Today’s new XBLA game released include Trenched, from Double Fine Productions, and Lucha Fury from Punchers Impact. Trenched is now available for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) from Xbox LIVE, and Lucha Fury is available for 800 Microsoft Points ($10) from Xbox LIVE.
Trenched is a unique take on the Tower Defense game genre, which allows plenty of customization of a player’s mech and pilot. The game supports co-op multiplayer and leaderboards, which also proudly displays a player’s custom mech and pilot. It looks like another great offering from Double Fine Productions, so at the very least make sure you give the demo a spin (queue it up here). See several screens from Trenchedhere.
Lucha Fury is a 4-player co-op fighting game, featuring cell shaded graphics. If you’re looking for a beat ‘em up lucha libre style, give it a go. Queue up the demo for Lucha Furyhere from xbox.com.
Trenched, Double Fine’s upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade title, seems to have a heck of a twist on the mech shooter formula. For those of you excited about playing something that seems different than say Armored Core, your wait will soon be over.
Trenched will be released on June 22nd on Xbox LIVE and will cost 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). See the newly released intro trailer for Trenched below, or here on YouTube.
For more information on Trenched, visit www.trenchedgame.com. Keep checking back here for more news about the game as it happens!
Take one part Double Fine Productions and another part third-person shooter and sprinkle on some tower defense elements and you get Trenched. No, this is not a trench digging simulator, but more of a finely crafted mech game that has some structure building mechanics similar to most tower defense games on the market. During my fifteen minute demo, I got a bit of the story and played some three player co-op with a couple other PAX attendees. What I discovered is Double Fine Productions’ new downloadable game is its best so far in terms of gameplay.
Players take the role of a war hero from World War I, injured during battle, who must save a group of soldiers. As you heal, you work with a scientist to develop a “Trench,” which in Double Fine’s world is a mechanical robot that can be customized in most every way. It was explained that the game will feature loot and drops similar to many RPGs. This will allow players to switch out the two weapons, legs, armor and physical appearance in-between missions. Within these options will be different levels of loot which add various types of modifications. Whether it be movement speed, special ability, damage, health regeneration and more. Let’s just say this game is full of custom options and depth, just in the mechanics of the Trenches.
The gameplay itself is simple. Ground and air units attack your base, trying to blow your trench and the objective up in the process. With a multitude of weapons, you can defeat them all yourself and use the scrap they produce to build stationary units. In the demo, there were anti-air turrets, machine gun stations and “Arrays” that were used to slow down units. All three are common within most tower defense games, but still have the ability to be upgraded and healed using the scrap collected from the enemies. If playing in the co-op mode, players can upgrade and repair their partner’s units as well, which is a nice touch. Also, in each level there are emplacements where turrets are “recommended” to be placed.
In talking with the guys manning the Trenched booth, I was able to get some more interesting bits about the game. Double Fine Productions has been working on the game for about a year and three months. Trenched will include four player local and online co-op. There is a full campaign, where players run into many interesting characters that will be fighting alongside or against them. There is an online squad mechanic that allows players to earn loot, even when not playing. Yes, this game does look more serious than STACKING and Costume Quest, but some of Double Fine’s signature humor will be throughout. Look for Trenched coming sometime this summer.
Microsoft is showcasing six upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade games at PAX East starting today. The lineup is a diverse variety of downloadable XBLA games coming from Microsoft Game Studios, which include Gunstringer, Trenched, Section 8 Prejudice, Toy Soldiers Cold War, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet and Fire Pro Wrestling. All of the games look like fun and unique titles that either employ Kinect, Xbox Avatars, continuations to some Xbox LIVE favorites, and creative visuals. The games will be available for play at Microsoft’s booth (#850) in PAX East. See screenshots and a brief description of each game from Microsoft below!
Gunstringer for Kinect
See screenshots below or here.
Developer: Twisted Pixel Games
“From the developers that brought you award-winning hits like “Splosion Man,” “The Maw” and “Comic Jumper” comes an all-new Kinect-exclusive title, “The Gunstringer” for Xbox LIVE Arcade. Take control of an undead marionette in an epic Wild West stage production that requires your puppeteering and quick draw shooting skills to exact revenge on the Gunstringer’s enemies – all controller-free. “The Gunstringer” will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade this spring.”
Trenched See screenshots below or here.
Developer: Double Fine Productions
“Join The Mobile Trench Brigade and protect humanity from the evil Monovision menace in this Tower Defense Shooter from Tim Schafer’s Double Fine Productions. Use a combination of mobile firepower and stationary defenses to turn the tide of war in our favor.”
Section 8 Prejudice
See screenshots below or here.
Developer: TimeGate Studios
“Section 8 Prejudice is a sci-fi first person shooter with dynamic combat, where every decision drastically impacts the battlefield. Discover the sinister series of betrayals that threaten humanity’s survival in the 5 hour single-player campaign, battle up to 32 players as you complete various Dynamic Combat Missions in Conquest, compete online with up to four players in the all new Swarm co-op mode, and unlock a devastating arsenal of over 60 weapons, equipment, and upgrade variants – all for only 1200 Microsoft Points.”
Toy Soldiers Cold War
See screenshots below or here.
Developer: Signal Studios
“The Cold War is decided when ’80s era action toys come alive and wage war! Toy Soldiers: Cold War blends intense first person combat with addictive action strategy, whether you’re scrapping solo or jumping into the fray with friends. Battle in campaign, competitive, co-op modes or fight for the highest score in mini-games!”
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
See screenshots below or here.
Developer: Fuel Cell / Gagne International
“From the mind of renowned artist, Michel Gagne, comes a captivating adventure set in a unique, rich and insanely twisted world. Blending exploration, intense shooter action, and puzzle-solving with gorgeous visuals, rich storytelling and Hollywood quality presentation, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet draws you into an epic journey full of surprises, danger and wonder.”
Fire Pro Wrestling
See screenshots below or here.
Developer: SPIKE
“Imagine your Avatar in a wrestling game, rumbling in the ring with your friends. Doing special moves, and teaming up with your friend to fight the Avatar from all over the world. That dream game is finally here! Fire Pro-Wrestling, let’s your Avatar fight like real wrestler!”
Costume Quest: Grubbins on Ice (downloadable content)
Available for: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Game Developer: Double Fine Productions
Game Publisher: THQ
Release Date: Dec. 12, 2010 (Xbox 360), Dec. 21, 2010 (PS3)
Official Website: www.costumequestgame.com
Review Summary: Grubbins on Ice is a downloadable pack for Costume Quest, but is completely separate from the original Halloween quest. It follows the same kids, through a winter wonderland filled with monsters to defeat and candy to collect. With a handful of new costumes, a bunch of new quests and new Achievements/Trophies, Grubbins on Ice is solid for the five dollar price. If you want more awesome and funny Costume Quest gameplay, Grubbins on Ice is easy to recommend.
Costume Quest: Grubbins on Ice
