GamePro Arcade

This week Rock Band gamers get ten (10!) new songs to download. The highlight of the week is the Brutal Legend Pack. "(We Are) The Road Crew '08" by Motorhead, "The Metal" by Tenacious D, and "More Than Meets the Eye" by Testament are all in the game, and if you buy Brutal Legend from Best Buy you'll get a download code to get the 3-pack for free. 

Also available this week are a song each from Black Tide, Blink-182, and L7, and two-packs (or Tu-Pacs as I call them) from Joe Satriani and Kansas. Rock Band Unplugged gamers get one song each from Pearl Jam and Foreigner. 

HIt the jump for all the details on this week's new tunes. 

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I can think of no better way to start a review of Critter Crunch than to describe the beauty that transpires within: you play as an overweight woodland creature that stalks innocent bugs who are peacefully hanging from vines. Using the monster’s inexplicably lengthy tongue, you can grapple these furry varmints and suck them towards you, temporarily storing them in your capacious mouth. You can then spit these critters back up towards the vines, where they will either reclaim their resting spot or be eaten by the bigger creature that sat above them. As you can see, Critter Crunch is all about the circle of life, but is this animal kingdom adventure any fun?

If you're alive and reading this, you've heard "The Stroke" before. Ya know, it's that one tune that goes, "Now everybody, have you heard? If you're in the game, then the stroke's the word. Don't take no rhythm, don't take no style. Got a thirst for killin', grab your vile..." Maybe you at least know the 1980's classic from Billy Madison?

Well, this week's Guitar Hero Store track pack is dominated by Billy Squire himself, with "The Stroke" as well as "Everybody Wants You" and "When She Comes To Me."

Check out the American rock sensation this week.

Related Links: Should video games do without the hard copy? We play games every week too, just like you!

Last week I was able to get my hands on the worst kept secret of E3, the PSP Go. While I had a brief hands-on with the system at Sony's booth in June, I remained skeptical about the price. $250 dollars seemed steep for a handheld, which I imagined SCEA would have learned after having to drop the price of the original. No dice, I am buying a “premium product,” says Sony.

About a month ago, my girlfriend expressed interest in buying a PSP, so we started to weigh our options. Used is out of the question, and brand new I am looking at $169. Throw in a decent-sized memory stick (say 16GB, the internal storage capacity of the Go: $60 on Amazon and $100 at my local Best Buy), which I will need with the older PSP, and I am going to spend anywhere from $229 to $269. In the end, I figured that I am still paying a crap-ton of money. My only question at that point was, “Pay a crap-ton of money for something I don't like all that much? Or pay a crap-ton of money for the one that I do like?” Either way, I’m forking over the money – I would just rather use it towards the cooler one.

This week Rock Band gamers get nine new songs to download. Making their RB debut with a three pack of tunes are the Jack White led Raconteurs. Also available this week are songs from Alanis Morissette (2), Electric Six (3) and The Flobots (1).

I know there's an "Isn't it Ironic" joke in here somewhere but for some reason it's escaping me. Maybe its because I'm afraid of offending GamePro Arcade's substantial female audience by making fun of this generation's Susan B. Anthony. 

As for Rock Band Unplugged owners you'll get two new songs, Green Day's "Know Your Enemey" (always a good idea) and Rush's "Red Barchetta", which I believe is some type of cheese. 

Hit the jump for all the details on this week's Rock Band DLC.

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The PSP Go, Sony's latest and prettiest handheld gaming device, was released last week. As a PSP 3000 owner, the Go doesn't really appeal to me, but it certainly does catch my eye. Beyond its gaudy price tag ($250!?! I can get a Wii for less than that!) and sleek appearance, the Go is an attention grabber because all of its content comes via digital download only. The UMD has gone the way of Lindsay Lohan's sanity, could console discs be soon to follow?

As a Classic Gamer (all because I've been playing games for over 30 years doesn't mean I'm old) my natural inclination is to say no. Game cartridges and discs have been essential to gaming since it was invented. Holding a game is part of the tactile experience of being a gamer. There's just something special about having a long desired title in your hands. 

That said, with bigger and bigger hard drives being released, and the incredible success of downloadable music as a model, a gamer can't help but see the writing on the wall. For better or worse, the PSP Go is a glimpse at the gaming industry's future. But are you ready for it? Can it really work?

