XBLA Impressions - Puzzle Quest, E4, Tetris Splash

Writing full reviews of XBLA games seems pretty pointless since you can download demos of every single game for free that show you exactly what the full game is going to be like. So, rather than full reviews, we'll do short and sweet blog posts instead. First we have to play catch up from the last couple of weeks, though.

Tetris Splash - It is Tetris almost exactly like you remember it, only now with online play and achievements and leaderboards. Oh, and there are also fish swimming around for some reason. The core gameplay has been tweaked a bit to allow you to save a piece for later use, and it also uses the evil "infinite spin" mechanic that has plagued Tetris titles for the last several years. It is still very addictive, and very good, and very fun. For 800 pts, it is worth picking up.

Puzzle Quest - Puzzle Quest is pretty much the result of what happens when a puzzle game and an RPG meet up after a night of drinking. It is a puzzle game at its core, but rather than trying to get a high score, you are battling an enemy. You alternate turns with your opponent, trying to match three or more of the same color of pieces in order to earn magic so you can cast spells. You cast spells and attack and try to whittle their hit points down to zero, just like an RPG. As you play, your character gets stronger and learns new skills. Puzzle Quest sounds weird, but it is absolute addictive and completely fresh and original. It is a bit spendy, but at 1200 points it is less than the DS or PSP versions.

Every Extend Extra Extreme - E4 is a brightly colored, extremely stylish rhythm/puzzle/music game that has you setting off chain reactions in a field of relentlessly advancing "enemy" pieces. It is sort of weird in that you start a reaction and can then just sit back for 15-30 seconds while stuff explodes in pretty colors. The main appeal here is the slick looking presentation and cool music, but the game definitely isn't for everyone. Just one play through of one level can last more than an hour, and you can score points in the tens of trillions! Give it a try first before you spend your 800 points.