Summer of Arcade 2011

I’ve always been intrigued by the Summer of Arcade selections that come out each year through Xbox Live. These have always been the highlight of the Download calendar and have produced many classics during their previous outings from Castle Crashers to Limbo and Shadow Complex. We've been utterly spoiled by this year's Summer of Arcade too so far but which games should we buy. The first three released have been the ones I’ve most looked forward to but I still don’t know which one(s) to invest my hard earned cash on.

First off we had Bastion, a colourful and action orientated RPG with a brilliant arcade feel but enough depth to increase its lifespan. Then we got the gorgeous god-game From Dust. This was probably the one I have been most looking forward to and have been really pleased with the scores that different sites have labelled it with. Last week, these great games were joined by the quirky puzzle game called Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet. All of them display the kind of creativity and inventiveness that comes with all the great downloadable games but each is so distinctive and varied that it’s tough to decide where to put your money.

In an ideal world, everyone would have 3600 Microsoft points and buy all three and if I was that lucky I would probably do the same. But if you are like me then you probably don’t have that much just sitting around so which is most likely to grab you.

I know Summer of Arcade isn’t over but I don’t own Kinect so Fruit Ninja is out the window and I was actually disappointed by the last Toy Soldiers so I’m definitely not investing there either.

Bastion

This is a colourful post-apocalyptic action-RPG is seen through the eyes of  ‘the kid’ who has been sent into the world in search of quasi-magical shards that can repair the world around you. The game’s premise sounds fairly limited but [as many websites have informed me] as time goes on you discover different weapons and set ups that the whole game is much deeper then original anticipated. It has solid combat and provides excellent eye-candy and the more you play the game the better it becomes. The watercolour art style makes you want to continue exploring the vast world and see what surprises are in store next. Buy it if you like your RPG’s to be fun and full of action.

From Dust

From Dust is probably the most difficult to put into a specific genre, it is a god game but it really has a lot more to it as well. The world is a natural simulation albeit one that develops at an accelerated rate. The realistic water will create streams that become rivers, eroding the earth as the cycle goes on. Magma cools into rocks, creating islands in the sea. The game itself sets you up against many natural disasters from tsunamis to volcanic eruptions; all of which are out to hurt your people and destroy your land. Villages will burn and citizens will drown if you don’t keep them safe. Success involves planning ahead and keeping calm. If you are interest in other god-games like Black and White then this is probably the choice for you. Please be aware that you do need patience to complete this brilliant simulator.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

Basically you are a tiny man controlling a UFO who needs to destroy the parasite that has taken over the world. The parasite itself is a black glop that has started to take over your home world. Along the way you will find tools and gadgets to continue through your adventure and the further you get through it the tougher the challenge becomes. You will meet fascinating creatures and a variety of structures and props along with clues to tell you exactly what’s going on. It’s beautiful but eerie and keeps you wanting to see what exactly is coming next. It’s actually not too far off if you compare it to Limbo so if you liked that you may very well like this too – experimentation is the key to completing this one.

I wish I hadn’t written this – now I want them all….. Have you invested in any of these games yourself or are planning to do so? What would you recommend?