Beginning November 3, gamers interested in Xbox Live Arcade can head to Xbox.com and order a free start-up disc. While there are plans to include the Xbox Live Arcade launcher in future first-party games, bundled with Xbox Live, and possible distributed on music CDs, for now your only way to get the launcher is through Xbox.com.
The first wave of launchers comes with a free copy of Ms. Pac-Man, so even if you aren't interested in downloading any other games, you can get one of the greatest games of all time for free.
Six titles will be offered at launch, with at least twice as many scheduled for the remainder of the year. Progressing into 2005, expect about 4-5 new titles a month. What's available early on is really just an introduction to the possibilities of Live Arcade. Future offerings will include online multiplayer games, possible upgrades to existing Live Arcade titles (cross your fingers for online Dig Dug), and more unique titles that are unlike anything else available on Xbox. In the first six months, Microsoft expects to release 40-50 titles on Live Arcade so there should be plenty to choose from.
None of these games can compete in terms of graphics or sound with other Xbox titles, but they aren't trying to be. This is almost completely about gameplay. These are intended as something to do to pass the time while waiting for your buddies to show up online. All are Live Aware and all offer online scoreboards to post your best scores against others around the country.
I had the opportunity to spend the weekend playing Live Arcade's launch titles. Because each of these packages is individually priced, we are offering individual reviews. You won't see a full breakdown of scores as in our typical Xbox reviews. These mini-reviews are meant to provide a better idea of the product and whether it is worth you time and money.
You don't have to take my word for it, though. Every Live Arcade includes a free demo version, so you can test out a title for yourself and see if you want to spend the cash. Keep in mind that the currently listed prices are guaranteed until January 31. After that, they may increase.
Hardwood Solitaire
Price: $9.99
The sound of a solitaire game on Xbox likely makes your eyes roll into the back of your head. I know it was that way for myself at first, but you know what, Hardwood Solitaire is probably the best deal of the Live Arcade launch titles. Packed with more than 125 solitaire variations, including such favorites as Free Cell and Klondike, Hardwood Solitaire gives you plenty of opportunities to waste some time on Xbox, perhaps while waiting for friends to show up and play Halo 2.
Each game includes a rating for length, amount of luck involved, and difficulty. Instructions for each are also included, with animated demos to boot. While you could just buy a deck of cards for a buck and play these games on your coffee table, Hardwood Solitaire negates the annoying set-up and cleanup of real life cards.
While Hardwood Solitaire does not contain every variation of the card games you love to play by yourself, it does include all of the major ones and really all the best games. My personal favorite is now Zodiak, a game I'd never dabbled with in the past. Using two decks and a complex set-up, it's the type of game that takes just as long to deal out in real life as it does to play. That's not a problem using Hardwood Solitaire.
If you are looking for a solitaire game on your Xbox, this will do just fine. You can get the same titles on your PC, but the reasonable pricing and good offering of games makes for a nice investment if it interests you. The inclusion of custom soundtracks and some card customization are also nice bonuses.
Score: 8.0
Namco Vintage
Price: $14.99
It's time to rock it old school. The Vintage package includes three classic Namco titles: Dig Dug, Pole Position, and Galaga. Keep in mind that Live Arcade comes with a free copy of Ms. Pac-Man, meaning that this is basically 4/5 of the $20 Namco Museum Vol. 1 (minus the original Pac-Man). While Namco Vintage, allows you to upload your high scores online, Namco Museum Vol. 1 offers three bonus "Arrangement" games, which are upgrades to a few classics, plus some other variants.
There's no online multiplayer, but you can play your standard two-player hot potato games. The emulations are good, though the free Ms. Pac-Man seems a bit slow. This is, quite honestly, a little bit insulting to expect people to pay $15 for three old school games with no extra frills. If the thought of playing Galaga or Dig Dug at all sounds interesting to you, Namco Museum Vol. 1 is a much better choice. For $5 more, you get extra games and a better overall presentation. If you can live without uploading your scores, that's the way to go.
