Monty Mole
Member
It's really tough to choose as every year has had games that I've loved to bits.
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Summer of Arcade 2008 vs 2009 vs 2010
- Thread starter LevityNYC
- Start date
Phoenix Fang
Banned
1200 price point across all the games made 2010 the weakest by default.
I think last year was the best one, Trials HD is probably the best Live Arcade game and Shadow Complex and Splosion Man were great as well. I haven't bought any of this year's games yet (I'll get them on Deals of the Week as usual), but I'm only interested inLara Croft and Limbo. The most important thing though is overall Live Arcade gamer are not worse than they used to be, this week is Shank and Scott Pilgrim, later in this year will see Comic Jumper and maybe finally Fez (Limbo also seemed to take forever to make) and others, so there's still a lot of great content to come. Summer of Arcade is just a marketing campaign for selected games that were finished way beforehand (Castle Crashers waited 3 months after its completion... it's a shame it had so many networking problems, though I played it only offline).
JustAnotherOtaku
Member
I bought the most in 2008, but would say 2009 was best.
NemesisPrime
Banned
TBH I found all years about equal.
This year I have bought the most games, Limbo and MNC are just amazing and Tomb Raider and Hydro Thunder enjoyable and lot's of fun. Braid, Castle Crashers, Trials and Shadow Complex are all gems as well. All in all I think MS have done a great job with their Summer of with 2010 have the greatest spread of different types.
Sales wise probably not. The Summer of XBLA games have all done really great numbers because they get heavily promoted. Also EA doesn't decide if they can join Summer of or not, MS does.
This year I have bought the most games, Limbo and MNC are just amazing and Tomb Raider and Hydro Thunder enjoyable and lot's of fun. Braid, Castle Crashers, Trials and Shadow Complex are all gems as well. All in all I think MS have done a great job with their Summer of with 2010 have the greatest spread of different types.
Sales wise probably not. The Summer of XBLA games have all done really great numbers because they get heavily promoted. Also EA doesn't decide if they can join Summer of or not, MS does.
szaromir said:
Yep, I get it's all business but it seems like total nonsense to exclude so many people from playing the game at release for such petty reasons. I have both HD consoles and I'll just wait to play it on which ever one I prefer regardless of which one gets the exclusive release a few weeks before the other.
I think it's a little overrated by critics - I saw it cited as being superior to Shadow Complex, and I'm not feeling that as yet. However, I think the lack of love here is more that it's *underrated* by NeoGAF. I suspect that the stigma attached to the name - along with the fact that it's a bit different from the Tomb Raider titles - has led people to not consider trying it out.Decado said:
EA being EA has certainly some means to put pressure on Microsoft to put their game on Summer of Arcade, probably the most of all publishers. And pardon my ignorance, what's this heavily promotion for Summer of Arcade that people talk about other than a bit bigger presence on the dashboard and xbox.com? Does MS run ads for Summer of Arcade anywhere else?NemesisPrime said:
Monty Mole
Member
Read the OP.Phoenix Fang said:
Diablohead
Member
LevityNYC said:
All 3 years have been solid, no 800msp this year made me a sad pandy so I only felt like going for one game, I still want hydro thunder but I will either wait for a sale or once I get my hands on some more juicy allards again.
2008
Geometry Wars 2
Braid
Bionic Commando
Galaga Legions
Castle Crashers
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2
Trials HD
Splosion Main
TMMT
Shadow Complex
2010
Limbo
Hydro Thunder
Lara Croft
Castlevania
Monday Night Combat
When I think about the funfactor 2009>2008>2010
Bolded are the one I bought.
Geometry Wars 2
Braid
Bionic Commando
Galaga Legions
Castle Crashers
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2
Trials HD
Splosion Main
TMMT
Shadow Complex
2010
Limbo
Hydro Thunder
Lara Croft
Castlevania
Monday Night Combat
When I think about the funfactor 2009>2008>2010
Bolded are the one I bought.
