This top-down, dual-stick shooter retains the arcadey appeal of the genre, while supporting its frenzied action with sharp visuals and impressive effects. Solo pilots are in for an alien-annihilating blast, but co-op world-savers may get lost in the chaos before finishing this fight.

Loved
Thumbs At the Ready:0 Day's action is fast, fun, and often frantic. There's always lots happening on-screen, and only razor-sharp reflexes will keep your craft from quickly becoming a plummeting ball of fire. Assisting your fight against Earth's invaders are multiple ships, power-ups, and abilities. An effective nitro boost will shoot you out of harm's way, while screen-stretching explosive blasts-that'd crane the necks of Mercenaries' pyro-loving protagonists-envelope bigger enemies in a tidal wave of flames. Additionally, expected genre power-ups such as three-way spray guns and flame throwers that deliver death from both ends of your ship, round out your alien-whuppin' arsenal. The swift action is also nicely managed by intuitive controls and a simple, clean HUD display.

Aliens Attack!: Evocative of over-the-top extraterrestrial invasion films like Independence Day and Minority Report, 0 Day pays as much attention to its presentation as its gameplay. Taking place over seven days and 20+ missions, the story sees you fighting enormous enemies in real-world cities. Where similar titles offer repetitive starry space backdrops and uninspired enemies, 0 Day pits players against massive metallic menaces erupting from the Hudson River and mechanical limb-flailing monsters that dwarf Manhattan's skyscrapers.

Hated
Chaotic Co-opWhile 0 Day seems tailor made for a kick-ass co-op experience, its up-to-4-player mode suffers from being way too busy. Between the enemies, explosions, allies, and power-ups, there's already a bit much crowding the screen during solo play. But add more trigger-happy players to the mix, and navigating the clutter becomes maddening. Competitive mutli-player modes, while similarly dizzying, do fare a bit better here. If you can manage to tune out some of the peripheral chaos, there's some fun to be had while battling with or against buddies, but more often than not I found myself flying solo.

0 Day doesn't stray too far from what makes the dual-stick shooter genre tick. But addictive action and some interesting abilities, complemented by a presentation ripped right from a Roland Emmerich flick, allow it to rise above the me-too competition. It gets a little crazy when the action ramps up during multi-and occasionally solo-play, but quick-reflexed gamers shouldn't have a problem saving the planet from its latest alien threat.

0 Day: Attack on Earth was developed by GULTI and published by Square Enix for Xbox Live Arcade on December 23th. Retails for 1200 Microsoft Points. A code to download the game was provided by the publisher for reviewing purposes. Completed the game's campaign on medium difficulty and participated in several online multi-player matches.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

The Behemoth's Castle Crashers is still one of the best things going on Xbox Live Arcade, and an excellent introduction to the service for folks who found a shiny new Xbox 360 under their Xmas tree this year. It's a bargain at 1200 Microsoft points, but at 560, or $7, it's simply too good to pass up. If you've yet to partake in the frantic 2D fighting action, now would be a good time. You have until the clock strikes midnight.

Purchase Castle Crashers On The Internets [Xbox.com via Major Nelson's Twitter]

These gameplay trailers give you a good look at just how glossy the plastic soldiers are on the battlefield. It definitely helps remind you that these are supposedly toys instead of real people you're blowing up. You know, in case you missed the giant toy box in the hazy background.

The thing I like is where you can sometimes see a child's bedroom in the background. I wonder why it's not like that all the time — like in levels where there's an actual sky instead. No chance in hell my parents would ever let me take a bunch of toy soldiers outsides; I'd lose 'em faster than you could blink.

So, if you've been holding out on even one of the add-ons because 800 Points is too high a price, today you officially don't have any excuses. Tomorrow, you might, though. Reports say this sale is a Today Only deal. However, said report was filed yesterday morning and the sale price still remains on Xbox Live as of today.

UPDATE: Looks like the sale is over, now. Prices are back up to 800.

