs and collect treasure to finish all 30 stages while avoiding snakes, crabs, skeletons and bats as well as negotiating around spikes, fire and bottomless pits. Crisp visuals, catchy music, and no continues allowed. Some humour, some puzzle aspects. Strongly reminiscent of Jumpman and Montezuma's Revenge.

[dcharlie]

Jump - 240MP - Arkedo Studio
A 2D platform game where the player must defuse bombs and collect treasure to finish all 30 stages while avoiding snakes, crabs, skeletons and bats as well as negotiating around spikes, fire and bottomless pits. Crisp visuals, catchy music, and no continues allowed. Some humour, some puzzle aspects. Strongly reminiscent of Jumpman and Montezuma's Revenge.

popped in to add some pimpage - this game is very good indeed.

I put a short youtube up of it here ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyXA1lMNsHg

definitely worth the points.