Score: 5.0
Bejeweled
Price: $9.99
An online sensation, Bejeweled follows in the same vane as other classic puzzle titles. Another of those tile puzzle games, Bejeweled shares only slight similarities to granddaddy Tetris. Once again you must remove connected colored tiles. The difference is these tiles aren't dropping from above. Instead, you begin with a full board. You can grab any tile and swap it with an adjoining tile either left, right, up, or down. But you can only do this is if creates a link of at least three vertical or horizontal like tiles (which destroys them). Gravity does exist, so tiles will fall if there is a game and more tiles fall into once again completely fill the board. It's simple and just different enough from other tile games that it seems new.
There are two modes to try, either Normal of Time Trial. It would have been nice to have a puzzle mode of some kind and the lack of a two-player option (an essential part of most puzzle games) hurts considerably. Live scoreboards are in effect here and your game automatically saves if you quit early. This means you can play for a bit, leave and come back the next day to continue. While the game itself is fun, the lack of multiplayer (even on the same 'box) is a real letdown, especially since there is a multiplayer version of Bejeweled available on other mediums.
Score: 6.5
Dangerous Mines
Price: $9.99
I must say, this one doesn't make much sense to me. Anyway running Windows has access to the game Minesweeper. It's free on your PC. You can probably stop reading this and go play right now. Or you can pay $10 and play a more enhanced version on Xbox. The upgraded visuals still aren't very impressive for a console or even for a free PC game and the variants (Free Edge and Gauntlet) don't offer much beyond the regular game.
If you've never played, here's how it works. A large grid acts as your playing board. There are numerous bombs hidden under the tiles and your job is to sniff out the bombs without turning one up. The idea is pretty smart. Turn over a blank tile and you will see how many bombs are adjacent to it. Using deductive reasoning, while hurrying to earn a fast time, you must decipher the safe spots from the bobby-tapped boxes and clear the grid.
Score: 4.0
Ricochet Lost Worlds
Price: $9.99
Are you a fan of Arkanoid? If so, Live Arcade may have the game for you. Ricochet Lost Worlds is, without a doubt, inspired by Breakout and Arkanoid. The main difference, aside from some better visuals (720p support!) and new power-ups, is the greater puzzle elements added. Many of the levels are very active. Instead of simply taking on a wall of destructible blocks, many will move around, making for a more difficult task.
Though the ball moves around a bit too slowly, even at its faster speeds, some of the moving puzzles are pretty inventive. It's not easy to die in Ricochet, so expect a long game. But don't worry, you can save and quit at any time, resuming play at a later date. When you do die, it's often a result of some rather touchy controls. Your floating blocker drifts one way or the other, forcing you to constantly manage its direction. While it's not as good as the classic Arkanoid, Ricochet does do some interesting stuff and will keep you occupied for a while thanks to numerous unlockable levels.
Score: 7.5
Super Collapse II
Price: $9.99
Another puzzle game in the tradition of Tetris, Super Collapse II requires that you remove same-colored blocks in an attempt to clear the board. Rather than fitting dropping pieces, your access is only to the blocks already in place. Click on any set of at least three adjacent same-colored blocks and they disappear, dropping the blocks above and possibly setting off a chain reaction.
After a few seconds a new row of blocks appears below. You can see which colors will appear by watching the meter fill with the upcoming blocks. It's an interesting way to both measure the time before the next row emerges and to plan ahead for the blocks that are coming.
Super Collapse II is the Jenga of puzzle games. You pull pieces out and watch the puzzle collapse in on itself. Because you are barely manipulating the blocks, this feels like one of the least involving puzzles games I've ever encountered. While it's addictive and include four different game types (all of them pretty good), it just isn't as addictive, as fun, or as engrossing as Tetris or Bust-A-Move. There's enough meat here to merit the price, but be aware that you aren't getting one of the king's of the puzzle industry -- and it's single-player only.
Score: 6.5
Future offerings soon to be available on Live Arcade will offer play over Xbox Live. These titles will cost $19.99 a pop with most future single-player games costing $9.99. Look for more on these upcoming titles soon.