McBradders
NeoGAF: my new HOME
It's a toss up between Trials HD and Monday Night Combat.
Each year had a pretty strong supporting cast, but I think Shadow Complex and Marvel Baby pushes it over. 2009 it is.
I FUCKING LOVE MONDAY NIGHT COMBAT! Sogooddotgif.
Each year had a pretty strong supporting cast, but I think Shadow Complex and Marvel Baby pushes it over. 2009 it is.
I FUCKING LOVE MONDAY NIGHT COMBAT! Sogooddotgif.
Monty Mole
Member
I tried the demo and really enjoyed it. Too busy with Alan Wake at the moment but I'll definitely get it at some point.mclem said:
2008 for me, Braid is one of my favorite games and I loved BC Rearmed, Castle Crashers and Geometry wars 2.
2009 was also a really solid year, even though I couldn't finish Trials and Splosion Man because of how frustrating they got for me.
2010 was meh. Limbo was ok but became boring 1/3 through the game. MNC and Lara Croft are decent but fail to keep my attention for more than 15 minutes.
2009 was also a really solid year, even though I couldn't finish Trials and Splosion Man because of how frustrating they got for me.
2010 was meh. Limbo was ok but became boring 1/3 through the game. MNC and Lara Croft are decent but fail to keep my attention for more than 15 minutes.
Somehow I've ended up with all 5 this year, even though I was only planing to buy Limbo and Lara Croft.
The demos put me over the top for Hydro Thunder and Monday Night Combat and then the rebate essentially made Castlevania free.
So whilst I was most exciting about 2009, this year has given me the most fun overall.
The demos put me over the top for Hydro Thunder and Monday Night Combat and then the rebate essentially made Castlevania free.
So whilst I was most exciting about 2009, this year has given me the most fun overall.
Phoenix Fang
Banned
Monty Mole said:
Read some of the other replies. DonÂ’t point mine out only.
All three line-ups are great but Limbo came out this year so I'll have to go with 2010, it's the best game on the service IMO and on my top 5 of this gen.
BTW MS should've replaced Lara Croft with Comic Jumper, though the game is awesome and the SP works just fine the lack of online co-op will hurt it's sales..also Comic Jumper is actually an exclusive title.
BTW MS should've replaced Lara Croft with Comic Jumper, though the game is awesome and the SP works just fine the lack of online co-op will hurt it's sales..also Comic Jumper is actually an exclusive title.
Feindflug said:All three line-ups are great but Limbo came out this year so I'll have to go with 2010, it's the best game on the service IMO and on my top 5 of this gen.
BTW MS should've replaced Lara Croft with Comic Jumper, though the game is awesome and the SP works just fine the lack of online co-op will hurt it's sales..also Comic Jumper is actually an exclusive title.
Comic Jumper probably isn't ready yet. Same for Fez which imo would have been the perfect way to end SoA.
Square Enix should have just removed Lara Croft from SOA - it is an excellent game and I thoroughly enjoy it (my favourite XBLA/PSN title in months if not years) but the lack of online co-op is laughable for a game build around co-op and demonstrated on multiple 360s. I suspect Microsoft will also steer clear of Square Enix for any future promotions too as the whole thing now looks like Square Enix holding back the feature for simultaneous release on all three platforms. Comic Jumper and Fez would have been fine additions; but I don't think they are done (though neither was Lara Croft).Feindflug said:All three line-ups are great but Limbo came out this year so I'll have to go with 2010, it's the best game on the service IMO and on my top 5 of this gen.
BTW MS should've replaced Lara Croft with Comic Jumper, though the game is awesome and the SP works just fine the lack of online co-op will hurt it's sales..also Comic Jumper is actually an exclusive title.
Rad- said:
I guess you're right, after all the game doesn't have a release date yet...the game looks awesome anyway.
Now that I think about it XBLA has a very interesting line-up for the rest of the year - we have Hydrophobia, Quake 3, Comic Jumper, maybe Fez and please god Beyond Good & Evil...sounds pretty good to me.
