Assault Heroes XBLA

[MonkeyWrench]

I played through the demo and immediately bought the full version. I don't know where to start with this one there's just so many cool elements. Firstly the visuals are superb, probably the best looking original XBLA game out there, there's just so much detail to the scenery and enemies, and the lighting is excellent too. There's loads of variation to the enemies, in the single level demo you must enounter a dozen or so different types of troops and vehicles. Gameplay wise it's another Robotron type game but this one feels different, when in the buggy if you were to double back on yourself the change of direction isn't immediate, instead it does a little skid and turns around. However, when the on foot sections are more like the old Robotron style gameplay, except you've got a full 360 degree shooting range. There are reasons why you would want to get out of your buggy, firstly there are powerups only reachable on footage, and secondly when your buggy is destroyed you don't die, you just have to sweat it out on foot until another buggy arrives. That latter feature is great, you'll see when you encounter the first boss :)

Moving on to level 2 the screen starts scrolling in different directions (the first level is purely vertical), but short way into the level I saw a platform with what I thought was a powerup in the middle. Drove my buggy up to it and it turns out to be a lift which took me underground to a different level! So it looks like there might be multiple routes through the game because it looked like I could have ignored the lift and carried on in the buggy. Anyway, the underground level is purely on foot and zoomed in a little so you can see your guy more clearly. The lighting on this bit is very cool.

I'm going to get back to it...any questions?

[hoolak]

Sounds pomising mate. I gonna give it a go. What Live! multiplay modes are there?

IGN have reviewed it > IGN Review (http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/750/750694p1.html)

[MonkeyWrench]

Not sure not looked into that, there's definitely co-op and I'm assuming there's some kind of deathmatch in there.

Anyway, played it a bit more and that underground level is more of a bonus level as there's an extra life at the end of it. Shame, would have been cool if there were multiple routes through the game.

[Yoshimax]

Liking the sound of this - will buy it when I get up the road was thoroughly disappointed by Robopiss so hopefully this can make amends.

[DavidHolliss]

Yes Roboblitz was a let down but this looks like the sort of game XBLA was created for :) not read a bad word about it anywhere this morning really which is a great sign.

[Crimson Day]

This just rules exactly what XBLA was designed for perfect example of a classic game in next gen standard love it :ph34r:

[MonkeyWrench]

It's bloody brilliant! Level 3 and I've taken to the seas in a speed boat, didn't realise there were other vehicles in the game. Lovely water effect too.

Anyway a few observations that have stood out for me:

The physics. Barrels explode into the air, crates and debris fly all over the place and the way you buggy bounces around the landscape is top!

Destructable scenery. Nothing major but you can mow down trees and lamp posts.

The lighting. On top of the lovely bump mapping shadows actually play a part in the gameplay as you can see airbourne vehicles before they enter the screen allowing you to perform a pre-emptive strike. Also if you destroy any gun towers you see the shadow of the guy as he flies through the air, a nice little touch.

*EDIT*

Just noticed another cool touch...you're on a jetski if you leave your speed boat. Would have been a bit shit if you had to swim I guess :)

[Yoshimax]

Oh man this sounds great - How many points is it ?

[Destrukticor]

800
and its really good

brought me back onto XBL after a few days of wii and saturn action

[andrewfee]

How many levels are in this? I was sorely disappointed with the demo (sluggish controls, rather easy) but will probably pick it up for co-op play if there's more than just two or three stages.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Had a look at the gamplay vids and it looks neat. Got 1700 points burning a hole in my account at the moment too.

[MonkeyWrench]

Not sure how many stages there are, but I'm up to level 3 now and the difficulty has ramped up quite a bit.

[EvilBoris]

I wish a hadn't of impulse bought small arms, what a Piece of shit, I could of used those 800 points for this!

[Number45]

Yeah, the demo of that told me enough. Unlocked the full game on this and I'm loving it, despite struggling pretty badly with this type of game. Something tells me the Survivor achievement is going to take some work!

Those 'branch' paths that are mentioned are a one off chance for a special power-up. If you die (What? I said I was shit. :D ) you get punted back out to the surface.

[ChrisField]

Now this is what XBLA is all about. Good stuff even if I do suck at it :)

[DavidHolliss]

Cracking little game, upto Level 12 so far, anyone know how many there are ?

The water in this game is probably the best I've ever seen on any console ever.

[Number45]

Haven't seen a mention of numbers, but the Gamespot review suggested that you might be able to finish it all in one sitting. Which seems a little extreme if there are more than 12 levels of the size I've played so far.

[Daragon]

Really tempted to splash out the points on this, but I've heard that it has a VERY limited appeal to it in that it can be beaten in a single sitting, perhaps no more than 2 hours with nothing in terms of replay value outside of a 2-player mode.

Gave the trial version a go and I enjoyed it, but I don't want to spend 800 pts on something thats not going to last me - I've resisted so far to buying Knights of the Nine for Oblivion, but if I go ahead and add pts to my account I may be tempted to spend them on that.

