XBLA Today: A Rocky Battlezone Edition

This week on XBLA Today, we have two releases out on XBLA, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Battlezone. Battlezone is a classic game with new graphics, and Rocky and Bullwinkle is a mini-game fest. I tried them both out in their trial versions, and one game got me a few funny looks. Read on to find out which one (Hint: Motion Controls).

Rocky and Bullwinkle is a straight up party game, set up into what the game calls “shows”. In the trial, you had 4 minigames, and then a boss match, which was just a certain type of mini game with slightly more difficulty. This was repeated a few times, with different mini-games, adn the same boss-game. Before each mini-game, it gives you a hint on the screen how to win it, but not specific instructions, and that is half of the fun. Although, after a bit of time, I’m sure you would know what each game needed. A good chunk of the games use the vision camera, if you choose to, and it works fairly well. You need to make sure your lighting is good though, otherwise you will just flail about to no avail (as I did).

Hit the jump to continue….

In the end, Rocky and Bullwinkle seems like a fun game, with decent humor, and not bad mini-games. However, I am not sure whether the 800 point price tag may be a bit to high. It is worth a look by the vision cam people to find another use for their little used accessory. The full game does supposedly have a lot more mini-games, with more difficulty as well. Other customization options seem to be available after purchase too. The 800 point price tag and its worth is at this point, is debatable either way.

Battlezone is the classic tank game from Atari that you all (well some of you) remember. It has both the classic, and updated graphics mode, like the other Atari classic games, with the same menu system too (really guys?). The only way you would want to play it is the updated mode of course. There is an online deathmatch, team deathmatch, and capture the flag mode for an added value as well. However, the controls and speed of the game are the same as ever, and these days, it seems a little, shall we say, slow. The demo is also very, very short, but with such simplistic gameplay, you can get all you need out of it.

Battlezone is a fun game for me, but only for 5 minutes, and that may be nostalgia. I would think that even with the 400 point price tag, this game may only be for the people that played the original, to relive some good memories. Either way, go ahead, try out the demos for both Battlezone, and Rocky and Bullwinkle. Can’t hurt. After all, the demos are free, and hopefully you have some free time. Let us know if you agree, disagree, or even if you just don’t care. See you next week on XBLA Today.