Summer of Arcade '10
 

Summer of Arcade XBLA games dated and priced

by JC Fletcher http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.jo...writer_rss.gif (16 hours ago)
56

<center>http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.c...010-lineup.jpg</center>Microsoft's suggestion for how to pass those hot summer afternoons: spend 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), repeatedly. The company released the official dates and prices for the XBLA games in this year's Summer of Arcade promotion -- or, rather, dates and price, since they all share the aforementioned 1200 MSP price tag.

Like last year's Summer of Arcade, purchasing all five games in this year's lineup entitles the buyer to a 1200-point rebate (essentially buy four, get one free). Additionally, if you buy three of the five, you'll get 400 MSP back! As for the release schedule:

• Limbo: July 21
• Hydro Thunder Hurricane: July 28
• Castlevania: Harmony of Despair: August 4
• Monday Night Combat: August 11
• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light: August 18

Definitely getting Hydro Thunder, but passing on everything else probably. Dunno much about Limbo, but the screenshots look cool.

Pass on all of them I think. Monkey Island 2 is out this week, so that will do for me for the time being.

Nice. Was planning on getting all of these.

I'll do the 3 400msp back dealio. Limbo, Castlevania and MNB look pretty fucking stunning.

Even as the Dreamcast fanboy I am, never got into Hydro Thunder. Might pick it up and get Lara Croft for free for a laugh though.

I might end up getting them all if the demos are quality. Pretty much sold on Limbo and Castlevania. The others all look interesting.

Not liking the price on Hydro Thunder tho, seeing as it's an old game being rereleased.

Same. Definitely sold on everything out of those three but Monday Night Combat...but I like TF2 and DOTA, so I imagine I will enjoy it somehow.

See, that's better. Interest renewed.

Downloading Hydro Thunder right now. Can't wait to start playing.

Just read the reviews for Limbo on IGN and Gamespot. Both reviewers gave a 9.0 which is pretty solid. I'm going to check it out later on tonight. Anybody played it yet just in case the reviews are a tad skewed?

Played Limbo, love it. It's like someone's twisted version of Super Mario Bros. All I know so far is that you're a kid who entered limbo looking for his sister.

Just like the screencaps indicate, it's dark, creepy and full of both excellent platforming and clever puzzles. Haven't got too far in yet.

Awesome. I'll take your word for it. With nothing really big coming out until September I need something to hold me over. Thanks for the update.

Am I the only guy on earth who hates Braid? Game seemed so gay.

I enjoyed Limbo, but overall I like Braid a lot more. I did beat Limbo in one sitting, so that might have some effect on my review of it. I don't normally do things like that, but I was going out of town the next day, and really wanted to see what it had to offer.

Hydro Thunder is fuuuuuuuuun. Vector did a pretty good job with this. Kinda hope the bonus boats get unlocked as I get further along. No sign of them yet.

Just started up with Limbo and it is unlike anything I've played in a long time. The fucked up minds behind this game deserve some props because it is a complete mind trip. Glad I ponied up to try this thing out. I'll give my full opinion once I finish it up within the next few days.

But it's so deep, man. Tim is Time without an e.

Limbo and Hydro Thunder purchased. Gonna try out Castlevania in a sec.