2008 (bought all 5) > 2009 (bought 3) > 2010 (bought all 5)
My favorite XBLA game came out in 2009 (Trials HD), but 2008 was stellar all around outside of Galaga. And Galaga wasn't bad, merely mediocre and outshined by GW2. 2009 had a stinker (TMNT) and a fighting game, which is a genre I don't care for.
The jury is still out on 2010, but I don't think it'll dethrone prior years. I didn't plan on buying all five, but MNC turned out more fun than I expected. With Lara getting excellent reviews, and seeming like the type of game I'd like, I couldn't pass that up. That was 4/5, so I picked up Castlevania since it was essentially free at that point.
The fact I'm getting all my points off Amazon lately for $16.54 for 1600 takes some of the sting out of the pricing this year. $50 for all five games basically. Seems worth it to me.
My favorite XBLA game came out in 2009 (Trials HD), but 2008 was stellar all around outside of Galaga. And Galaga wasn't bad, merely mediocre and outshined by GW2. 2009 had a stinker (TMNT) and a fighting game, which is a genre I don't care for.
The jury is still out on 2010, but I don't think it'll dethrone prior years. I didn't plan on buying all five, but MNC turned out more fun than I expected. With Lara getting excellent reviews, and seeming like the type of game I'd like, I couldn't pass that up. That was 4/5, so I picked up Castlevania since it was essentially free at that point.
The fact I'm getting all my points off Amazon lately for $16.54 for 1600 takes some of the sting out of the pricing this year. $50 for all five games basically. Seems worth it to me.
the nightman cometh
Member
If Castlevania was not multiplayer focused and was a real 2D Castlevania I probably would have said this year is the best but without that I'd have to go with 2008.
GitarooMan
Member
It's amazing to me what short shrift Hydro Thunder tends to get here. That game is amazing and more than worth 15 dollars.
2008 easily.
Geometry Wars 2
Super addective and fun gameplay.
Braid
THE greatest downloadable game ever.
Bionic Commando
THE 2nd greatest.
Castle Crashers
A great fun with the coop mode.
2009 was a stellar though. Trials HD, SC and Splosion man were awesome. 2010, however, was a big disappointment for me. Non of the games looked interesting to me, and the feedback on them wasn't so hot either.
Geometry Wars 2
Super addective and fun gameplay.
Braid
THE greatest downloadable game ever.
Bionic Commando
THE 2nd greatest.
Castle Crashers
A great fun with the coop mode.
2009 was a stellar though. Trials HD, SC and Splosion man were awesome. 2010, however, was a big disappointment for me. Non of the games looked interesting to me, and the feedback on them wasn't so hot either.
Zeouterlimits
Member
Agreed 100%Gomu Gomu said:
Princess Skittles
Prince's's 'Skittle's
2008 hands down, some of the best downloadable games in Geometry Wars 2, Bionic Commando: Rearmed, Castle Crashers and to a lesser extent, Braid and Galaga Legions.
2009 was okay, personally not too into Marvel vs. Capcom or Trials HD and TMNT was only okay.. but Shadow Complex and 'Splosion Man are amazing.
2010? Very, very, very weak lineup. Nothing to buy here for me.
2009 was okay, personally not too into Marvel vs. Capcom or Trials HD and TMNT was only okay.. but Shadow Complex and 'Splosion Man are amazing.
2010? Very, very, very weak lineup. Nothing to buy here for me.
2008
Geometry Wars 2 -Meh, don't care.
Braid - Won it, enjoyed it, happy, but not much of a lasting concern for me.
Bionic Commando - Very much enjoyed, 2p was awesome, a fantastic remake.
Galaga Legions - I like, but it didn't grab me as much as it could. Pretty cool though!
Castle Crashers - THE DEFINITIVE SoA GAME. Set the tone for the event single handedly.
