Schizoid XBLA

[assen]

Greatest fun I've had in some time, and the best coop game like... ever. If you have a 360, access to Live, a second controller and a buddy, run, don't walk to download it.

Very interesting visuals, everything 2D but very complex. You have to watch someone else play to fully appreciate it (as is the case with e.g. racers), the gameplay is too intense to spend precious cycles enjoying the fireworks.

The basic idea is simple: two players, one red, one blue; two types of baddies, red and blue. Red player eats red baddies and dies instantly from blue ones; and vice versa for the blue player. The game turns into a complex dance of watching each others' backs and eating the baddies around you in turns. The demo shows several types of baddies with different behaviors, e.g. one which is too fast for you to catch, so the other player has to lure it towards you. The co-opness extends to powerups: you don't collect them, you pick them up and carry them to the other player to consume them.
Truly, the most co-op game ever.

Also, holds the technical curiosity title (AFAIK) of being the first commercial XNA game released.

 

[archangelmorph]

This game is absolutely amazing! It also brings home the point that same machine co-op should be a mandatory TRC from now on for every Live Arcade game.

From an XNA standpoint, I think if MSFT wants to really drive home what can be done with XNA they should buyout the game and make it an XNA starter kit or maybe the first paid-for starter kit, buy the game for $15 or $20 and get the game and if you are a Creators Club member special access to the starter kit...

Anyway, EVERYONE should buy this game.

There are already several full game Starter kits including two premium ones of particular interest; a 2D JRPG with battle, inventory & dialuge systems fully implemented & a third person mech action shooter a la mechwarrior or phantom crash..

MS has done extremely well so far in putting together starter kits & sample code for the community which is really great in helping XNA devs hit the ground running with functional code for effectively most areas of game engine & gameplay system progiramming.. awesome stuff..

 

[Tap In]

really one of the slickest XBLA games I've played... this is from XNA?

it reeks of quality

 

[assen]

really one of the slickest XBLA games I've played... this is from XNA?

it reeks of quality

No, this is not from XNA; this is from the many decades of experience in game development of the people who created it:

http://www.torpexgames.com/about-us.php

 

[AzBat]

Some explanation of the terms might be necessary.

XNA = a set developer tools & libraries(mostly free, but there are paid for ones too) necessary to build games on Windows, Xbox 360 and Zune(currently in beta).

Community Games = a set of free(currently) games developed using XNA. These are now available during the beta to Premium Creator's Club members, but will be made available to all Xbox 360 users this winter.

Games made using XNA can and will make it to the Xbox Live Arcade service as full games. Next one up is probably Dishwasher, winner of the Dream. Build. Play. contest last year.

Tommy McClain

 

[Tap In]

thanks for the info guys... whatever the origins, this game is incredible and a great co-op experience