The XBLIG Companion App Lets You Browse Indies On the Go


Windows Phone users will soon have a flashy new way to browse and purchase Xbox Live Indie Games on Read more

Snapshot Coming to Steam Shortly, PS3 This Summer


Retro Affect's long-in-development Snapshot will be released on Steam "very soon," according to lead programmer David Carrigg. In a Read more

Warp Review: E.T. Warp Home


With his adorable peanut-shaped body and wacky tube-man appendages, it’s easy to imagine a plushy of Warp’s alien protagonist Read more

How to Market Your Game XBLIG Style Part 3: Writing a Press Release


It’s been some time since I last wrote a feature on marketing, but I figured it was about time Read more

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XBLIG Reviews

Katana Land Review: Cowabunga!

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mike Wall in Reviews, XBLIG Reviews | 4 Comments

One of the things that makes reviewing indie games so much fun, particularly Xbox Live Indie Games, is that every day you can play a game that is completely unknown and be taken aback and how marvelous it is. We’ve gotten to a point with mainstream games and media where you can find out so much information about a game that you know exactly what it is 90% of the time before you even pick up the controller. But no matter how closely I monitor the world of XBLIG, sweet little gems like Katana Land always manage to sneak in under my radar.

Katana Land is sort of like an old school Ninja Gaiden game minus the insanely frustrating parts. Instead, it’s incredibly easy to jump right in and start cutting up those evil red ninjas who have kidnapped your girlfriend, and I chewed through the bite-sized levels in one sitting like I was housing a bag of Oreos.
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Little Racers STREET Review: Size Does Not Matter

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Dave Voyles in Reviews, XBLIG Reviews | 2 Comments

EDIT: Developer Milkstone Studios informs us that an update is coming next week, which will include multiplayer mode

The XBLIG Marketplace is notorious for its often campy FMV games (sadly, no Night Trap port yet), Avatar-laden gimmick titles, and games that bear strikingly low production values. On occasion, a gem will find its way between the otherwise generic rocks of games and spark a glimmer of hope into XBLIG again. One such title is Little Racers STREET, the 15th title from Milkstone Studios, who have made a name for themselves for their high production values and strikingly beautiful games. I’ll have you know that they continue this tradition with their latest offering.

Rarely do I pick up an Xbox indie game and really hunger to return to it later, but LRS had me coming back for more. The gameplay was addictive and offered just enough incentive after each race to keep that carrot dangling in front of me, enticing me to continue.
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Block Zombies! Review: Night of the Living Legos

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Mike Wall in Reviews, XBLIG, XBLIG Reviews | 2 Comments

Thanks, I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1. Thanks for your addictive gameplay. Thanks for your stupid, catchy song. Thanks for creating a template that countless mindless, shambling hordes of games have imitated, and shamelessly refused to improve upon. The twin-stick shooter may be the most prolific genre represented in Xbox Live Indie Games, but most are redundant experiences that aren’t even worth Microsoft’s server space. But every so often a game like Block Zombies! comes around, shuffles the pieces up just enough, and mixes in a few new wrinkles to come out with something that feels fresh and fun.

Yes, Block Zombies! is another zombie twin-stick shooter, and yes it apes the voxel style that Minecraft returned to the limelight, but you know what? It totally works. The game’s carefree visual style and upbeat tempo makes Block Zombies! an absolute delight to play. It’s like you’re a  kid wandering through a Lego playground that just so happens to be infested with cubical zombies who explode into tiny pieces when killed.

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EvilQuest Review: B-b-b-b-b Bad to the Bone

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Mike Wall in Reviews, XBLIG Reviews | Leave a comment

He-Man may have routinely embarrassed his skeletal counterpart on TV, but in my house, the muscly Master of the Universe was more likely to find himself colliding against the neighbor’s brick wall. Perhaps I took pity on incompetent villains who always managed to shoot themselves in the feet at the last minute, or maybe I just thought they looked cooler, but I found myself cheering for the bad guys like they were some kind of slightly maniacal version of Rudy.

It’s kind of hard to root for the bad guys in games unless you’re a fan of the ‘Game Over’ screen, but EvilQuest is the rare game that puts you squarely in the shoes of a detestable and indefensible deviant. It doesn’t merely present the option of being a bastard, it outright demands it, which is a pretty refreshing approach for a game. Unfortunately, like those incompetent 80s cartoon villains, EvilQuest finds a few ways to sabotage itself and derail the fun, but it’s still one of the more impressive indies we’ve seen in a while.
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Let’s Get Fiscal Review

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Mike Wall in Reviews, XBLIG, XBLIG Reviews | Leave a comment

Like any child of the 80s, I have a soft spot in my heart for brawlers that can only be filled with a punch to the face of a velociraptor. I’ve cleared the raging streets, finished the fight, and cleared out the sewers so many times that the city gave me my own waste removal truck. I also happen to have a ridiculous soft spot for Get Rich or Die Gaming, an outrageous adventure game with horrid voice acting, sleazy sex appeal, and tons of kitsch. So, naturally I was a bit pimped pumped when I heard that Baller Industries’ follow-up to Get Rich would be a brawler. So how did I feel after I got my hands on this bizarre monstrosity?

