Xbox Indie Games News and Reviews

'Life in the Dorms' is a funny adventure game chronicling the life of a 'special' college freshman. Players are challenged to settle into dorm life while solving puzzles, keeping up with social networking, and avoiding a psychopathic roommate. The storyline is comedic, sweet, and "randomish," featuring humorous bears and even murder! The developers got the game difficulty setting about right, but some common sense with a dash of original thinking are still required for problem/puzzle solving, and that's what makes the game challenging and interesting to play. Graphics/animations and music are OK. If only this game also had actor voices, I would have rated it 10/10 (given its $1 price/value for money), but with only text to read on-screen with your eyes and no character voices to read it aloud for you, the game is lacking in immersion and can be a bit slow to play, hence my final rating of 9/10 (-1 for lack of an in-game actor voice track). Gameplay to completion: about 5-6 hours. Multiplayer: None.

This game is quite unique and original in its concept, with no other titles this reviewer knows about sharing its idea. The game is also educational in a sense, besides belonging to the puzzle genre. The objective, as described by the developer Levi D. Smith http://www.levidsmith.com/ , is to build connections to carry current flow to activate electrical components. However, to avoid damaging these components, the flow level must be reduced using resistors. The game offers 90 levels of increasing difficulty, with genius and often "tricky" puzzle layouts. Each level is graded upon number of pieces used, luminosity of components, and time required to complete the level. The game also teaches the basics of resistor color code values along the way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_color_code#Resistor_color-coding - But I would have welcomed a more intensive educational component about resistors themselves, ohm (the unit used in measuring resistance), etc. 'Learning while playing' (edutainment) is among the greatest things/gifts one can offer on a gaming console to kids (and adults as well), but not many games are doing it these days. Resistor gets 9/10 for originality and creativity (-1 as I would have wanted the game to have a proper in-game tutorial and also use the opportunity to teach players more about resistors, but for 80 MSP one shouldn't be too greedy and the game is already delivering good value for money).

I passed on this at launch. It showed promise, but at 240 Microsoft Points there were other things more demanding of my time. A price drop to 80 Microsoft Points put it back on my radar. “Fallen Angel” is an ambitious open-world action/adventure game that has you exploring a city, doing missions, and charting a […]

As much an art project as it it is a game, the “The 4th Wall” is creepy as all heck. It’s worth a download if for no other reason than it is undeniably unique in the Xbox Live Indie Games catalogue (and apparently an upgraded re-release of an old PC title, with new Xbox-specific content). […]

I don’t think a lengthy review is required here. In fact, for many readers simply watching the trailer video, and me adding “Go buy “Snops Attack! Zombie Defense” right now!” is probably all that’s required. I know there will be a few of you who will need, or perhaps want, more, so here goes. “Snops […]

Do you hate getting your ass handed to you in online FPS gameplay? Sure, we all do. What you need is an first-person shooter (FPS) trainer. I passed on Milkstone’s “Firing Range”, but decided to review the much-improved “Firing Range 2″. Well, “ShootOut” brings nicer graphics (IMO), and other improvements for 80 Microsoft Points. If […]

Few things elicit seventy million audible ‘Awww’s as much as kitten videos on the internet (you know you want it). Therefore, the premise of a group of cats so hard-up for […]

We haven’t reviewed a board game on WMD in way too long. Let’s correct that together, shall we? The first thing I noticed was that the logo on the box art matches an actual board game. Turns out that’s neither an accident nor copyright infringement, “H.i.v.e. (Hive the board game)” is an officially licenced rendition […]

I enjoy dual-stick shooters. I like to play a new one every once in a while. When I do, I like to look for one that has something new to offer. “Space Crüesader” is just such a game. What I like about it is that there’s more to it than just shooting enemies and dodging […]

There are many card games out there for the Xbox and for Windows, but this one makes use of Xbox Live online multiplayer to play against real humans over the net with minimal fuss (requires separate Gold subscription with Microsoft). AI gameplay also possible for single player. Visuals are simple as in other card games like Uno, albeith this one is more basic. Good entertainment for a dollar if you are a fan of this sort of games.

Aside from “World Domination” and “Galactic Reign”, I pretty much ignore mobile gaming. “Little Acorns” is apparently a popular iOS mobile game, and it’s been released in an upgraded fashion for Xbox Live Indie Games as “Little Acorns Deluxe”. The game is a platformer with an emphasis on collecting. This is no “punisher”, it’s got […]

This is the final part of the famous retro RPG series and is well worth the asking price, which mirrors that of the PC version of the same title on Steam. Indeed, the XBLIG version is priced slightly less and is more enjoyable with the Xbox360 controller on your big TV screen from the comfort of your living room's sofa. This fourth episode expands considerably on its predecessors in size, scope and gameplay. The game offers a wide range of characters and plenty of character customization possibilities and other options. In-game soundtrack is awesome! Graphics faithfully reproduce the 16-bit era of classic RPGs. If you are a fan of the previous episodes and own them, this final one is a real must-buy that is not to be missed. For those new to the episodes and not familiar with the previous chapters and the series history, check out Greg Miller's interview with, Robert Boyd and Bill Stiernberg, the great minds behind the games: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/24/the-long-strange-journey-of-penny-arcade-game

This is a fun-loaded, Mario-Kart style single-layer racing game, with vivid, colorful and varied scenery, sweet music & sfx, fast paced driving across checkpoints, and plenty of items and powerups to collect along the road! Controls are very easy to master. The game is suitable for all ages (family-friendly), and advanced as well as novice gamers won't be disappointed, particularly given the game's reasonable price of just $1.

