Star Wars: Republic Commando (Xbox, 2005)

Star Wars: Republic Commando
Developed/Published by LucasArts
Released for Xbox (2/2005)
Also on PC
Backwards Compatible on Xbox One/Xbox 360

There were a total of 14 Star Wars titles released on the original Xbox, making it hard not to overlook at least a few of them. I'm always a bit skeptical coming into any Star Wars game, as the license has a bit of a checkered past when it comes to quality, but I was pleasantly surprised by Republic Commando. The game was released for both the Xbox and PC in 2005, and is a squad based first-person shooter.

Developed and published by LucasArts, Republic Commando delivers some nice visuals for a 2005 release which are powered by the popular Unreal Engine 2. The menus are simple, easy to use and the game allows you to save at any point in addition to autosaving at designated checkpoints. The on-screen HUD does a good job keeping you aware of your squad's health status and ammunition is displayed on each weapon. All of the text used is easy to read and while the presentation is nothing special, you'd have a hard time finding much to complain about. The voice acting and sound effects are solid. The game does feature music, but a good majority of the time you'll only have the ambience. While the music is used sparsely, what is present here is similar to the stuff you would hear in the Star Wars prequel films of the time.

Scrap Metal (XBLA, 2010)

Scrap Metal
Developed by Slick Entertainment
Released for XBLA (3/2010)
Also on iOS
Backwards Compatible on Xbox One

Scrap Metal is a car-combat/racing game released as a digital-download for Xbox Live Arcade in 2010. The action is viewed from overhead at a sort of 3/4 angle. The game takes inspiration from several of the old-school racing classics. The camera view, car combat theme and racing is a bit of a throwback to old classics like RC Pro-Am, Carmageddon, Death Rally and Rock 'N Roll Racing. So this relatively obscure XBLA title takes inspiration from some great games.

The bulk of Scrap Metal consists of the single-player campaign. There are several types of events you'll encounter throughout the game, so don't expect this to be a straight racing title. In addition to standard and elimination races, there are derby events, boss battles, survival levels and even the occasional unique event like a time trial or monster truck challenge. There's a decent amount of variety though some events are definitely more enjoyable than others. Scrap Metal is at its best during the race and derby events. In the derby events your goal is to simply blow up as many opponents as possible. The game features eight tracks and each track contains several events you'll need to complete, with a boss battle towards the end. The boss battles are basically like your standard opponents but with more HP and bodyguards, with the exception of the final boss battle which is against a tank. The first couple of tracks are simple in design but as you progress the tracks continue to get more intricate and difficult to navigate.

In Scrap Metal you only get four garage slots and at any given point in the game you can select between these four vehicles. The events do have class restrictions so you can't go back and beast the earlier events with the better cars you'll unlock later. While you can access the junkyard at any point, replacing a vehicle in your garage will wipe out any upgrades you've purchased for that particular vehicle. While the vehicle will still be available to use in the junkyard, you'll have to re-purchase any previous upgrades. This seems like an unnecessary restriction and worked against me trying out all of the different vehicles, instead opting to use a handful of fully upgraded vehicles to tackle the events.

Though you can only upgrade four vehicles at once, there's a decent selection of vehicles you can unlock as you progress and they all have drastically different stats. There are bulky, tough and slow vehicles like semi-trucks, monster trucks and even a tank. There are also quick vehicles with weak armor like the station wagon, hotrod or race car. Each vehicle is equipped with a different weapon type and there's a decent amount of variety between them. Some vehicles have ranged weapons like machine guns or rocket launchers, while others are equipped for close combat with spiked rams or flamethrowers. The ranged weapons are obviously more effective most of the time, as using the close-quarter weaponry will often result in taking large amounts of damage.

Scrap Metal features two different control schemes. There's the novice layout which maps acceleration/braking/steering to the right analog stick and the advanced controller layout has the gas/braking mapped to the triggers while you steer with the analog stick. I wound up using the advanced scheme for the majority of my playthrough as I just felt like it granted a bit more precision, especially when cornering. Here we get to Scrap Metal's biggest problem: cornering is a bit of a pain. I managed to get three stars on all events in the game and even by the end I rarely felt confident in my ability to round corners. With most vehicles, turning feels a bit too sensitive forcing you to constantly readjust to stay on the track.

In addition to the single player action, Scrap Metal also supports online, local or system link multiplayer. Local multiplayer allows up to four players to compete in split-screen action. There's three different multiplayer events offered: king of the hill, race and derby. The multiplayer can be quite fun if you have three willing friends to play it with. With the age of the game and the fact that it's not a particularly popular title, you have a very small chance of finding an opponent for an online match when searching randomly. At the time of this writing (early 2019) the servers are still functioning, so it is possible to play online if you coordinate a session with others who have the game. If you're trying to play local with split-screen, you'll have to have four controllers and you'll need a large screen due to how small the view is.