To date, I think the only add-on I've actually shelled out for (at full price no less) is Knothole Island in Fable II. Because — you guessed it — I chose money over my dog at the end of the game so I could buy Castle Fairfax. Vanity, thy name is sex change side quest!

Check out the sale here.

Holiday Deal Fallout 3 [Burn360]

The Pieces Interactive puzzle game will join Alien Breed Evolution Episode 1 on Xbox Live Arcade this week. Both games will set you back 800 Microsoft Points or $10-ish in U.S. dollars and both feature multiplayer action to make those points worth the spend. For additional, far more informative details, probably best to visit the official presence of each on Xbox.com.

Puzzlegeddon & Alien Breed Evolution [Xbox.com]

Microsoft generally isn't the habit of laying out several weeks worth of Xbox Live releases in one fell swoop, so we can assume that the company is going out of town for the holidays, and this is the note they are leaving on the really big fridge, containing all we need to know about the coming weeks.

First off, today sees the addition of holiday gear and tokidoki wear on the Avatar Marketplace, with tons of new items to spend your discretionary Microsoft points on. Be sure to save some for Christmas Eve, however, when Disney Classics wear shows up, filling your friends list with pretty princesses.

The Xbox Live Deal of the Week program continues throughout the month, starting with the Lips: Coldplay Track Pack (200 Microsoft points) next week, followed by Shadow Complex (800 points) and The Maw (400 points).

The Games on Demand service expands by several titles this month, with Crackdown and Disney's Bolt already available, and Viva Piñata: Party Animals, Lost Planet Colonies Edition and Devil May Cry 4, and Gears of War coming over the next three weeks.

*pause for breath*

Xbox Live Arcade gets two new additions over the course of the next two weeks, with Alien Breed Evolution Episode 1 dropping on the 16th (800 points) and the Trails HD Big Pack adding 35 new racing and skill tracks to the game on the 23rd.

On top of all that, December 18th through the 31st, Microsoft will be holding one-day sales on select Xbox Live Marketplace items, including games, movies, add-ons, and themes, counting down to the New Year with savings, as is tradition.

As for me, I'm driving to Florida to hang out with my girlfriend's mother and grandmother. Not really all that interesting, but since we were sharing.

It sounds like a jewel-matching RPG made in heaven. Players taken on the role of Rivel, a summoner traveling through the Aldemona Wood who becomes embroiled in an evil plot that could change the face of the world forever. Instead of charging into battle himself, Rivel takes on the creatures of the woods by summoning mythical beasts to fight in his stead in battles that combine the gameplay of Bejeweled Twist with hit point meters and damaging special abilities.

Did the combined effort of two developers are at the top of their games result in a stronger whole, or does all of that spinning throw Gyromancer off-balance?

Loved
Spinning Your Fate: Gyromancer's core game mechanic is a highly satisfying melding of Bejeweled Twist's gameplay with RPG conventions such as hit points and special powers. You choose one of three monsters in your party, each with a color affinity that has strength and weaknesses depending on the color of the monster you are fighting. Both creatures have a number of powers that activate via gauges that steadily fill with each turn of the focus wheel. Making a match with your creature's colors speeds up power activation, while matching your opponent's colors halts the progress of their gauge. Activating a power places special gems on the game board that must be matched to set off damaging effects.

It starts off simply enough, ramping up as new creatures with new abilities join the fray. Soon a penalty is applied for twists that don't result in a match, ramping up the pressure significantly by lowering the amount of time it takes for your opponent's spells to go off. It's all timed well enough that once this limitation is imposed you're already thinking ahead to ensure you've got a match lined up. While luck does play a role in Gyromancer, pulling off a big win still takes a certain amount of skill. There are few feelings as satisfying as taking out a powerful foe with a creature that started the round on its last sliver of health. It's a feeling of accomplishment that can be quite intoxicating.

Gotta Catch Em' All: While the puzzle battles are the main draw of Gyromancer, you're only as good as the monsters you collect. Throughout the game you'll discover new, color-coded creatures to add to your collection, spending points earned in battle to upgrade them to their more evolved forms. You can only take three creatures into battle at a time, and with color affinities weakening or strengthening your pets depending on the foes they face, knowing which three to take into which level is a key element of the game's strategy.

