People call gaming an expensive hobby. I'm sorry, Your Honour, but I must object! Sure, if you’re going to go out and buy all the latest big name titles on day of release from Johnny's Highstreet Superstore, you can expect to have to remortgage your semi-detached. However, with just a bit of smart buying and patience, anyone can flesh out a decent gaming catalogue for very little money.
Check this out, for example. Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1 is a compilation of little gems that have been attracting attention on Xbox’s online service, and the package cost me a frugaltastic £2.99. Sure, it’s not Call of Duty 4, but there are six games on offer here for the price of a Morley’s Special at my local chicken shop. That’s two pieces of chicken, three hot wings, chips and a can of Coke or Lilt.
Unplugged seems similar to the plethora of retro game compilations already out on the market, but it’s unique in the sense that this is a selection of retro-styled games – new games in the style of old. Although there’s only six titles here, they’re pretty well known names. The question is – are they consistently good enough to justify buying this package, or are you better off just downloading the ones you want from Xbox Live and saving your change for fried chicken?
Game No. 1: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Developer: Bizarre Creations
What They Say: One of the most popular games on Xbox Live Arcade, get ready for an intense space shooter with a frenetic, high-def twist. Play the original "Retro" version or a new "Evolved" mode.
What We Say: If you took the classic Atari game Asteroids, sellotaped its eyes open and strapped it in front of a never-ending video of R-Type superimposed over Trip-A-Tron superimposed over a firework display designed in the fevered mind of child-man pop star Michael Jackson on an acid trip, you would have Geometry Wars. This is the number one selling point for this compilation, being the most well known title on the box.
The plot is kept simple - your spaceship is under attack from twenty bazillion evil shapes, and you have to blast them all in order to survive. Each shape has a different attack strategy. It’s a pure and simple frag fest, the point being to kill everything in sight without having the same fate befall you. With two modes of play and high scores harder to get than Donnie Darko, the whole thing plays out like a manic depressive epileptic Asteroids. Twitchy, compulsive and explosive, this is an essential purchase, even if you haven’t got an Xbox!
Score: 8 out of 10.
Don’t Have a 360? Try This: Gunstar Future Heroes (Gameboy Advance).
Game No. 2: Wik: Fable of Souls
Developer: Reflexive Entertainment
What They Say: A beautifully mysterious world of fairytale charm unfolds as you swing by your tongue through 120+ levels and seven modes of play, including same-console multiplayer!
What We Say: Wik, a strange creature who looks like a cross between a frog and a Troll doll, must be a big fan of Bionic Commando because he has borrowed one of its core gameplay elements – the grapplehook, which here takes the form of his dextrous tongue – and based a nice little puzzler around it. Wik’s job in life is to jump and swing around the platform game style environments of his world to find grubs for his pet Slotham to eat. It’s an enjoyable experience, pleasantly challenging and aesthetically pleasing. With so many levels and a Challenge Mode to help you hone your skills, there’s enough here to keep you playing for a long time and to more than justify the purchase.
Score: 7 out of 10.
Don’t Have a 360? Try This: Bionic Commando (as part of Capcom Classics Collection).
Game No. 3: Bejeweled 2 Deluxe
Developamator: PopCap Games
What They Say: This addictive puzzle game offers exciting new challenges with the addition of explosive Power Gems and the Hyper Cube, making it even more addictive than ever before!
What We Say: Sure, you can play Bejeweled anywhere, on anything, with very little or no cost, and that kind of dampens the attraction of it on this compilation. Still, you can’t be faulted for including a classic, and if you don’t already have this on your PC or whatever, you really should do yourself a favour and check this out. There's loads to do, with unlockable modes adding to the original line-up of four, and the relaxed, science fiction aesthetics make this the most enjoyable rendition of the Bejeweled symphony ever played. Just don't expect to earn easy Achievements.
Score: 9 out of 10.
Don’t Have a 360? Try This: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.
Game No. 4: Outpost Kaloki X
Developerererer: NinjaBee
What They Say: Solve challenges, entertain visiting aliens, and rake in the money in this light-hearted space station tycoon game filled with clever characters and wacky storylines.
What We Say: Normally tycoon games are as popular as a wedgie with me, but there’s a funky charm about this one. It’s stuffed full of childrens’ television calibre aliens and gawdy, bold colours, spinning Theme Hospital style mechanics with an atmospheric, ethereal Starship Titanic aesthetic. If Toejam & Earl was ever popular enough to get a spin-off, this would be it. Your job is to ensure the healthy growth of a multi-faceted space station, catering to alien visitors and the cruel nature of living in space. If, like me, you grow tired of this genre quickly – the endless balancing out of resources and services getting stale before it comes out the packet – then Outpost won’t change your opinion. However, if you have a slightly longer attention span, this adds some needed substance to the Unplugged package, giving it the potential to turn from a purely pick up ‘n’ play disc to an immersive gaming experience.
Score: 7 out of 10.
Don’t Have a 360? Try This: Outpost Kaloki (PC), Theme Park.
Game No. 5: Hardwood Backgammon
Develop-A-Tron: Silver Creek Entertainment
What They Say: Play this classic game against the computer, against a friend on a single console, or against on online opponent. Use the doubling cube to bring you even closer to victory!
What We Say: Quite frankly, there’s a million Backgammon sims out there that have already failed to make the old mans’ favourite the next big thing, so this static, no thrills offering isn’t going to make a difference. If this was a piece of freeware, it would be an acceptable version of Backgammon to play if (and only if) you’ve got a ‘gammon partner to hand, but the boring presentation and limited gameplay do not a worthwhile purchase make.
Score: 2 out of 10.
Don’t Have a 360? Try This: 42 All-Time Classics.
Game No. 6: Texas Hold 'Em
Developed By: TikGames
What They Say: Simulate the tournament setting right in your home, and feel like you are in Las Vegas. Use the Xbox Live Vision camera to put your face on your digital online character!
What We Say: Well, this is similar to the above in the sense that it replicates a classic traditional game, but this one is pulled off with a bit more pride and purpose, luring us in with some tidy presentation, three game modes and nice use of the Live camera. It plays a good game of Poker and is a brilliant waster of time for amateur card players. You will need to get online though if you fancy yourself as a bit of an expert, as the Xbox’s AI is limited.
Score: 6 out of 10.
Don’t Have a 360? Try This: 42 All-Time Classics.
On top of those six games, you’re also treated to demos of Feeding Frenzy (you play as a fish who wants to eat loads of other fish), Marble Blast Ultra (a modern take on Marble Madness, this masterpiece does Super Monkey Ball better than Super Monkey Ball does) and UNO (a virtual version of the card game), along with a one month subscription to Xbox Live Gold so you can take your gaming online for free for 30 days. Clearly, this package is designed to tempt people into the world of Xbox Live by offering them games and incentives, but if you’re completely and uncontrollably offline with your console then this also serves as a great way of getting your lips around some of the sweetest tidbits available online with minimal fuss.
I was quite lucky with my £3 bargain, but this is one of those discs that will be as easy as baked potatoes to find for not a great deal of money at all. To be honest, it’s worth a lot more than its RRP. And, just like baked potatoes, it’s tasty.