Scrap Metal features a decent amount of content for an XBLA title released in 2010 and the concept is definitely cool. While the over-sensitive steering controls hold the game back from greatness, there's still some fun to be had and there aren't a ton of these derby-style car games out there nowadays. Scrap Metal is backwards-compatible on the Xbox One, so if I'd say give this one a shot if you're into car combat driving games and have either a 360 or One. I purchased it while on sale for a few bucks and don't regret my purchase. Scrap Metal was the second and final XBLA release from Slick Entertainment, with the first being N+ in 2008. In 2017 the team at Slick Entertainment was absorbed into independent developer Klei Entertainment (Shank, Mark of the Ninja).

Final Verdict: Scrap Metal is a decent car combat/racing game and while there is some fun to be had here, the cornering issues hold it back from being as good as it could have been. Still worth a look if you enjoy car combat style games.

Related Links:
Buy Scrap Metal - Microsoft Store 
Buy Scrap Metal - Xbox Marketplace
Scrap Metal - GameFAQs
Scrap Metal Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Scrap Metal - True Achievements

NBA Playgrounds (Xbox One, 2017)

NBA Playgrounds
Developed by Saber Interactive
Released for Xbox One (5/2017)
Also on PC/PS4/Switch

NBA Playgrounds is an arcade-style basketball game, heavily inspired by the classic NBA Jam games. At the time of this writing, the game has been removed from the Microsoft Store and all other outlets that had it for sale. More than likely the reason for the removal of this game is due to the fact that 2K Sports published the sequel and wants everybody to buy the newer title, which from what I've heard places a heavy emphasis on in-game transactions. Though you may be able to spend money for new players in the original game, it's so easy to to unlock them by just simply playing the game that there was no necessity to spend any extra money.

The graphics and overall presentation in NBA Playgrounds looks decent for the most part though there are some issues. The characters sport a cartoony look and often hardly even look like the player they're representing. The backgrounds are well done and there's a decent variety of courts to play on, though the differences between them are purely cosmetic. Sound effects and music are just sort of there, not bad but definitely not very memorable either. The menus are simple enough and easy to use, though it feels like it takes a bit longer to load matches than it should. Overall, despite some of the characters looking a bit goofy, the game looks okay.

There are no achievements involving online play, which is a good thing because I didn't have any luck finding anybody the couple times I tried searching for an opponent. Bear in mind there is already a sequel out when I'm playing this, so I wasn't surprised by this at all. The bulk of your playtime will be spent playing tournament mode, which features a world map with several different courts that will be unlocked as you progress. In each country there are four predetermined match-ups and within each match there is a challenge to complete. The challenges range from making a certain number of three-pointers to getting a certain number of steals or blocks. The challenges ramp up in difficulty as you progress and get pretty tough towards the end. Once all challenges for a region are completed you'll unlock a new basketball that can be selected in exhibition mode.

Gameplay wise, NBA Playgrounds shares a lot in common with the classic NBA Jam titles. The game features a roster that was current at the time of the game's release, which would be the 2016-2017 roster. On the court you have a turbo button that drains stamina. While using the sprint you can perform ridiculous high-flying dunks. On defense, you can swipe, block and shove. Unlike NBA Jam, when you try to swipe or shove your opponent this will drain your stamina meter in an effort to prevent mindlessly spamming the steal button. On offense you have the ability to perform crossover moves which will also consume your stamina bar. When performing a crossover, a player is invulnerable to steals for a limited time so you'll want to time your steal attempts carefully while on defense. The ball handler can also throw their elbows out to get some space when necessary. Taking a page out the NBA 2K series, when you take a shot in NBA Playgrounds you'll have a shot meter where you'll want to stop in the green. The better a players shooting stats are the easier the shot will be to make. You can also call for an alley-oop for your teammate.

On paper everything looks and sounds like it'd be good time, but there are a few issues that hold the game back from greatness. There's no nice way to put it: the defense in NBA Playgrounds sucks. The timing for blocking shots is incredibly picky to the point I pretty much exclusively had to go for steals on defense. Rebounding is also terrible, but the CPU seems to excel at it. Every time I would try to jump to grab a rebound my player would swat the ball away since he was still in block mode. This is quite frustrating and the only way I could ever get rebounds is to stay put on the ground while hoping the ball bounced to me. More often than not the CPU would jump over me and grab the board due to this. These rebounding issues really drag down the defensive side of the game. Even with that being said, the offensive aspect of the game was fun enough that I enjoyed spending some time with this game.