While initially it seems as if the only difference between creatures is hit points and color, you'll soon discover differences in powers and behaviors that will have you mulling over your lineup for minutes at a time, trying to form a winning team. Some creatures offer greater power at a price, such as one gnat that locks pieces in place on a regular basis, making it difficult to activate the strong magic it possesses, while others carry a wealth of hit points but are slow to accumulate the power necessary to damage enemies. You'll develop favorites, and certain enemies will make you groan when their portrait appears on the versus screen. That kind of involvement and recognition is the hallmark of a good game, especially in this genre.

Hated
Spinning Around And Around: While battles in Gyromancer are involving and satisfying and the odd challenge levels you'll encounter will test your skills, there really isn't all that much to the game. It's an endless string of battles without any of the extra activities like spell research, crafting, and mount leveling that made Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords so very addictive.

Despite obvious influence from both both developers, Gyromancer comes across as more of a PopCap game than a Square Enix title. There's a heavy emphasis on the puzzle aspect of the game, while the roleplaying elements are limited to gaining levels and just a hint of exploration and problem-solving. What's missing is the depth that Square Enix normally brings to its RPG titles. There are no side quests or mini-games here; just 15-20 hours worth of fights with a little story drizzled over top.

Gyromancer will certainly satisfy a puzzle gamer and might even win over the odd Pokemon player, but RPG fans lured in by the Square Enix name will find themselves somewhat puzzled.

Gyromancer was developed by Square Enix and PopCap Games and published by Square Enix for Xbox Live Arcade and Windows PC on November 18th, 2009. Retails for 1200 Microsoft Points or $15. A copy of the game was procured via Steam for reviewing purposes. Completed PC version of the game's main story and dabbled a bit in the additional content.
Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

The three other titles going to XBLA are NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, The King of Fighters 2002: Ultimate Match, and KOF Sky Stage. Then SNK will finish The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match for summer 2010.

Siliconera says that, while the release windows have only been announced for Japan, in the past SNK's Xbox Live Arcade games have arrived in North America and Europe the same time they release in Japan, whether or not they're fully translated.

More Metal Slug And King of Fighters For Xbox Live Arcade [Siliconera]

Expect wonderful Qix-style gameplay, but with a modern day, Geometry Wars-like re-skin, for a mere 800 Microsoft Points. We're still hunting down additional details on Qix++ from Taito and its owner Square Enix, but expect lots of levels, plenty of line-drawing and frantic arcade gameplay. Looks like Taito is also readying a PSP version of Qix++, should you prefer to wait for that.

As a fan of the original and it's sequels, I'll be earmarking Points for Qix++. Will you?

Rare has definitely been hard at work tightening up the graphics o level three. The split screen shot looks a little darker on Xbox Live Arcade, but sharper and darker is better than bright and blurry, isn't it?

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While The Scourge Project will have its fair share of online multiplayer options, including capture the flag, deathmatch, team deathmatch, and frontiers, Tragnarion's focus for the game is story-drive co-op. The Scourge Project's co-op allows up to four players to step into the role of a key player in the story, with each experiencing the unfolding events from a unique point-of-view.

Set in the near future, the players are members of the elite mercenary group Echo Squad, hired by one corporation to steal technology from the evil Nogari Corporation. Stranded on Nogari Island soon after their insertion and surrounded on all sides, the players must accomplish their goals and work together to survive the experience.

Game director Omar Salleh voices Tragnarion's excitement over the upcoming release.

"We're really excited about the upcoming release of The Scourge Project. The whole team has put a huge amount of love and effort into creating something special and we're all eager to see action gamers the world over having a blast with the gameplay and soaking up the breathtaking visuals and soundscapes. Our unique blend of co-op action plus co-op storytelling, in which each playable character has a distinct perspective on the central plot, brings something new to the table and we're definitely looking forward to expanding on this and much more in the rest of the Scourge Saga."