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2 - I enjoyed this more before everyone exploited it's "brokn'ness"
Trials HD - Didn't care much. Well put together, but not for me at all.
Splosion Main - Fun, but excessive? I didn't enjoy as much as I hoped.
TMMT - Great fun when it worked online. Also lacked lasting appeal, but I rather liked it.
Shadow Complex - Great while it lasted, but I found the lead chara forgettable.
2010
Limbo - It's retooled Braid! XD Too many other titles I want instead.
Hydro Thunder - This felt great. I like what they did. But Scott pilgrim is arnd the corner...
Lara Croft - Amazingly solid. I still think I'll buy this B4 the 31st.
Castlevania - THANK YOU! A bit of a dream game for me this is a treat for this yrs SoA.
Monday Night Combat - The big winner of '10. So different. So Satsifying!
(Bolds are purchased/obtained, Italic is pending, but most likely purchased soon.)
The biggest enemy this year, for me, is the fact there are SO MANY OTHER AWESOME GAMES coming out soon. No way Limbo or HT would equal the awesome of co-op-packin' brawlers for me, so that really lowered my care for it.
SoA really is about new, smaller developers getting to put their awesome creations on a pedestal, and achieve greatness, so I find Castle Crashers and MNC to be my top winners. 'Splosion man didn't wow me as much as I'd like, but it DOES have me hyped for Comic Jumper.
2010 wins for me, just because of the fact that it feels like, overall, these games are much more substantial, full games, on a whole. Seperately, barely anything can beat Castle Crashers, however. If CC has a better arena mode, I'd love it even more.
MNC and CV:HoD make up one of the best Back-2-Back SoA weeks ever for me, however. They both exceeded my expectation based off initial impressions, and both feel like perfect things to just enjoy with good friends. None of the other SoA games since CC made me want to just put HOURS and HOURS into them, as these 2 have done.
So I'm very happy with each year. They all have done a great job at being windows to the state of XBLA at the time. I feel much higher overall production value on the service now, and 5 dollars more, with titles that make retail boxed games blush, doesn't both me on the things I really want.
And with Scott Pilgrim, Shank, and Plants VS Zombies coming so very soon... and the hope for KoF 2002UM, Skystage, Clash of Heroes, Comic Jumper, and Raskulls, just to name a few... XBLA has just grown into an incredibly satisfying service.
Geometry Wars 2 -Meh, don't care.
Braid - Won it, enjoyed it, happy, but not much of a lasting concern for me.
Bionic Commando - Very much enjoyed, 2p was awesome, a fantastic remake.
Galaga Legions - I like, but it didn't grab me as much as it could. Pretty cool though!
Castle Crashers - THE DEFINITIVE SoA GAME. Set the tone for the event single handedly.
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2 - I enjoyed this more before everyone exploited it's "brokn'ness"
Trials HD - Didn't care much. Well put together, but not for me at all.
Splosion Main - Fun, but excessive? I didn't enjoy as much as I hoped.
TMMT - Great fun when it worked online. Also lacked lasting appeal, but I rather liked it.
Shadow Complex - Great while it lasted, but I found the lead chara forgettable.
2010
Limbo - It's retooled Braid! XD Too many other titles I want instead.
Hydro Thunder - This felt great. I like what they did. But Scott pilgrim is arnd the corner...
Lara Croft - Amazingly solid. I still think I'll buy this B4 the 31st.
Castlevania - THANK YOU! A bit of a dream game for me this is a treat for this yrs SoA.
Monday Night Combat - The big winner of '10. So different. So Satsifying!
(Bolds are purchased/obtained, Italic is pending, but most likely purchased soon.)
The biggest enemy this year, for me, is the fact there are SO MANY OTHER AWESOME GAMES coming out soon. No way Limbo or HT would equal the awesome of co-op-packin' brawlers for me, so that really lowered my care for it.
