Every week, PC Editor Jordan Devore and I play through the demos of the latest Xbox Live Indie Games releases as part of our live streaming show, Saturday Morning Hangover. But what if you missed the show? How will you benefit from our deep well of insight and startling wit as we show you the good, bad and ugly?
Here’s one way: a quick look at the games which turned our head and deserve your attention.
BEYOND
Developed by mitabo
80 MS points
BEYOND is a very simple game of stacking and timing. The goal is to use crates to clear a height line in each stage. Crates are carried across the screen by a bird which releases its cargo when the player presses a button. Some elements of the ground below react to having crates dropped on them and learning to use the terrain and blocks effectively is as important as employing excellent timing to account for wind effects. A strange and fun little game that I had fun with in the demo but can see becoming damned frustrating after a few sets of levels.
Avatar Ninja 2
Developed by Milkstone Studios
80 MS Points
I frequently have to resist the urge to utterly dismiss games which feature Avatars as a primary feature. Avatar Ninja 2 is a perfect example of why it’s important to resist that inclination. While there’s no shortage on the market for simple, forced-scrolling reflex games, Avatar Ninja 2 proves itself more than merely competent by successfully making the Avatars feel at home in the environments. Polished and offering an enjoyable challenge, it’s a good buy for a buck.
Vizati
Developed by Blitz1Up
80 MS Points
This unique puzzle game has a lot going for it. In Vizati, you must clear all of the colored blocks in the floating box by grouping three or more together. What’s interesting about this game is the way pieces are moved. You cannot move them individually, rather you move the entire playfield at once by nudging, rotating or flipping and affect every piece at the same time. In the story mode, the tale plays out in the lower portion of the screen with lovely animations. It’s a visual treat of a brainteaser at a bargain price.
[Make sure to tune in to Saturday Morning Hangover every Saturday at 10am Pacific on Destructoid’s Justin.tv channel to see the full range of the week’s Xbox Indies and join Jordan and I as we play them for your amusement.]
