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Zoom Game Review–One Big Flat Tire

Zoom, one of the latest additions to the Xbox Live community gaming lineup, is a game that’s a fantastic idea but also a game that shows how important it is to execute a good idea correctly.

Zoom is a racing game that puts you, alone, on a track in a high-powered hover racer to see just how fast you can go.  And as the world speeds by around you, you’re out to break your own high score on a nearly continual basis.

This sounds awesome, of course–why would anyone play a racing game if they weren’t out for the vicarious thrill of the simulation of high speed without having to risk their lives doing it in an actual car?  But the problem with Zoom is that it can’t hold its speed, and with sloppy controls leaving you bucking around the track even when you’re not actually accelerating, that’s never a good sign.

So as much as I want to enjoy this particular high-speed thrill ride, it never really gets off the starting line for me.  Even at two hundred Microsoft points, it’s not worth the ride.

Xeno Arena Game Review–A For Effort, F For Results

Xeno Arena, which I recently found on Xbox Live community games for the stunningly low price of two hundred Microsoft points, is a top-down shooter that tries its best to be a good game but can’t overcome its many design flaws to be a really good game.

Basically, this one’s all about survival as you plunge into the depths of a random facility that just happens to be infested with aliens.  Along the way into the depths of said facility, you’ll pick up weapons, ammo and health pickups all in the hope of getting steadily deeper in the facility.

Like I said, there’s some serious design flaws here–the graphics are a rolling practical joke played on the player.  For example, actually seeing enemies come at you is surprisingly difficult as they’re rather small.  And distinguishing a weapons pickup from the floor will also prove difficult due to the lack of quality graphics.  And anyone afraid of the gameplay proving repetitive has a lot to be afraid of here–definitely not an irrational fear–as you’ll be moving through random-generated mazes and shooting random tiny monsters until you die.  Die in the game or in real life, whichever comes first.

With horrible graphics and lackluster gameplay, Xeno Arena may be cheap, but it’s still not worth the cost.

Drum Xplosion Game Review–Parents, HERE’S The Game To Get Upset About

The really interesting part about Xbox Live community games is that they’ll really stretch the definition of what a “game” really is.  And Drum Xplosion, which really isn’t a game so much as it is a big drum kit, will still provide a lot of fun.

Considering that a proper drum kit with all the bells and whistles can cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars, the fact that this one only costs two hundred Microsoft points and yet offers fully fifty different customizable drum sounds is a point worth bearing in mind.  You can even string together two different Xbox 360 controllers to simulate a full drum kit.  Fully customizable in a lot of different ways, this may well be the most extensive drum simulator ever released, even counting Rock Band.

If you ever wanted a drum kit growing up, or were a former percussionist looking to get back into practice, then you’ll likely enjoy playing Drum Xplosion.  In fact, parents out there should be advised that, now, Junior can actually afford his OWN drum kit even on what little allowance you’re giving him.  But if you can’t stand the racket or weren’t a band nerd back in high school, then this one may not be the one for you.

Aria Game Review–When Playing Your Playlist Isn’t Enough

Aria is one of those great Xbox Live community games that isn’t great because of what it does, but rather what it is.

Yes, when you start playing Aria, you’ll notice that it plays a lot like other games like Powerup Forever, Geometry Wars, and a host of others.  But this one is different–see, what it’ll do is take your music library, assuming you have one, and send out its steadily growing flood of enemies in time with the music, while playing it.  This is actually a really exciting feature, if not necessarily a real game-changer.

If just listening to music has grown tiresome, then you’ll probably get a kick out of playing your playlist.  As in  playing AGAINST your playlist. The thought of my music turning on me is actually a cheerful one, and makes a nifty game.  Sure, the gameplay’s a little on the soft side, and frankly, they definitely could’ve done a lot more with it but they’ve broken some interesting ground and hopefully paved the way for refinement.

And at the low price of four hundred Microsoft points, well, it’s worth the cost.

Pwned Game Review–If You Just Can’t Get Enough Chess, Bring Friends and Play

The word “pwn” is rapidly becoming a rapid part of our vocabulary, even if no one’s a hundred percent sure just how to pronounce it.  But for those of you who pronounce it “pauhnd”, then you’ll get the connection to recent Xbox Live community release Pwned.

Pwned, you see, is a chess game.  As such, there’s no real plot, and there’s also no real single player mode.  Pwned is made to be played with friends on Xbox Live Arcade.  As such, it has something of a limited appeal–you have to have a match in order to play–but for those who have friends or good online connections, then this won’t be a problem.

If you have friends and a desperate hankering for some…chess…then Pwned is the game for you.  Otherwise…well…okay, otherwise you’re going to have absolutely NO use for this game, but at the bargain price of four hundred Microsoft points, it costs less than some chess sets.  If you’re into chess, this is a good buy.

Virus Wars Game Review–On Par With Some Great Titles

I have to admit, the Xbox Live community games are pretty solid in their own right.  Some of them are easily on par with current Xbox releases–for instance, when I tried Virus War, I had a pretty good experience, even if it was a bit familiar.

Essentially, in Virus War, you’re playing in a human bloodstream, out to exterminate a series of viruses that will descend on the system.  You’ll be able to power up your weapons and use various equipment to defeat the viral hordes, all of which have “distinctive behaviors”.

If you’re thinking that this is a giant ripoff of PowerUp Forever or Geometry Wars, then you’re right in a limited way.  Those are exactly how this game plays.  But at the same time, the fact that we can compare this one to professionally developed games that got the full Live Arcade presence, even in a derisive way, illustrates the skill that went into this one.  Virus War, being offered at a surprisingly bargain-priced four hundred Microsoft points, will prove to be a smooth and professional experience.

Mothballz Game Review–Don’t Try This At Home, Kids

Have you ever considered the difficulties involved with trying to kill moths…with a cannon?

I know, that got me too the first time I heard about recent addition to the Xbox Live community MothBallz–a game that requires you to do as I just said–kill moths with a cannon.  You’ll set the angle and the power level, then fire into the open room trying to kill the moths swarming around the light bulbs in the room…and do so without breaking the light bulbs.

This sounds a lot easier than it actually is, especially when you start getting multiple light bulbs involved, but sometimes you’ll actually be required to kill the light bulbs along with the moths.  This isn’t the kind of thing you see very often–I haven’t played a good round of bug killing since Stephen King’s F13.  And even better, you can enjoy all this bug killing frenzy for a measly two hundred Microsoft points.  You can almost hit the dollar menu for that kind of value.

It’s a fun little game, really, and at that kind of price, there’s almost no reason to NOT get it.