Xbox Indies

[Atreides]

Ok so with the release of Aphelion this week, I realize there aren't a lot of places that have indie game reviews or list the good ones. I figured I'd list some of my favorites, if any has any to add feel free. There are definitely a bunch of great games on Indies, or at least quite a few that are worth checking out the demos of.

Great:

Ancient Trader (240) - A simple resource trading game with gorgeous old-fashioned map graphics. The rock-paper-scissors combat annoyed me because it seems the computer ALWAYS wins, but there is some depth here and it definitely is worth checking out for the graphics alone.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Aphelion (240) - The definitive xbox indie RPG, set in a sci-fi futuristic universe. Turn-based battles, ability trees, loads of craftable gear, new game+ with 3 unlockable difficulties, and even a coliseum and hidden optional uber boss-- probably 5-10 hours of content for only 3 bucks. Chapter 2 is supposedly coming soon.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen3_Web.jpg

Arkedo Series 03 - PIXEL! (240) - A cute platformer with great style. You can zoom in on certain blocks to uncover secret pixels that unlock doors and hidden items/bonuses.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Breath of Death VII (80) - A great oldschool turn-based RPG, except you play as undead in a funny parody of other RPGs. Well worth the dollar it costs.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen1_Web.jpg

Dungeon Adventure (240) - Roguelike dungeon crawler RPG, with your choice of ascii or graphical tileset. Explore, find loot, equip new gear. I get really addicted to this kind of gameplay so this is right up my alley.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen1_Web.jpg

Groov (80) - Think geometry wars meets rez. Every shot/explosion has its own sound effect, so as you kill it makes a techno song. Not as smooth or pretty as JoyJoy.
http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen1_Web.jpg

MagicalCube (400) - Marie is a busty witch who uses puzzle magic to defeat enemies. More or less the Puzzle Quest formula, defeat enemies, use money to buy new gear, although the puzzle mechanics are slightly different. Fun, but the steep price kinda makes you want to spring for Puzzle Quest or Gyromancer instead.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen4_Web.jpg

Miner Dig Deep (80) - This is a popular cell phone game. You have a huge underground area to mine and explore, sell treasures to upgrade your gear and buy ladders/elevators, to explore further. Fun if you like the freedom and collection type stuff.
http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen3_Web.jpg

Mithra Episode 1, Chapter 1 (240) - A point and click-style adventure game (you can throw items, but mostly it's "find X item to solve Y puzzle") with full voiceovers and nice graphics/production values.
http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen1_Web.jpg

Protect me Knight (240) - A 4 player action/tower defense game. Different classes, hack & slash gameplay, and tower defense. Really addictive. Listed as moonrunes "まもって騎士"
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen3_Web.jpg

radiangames JoyJoy (80) - A geometry wars clone, but with different weapons, charge attacks, and really pretty graphics.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen4_Web.jpg

Soul (80) - A sort of puzzle/adventure game where you guide your ball of light through the stylish environments without touching anything or getting eaten by monsters.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Soulcaster (240) - Top-down 8bit zelda-style adventure/rpg, but you have no direct attacks so you summon creatures to do your bidding. Knight, archer, there are 6 total, all upgradable with money and eventually you can summon multiple copies. You have to place your units strategically to keep them alive and avoid getting hurt, so it's got some TD aspects as well.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Zombie Estate (80) - Another twin-stick zombie shooter, only in this you can collect money and buy new weapons. Personally I like this better than "I maed a game..."
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg


Good:

Beat Hazard (400) - Another space shooter, only your own music drives the action.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Burning Fist of Rage - Streets of Rage-type side scrolling beat em up. Kinda ridiculous animations, but at least you can turn 360 degrees to hit things, and it supports 2 players.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Decay Ep. 1 (240) - Typical "stuck in the bathroom, use items to get out" type of adventure/puzzle game. You're apparently dead or something.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Dysnomia (240) - A top-down twin stick shooter, with a Doom-ish scifi setting.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Halfbrick Echoes (80) - A pac-man type puzzle games. Collect gems, which causes an echo of yourself to trace the path you just took, if you touch the echo you die.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen4_Web.jpg

I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1 (80) - Yet another twin stick zombie shooter. Still, for a dollar it's fun and it has a hilarious song that plays over the first level.
http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen4_Web.jpg

Masters of Belial (400) - A diablo-ish arena action-RPG/hack&slash. The controls are a bit wonky but it's a good looking game.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

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I think that wraps it up for now. If anyone else knows any good ones let me know, and I'll add them to the list. I can list some of the horrible ones I've tried, but that pretty much describes half of the games on there so perhaps not lol.


