This Wednesday: Brain Challenge, Bliss Island on XBLA

by Justin McElroy { Mar 10th 2008 at 2:15PM }

It's a holiday for puzzle fans on Xbox Live Arcade this week, both for the nose-in-the-books types and those who like their brain-teasing a bit more whimsical. First up is the Gameloft-developed Brain Challenge which (if you haven't already guessed) appears to be in the Brain Age vein, but with the addition of modes (like ones that test your ability to deal with stress and one for the kids) and online multiplayer. You can pick it up for 800 points ($10).

Also on tap, a visit to Codemasters' Bliss Island, where you'll play "Hoshi the Zwooph, a mystical blue creature that emits precise puffs of air to create clouds" (yes, we know, it's a total rip-off of The Wire). You can play through 25 puzzles or challenge friends if you pony up the required 400 points ($5). Both will drop on the service on Wednesday.

Gallery: Bliss Island (XBLA)

Gallery: Brain Challenge (XBLA)

Tags: bliss-island, brain-challenge, xbla, xblawednesday

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

D_Average @ Mar 10th 2008 2:21PM

That'll sure bring the big Blue Ocean Ship back to the dock....

billychaos @ Mar 10th 2008 2:32PM

Wasnt it not to long ago that many developers for the xbox system were bashing nintendo for this approach?

I guess it's now "if you cant beat...join em"

copa @ Mar 10th 2008 3:06PM

Now I'm mad I didn't get a The Wire reference. I'm just starting on season 4.

John McPoop @ Mar 10th 2008 3:41PM

I have been watching the Wire since season 1 and I can tell you I do not get the reference. They could be talking about the hippy lettuce smoking by Slimm Charles and Cutty at that party... Well there is tons of refer smoke in the show...

Let me warn you Copa..

Season 5 is certainly the worst of all (still good though). Its because HBO would not give Simon and Burns a full 13 episode season so they had to wrap everything up in a red bow in ten episodes (now thats a reference). Just be ready to be dissapointed with season 5 and especially episode 8!!! BTW a lot of good characters die in season 5...

Chase @ Mar 10th 2008 5:09PM

I have Brain Challenge on my cell phone. It and Tetris Mania are my "dropping the kids off at the pool" time games. It's fun for what it is, and multiplayer sounds interesting. It's a shame it isn't 400 points, though.

Jonah Falcon @ Mar 10th 2008 6:08PM

Brain Challenge is more Big Brain Academy than Brain Age, Justin.

Tre @ Mar 10th 2008 8:27PM

O_o I could have SWORN that said Bran Challenge the first time i read it...

They need to make the I in Brain more pronounced, so that we ALL don't make that mistake.

AnonyMack @ Mar 10th 2008 10:09PM

jesus fucking christ where the fuck is ikaruga!?

hvnlysoldr @ Mar 25th 2008 9:47PM

*That'll sure bring the big Blue Ocean Ship back to the dock....

Err. Your metaphor sucks as the ships are on the oceans and complete competiveness in a blue ocean would turn it red. We'll see how they do but don't expect a miracle. I mean clones of Brain Age do very poorly and the DS is perfect for brain game controls.