The story, characters, cut scenes, and dialogue are exactly what I would expect from Baller Industries. Characters act in extreme fashions, experience 180-degree mood swings for no apparent reason, and enjoy shouting profanity. It’s absolutely insane, but in all the best ways like the He-Man Christmas Special. The plot follows a main character who has been sober for 10 years, but somehow keeps finding new ways to get stoned, drunk, or otherwise intoxicated during what has to be the worst day ever experienced by an auditor. I can kind of see why he’d want to stay clean, because apparently the slightest narcotic in his system causes him to flip out and kick the tar out of everyone like Scrappy Doo on speed.

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Game Type Review: Parkour Power

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Mike Wall in Reviews, XBLIG News, XBLIG Reviews | 2 Comments

While there are lots of things to like about the new flashy Xbox Dashboard, there’s also one glaring problem. Okay, there are tons of problems, but let’s just pretend there is only one: you need a goddamn road map to find where to go to buy games. Microsoft seems so focused on chowing down on the Doritos dollars and cramming UFC down our throats that they’ve neglected to provide a convenient way to give them money for actual games. It’s frustrating as someone who enjoys playing games, but apparently more infuriating for those who depend on selling them for a living.

All downloadable games have been relegated to murky corner of the Marketplace behind an obscure “Game Type” tile depicting a girl in a hoodie hopping in the air. That same girl stars in Mommy’s Best Games’ latest game, which is one part side-scrolling shmup, one part parody of the new dashboard, and five parts bonkers. The game was created in just a few days in reaction to the new dashboard, and while it’s impressive that the developer was able to rush it to the Marketplace in such a short timeframe, the truncated development schedule shows. Neither the cynical parody elements, nor the gameplay of the shooter buried beneath the fake dash feel complete enough on their own to warrant adoring praise, but combined they create an unique package that is worth experiencing.

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I, Zombie Video Review: Undead Gear

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Daniel Campbell in XBLIG Reviews | Leave a comment

With hundreds of indie games trying to make a quick buck by including zombies, how can a cute little game like I, Zombie stand out against the crowd? Does it prove itself to be worth the $1 price tag or does it deserve to be filed away with the rest of the blatant zombie cash-ins? Find out with our video review of I, Zombie. Happy watching! I, Zombie was provided for review by Awesome Games Studio. It is available for $80 MS points ($1) on the Xbox Marketplace. 

Invasion Review: Parasitus Invasion!

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Mike Wall in Reviews, XBLIG, XBLIG Reviews | 2 Comments

If I were evaluating Invasion based on how much I wanted to like it, I would give it fifteen out of ten smoking laser rifles. A heavily Contra-inspired shooter that demolishes the fourth wall so thoroughly that it practically serves as a demo for another game? What could go wrong? Sadly, quite a bit, but not nearly enough to completely sour the experience. It might be a bit awkward at times, but damn do I love shooting aliens, and Invasion manages to keep the experience feeling fresh and fun for the whole ride.

Invasions’ individual elements aren’t always solid, but it succeeds in spite of them thanks to a great sense of personality and constant shifts in the game that prevent it from feeling dull. This is actually the prequel to Heart Attack Machine’s prior release, Parasitus: Ninja Zero, a game that had more in common with the hack ‘n slash ways of The Dishwasher than old school shooters. This time around, you play as Stockton, a cocky soldier looking to escape the city as it’s being overrun by aliens. The fragmented shooting sequences are broken up by dialogue sequences as Stockton chatters on his comm device with his commander who provides directions on how to heroically run for your life.

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Flowrider Review: Keeping Ahead of the Flow

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Dave Voyles in Reviews, XBLIG, XBLIG Reviews | Leave a comment

Triple B Games has historically been known for their sports titles, including Fitba and a slew of well-received lacrosse titles, before they took their obligatory crack at zombies with Zombiez 8 My Cookiez. The Scotland-based developer continues to diversify their portfolio with the recent release of their racing title, Flowrider. Surprisingly, there aren’t many racing titles on XBLIG, so it was about time a good one made its way into the marketplace.

As I played through Flowrider, thoughts of RC Pro-AM, a solid racer from the days of the NES, ran through my mind. Both titles share a similar camera, small vehicles, and sense of speed. Those of you who have played the XBLA title Hydro Thunder will feel right at home with this as well, as the water-based physics allow the boats to glide across the surface, remiss of the friction we’ve come to know and expect in our everyday lives.

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Last Dragon Standing Review: Dragon Ballz

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Dave Voyles in Reviews, XBLIG, XBLIG Reviews | Leave a comment

The XBLIG marketplace can be a funny spot. Between the Avatar massage apps and generic side scrollers, there are quite a few hidden gems. More than anything, it allows developers to think outside the box and mine the depths of their brains to reward us with unique titles, thanks to the low barrier of entry, minimal financial risk, and genuine creativity. Last Dragon Standing is one such example, as it reinvents the formula of air hockey we’ve come to know and love as children.

As the name implies, your goal is simple: be the last dragon standing. To do so, players must slide their dragon from left to right, defending their nest eggs found immediately behind them, while firing projectiles toward the opponents’ eggs.  There are 4 dragons on screen at once, one corresponding to each side of the screen, and each can be controlled by the AI or a local player. Deflecting projectiles is possible as well, simply by sliding your dragon into the projectile’s path, which also turns the projectile into one of your own color.

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