NBA Playgrounds was quite suddenly pulled from the Microsoft Store in October 2018, just a little after a year from its release. I played the game via Game Pass and it was removed from that service at the end of December 2018. NBA Playgrounds is pretty much gone unless you previously purchased it before its removal, which is a shame as it was a shallow but enjoyable title. 

Final Verdict: While not quite as good as the classics that inspired it, NBA Playgrounds is a fun little digital title that was pulled from the the Microsoft Store quicker than most games that suffer the same fate.

Related Links:
NBA Playgrounds - GameFAQs
NBA Playgrounds - Microsoft Store
Saber Interactive - Official Site

Life is Strange (Xbox 360/One, 2015/16)

Life is Strange
Developed by DONTNOD Entertainment
Published by Square Enix
Released for Xbox 360 (10/2015) & Xbox One (1/2016)
Also on Android/iOS/Linux/Mac/PC/PS3/PS4

Life is Strange is a point 'n click style adventure game originally released for the Xbox 360 in October 2015 and in January 2016 the game received a port to the Xbox One. The gameplay is similar to the Telltale Games titles, but rather than using an already existing license the developers have created the characters and story specifically for this game.

The game is broken up into five episodes, with each episode initially being released around two months apart. As is the case with games of this nature, it tends to work out best to wait for the entire story to be released before digging in since it can really suck waiting months to see what happens next. While the first episode was released in January 2015 for the Xbox 360, the final episode wasn't put up for download until October 2015. That's way too much time for a game of this nature, but luckily the end product turned out well and doesn't feel rushed. By the time Life is Strange received a release for the Xbox One, all episodes had already been released so the game was released in its complete form right from the start.

The story has the player take control of Max, an 18-year old attending Blackwell University who loves photography. Max discovers early in the story that she has the ability to turn back time and has to put it use quick. She witnesses one of her old childhood friends, Chloe, being shot and killed in the bathroom. Using her newfound powers, Max is able to go back in time and change the outcome of the event. As the story unravels, Max and Chloe get a chance to catch up and try to unravel the mysterious happenings at Arcadia Bay. The pacing of the story is very well done, giving Max several interesting scenarios to manipulate time and multiple outcomes as the result of your decisions. Each episode also does a great job ending on a cliffhanger and keeping the player anxious to come back and see what happens next. The story also deals with a lot of issues that will hit home for many players including bullying, friendships and loss of loved ones.

The cast of characters are excellent, offering a nice diversity and the writing/voice-acting makes them all believable. The characters are memorable as is the setting of Arcadia Bay and Blackwell University. Gameplay consists mostly of walking around, examining things and talking to people. Occasionally Max's time manipulation powers will come into play, allowing you to rewind time using the left trigger. There's a good balance between playing and watching, and it feels a bit more interactive than your average point 'n click from Telltale Games. The controls are simple and work effectively, making the game easily accessible to players of all types.

Rather than your standard collectibles, each chapter in Life is Strange features ten objects that you can take photos of. Once a photo is taken, it can be viewed in Max's journal which can be accessed by hitting the back button. It's an original take on collectibles and it was fun trying to find them all. If you miss any of them while playing, there's a handy chapter select available from the main menu to make it easy to hop back in to find them.

While Life is Strange is an excellent point and click adventure, no game is without its faults. The game crashed on me twice while playing on the Xbox One, but luckily both instances occurred at the main title screen so I didn't lose any story progress. The only other thing I found worth complaining about is that the lip-sync seems a bit off at times. One sequence had Max speaking with no mouth movement, making the whole scene look a bit silly. The lip-sync isn't a frequent problem as I only noticed it in a couple of scenes and most players likely won't even notice or care.

In closing, Life is Strange is up there as one of the best point and click adventures I've played in recent years. The characters and story are interesting enough to keep the majority of players invested until the end. If you enjoy a good point 'n click adventure or are intrigued by time travel, make sure you give Life is Strange a play. Try to go in as blind as possible though, as spoilers can really hamper the impact of the events that happen within the game. The game was released in physical format for the Xbox One and is available digitally on both the Xbox One and the Xbox 360.

Final Verdict: Life is Strange is an excellent point 'n click adventure, featuring a main character with the ability to manipulate time, an interesting cast of characters and a well-delivered story. Point 'n click fans should definitely give this one a play.