SoA really is about new, smaller developers getting to put their awesome creations on a pedestal, and achieve greatness, so I find Castle Crashers and MNC to be my top winners. 'Splosion man didn't wow me as much as I'd like, but it DOES have me hyped for Comic Jumper.
2010 wins for me, just because of the fact that it feels like, overall, these games are much more substantial, full games, on a whole. Seperately, barely anything can beat Castle Crashers, however. If CC has a better arena mode, I'd love it even more.
MNC and CV:HoD make up one of the best Back-2-Back SoA weeks ever for me, however. They both exceeded my expectation based off initial impressions, and both feel like perfect things to just enjoy with good friends. None of the other SoA games since CC made me want to just put HOURS and HOURS into them, as these 2 have done.
So I'm very happy with each year. They all have done a great job at being windows to the state of XBLA at the time. I feel much higher overall production value on the service now, and 5 dollars more, with titles that make retail boxed games blush, doesn't both me on the things I really want.
And with Scott Pilgrim, Shank, and Plants VS Zombies coming so very soon... and the hope for KoF 2002UM, Skystage, Clash of Heroes, Comic Jumper, and Raskulls, just to name a few... XBLA has just grown into an incredibly satisfying service.
Relaxed Muscle
Member
Limbo is an amazing experience.
Hydro thunder: Hurricane is a very fun arcade, maybe one of the best in the service.
Lara Croft is a very well designed game, top notch production values and a great surprise.
Monday Night Combat is a great multiplayer game that with some adjustments on some classes could be a top tier game in the service.
The only problem with 2010 were the prices, the lineup was full of quality titles.
Hydro thunder: Hurricane is a very fun arcade, maybe one of the best in the service.
Lara Croft is a very well designed game, top notch production values and a great surprise.
Monday Night Combat is a great multiplayer game that with some adjustments on some classes could be a top tier game in the service.
The only problem with 2010 were the prices, the lineup was full of quality titles.
2009 easily
2008
Geometry Wars 2
Braid
Bionic Commando
Galaga Legions
Castle Crashers
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2
Trials HD
Splosion Main
TMMT
Shadow Complex
2010
Limbo
Hydro Thunder
Lara Croft
Castlevania
Monday Night Combat
kinda regret the TMMT purchase
but i basically got it for free
2008
Geometry Wars 2
Braid
Bionic Commando
Galaga Legions
Castle Crashers
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2
Trials HD
Splosion Main
TMMT
Shadow Complex
2010
Limbo
Hydro Thunder
Lara Croft
Castlevania
Monday Night Combat
kinda regret the TMMT purchase
but i basically got it for free
LocoMrPollock
Banned
Relaxed Muscle said:
This. Some peeps are delusional or just haven't got to play all of this years games yet.
Spirit of Jazz
Banned
I didn't think I'd be saying this but 2010 was the year I was least hyped for and also the only year in which I bought everything; the only let-down for me being Limbo. It's probably been the best year as a total package with Castlevania, MNC, Lara Croft, and Hydrothunder all being great titles. Castlevania in particular was a shocker, one of my favourite games on the service.
Braid is still the best live title in my opinion though.
Braid is still the best live title in my opinion though.
2008
Geometry Wars 2
Braid
Bionic Commando
Galaga Legions
Castle Crashers
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2
Trials HD
Splosion Main
TMMT
Shadow Complex
2010
Limbo
Hydro Thunder
Lara Croft
Castlevania
Monday Night Combat
So if I'm going by voting with my wallet, 2009 was easily the best lineup. If I actually take a hard look at each game that was available though, it gets a little muddy.
For the 2008 lineup, the only title that doesn't seem to hold up all that well would be galaga legions. Even though I didn't buy bionic commando, it tends to be a pretty highly regarded game.
For the 2009 lineup, TMNT is definitely a letdown. Just like previous posters have said, I basically got it for free, so I don't feel too bad about that purchase. MvC2 is a bit of an oddity though. It's one of those love it or hate it games that can't really earn an objective rating.