Appearances are one thing, first impressions can be telling, though it’d be a mistake to think of Thunder Moon (80 MSP) as ‘just another Minecraft’ on the indie channel. It […]

“Super Killer Hornet” was a great shooter, that had an interesting mechanic where you had to collect math formulas, and answer them correctly. It was unique. How do you follow something like that up? With “Pester”, apparently, and it’s pretty dang good. What I like about it is that it has an insane number of […]

Daizoren will be hosting a LIVE Gaming Stream via his Twitch channel at http://www.twitch.tv/daizoren for Lung Cancer Research Foundation.  I hope you will join us and helping support this charity by donating today and  watching LIVE on Saturday between 10 AM EST to 10 PM EST.  To donate, go here: http://www.gofundme.com/2yxf64.   GIVE DAIZOREN A FOLLOW ON TWITTER TO […]

There are a lot dual-stick shooters to choose from on XBLIG. Is there room for another? “Grid Space Shooter” makes a compelling case for yes with great visuals (typical for this neon-drenched genre) and thrilling boss fights (which is atypical for this genre). It’s not the first two-stick shooter to drench the screen in neon, […]

A PlayStation Vita hit makes it to XBLIG!

Originally released for the PlayStation Vita (where it continues to be a big hit: http://uk.playstation.com/psn/games/detail/item575041/Aqua-Kitty-Milk-Mine-Defender/ ), 'Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender' is now also available on the Xbox360 XBLIG channel. The game has a very polished look and feel, with great attention to details and superb, retro-style graphics, music, and sounds, all of a quality you would usually only find in the more expensive XBLA titles. Aqua Kitty is a retro pixel art shooter supporting 1 or 2 (co-op) offline players (no online) and offering some modern twists on top of its retro skin. For example, we have a campaign map with multiple routes, an auto recharging secondary weapon that players need to manage using special powerups, varying sea depths on later levels (yes, the kittens in this game all play under the sea!), kill chaining to increase top scores, and, as the developer describes it, "an infinite mode for players in need of a super tough challenge." But even in standard mode and levels, this game can be quite difficult to complete. The settings have an option for Autofire ON, which should ease things a little bit (particularly when playing as single player in non-co-op mode). However, I would have preferred a dedicated 'game difficulty' setting, with an easy mode in which the AI is more permissive and a bit slower with less intensive waves of sprites to shoot at (and/or more power/lives offered to the player). This would make the game appealing to wider audiences, particularly children who can end up very frustrated with the current difficulty level of the game, despite the game's attractive graphics and music and its general "addictive" nature (which just add to the frustration that you can't complete a title you like so much). Then, in addition to easy difficulty, the game can also have higher difficulty setting(s), allowing those who have completed the levels under easy/novice difficulty setting to try some more challenging gameplay. I would have given the game 10/10 if an 'easy play' option was included, but with its current difficulty setup (version 1.05 as at 06-10-2013) and the frustration this may cause to some players, I can only give it 9/10 (as everything else in this game is excellent). The addictive and retro-modern natures of Aqua Kitty's gameplay are well captured in this short video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RnHTYC1Rbs

I liked “Maze Game” because… well, I like mazes. Go figure, right? “Avatar Maze Game” adds to the formula by bringing you 20 brand new mazes, and by letting you walk around as your avatar. Love or hate avatar games, it is charming to see your avatar walking around a maze (as opposed to just, […]

It’s hard to put an appendage on what’s likely to offend the most in Stegersaurus Games’ Mount Your Friends (80 MSP). The title is a decent candidate to start with, […]

I can't even play the game anytime i go on multiplayer it keeps saying code 4 error

The standard-bearer for zombie wave shooters on Xbox Live Indie Games has long been “I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1″, a game that was notable for not only for igniting a genre but for having a hilariously self-aware theme song. “Undead Empire” picks up the ball and runs with it. It adds both offline and […]

The fruit of more than a year and half of hard labor of coding and programming (as mentioned in one of the developer's public posts on the Web), this game is very well polished, with XBLA rather than XBLIG quality standards for look/presentation and feel. Thunder Moon is a Minecraft-style action and adventure game, where you roam a large world as a red/white robot-like creature wearing a self-propelling power-jacket (jetpack), after crash-landing there with your burning space-craft-like vehicle. You can play (and save your progress in) three game types: explore world without enemies; survive in world filled with enemies (robotic crab and spider-like creatures with perfect game AI); or Story mode with tasks and successive chapters to go through. You have a comprehensive inventory of items and good selection of customizable and upgradable handheld tools such as a pistol, atomizer, flare gun, and melee. Teleport/respawn function across the world is supported. Camera and game controls are excellent, and function as you would expect them to. Graphics and textures are very detailed in HD, with excellent frame rate (even at max. settings - see below). The musical scores in this title are simply awesome and sfx are gentle and mix well with the background music. This game is very comprehensive in every aspect. You can even adjust graphics options such as FXAA, Bloom, Shadows, VSync, etc. and input (controller) sensitivity. Suggestions for future developments include introducing a multiplayer/Xbox Live mode (currently the game is only single player) and reducing the game and world loading time wait (currently not bad/very long, but perhaps could be reduced to under 7-10 seconds to match gamers' expectations for loading times). Gameplay is well capture in this community video clip and review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpPbZrymbQU

It’s good news all-around for developer Alex Jedraszczak (The Jeddy) these days. He’s well into the development mix of Runner Girl, as the above trailer humorously indicates, and was also […]

The original (and unreviewed by WMD) STARWINGS had a campy story, with even campier, tongue firmly in cheek, voice-acting. Unfortunately, the game wasn’t much to write home about (unless… you like to write home about bad games, I guess?) But “StarWings: Mission Command” is anything but a bad game. It does something really cool that […]