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tl;dr. Atre's top 5

Spoiler: show

radiangames Inferno (80)
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Aphelion (240)
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen3_Web.jpg


Miner Dig Deep (80)
http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen3_Web.jpg


radiangames JoyJoy (80)
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen4_Web.jpg


Soulcaster (240)
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

[Atreides]

Adding a few to the list:

Platformance: Castle Pain (80) - Make your way through a 2d castle and grounds loaded with traps and enemies. You will die a lot, but there's checkpoints after every section. Lots of fun while it lasts, and only a dollar.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Twin Blades (400) - Side scrolling action with shooting and slashing. Steep price but high production values and good graphics.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen4_Web.jpg

Cubism (80) - A 3D jigsaw puzzle you assemble around a cube. Starts off easy and gets pretty challenging. Controls are surprisingly good.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen1_Web.jpg

Ninja Bros. (80) - Simple platformer with an interesting twist. Moving left/right moves all 4 characters, but pressing a face button only makes the ninja of that color jump. Gets pretty challenging getting them all to the exit safely.
http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen4_Web.jpg

Ophidian Wars: Opac's Journey (80) - Metroidvania-ish adventure game, where you find items to upgrade your exploration abilities. Areas are kinda drab but for only $1 it's not too bad. Not really that good either though lol
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen4_Web.jpg

Anyone else find any good indies?

Also if someone wants to make this thread about PSP Minis as well they can go for it and make a post, I've been wanting to try some of them out (like Young Thor and Tehra Dark Warrior) but without demos I refuse to buy them, especially since most are more expensive than Xbox indies.

[Devolver]

I'm sitting on about 1800 pts and I can never talk myself into buying one of these games. What I do like is every one of them have a trial you can try out before you buy, so thats a big +.

The trying not to fart game is pretty fun with more than 1 person, but it looses its luster after a couple of play. I think I'm just a tight ass with my points.

[Atreides]

I seem to have a tough time parting with my points on these as well. Aphelion was a day 1 purchase for me, and well worth the 3 bucks, and Breath of Death for 1 buck can't really be beat either. My next purchase will probably be the full version of Soulcaster, since it's one of my absolute favorites.

Honestly though, radiangames JoyJoy is *almost* as good as Geometry Wars (and Geo Wars doesn't have multiple weapons)... and it's only 80 points compared to GW's 400. You should definitely pick it up if that's your style of game: (and it has co-op!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck3e315CCVk

[Strife]

Avatar Golf is a pretty fun game to play with friends. It only comes with 2 courses I think, but you can design an unlimited number of them. It's always fun to make sadistic courses for your friends. I think it's 400 points? Maybe 200.

[Atreides]

really? normally I avoid any indie game with the name "Avatar" in it, just because it usually seems hokey, but I guess I could check some of them out.

I just hate how half of all xbox indies have "Avatar" or "Zombies" in the name lol

[Qalbert]

You realize there needs to be an Avatar Zombieworld game now

[Atreides]

lol yeah, it'd probably be a twin-stick shooter too

[Jaunty]

I like loads of those myself and seen a few others I'll be trying when home.

Heres a few I like myself (plenty of Arcade ones too but not going to post them as you said Indie)

Apple Jack (80) - Apple Jack is a platform/puzzle game in which you DESTROY enemies by picking them up and HURLING them at each other! Journey west through five counties and 100 levels on a quest to rescue your beloved dog from the icy summit of Mount Snowdon!

http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen1_Web.jpg

Ok so its just one for now, sure there were more, but then you did list loads I love (such as I made a game with zombies in it and Miner dig deep which I love)

[Conrad]

Best game for XBox, period.
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/ga...-d802585503a5/

[Kyo]

Co-signed.

