Three new games are available for download this week. Starting today Wii gamers can purchase "Gradius ReBirth" (1,000 Wii Points) and "Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars" (500 Wii Points). On Wednesday Xbox 360 gamers can download the much anticipated "Peggle" (a screen from which is above) for 800MS Points ($10).
Also available this week is a second batch of DLC for fun XBLA title "The Maw." Entitled "River Redirect", it'll sell for a paltry 100MS points ($1.25).
Hit the jump for the official press releases on this week's downloadable games.
Related Links: Have you answered this week's GPArcade question of the week? Check out our choice for Flash game of the month and click here for new Metal Gear Solid Touch screens.
The Maw DLC
For those wanting longer levels and more use of the various powers from The Maw, Twisted Pixel Games has announced that a new level called “River Redirect” will be launching this Wednesday, March 11 on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for 100 Microsoft Points ($1.25 USD). This level features the Brute Bounty Hunter, introduced in the first DLC level “Brute Force”, and showcases more advanced gameplay and combined use of Maw’s powers.
This is the second of three DLC levels that Twisted Pixel Games has been working on ever since The Maw development wrapped last year. “With River Redirect we tried to make a more puzzle-focused level that requires a bit more skill than some of the game’s other levels,” explains Lead Designer Sean Riley. “Frank finds a raging fire blocking his path, but with Maw’s powers you can find a way to redirect a river to extinguish the flames.”
Each DLC level will expand The Maw storyline by fitting in between the original levels as “deleted scenes”. “As with any production, there are always pieces left on the cutting room floor that you wished could have made it into the final cut,” says CCO and Director Josh Bear. “We had a lot of half-finished story elements and gameplay mechanics, so we are picking the best ones, polishing them up and making new levels that are bigger in size and scope than the ones in the main game.”
XBLA
PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual video games, today announced this week’s launch of its hugely popular game Peggle ™ on the Xbox LIVE ® Arcade (XBLA) online service of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 ® video game console. Featured as XBLA’s “Game of the Week,” Peggle will be available for download in all Xbox LIVE regions this Wednesday, March 11 for 800 Microsoft points. Peggle for Xbox LIVE Arcade delivers a number of new and exclusive features to the Xbox 360 gamer, including the first-ever online multiplayer Peggle experience with Peg Party mode, where up to four players can compete simultaneously over Xbox LIVE. The game also features local and Xbox LIVE 2-player Duel mode, downloadable content support, achievements, rich online leaderboards, HD graphics, and more. Peggle has been optimized for the XBLA platform, works flawlessly with the Xbox controllers, and looks dazzling in high definition. Among the game’s features are:
· A deep single-player experience, featuring 55 levels of ball-bouncing madness, 10 unlockable Peggle Masters, 75 Challenge mode levels, Quick Play Mode and more
· Two different multiplayer modes, letting the gamer experience Peggle competitively online for the first time ever (TrueSkill™ ranked or player match)
o 2-player Duel Mode, playable locally or over Xbox LIVE
o 4-player Peg Party Mode, playable over Xbox LIVE
· Rich online leaderboards, spanning single player and multiplayer modes
· View instant replays of the highest scoring shots to learn a thing or two from true Peggle masters
· 12 Xbox LIVE Achievements
· Downloadable content support
· 720p HD graphics and surround sound
· Brand new animated backdrops set the mood for your favorite character
WiiWare
Gradius ReBirth (Konami, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Blast your way through levels filled with alien spaceships and otherworldly creatures in this retro side-scrolling shooter. Pick your weapons carefully and upgrade them to create a devastating arsenal of space-aged weapons that will aid you in your challenging mission. Players can post their high scores to worldwide leader boards via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and see where they rank against all the other Gradius ReBirth players. Test your skills with Gradius ReBirth and see if you have what it takes to beat this action-packed arcade shooter.
Virtual Console
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars™ (SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, Crude Humor, 500 Wii Points): In this platformer from the 1980s, help Alex Kidd in a race against time to find the 12 missing zodiac signs hidden in six challenging levels—including toyland, the robot factory and an outer-space level—all complete with crazy enemies.
