DeadAt E3 earlier this year, we got a list of the titles that would be a part of this year’s Summer of Arcade promotion on XBLA. Earlier today, Major Nelson announced through his blog the dates and prices for all five titles and the bonus for buying all five.
First up we got Bastion. The first game from indie devs Supergiant Games, Bastion is an action RPG in which players control the silent protagonist known as The Kid. Players follow the Kid on his quest to create the titular Bastion, a safe haven after his world is turned into a bunch of floating islands by an event called the Calamity.
Bastion will be released July 20th for 1200 MSP.
Next up there is From Dust. Created by Eric Chahi, who also created Out of This World/Another World, players will take the role of a god and will help the population of the game world retrieve their lost heritage. You will do this by manipulating the terrain of the game world to help the people complete various missions.
From Dust will be released July 27th for 1200 MSP.
In the middle of the pack we have Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet. A 2-D side-scrolling shooter, players must navigate through an underground maze filled with monsters and traps. Players can fight back with their ships guns and use an attached arm to grab items from the environment and drag them back to home base.
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will be released August 3rd for 1200 MSP.
The black sheep of the herd, the fourth release is Fruit Ninja Kinect. This is the only game on the list with Kinect support. Just like the mobile versions of the game, players have to cut fruit. Instead of swiping fingers across the screen of phone, players will now wave their arms around like lunatics to do the cutting.
Fruit Ninja Kinect will be released August 10th for 800 MSP.
Finally we have Toy Soldiers: Cold War. The sequel to last year’s Block Party title Toy Soldiers, Cold War takes place in the 80’s and pays homage to the action films and heroes of that decade. Players will be able to play as either the American or the Russian army.
Toy Soldiers: Cold War will be released August 17th for 1200 MSP.
Like with all XBLA deals like this, if you buy all the titles in promotion you get a treat. This year if you buy all 5 titles you get Crimson Alliance. Developed by Certain Affinity, who also developed Age of Booty, players will choose from three classes of characters to play as in this action RPG: the Assassin, who can bend time. The Wizard, who can control the elements. The Mercenary, who hits stuff. Crimson Alliance allows you and up to three friends to play together. It will be released on XBLA September 7th.
I have to say, for me Bastion and From Dust look the most appealing. Although I’m sure Toy Soldiers will be good.
ITSP could be pretty cool, too