Naturally this leads to our newest question of the week. Are you ready to live in a world without game discs? Personally I'm not. With online play gamers have become reclusive and rude enough, what happens when every title is downloadable? Will anyone ever get out off of their couch again? I like going to the store and talking with other gamers. I like the excitement of waiting in line at midnight for a game I've been looking forward to for months. And yes, I realize its ironic that the above statement comes from a guy who's the editor of a downloadable game website, but I'm not ready to give up my games just yet.  

But what do you think? Let your voice be heard by answering our poll. Don't like our choices? Write your thoughts in the comments section of this post. Have a question you'd like to have asked? Email it to me at tterrones@gamepro.com.

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This year the AFL celebrates its 50th anniversary, and Madden 10 is getting in on the action with its recently released AFL Legacy Pack. Retro unis for players and refs, a grainy sepia toned camera, new Madden Moments, and extra Achievements and Trophies are just waiting to be had for 560MS Points or $7 (although PS3 owners have a chance to get it for free right here).

For those of you who have no clue about the history of the AFL, all you need to know is that it was the 60's version of the USFL, except that it worked. The Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Jets, Titans, Patriots and Raiders were all original AFL franchises put together by owners who were frustrated with the NFL's slow expansion (in 1960 the NFL only had 12 teams). Eventually the AFL grew to 10 franchises (Miami and Cincy came aboard in the late 60's) and the victory by the Jets in Super Bowl III over the heavily favored Colts gave the league the legitimacy it had desperately needed. 

Now, fifty years later, gamers get to see the 8 original AFL franchises in all their 1960's glory, for better or for worse. Just look at those unis above. That's the costume, err, I mean uniform of my beloved Denver Broncos. Look at those socks! Those guys should be guarding the pope, not playing football. 

Fashion faux pas aside I dig the vibe of the AFL Legacy Pack. I enjoy the grainy presentation, the refs look hilarious in their retro outfits, and despite the fact that my Broncos have the WORST classic gear ever, I still have my team wear them anyway. I also really like earning an extra 150 Achievement Points. That said, for $7 I expected a little bit more. 

The new DLC doesn't pack enough punch. Gamers are essentially just paying for a new uniform choice and a grainy picture, and only for 8 NFL teams. If EA really wanted to get retro, they'd give us classic stadiums, move the goalposts to the front of the end zone, and hire some dude to give fast talking play by play. Instead I'm left with Chris Collinsworth calling the game at Invesco Field at Mile High. If you're trying to send gamers back in time, go all out. 

Gripes aside, I'm glad I downloaded the AFL Legacy Pack. Madden 10 is the best Madden since Eddie George graced the cover of the 2001 edition, so anything I can add to an already great title deserves a look. And as a Broncos fan since birth, this DLC hits a sweet spot for me. I find the throwback feel nostalgic. But if you're not an Achievement whore or are a fan of any of the other 24 NFL teams, the trip back to 1960 is probably one you don't want to take.

GamePro Score: For hardcore Madden and original AFL team fans only   

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Can we be honest at this point and label the tower defense genre as another victim of video game overkill? Sure, it's popularity grew from the humble beginnings of a wicked flash game to take over the retail space with a ton of unique yet familiar titles, but when we reach a point where a group of Colorado youngsters are involved, it leads me to believe that tower defense-mania has gone a bit too far. It would seem that the developers of the new PSN release Comet Crash clearly disagree with me, as they have taken the fundamentals of a solid TD title and opened the genre up to a whole new audience of gamer. Could whiz-bang action and fast-paced gameplay possibly breathe new life into tower defense?

When the zombie apocalypse finally comes (and based on the TV shows and movies I watch it’ll either be a zombie or vampire apocalypse, I’m not quite sure yet), will you be ready? Sure you might have played Resident Evil and watched 28 Days Later, but can you ever be too prepared?

To get delicious humans ready for battle, Konami has released a new PSN/XBLA arcade game, Zombie Apocalypse. With plenty of gore, dark humor, and touches eerily reminiscent of popular disc titles, the always popular Undead Shooter genre has just added another solid, albeit long winded, member.