So, 'Splosion Man...
We've seen successful throwbacks to the simplicity of 90's platform-based gaming before, though few have accomplished the same vibe as 'Splosion Man has. The game hinges on a simple mechanic, one button press used to contextually navigate a level at speed - very much like Sonic. 'Splosion Man is bursting at the seams with humour and charm, with the tubby little scientists serving as the butt of most jokes. The game does lack a bit of charm when it comes to the general asthetic of each level though.
One of the most appealing aspects of the game is its online 4 player co-op. The puzzle based gameplay requires the 4 of your to work together and actually communicate. It's a rare thing to have a blast with 3 other strangers when trying to nail a particular section of a level, laughing at each botched attempt. It appears that Twisted Pixel have mastered the art of imbuing gamers with a sense of nostalgia for the days when they sat cross legged in front of their televisions with a bunch of friends.
800 points for this is good value. It's a game made with care, made for infinite reruns (or resplodes), and perfectly encapsulates the point of Xbox Live Arcade. The fact that it rewards you every so often with gamer pics and premium themes almost implies that this game knows you're broke, and wants to thank you for giving it a chance.
