Last year’s Summer of Arcade was an unprecedented success for the Xbox LIVE Arcade service with critically acclaimed releases such as Braid and Geometry Wars 2. And beginning on July 22nd, 2009, Microsoft is hoping to do it all over again with the 2nd annual Summer of Arcade.
This year’s titles have been revealed, but the order of their release has not yet been established:
MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2 (Backbone Entertainment/Capcom): One of the most popular fighting games of all time, MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2, arrives on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Choose from 56 legendary characters from Marvel Comics and Capcom history, including Ryu and Wolverine. With online multiplayer over Xbox LIVE and enhanced HD graphics, you decide who is the dream team in the ultimate tag-team fighting experience.
Shadow Complex (Chair Entertainment and Epic Games/Microsoft): The next evolution in downloadable games, Shadow Complex marries the quality and depth of a full retail title, the stunning visuals of Epic Games’ industry-leading Unreal Engine 3, and a classic side-scroller. “Set in the world of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel, Empire, Shadow Complex introduces a compelling universe in which you collect items and power-ups, and evolve your character into a force of destruction.”
Splosion Man (Twisted Pixel Games/Microsoft): Fools they were, to tread where knowledge should stay forbidden. For what emerged was not a man – it was a Splosion Man. “And all who saw him were sploded, for he was the fire and they were but meat.” Able to splode himself at will, the Splosion Man launches his way through levels, an uncontainable force. From Twisted Pixel Games, developer of the award winning The Maw, Splosion Man will keep you on your toes as you play through more than 50 single-player levels and 50 multiplayer levels.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-shelled (Ubisoft Singapore/Ubisoft): Cowabunga! Everyone’s favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game is back with a brand new look in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled. The arcade classic has been revamped with all new 3D graphics, but the same classic beat ‘em up gameplay.
Trials HD (RedLynx/Microsoft): Put on your helmet, and rev your way through Trials HD, a fully-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing game in stunning HD graphics. Tear up more than 50 tracks and test your metal in two unique game modes: Race and Skill. Create, share and download an unlimited number of free tracks with the level editor, and customize your rider to fit your personality.
Richard Mitchell is a video game addict living in Toronto. He has been gaming for more than two decades, and despite multiple interventions, continues to game today. He has an Xbox 360, a PS3, a Wii, a Nintendo DS, a gaming PC, and a life, and does his best to juggle them all.