And yes, it is a saga that Tragnarion is crafting. The first release will be composed of two episodes with four complete levels. Future releases more than likely rest on the success of the first.

The Scourge Project will be released on Steam later this month, with an Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network release slated for March of 2010. For more information, visit the official website.

Regardless of your feelings about Taito's arcade classic Qix, it appears that Microsoft will release the modern-day update to the game on Xbox Live Arcade next week. At least in Japan, Qix++ is scheduled for a December 9 release, priced at 800 Microsoft Points. We wouldn't be surprised to see North America and Europe and every other continent follow suit.

12 月の「Deal of the Week」他、最新のXbox LIVE マーケットプレース情報！ [Xbox Japan via GamerBytes]

European Xbox Community Manager Graeme "AceyBongos" Boyd says that the remake of the original Call of Duty will set Xbox 360 gamers back 1200 Microsoft Points. Interested gamers should first check to see if they purchased the Prestige Edition of Modern Warfare 2, as a download code should have been included in their copy of the deluxe package.

Keep an eye peeled for confirmation on non-European lands so that you too can enjoy a dozen Call of Duty Classic Achievements.

Just which console is still up in the air. The Australian rating simply says "multiplatform", while the Korean one was submitted by Sony Computer Entertainment.

Safest bet? Like the recent re-releases of Outrun and Virtual On, this will probably be a digital download, appearing on at least the PSN, but likely Xbox Live Arcade as well.

After Burner Climax was previously an arcade-only game, released in Japan in 2006. It was, and still is, a gorgeous game. Has very, very blue skies.

Hideki Kamiya, looks like you just got your wish.

After Burner Climax Coming To PSN? [GamerBytes]

The single-player PRPG will set Xbox Live subscribers back 1200 Microsoft Points, should they care to invest in Gyromancer. If not, your their other option is the ultra-popular Diner Dash, an 800 Microsoft Point download. It is officially touted as "the number one PC time-management game," which would explain its popularity.

Both Gyromancer and Diner Dash will be available via Xbox Live Marketplace on Wednesday. Both puzzling games are likely solid XBLA chasers for this holiday season's blockbuster offerings.

Announced back in June of this year, NBA Unrivaled is Tecmo's entry into the basketball video game market since 1992's Tecmo NBA Basketball, the basketball companion to Tecmo Super Bowl. Like Tecmo NBA, Unrivaled features cut scenes and exaggerated special moves, making it more NBA Jam and less NBA Live.

Unlike the game from 1992, however, NBA Unrivalled features all 30 NBA teams with top players from the latest rosters, full 5-on-5 arcade gameplay, and full 1080P HD support.

NBA Unrivaled drops on Wednesday on the Xbox Live Arcade in North America, Japan, and Europe, with a PlayStation Network version coming in the near future.

Developed by Cyclone Zero and published by Arc System Works, O-D Beat Drop is your standard block-dropping puzzle game with a rhythmic twist. Players drop their pieces to the beat of music, clearing the board with combos for big points. More than 100 stages of single player gameplay and four different difficulty levels should keep the solo gamer occupied, while cooperative and versus online play for up to four players should ensure you never play alone.

The niftiest feature of the game, however, is the ability to import your own music. The game will analyze your tunes and let you play along to a beat you might be more comfortable with. Once again it is time for my Infected Mushroom collection to thrive!

O-D Beat Drop will be available on Wednesday for 800 Microsoft points.

This week on Arcade: 0D Beat Drop [Major Nelson]

More than a half a million unique contestants competed in the 15 week beta season of 1 vs 100, and Microsoft wants even more to show up for round two. The second season of the game show kicks off on November 19th at 5:00 pm Pacific Time, with 1 vs 100 Extended Play. Extended Play features new themed trivia every week night, giving players a chance to capitalize on their strengths, giving them a better chance at being chosen as one of The Mob or perhaps even The One himself.

Nearly 2 million Microsoft points were given away as prizes during the first season, so you might want to keep an eye on the schedule this time around. Even if you aren't a big fan of trivia, you could win enough points to buy a game you really want to play. No pain, no gain?