Related Links:
Buy Life is Strange for Xbox One - Microsoft Store
Buy Life is Strange for Xbox 360 - Xbox Marketplace
Search Life is Strange on Xbox One - eBay

Related Links:
DONTNOD Entertainment - Official Site
Square Enix - Official Site
Life is Strange - GameFAQs
Life is Strange Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Life is Strange - True Achievements 

Headlander (Xbox One, 2016)

Headlander
Developed by Double Fine
Published by Adult Swim
Released for Xbox One (11/2016)
Also on Mac/PC/PS4

In Headlander, the player will take control of a head encapsulated in a helmet equipped with thrusters that enable it to navigate the environment. It's a silly premise for sure, but with this being a Double Fine game there's an excellent sense of humor within that makes the whole premise work wonderfully. The world is presented with a retro '60's-70's vision of the future and it feels quite unique. Headlander is a "Metroidvania" game, meaning the player will be navigating a large map with access to new areas opening up as the player gains new abilities.

At the beginning of the story you have the option to choose between three different heads (two male, one female). The game plays the same regardless of which head you choose, since none of them are able to actually speak due to the lack of any vocal cords, but the option to select a character is still welcome. You'll then be let loose to explore the mysterious world featured in Headlander, which is some sort of utopia inhabited completely by robots with not a human in sight save for the floating head you control. The floating head starts off with a vacuum ability, allowing the player to suck the heads off enemies, land on top  of them and assume control. This head-swap mechanic is a big part of Headlander, with certain robot guards granting access to locked doors. There's a decent variety of robots to take control of throughout the game, featuring both civilian models and guards. There are also little dust vacuums and robot dogs that can be possessed, with certain hidden areas only accessible by using these little guys. The "head landing" is an awesome gimmick and gives the gameplay a unique feel. There's no jump button in Headlander, but it's not really necessary thanks to the whole floating head mechanic.

With Headlander being a Metroidvania style game, it should go without saying that you'll be unlocking upgrades as you play. There are energy orbs scattered throughout the game that add to your XP when collected. The upgrade menu can be accessed at any point and will allow you to choose what you'd like to upgrade next, with more options unlocking as you progress through the story. There's a nice range of upgrades, some of which make the combat drastically easier. There's the obvious stuff like upgrading your health regeneration and vacuum suck abilities and then more original stuff like the ability to turn an abandoned body into a sentry gun.

While initially you'll do all your fighting using the bodies you possess, you'll eventually unlock some nice upgrades to boost the power of your head. You'll get boosters on your helmet which can be upgraded to damage enemies while boosting. In addition to your booster attack, you'll also be able to unlock a shield to give you some defensive capabilities. The upgrade system is well implemented, though I found myself wishing there was more game to use these on. The story mode is a bit on the short side and will give most players about 7-10 hours of gameplay. Personally I felt like the game had a good length to it and the fact I wanted more when it was over is more of a testament to how fun the game was rather than a knock against it being too short.

Most players will likely die quite a bit throughout their adventure, but frustration is kept low thanks to Headlander's generous respawns. Upon death you'll spawn back into the last room you were in with a quick reload, making it easy to get right back into the game after making a mistake. The game auto-saves every time you enter a new room as well, making it easy to quit and resume when you need to go do something else.

Any good Metroidvania game needs a solid map to help keep tabs on where you're at. Headlander's map is a bit basic, but gives you enough to keep you informed where you need to go and where you haven't been. While the areas themselves aren't labeled on the map, nearby collectibles and points of interests will be clearly marked. As you explore you'll find access to teleports, allowing you an option to quickly travel from one section to the next. There are a few areas that are outside the map and there are special warps you can find to switch back and forth between sections.

Headlander is another awesome effort from Double Fine, though I did run into a minor issue while playing. There's some pretty bad slowdown that occurs when there are too many lasers on screen at once. Towards the end, there was a particular room that really had the frame-rate chugging. It didn't cause any unfair deaths or anything, but it's worth a mention and I'm sure some will be bothered by it. Outside of the slowdown, I didn't really encounter any other issues while playing. Double Fine did a nice job polishing the game for the most part and it's always refreshing to play a game that didn't crash on me at anytime during my play.

I've never been let down by a game from Double Fine before and Headlander continues that tradition. The game is well-polished and original enough to stand out amongst the many Metroidvania titles out there. The mysterious world you'll explore is intriguing and the head-swap mechanic makes the game a joy to play. There's even a couple of Easter eggs hidden in the game that reference past Double Fine games. If you're a fan of 2D Metroidvania style games, make sure that Headlander is one you don't miss!

Final Verdict: Headlander is an excellent 2D Metroidvania style game with a retro-style vision of the future and an interesting head-swapping mechanic. Genre fans need to check this one out!

Related Links:
Buy Headlander - Microsoft Store
Double Fine - Official Site
Adult Swim - Official Site

Strategy Guides/Walkthroughs:
Headlander - GameFAQs
Headlander Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Headlander - True Achievements