[Atreides]

I actually just downloaded the demo for Apple Jack the other day

There's also this Japanese game that looks/feels a lot like Zelda, but it's kinda hard to understand unless you speak Japanese. It's called フェナックむら　ものがたり (80 points) (Legend of Fenakku Village?)
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen4_Web.jpg

edit: this game is pretty bad, I was just posting to discuss it but you definitely don't want to spend money on this lol

[Caiyuo]

Best game for XBox, period.
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/ga...-d802585503a5/

more like DON'T B JERK ON THE INTERNET, SPAM. Delicate, potentially gross swedish women throwing themselves at you, how could you.

What I meant to say was I like this game: Pixel Boarder(240)

http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

That is Santa Clause catching some motherfucking air.

[Atreides]

Just ran through a full playthrough of Soulcaster, which was pretty awesome. It was only about an hour long but it was really neat, like a zelda game with tower defense elements. I don't know if I'd recommend it for 240 points, maybe I would just to support the developers cuz the 2nd one is coming out soon.

I'm not sure what my next full purchase will be actually. Probably one of the 80 point games like Miner Dig Deep or Platformance. Currently the only ones I own full versions of are Aphelion, Breath of Death, JoyJoy, and Soulcaster.

Actually Jaunty, if you liked Miner Dig Deep you'd probably like this one too:

Fishing Girl (80) - Fish to get money to upgrade your rod/lure, which lets you fish more of the area. It's supposedly relatively short though.
http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen4_Web.jpg

[Jaunty]

My full indie games only involve Miner Dig Deep, I made a game with Zombies and Apple Jack. Only really bought I made a game with Zombies as was feeling guilty how many times I played it and felt they deserved the $1, major fun multi-player.

Thanks for the advise, will give Fishing Girl a go soon, work offshore so wont be able to try it for a week yet. Also going to try Twin Blades, Ninja Bros., Aphelion, Mithra Episode 1, Chapter 1 and Decay Ep. 1 when I get back from your recomendation.

[Caiyuo]

Just wanted to throw this in since it was mentioned in the OP, but JoyJoy is fucking gooooood. I like it way more than Geometry Wars, but I'm also really terrible at Geometry Wars so factor that in, lol.

[Atreides]

oh snap, i totally missed this game too:

http://download.xbox.com.edgesuite.n...creen4_Web.jpg

Clover - Anyone play this? It's a point and click adventure pretty much, with neat music and quirky style. Apparently the creator added content or whatever from the PC version and put it on Xbox Indies. It's 400 points. I think I'll wait for reviews on it but the demo was really neat.

[Lu_Seeds]

I've been wanting to try some of them out (like Young Thor)[/QUOTE]

Hi!

I'm part of the dev team on Young Thor. Please don't hesitate to ask us any question here or at [email protected] .

You can also visit our site at youngthor.com

[Atreides]

http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess got released on xbox indies today, 240 points. I never played it when it was on PS3 Minis but it's supposed to be good so I'll try out the trial today.

[Atreides]

Been playing the hell out of Miner Dig Deep. For 80 points you get a LOT of content, and that whole collecting/selling/upgrading thing is beyond addictive, at least for me.

Gotta add 2 new ones to the list though:

radiangames Inferno (80) - A twin-stick shooter (brought to you by the people who made JoyJoy, which I like better than Geometry Wars) combined with an RPG. You can collect gold and upgrade your ship, looks like it has the multiple weapons and crisp graphics that JoyJoy had too.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Treasure Treasure: FFEE (80) - A 2d co-op platformer with nicely done original gameboy graphics and music. You can play single player and switch between characters yourself, but the gameplay is actually a lot of fun with a friend.
http://download.xbox.com/content/xna...creen2_Web.jpg

Looks like I'm going to have 80 points left over after I buy the DLC I need next week. Any thoughts on what I should get? Right now it's a toss up between Platformance and Soul, but I'm not too sure.