XBLA Today! Another 3-pack Edition

Now that you are here let me welcome you to this weeks edition of XBLA Today where we take on some shovelwa… I mean three more games for the Xbox Live Arcade. These three lovely new arrivals are MLB Stickball, Beat’n Groovy, and Shadow Assault (Tenchu). And here we go!

First off I’m going to take on this little game they are calling Beat’n Groovy. First off let me say that I am not orginally a fan of this type of rhythm game, so take my review as such. I have to come to believe that most rhythm games are best with a extra controller, sadly. Anyways, the game does an okay job of being a rhythm game, but not a great one. Done more in the style of a Dance Dance Revolution for your fingers than Guitar Hero, it didn’t do anything for me at all. This goes with Go! Go! Break Steady as a very okay, pass it by rhythm game for the XBLA.

MLB Stickball is an attempt to create a baseball game that plays like they used to play, not overly complicated, just fun baseball for everyone. It looks decent, although the large heads are a little awkward, and plays decent too. It is definatley not for the hardcore baseball fans, and not earining the bases as they are granted automatically, is going to not help it sell a lot personally. The people who haven’t played any baseball games since the NES, or the casual players, this may work out. Otherwise, it’s a skip as well.

Shadow Assault/Tenchu is probably the best release of the week, but from what I’ve said so far, that isn’t saying much.  It is a Tenchu game, done with a puzzle, almost Bomberman type gameplay. It works, but I already have Bomberman, and as I’m a ninja, I just want to use my sword, not go find a bomb, or a spring(what kind of ninja weapon is a giant spring, this isn’t a cartoon), set it up in the way of the bad guys, then hide until they walk over it. It is fun, but not fun enough for me. The best part is the sneaking, trying to hide from the bad guys around the corners, and following behind them until they turn and going the other way. It is the best of the week, but still okay.

So another week, three games, one kind of worth it. But, some of these games may appeal to others, or maybe even you, so try out all the demos, and let us know what you think! Tune in next time, when maybe I’ll find one I like!