Toronto Thumbs

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey coming to XBL

By Syd Bolton - March 23rd, 2008

According to this recent post, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey is coming to the Xbox originals marketplace. While this in itself is great news (since this game went mostly under appreciated) the label of “Game of the Year Edition” is slightly confusing. The GOTY edition that appeared on the PC included the original “Longest Journey” game and this would make one think that this is also the case for Xbox owners. If this was true, it would be enough to get me to buy the title for a second time, but it is looking more and more like it’s just a repackaging of the Xbox original.

Featuring over 50 voice actors, incredible worlds and a compelling story, Dreamfall will keep you interested in its immersive environments. The gameplay isn’t overly complex (and the fighting sequences are almost laughable) but the overall story and light puzzle elements will keep you pushing forward through this most enjoyable experience. If I didn’t already own the original I’d be downloading this one on March 24. You should be, too.

Posted in Download Updates, LIVE, Xbox 360 | No Comments »

OVERVIEW: Ninja Gaiden Black is Back

By Shaun Hatton - March 16th, 2008

Developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo for Xbox 360.

While the wait for the super bloody Ninja Gaiden II is still a long one, 360 owners can take solace in the fact that Ninja Gaiden Black is now available for download as an Xbox Originals title from the LIVE Marketplace. And though the game is two and a half years old at this point, it still looks and plays quite well.

As master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, players can use a wide assortment of ninja weaponry and techniques to dispatch enemies. The game is not for everyone, however. It’s extremely difficult once the enemies start showing up in droves, and the boss fights are full of white-knuckled action. Black has a great combo system and the controls are, for the most part, very responsive. When you’re hacking and slashing with your sword, you really feel the weight of the swings and the resistance given when attacks are parried.

For fans of ninja (and really, who isn’t?) this game is a definite steal at its purchase price of 1200 Microsoft Points. The only drawback, if it could be called that, is at just under six gigs, the game will take quite a while to finish downloading. Still, you’ll be able to play it a lot sooner than Ninja Gaiden II.

Posted in Download Updates, LIVE, Ninja, Overviews, Reviews, Xbox 360 | No Comments »

DOWNLOAD UPDATE: February 14, 2008 Edition
(AKA The “No Love” Edition)

By Michael Pugliese - February 17th, 2008

Commanders: Attack of the Genos. available on Xbox LIVE Arcade, offers some fun battle simulation.

In the spirit of Valentine’s day it seems Sony loves to tease. And tease they did this week with almost nothing of interest being released though the PlayStation Store besides the new “Create-A-Level” video for Little Big Planet. Fortunately, anticipation for the title is so huge, that this may be enough for PS3 gamers this week. A demo for MLB 08 The Show and the (Arguably) Punk Pack 2 Rock Band song pack ($6.49 CDN) were also made available for download this week. The PC PlayStation store brings Twisted Metal: Head On ($15.99 CDN) to gamers who may have missed it the first time around (you can check out our very own review of the PSP port here), along with some behind the scenes videos and a PSP wallpaper for the title. Don’t forget to checkout the demo for the super-stylized Patapon, which dropped this week as well.

The big N lets Wii owners choose whether they want get their farm on with the release of Harvest Moon (SNES) or rock out to the to the heavy-metal sounds of Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16) for 800 Wii Points each. I’ve never had the opportunity to check out Lords of Thunder before, but with a description like “a side-scrolling shooter that has you take on the role of a legendary warrior, blasting enemies to heavy-metal tunes” I think I’m missing out. Anyone who checks this out, let me know what you think by email at michael@torontothumbs.com.

Finally, after a big week last week with the release of Poker Smash, and Xbox Originals Ninja Gaiden Black, Black, and Sid Meier’s Pirates hitting the marketplace; Microsoft follows up with the release of Discs of Tron (400 MS Points) and Commanders: Attack of the Genos (800 MS Points) for Xbox LIVE Arcade. In addition, a whole lot of add-on content for titles including Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom, Overlord, Need For Speed: ProStreet, PGR4, NBA Live 08, Chessmaster Live, Gripshift, and of course the ever expanding Rock Band was also made available.

Posted in Download Updates, LIVE, PSP, PlayStation 3, Virtual Console | No Comments »

DOWNLOAD UPDATE: January 31, 2008 Edition

By Tetris Maximus - January 31st, 2008

Rez HD has the looks and hooks to keep gamers happy.

There’s not a lot happening online this week from the big three.

Sadly, Nintendo’s brought us only one game this week, but it’s a great one: 1080° Snowboarding is a classic from the Nintendo 64 days (1000 Wii Points). Too many of my controllers were destroyed because of that game. Sony’s also only got the one game available this week: Neopets: Petpet Adventures - The Wand of Wishing ($16.99 CDN). But this is among a tonne of game add-on content for Rock Band and Folklore, two titles that seem to keep getting expansions.

The big story in downloadable content this week? Xbox LIVE Arcade. Rez HD finally makes its debut. It’s an upbeat, trippy, music-intensive game. In addition, the popular Chessmaster series is now available for download. Both titles cost 800 Microsoft Points.

Posted in Download Updates, LIVE, News, PlayStation 3, Virtual Console, Wii | No Comments »

DOWNLOAD UPDATE: January 23, 2008 Edition

By Shaun Hatton - January 23rd, 2008

Undertow is the deal of the week.

This week is arguably more exciting than last in terms of downloadable content available for our favourite consoles. Wii finally busts out Super Street Fighter II on the Virtual Console while Xbox 360 owners are getting the chance to get the critically-acclaimed Undertow absolutely free.

Wii

Looks like Nintendo has gone from releasing three Virtual Console titles per week to just two. But that’s okay because this week’s releases are all about quality over quantity. Nintendo Entertainment System adventure puzzler Adventures of Lolo 2 makes its debut on the Shop Channel and is available for 500 Wii Points.

Read the rest »

Posted in Download Updates, LIVE, News, PlayStation 3, Virtual Console, Wii, Xbox 360 | No Comments »

Download Update: January 15, 2008 Edition

By Shaun Hatton & Michael Pugliese - January 15th, 2008

This Boogie Bunnies screenshot makes us long for a Wii Pikmin title.

With all three major console kings offering downloadable content on a weekly basis, what better way to report on it than include everything in one convenient post? Here we go for this week, starting with yesterday’s Wii Virtual Console updates.

Wii Virtual Console

After last week’s awesome update of Star Tropics (not to mention the week before’s Bubble Bobble), this week’s offering seems a little lacklustre. Hopefully next week brings a few more gems from the golden age of gaming.

Yesterday saw the release of Pac-Attack from the Super Nintendo. Pac-Man spin-offs tend to pale in comparison to the original title (with the exception of Pac-Man VS and Pac-Man Championship Edition, of course) and this is no exception. It’s a puzzle game, but with Pac-Man in it. More fun can be had eating the decades-old Pac-Man cereal from General Mills. Still, if you absolutely must play Pac-Attack, be prepared to drop 800 Wii Points for it. Remember: we love you and we warned you.

Read the rest »

Posted in Download Updates, News, PSP, PlayStation 3, Virtual Console, Xbox 360 | No Comments »