threevue

Although Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) service brings new and innovative indie titles like Undertow and Aegis Wing to gamers, it’s mostly a fan service medium. By that I mean that the most downloaded games are overwhelmingly ports of games that have been out on other platforms.

That being said, here are my six favorite XBLA ports:

6. Soul Calibur ($10)
Just released last week, Soul Calibur was the best fighting game ever when it came out in 1999, and it has actually aged really well. This version has all the characters and outfits already unlocked, which is both good and bad (I was looking forward to earning everything, but I like having everything from the get-go, too). The cheevers are pretty easy, and its graphics are really nice and crisp. And it doesn’t control like utter crap (the reason why Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting isn’t on this list).
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5. Lumines Live! ($10)
I loved this game on the PSP; it was by far my most-played title. I can still jam out on this one when the time is right, but sometimes I wish I never played it on the PSP so that it would be a whole new experience for me.
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4. DOOM ($5)
DOOM scared the hell out of me when I was a kid, and it still gets me sometimes. My wife knows to not bother me while I’m playing this, because I will jump out of my pants the moment she calls my name. $5 is a ridiculously awesome price, too.
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3. Rez ($10)
This is made by the same makers of Lumines Live!, and it was a very rare PS2 game before coming to the XBLA (it still averages $35 on eBay as of today). It is a hybrid music/shooter game that has a cheesy but alluring techno soundtrack. It’s hard to explain - just go try out the demo and see for yourself.
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2. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords ($15)
Previously released on the PSP and DS, I didn’t play this one until it came out on the XBLA. I ended up playing almost 300 matches last summer without blinking an eye. Easily the most addicting port to grace the XBLA. Don’t let the $15 price tag turn you away, this game has more to it than its portable brothers, which cost $30. (UPDATE: The price has been dropped to $10)
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1. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night ($10)
This game is deceptively deep, and an all-around great time. It has a bit of everything - action, RPG, exploration, homoerotic/emo protagonist, etc. I could go on and on. It takes a few minutes to get used to the game, especially if you’re new to the Castlevania franchise like me, but from what I hear this one is the best, and I kinda sorta have to agree.

Runners up:
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix ($10)
I think two puzzle games on one list is enough, and I didn’t spend that much time with this one. People seem to like it, though.

Ikaruga ($10)
This game is so damn hard that I didn’t even buy it. But from what I hear it’s pretty awesome.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game ($5)
A direct port of the game that kept me up at night as a kid, it didn’t age very well. It is worth a playthrough, just for the trip down memory lane. And if you think about it, you’ll probably put $5 worth of quarters in the actual arcade game to beat the damn thing (there are a TON of cheap shots), so $5 isn’t that bad of a price at all.