'Splosion Man & Limbo - Xbox Live Arcade

It’s only been until recently that I’ve begun looking into the different Xbox Live arcade games, and realising that there some massively enjoyable and entertaining titles on their such as Super Meat Boy and Toy Soldiers. I recently managed to get my managed to my hands the two award-winning arcade games ‘Splosion Man and Limbo.   

The first I’ll be reviewing is ‘Splosion man, developed by Twisted Pixel. The story follows the story of a science experiment “Splosion Man” as he attempts to escape the laboratory he was created in. The game follows the typical side scrolling, platform style with a suitable cartoon style visual. The player must navigate through 50 levels split into three chapters; the levels consist of altered difficulty from start to finish, relying on the player’s split second timing and navigation as you “splode” your character through different traps and puzzles, though the game eases you through the chapters with its comic humour and wit.  The single player can take up to 3 – 5 hours to complete depending how quickly you blast through the levels with an even more difficult “Hardcore Mode” to attempt afterwards or if you’re a perfectionist, finding all the collectible cakes on each stage and unlocking the avatar awards such as a ‘Splosion Man T-shirt.

An Example of the Side-scrolling Action of 'Splosion Man.

If the single player levels weren’t enough for you, the game generously offers a  2 - 4 player co- op mode, with another 50 levels ranging in difficulty depending on how many players are in your party. The multiplayer relies on team work as it does timing, though you may have you retry levels a fair few times, it an immensely fun experience for the players. If you’re not willing to pay the 800 Microsoft points for the game, play the trial and decide from there, but it’s worth every penny.

Now to the more solemn and sinister game “Limbo”, Limbo, developed by Playdead Studios. The game follows a young boy’s journey for his sister through the disturbing, perilous, black and white land of what can only be presumed to be “Limbo”.  The game is also a sidescroller but holds a massively different atmosphere compared to “’Splosion Man”. The game play consists working out complex puzzles ranging from having to climb a tree to snap a log off in order to cross a river ,avoid a giant spider or navigating a spinning room whilst avoiding falling into a buzz saw. Though the game appears to be a creepily innocent at first but you begin to notice there’s a fair amount of disturbing visual’s in the games background or the fate of the boy if you fall into many of the games traps.

One of the Disturbing Visuals from Limbo

The game offers up to 24 chapters, spanning through different environments such as rooftops, forest and factory. The game lasts up to  2-3 hours depending how carefully  you play through, or if you’re feeling even more adventurous ,trying to find the 10 collectible  eggs scattered throughout  the game or even the unlock able avatar awards such as a “Creature from Limbo” Avatar accessory. . Though the game only offers a campaign, it would be wrong to say the game has no replay ability, because it does, the mere details on the artistically designed environment are enough to draw any player back. Limbo will cost you 1200 Microsoft points,  a high price, but if you unsure, coax yourself by playing the trial.

Overall these two games prove that, if your fed up of the current retail  games and are feeling  the need to play something  arcade and  different , pick both or at least one of these games up for an enjoyable and fresh gaming experience.