[David GP]

I've heard that it has a VERY limited appeal to it in that it can be beaten in a single sitting, perhaps no more than 2 hours with nothing in terms of replay value outside of a 2-player mode.I'll confirm that. I got to the final boss on my first play on medium difficulty yesterday. I did not expect to go that far on the first go, especially after I realised how strangely the player's vehicle moved around. This game is easy if you're used to playing Robotron-like games (and there are plenty of them on XBLA).
Now please, don't let that stop you from purchasing the game, as Assault Heroes oozes with sheer class in all departments. It really is a vibrant homage to what arcade games of yesteryear used to do best : simple yet thoughtful mechanics, new gamepay ideas popping up now and then and mixing seamlessly with proven stuff - the people who made that game certainly knew their business.
Assault Heroes consists of 5 distinct "zones" divided into 3 "areas" each - and I am not counting those optional underground levels. All in all, you'll need about an hour and a half to complete the game - not bad for a shoot'em up of that caliber.
Oh, and the coop mode works like a charm. Now what are you waiting for? http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/images/smilie/happy.gif

[Bleeders]

This playable with the DOA4 stick, chaps?

[Dirty Sanchez]

A great purchase. Easy to drop in and out of, plenty of eye candy and decent sound effects.

Bang on the money for 800 points.

[Daragon]

Why couldn't this game have something like a score attack mode? If I'm going to end up beating the game in under 2 hours and with nothing to go back to, this doesn't represent a smart use of £8 - especially as i'm still missing the Oblivion add-on.

[MonkeyWrench]

Yeah I got to the final boss in one sitting too, but then got absolutely wasted, I could have continued but I decided to try and tackle it another time from the beginning. I reckon we could see more from this game in the future, such as a proper mutiplayer mode. I know the Roboblitz developers held back on their multiplayer mode as they were close to the 50mb limit and decided to make it a free download, I notice this one is just a few mb from hitting the limit too.

[DavidHolliss]

... this doesn't represent a smart use of £8

If it helps, it's actually £6.40 :)

Thanks for the heads-up about 15 levels. Was I the only one with a really sore right thumb after about an hour's play ?

[Daragon]

If it helps, it's actually £6.40 :)

Thanks for the heads-up about 15 levels. Was I the only one with a really sore right thumb after about an hour's play ?

I only spend pts on arcade games or add-ons though - all I can get out of 200 left over pts is probably a theme or 2 so unless there's something else I want its £8.50

[David GP]

This playable with the DOA4 stick, chaps?Sorry mate, two analog joysticks are required to play Assault Heroes.

[nonny]

You know what, for 800 points I think this is real value for money.

I havent hit the final boss yet, waiting for my mate to buy it so we can do co-op, but its pure class and finally XBLA has a new game that oozes effort in design and structure... its taken a year but finally there are games up there worthy of your hard earned. I am loving small arms as well btw, but only because I have 3 mates who've bought it as well and its a blast when its competitive.

As for this... anyone know if they are going to add more content? if they added more levels or an add-on pack for 100-200 points I would buy it in a heartbeat. Great stuff.

I also hear Castle Crashers is coming out next week? Or is that just a rumour?

[Commander Marklar]

Ah, does it pick up later? The demo is very easy and it's a bit... slow.

[DavidHolliss]

It does become more frantic on later stages yes, first level is the "slowest" (at scrolling up etc), guess it's like a "introduction to the game mechanics" stage.

Completed the game last night, last boss is a sod, didn't know what to aim for 50% of the time and the A button didn't show any weakpoints etc.

Now onto Co-op mode :)

[k0pp0]

It's things like this that are swinging me toward the 360.. It's becoming a very very tempting console for a tightwad like meself.

[Bleeders]

For the first time ever, I played through an XBL Arcade title.

I've really enjoyed playing this. Good little shmup; great production values, learning curve and a generally fun experience.

[Kubrick]

Ah, does it pick up later? The demo is very easy and it's a bit... slow.
I thought that too, hence I didn't buy it.

[MonkeyWrench]

I'm just hoping they add some new features. It's daft you actually need to be connected to live to post a score, also as someone else already mentioned a score attack mode would be nice.

[ChrisField]

Anyone managed to play this co-op? All I get is a nice waiting screen.

[DavidHolliss]

Lots of people on other forums have moaned about co-op matchmaking problems, I've had no trouble, connects first time everytime. You tried hosting ?, that might work better.

[ChrisField]

Lots of people on other forums have moaned about co-op matchmaking problems, I've had no trouble, connects first time everytime. You tried hosting ?, that might work better.
Tried hosting, and tried joining my friends game (both private matches). Also tried a quick game and on all occassions it just froze at Waiting screen. Speaking with my friend, his was on the same screen. So not sure what we were both waiting for! :)

[ExtremePabs]

I too just get a waiting screen when I try and join a coop game. Anyone know if they are going to issue a patch to fix it?