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Undertow pulls in upcoming XBLA lineup

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

A spate of puzzlers join THQ's foray into downloadable games in the "coming weeks"; Doritos Challenge demos now available.

Although Microsoft typically reveals its weekly Wednesday addition to Xbox Live Arcade on Mondays, the publisher will occasionally tip its hand on the upcoming lineup. Today, Microsoft did just that, revealing seven more games that will be added to Xbox Live "in the coming weeks."

Undertow, the Unreal Engine III-powered action game announced in April, will soon be swimming to Xbox Live. In addition to a 15-level single-player campaign, the game includes competitive multiplayer for up to 16 players, as well as two-player co-op play.

Microsoft has a pair of gravity-influenced puzzlers slated for imminent arrival. N+, which began as an Adobe Flash freeware game according to its developer, Metanet Software, is an action platformer in which players attempt to escape a level before time runs out. The game includes multiplayer modes and a level editor. In Sierra Online's Switchball, players guide a ball through labyrinthine courses. To add a layer of complexity, the ball can be morphed into various forms to change how it interacts with the different levels.

For those who prefer their puzzles of the pen-and-paper variety, InterServ International is creating Word Puzzle, a word-search style game that offers single-player and online competitive modes. Lastly on the puzzle tip, Activision will release Shrek-N-Roll, which will sport more than 20 characters inspired by DreamWorks' family-friendly film franchise. The publisher did not reveal further details on the game.

As noted last week, THQ will be entering the downloadable console-game market with SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam, as well as Screwjumper. In Underpants Slam, players raid Krusty Krab's kitchen, the Flying Dutchman's ship, and an armory in Atlantis in search for 99 pairs of elusive underpants. In Screwjumper, players nosedive into mine shafts to destroy alien mining gear in both single- and multiplayer modes.

Microsoft also announced today that demos for the Doritos Unlock Xbox Challenge are available for download. From now until November 18, Xbox 360 owners can play the user-inspired demos and then vote for their favorite at Doritos' Web site. The winning demo will be fleshed out into a full XBLA game.

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.

32 comments
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kingcole225
kingcole225

if n+ is n way of the ninja i am so happy that god has shown his light down on the people who made that (im not religious) it better be in 3-d i played that game forever two years ago and it was amazin and then i heard that there was a 3-d edition

arc_salvo
arc_salvo

More X-box live arcade games is always good new for me. I like how indie games are giving us new experiences on both PC's and next-gen consoles. I'm just waiting for an indie developer or 4 to realize how little supply there is for the huge demand for open-ended CRPG's in the vein of the old Fallout series and Baldur's Gate. Since the big name developers seem to be content to give us maybe 1 or 2 western style nonlinear story-driven RPG's a -year-, I'd like to see the indie developers step up and fill that void.

jknight5422
jknight5422

"I have Switchball for computer, it's really good. It's like Marble Blast: Ultra, but more intricate and challenging." ---shrink45 I didn't think Marble Blast was easy. I wasn't able to complete the last one or two maps on the hardest mode it had, very frustrating. I'm starting to wonder where I will muster up the disk space on my 20G drive to store all the XBLA games I want to get...

ashuncc2
ashuncc2

Undertow looked cool in an old issue of OXM. I will have to check out XBLA this week.

shrink45
shrink45

I have Switchball for computer, it's really good. It's like Marble Blast: Ultra, but more intricate and challenging.

zgreenwell
zgreenwell

I played N a lot on the computer. I will probably download it as soon as it is out.

Marduk92
Marduk92

Wasn't War Words supposed to come out already? Don't tell me its been delayed, I Need This Game!

jmartin1016
jmartin1016

What ever happened to Castle Crashers? It was supposed to come out 2Q 2007. That was over like 5 months ago.

Scooter540
Scooter540

It's about time Undertow made it in.I've been wanting this game for months.

David_Kniffin
David_Kniffin

These games seem really cool but I want Omega 5 the most!

bigdaddyjay78
bigdaddyjay78

Im still waiting on more old school Arcade games like the xmen or simpsons. And when the hell is Metal slug going to come out on here. Narc would be another one. Come on MS start relaseing some real arcade games.

Ryo_Kensen
Ryo_Kensen

Underpants Slam just sounds kind of disturbing.

gandalf_storm
gandalf_storm

nevermind this tot, where the hell is sensible soccer, cmon MS its finished so codemasters say, whats the problem ?

judge__judy
judge__judy

Sounds alright. I do think arcade games are too expensive though when you compare the development costs to full games. I'd be more into arcade games if they slashed the price in half or less.

jcloverboy
jcloverboy

Undertow looks great. Would still love to see Simpsons and X-Men Arcade games on XBLA.

Tamashii-sosaku
Tamashii-sosaku

No mention of Omega Five which is a little dissapointing. Switch ball sounds pretty good and Undertow looks like an interesting mix between a Geometry Wars style shooter and a team vs team Battlefield type game. The Dorito's thing sounds interesting as well. I wonder when we're going to get to see Dishwasher Samurai. That game looked awesome.

MasterChief725
MasterChief725

That is awesome, and on the unreal III engine too? excellent

dn3datomiced
dn3datomiced

Those sound like some neat games, but this Doritos thing has me intrigued....

nikefreak
nikefreak

Yeah, I love Live Arcade... Has quickly become one of my favorite things about the 360. Sooo many cool little games, that might not have been made otherwise, since they arent big-budget titles, but are still great games in their own right. And with being able to trial them all before buying, it makes it just that much more a no-brainer.

lamprey263
lamprey263

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

lamprey263
lamprey263

I'm becoming such a whore for XBLA games, I can't wait for Rez when it comes out. I recommend Every Extend Extra Extreme (E4) or Boom Boom Rocket if you haven't already tried them. Anyhow, I hope one of these new games will be great.

darthgigit
darthgigit

I can not wait for undertow, it looks so awsome.

jdknight21
jdknight21

Nice, I love puzzlers of all variety.

Dreski83
Dreski83

man... I wsa really hoping my idea would make it in the Doritos thing... so much for that :(

latinchemist
latinchemist

The N game! The biggest time waster at Barr Labs of 2005!

DonutTrooper
DonutTrooper

It seems there's a two-sided front between MS and Sony. Which can have the best professional games and the best Indie games. Perhaps if one had dominance in a category and vice versa everyone could be happy.

Farzan777
Farzan777

Glad to see more XBLA titles are coming

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