For 2010 it seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. There is one stand out title in Limbo, a nostalgia game in Hydro Thunder, and others with various levels of interest / issues. I've tried the MNC demo and found it very fun, but the fear of it losing value when the online community disappears when CoD14: The Search for Spock comes out makes me a bit leery of dropping 15 bucks on it.
Overall I think 2008 / 2009 are pretty close to a dead heat for the quality of games released, and mostly appropriate pricing. 2010 lineup was definitely damaged severely by the onslaught of 15 dollar titles.
Geometry Wars 2
Braid
Bionic Commando
Galaga Legions
Castle Crashers
2009
Marvel vs Capcom 2
Trials HD
Splosion Main
TMMT
Shadow Complex
2010
Limbo
Hydro Thunder
Lara Croft
Castlevania
Monday Night Combat
So if I'm going by voting with my wallet, 2009 was easily the best lineup. If I actually take a hard look at each game that was available though, it gets a little muddy.
For the 2008 lineup, the only title that doesn't seem to hold up all that well would be galaga legions. Even though I didn't buy bionic commando, it tends to be a pretty highly regarded game.
For the 2009 lineup, TMNT is definitely a letdown. Just like previous posters have said, I basically got it for free, so I don't feel too bad about that purchase. MvC2 is a bit of an oddity though. It's one of those love it or hate it games that can't really earn an objective rating.
For 2010 it seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. There is one stand out title in Limbo, a nostalgia game in Hydro Thunder, and others with various levels of interest / issues. I've tried the MNC demo and found it very fun, but the fear of it losing value when the online community disappears when CoD14: The Search for Spock comes out makes me a bit leery of dropping 15 bucks on it.
Overall I think 2008 / 2009 are pretty close to a dead heat for the quality of games released, and mostly appropriate pricing. 2010 lineup was definitely damaged severely by the onslaught of 15 dollar titles.
NemesisPrime
Banned
Princess Skittles said:
Time to look for a new hobby.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
MNC and Limbo can stand with the best of the 08 and 09 Summer of Arcade titles, IMHO.
2008, bought all 5 and enjoyed them all immensely, they read like a list of the best games on the service. Especially Galaga Legions, suck it haters.
2009, bought 4 out of 5 but regretted MvC2 and found Shadow Complex to be farrrrr overrated (the map on this game has the worst flow in a Metvania since Harmony of Dissonance and the bosses are all fuckin' balls). Splosion Man was good fun and Trials HD was pretty godly.
2010, I've only bought 2 but those 2 have been pretty awesome, I've put like a kerjillion hours into Monday Night Combat already and Hydro Thunder kept me occupied for a good while. Lara Croft seemed pretty awesome but I'll wait for the co-op patch. Waiting for a sale on Limbo. Castlevania I would have probably enjoyed but I didn't really have the money to spare on day 1, and that's the type of game that's totally worthless after the first week; your friends list will have either moved on or won't want to babysit you while you play catch-up. Still, if I weren't short on money I'm sure I would have bought everything and only really regretted Limbo a little.
So I'd say 08>10>09.
2009, bought 4 out of 5 but regretted MvC2 and found Shadow Complex to be farrrrr overrated (the map on this game has the worst flow in a Metvania since Harmony of Dissonance and the bosses are all fuckin' balls). Splosion Man was good fun and Trials HD was pretty godly.
2010, I've only bought 2 but those 2 have been pretty awesome, I've put like a kerjillion hours into Monday Night Combat already and Hydro Thunder kept me occupied for a good while. Lara Croft seemed pretty awesome but I'll wait for the co-op patch. Waiting for a sale on Limbo. Castlevania I would have probably enjoyed but I didn't really have the money to spare on day 1, and that's the type of game that's totally worthless after the first week; your friends list will have either moved on or won't want to babysit you while you play catch-up. Still, if I weren't short on money I'm sure I would have bought everything and only really regretted Limbo a little.
So I'd say 08>10>09.