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For the purpose of describing Limbo, it's perhaps easiest to label it as a 2D platform-puzzler. However, to do so is really selling the game short, as for their debut effort, Danish studio Playdead Games have hand-crafted a bold and unique experience that borders on being an interactive work of art.
To see images of the game's striking art style will give you an idea as to how beautiful the game can be, but to see it in motion is another matter entirely. At times the game looks like a shadow play, though it's the small touches, and the attention to detail which stand out the most, such as the way long grass rustles and bends as you run past it, the way clods of dirt fly into the air when a heavy object falls, or the way dust and debris settles on top of stagnant water. Playdead Games have – somewhat ironically given the subject matter – given the environment such a vivid sense of life.
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This week marks the start of Microsoft's Summer Of Arcade promotion, and the first game up for release is Playdead Studio's Limbo. While details on Limbo are still pretty thin on the ground, the images and videos released so far show that it's a stylised puzzle-platformer, and it looks like it'll be an extremely haunting and atmospheric game, set in a well-realised world. To see for yourself, check out the video below.
If you need any more convincing, then maybe the huge amount of critical acclaim the game has been receiving will be enough to sway you.
Limbo is set to release on XBLA on July 21st for the price of 1200MSP.
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Here's a twist I didn't see coming. The new Xbox Arcade slim comes with a matte finish, as opposed to the gloss of the "Elite" or "Pro" version. If I had a choice (which I do), my pick would be the matte. It has a more sophisticated profile, counterbalancing the harsher lines of the console more elegantly than its blazonly shiny older brother. It's a texture that begs for it to be touched and played with - much like the Nintendo DSi or even the Apple Blackbook.
The 4GB model launches in North America August 3rd for $200. A bundle consisting of the 4GB Xbox 360 along with the Kinect sensor and Kinect Adventures pack-in will retail for $300. The bundle will be introduced along with the launch of Kinect, which will retail for $150 standalone, on November 4th.
Update: As Steven has pointed out, it was the Xbox 360 who first distinguished its premium SKU with design flourishes when it first launched in 2005. I still wonder if the strategy still holds true when the models look and feel so different (well, to my tastes anyways). no comments
Monkey Island 2 is regarded by many fans as the best game in the Monkey Island series, and much like last year's special edition release, Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge is an attractive package to both newcomers and veterans to the series. Fans of the original now get the chance to experience the game again with beautiful hand-drawn artwork, new controls, reworked music and some extremely well done voice acting, while newcomers get to experience a modern take on one of gamings defining moments.
However, despite bearing this classic status among gamers who experienced it the first time around, those playing Monkey Island 2 for the first time probably won't hold the game in such high regard, as underneath the shiny new visuals and re-worked soundtrack beats the heart of an archaic and cantankerous game – one which revels in presenting the player with puzzles which are either relentlessly illogical, or require a good deal of back-tracking or trial-and-error guesswork to overcome.
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Super Mario Galaxy 2 twists, turns, warps, mixes, remixes and defies the conventionalism of many modern games. But so did the original Super Mario Galaxy, and there lies the begging question: Is SMG2 really a SMG1.5?
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Via Majornelson and Joystiq.
We have a mixed bag of downloadable titles this week, and coming solely to PSN this week is Landit Bandit, a 3D helicopter game which looks a little bit like Crazy Taxi with helicopters. And flying land sharks(?!?). Whatever!
The game is set to release on PSN on July 13th, for $9.99 US, and you can find a video for it after the break.
We also have a game that is coming exclusively to XBLA this week, but don't get too excited; it's just Deadliest Warrior: The Game. Ever wondered who would win in a fight between an pirate and a ninja? No? Oh well, me neither!
The game will cost 800MSP, and is set to release on July 14th. The game will be coming to PSN at a later date, though no date has been given, and again, you can find a trailer after the break.
The big game this week, which is set to release on both PSN and XBLA is Deathspank. The brain-child of Monkey Island creator, Ron Gilbert, Deathspank has been described as a cross between Diablo and Monkey Island. The game is very tongue-in-cheek, and looks like it could be a lot of fun; I mean, what other game lets you use "Unicorn Poop" (which apparently tastes like innocence) as a weapon?
Deathspank is set to release on PSN on July 13th, for $14.99 US, and is set to land on XBLA on July 14th, for the price of 1200MSP. Trailer, break, you know the drill.
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If you haven't played the Xbox Live Indie game Try Not To Fart, stop what you're doing right this second and go play it. I actually woke up my wife, who was sleeping in another room, this morning because I was laughing so hard. I swear to god, please go play it right now.I don't want to tell you too much about the game in order to avoid ruining the surprise, but I will say that you play a guy who is placed in various social situations where you simply just try not to fart. There is a free demo with four levels, and the full version is 80 points, which I'm downloading as we speak.
I don't want to speak to soon, but it may be GOTY in July here. no comments
I'm not going to lie. I might buy Kinect just so I can play the Michael Jackson: The Experience.
If it turns out that that game is as fun as Dance Central looked at E3, it's a definite purchase for me. I need to get my Moonwalk on. no comments
Via CVG
Microsoft have just announced the lineup for this year's Summer Of Arcade promotion, which can be found below.
July 21st - Limbo (1200MSP)
July 28th - Hydro Thunder Hurricane (1200MSP)
August 4th - Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (1200MSP)
August 11th - Monday Night Combat (1200MSP)
August 18th - Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (1200MSP)
Whilst Limbo, Castlevania, and Lara Croft look to be the stars of this show, just remember that Microsoft usually hold back their best and most high-profile games for this promotion, so it'll be worthwhile keeping an eye on Hydro Thunder Hurricane (an F-Zero/Wipeout style, water-based racer) and Monday Night Combat (an arena-based online multiplayer shooter) as well. I have to say that I'm slightly surprised that Hydrophobia -- a timed Xbox exclusive, also due out around the end of summer -- didn't make the list given the publicity it's been getting recently. no comments
I hope you've got a whole bunch of virtual cash saved up, because this week's arcade offering is a doozy! Coming to both XBLA and PSN this week we have Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: Le Chuck's Revenge, the sequel to last year's HD update of Monkey Island. The game is set to release on PSN on July 6th, for $10 US, and on XBLA on July 7th for 800MSP.
Not satisfied with that, lucky Xbox owners will get the chance to pick up Blacklight: Tango Down on July 7th too. The downloadable online multiplayer FPS is set to hit XBLA on July 7th for the price of 1200MSP. The game will be heading PSN and PC soon, though no official date has been given as yet.
If you want more information, you can find videos for both games after the break.
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