This Wednesday: Puzzle Arcade solves lack of XBLA jigsaws
by Randy Nelson 
{ Dec 22nd 2008 at 2:00PM }
The jigsaw puzzle, a decidedly non-digital form of cooperative entertainment, is going all electronic and competitive on XBLA this week with the release of Puzzle Arcade. The game features 35 puzzles and downloadable picture packs (see Lara Croft in the above image), with publisher Eidos promising that "players are sure to have a brain-busting experience." (Note to the ESRB: you might want to add "brain-busting" to your descriptors.)
Up to four players can simultaneously race to complete the puzzles in normal or "turbo" modes (undoubtedly where the "brain-busting" would most likely occur), while watching each others' expressions (and, presumably, brains busting) via the Xbox Live Vision camera. Puzzle Arcade is priced at 800
($10). Brain. Busting!
Up to four players can simultaneously race to complete the puzzles in normal or "turbo" modes (undoubtedly where the "brain-busting" would most likely occur), while watching each others' expressions (and, presumably, brains busting) via the Xbox Live Vision camera. Puzzle Arcade is priced at 800
($10). Brain. Busting!Gallery: Puzzle Arcade (XBLA)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hunter2223 @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:08PM
The fact they are pricing every single arcade, regardless of quality at 800 points is getting kinda old. 400 points at most.
iFester @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:12PM
Didn't you get the memo? Inflation is the new standard. Oh, and you forgot a cover sheet on your TPS report.
Marty @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:48PM
You have to remember that teams of people are getting paid to build these games... and you can't pay those salaries by selling games for $5 a pop.
Of course, some games provide more value than others, but you don't have to buy 'em if you don't want to. I think it's important that the XBLA can cater to all sorts of whims, so if it helps expand the scope of the library (without taking too big of a dump on it), that's a good thing.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:07PM
The fact they are pricing every single arcade, regardless of quality at 800 points is getting kinda old. 400 points at most.
“The fact they are pricing every single arcade, regardless of quality at 800 points is getting kinda old. 400 points at most”.
That’s not true you can still get that Doritos game for free and is not bad (No, really) although after playing it 10 minutes I got all the achievements and after that I deleted it from my system. Huh is the first time I’m going to say something like this but is one of those games that would have been very good online.
(Is this post a joke? at first it was now I'm not sure)
Marty @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:12PM
I thought Dash of Destruction was actually kind of fun too, at least for about 30 minutes. The later stages in with the second T-Rex are ridiculously hard for me for some reason though - the CPU-controlled Rex is too efficient!
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:20PM
You are kidding right? I repeated the hardest levels twice before getting them right.
Marty @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:15PM
No, I'm not kidding. It seems to be more of a game of chance rather than a test of skill.
Or maybe I'm just better at driving Doritos vans than eating them with a T-Rex. :(
Dirty @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:18PM
I think l4d includes much more brain busting.
baby sea tuna @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:40PM
I even got an achievement for it!
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:03PM
Left 4 Dead is selling like pancakes I can't find a copy of it anywhere.
Anyhow I'm dissapointed because at first I thought this was an article about Banjo Kazzoie (I thought those were Jiggies)
Arnon @ Dec 23rd 2008 2:32AM
BRAIN SALAD!~
Mike @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:40PM
How long can they continue to charge so much for so little and get away with it?? When are we going to say enough is enough? $10 for this $hit?.. wtf are they smoking??
VaultICEE @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:03PM
But... But...
It includes brain busting!!!
Tuxy79 @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:12PM
No thanks.
BigD145 @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:37PM
The scores seem to be in the way of this truly massive 40 PIECE PUZZLE!!! 40 piece EXTREME puzzle ACTION action ...action....
Rhamsey @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:43PM
oh, i do love puzzles, but im not seeing the full value of this game.
Brodo @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:54PM
Look at it this way guys. You go to wal-mart and find a puzzle for 8$. You like wait one second, I could buy 35 puzzles and play DIGITALLY online, with ppl around the world! And it will be brainbustin'! And I could get all that for only 25% more!
Then you go home, buy the puzzle game, realize it sucks, cry a bit, go to bed, wake up, cry, go back to walmart, they laugh at you, cry, die
mietha CAG @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:17PM
The simple fact that this exists made my brain bust. Seriously, I would think it was an April Fool's joke if it wasn't, you know, December...
JoeTheBlow @ Dec 23rd 2008 5:17AM
I dont get this.
The point of a jigsaw is the physical work of building a picture, the satisfying tactile sensation of using your fingers and eyes to create order out of chaos.
Doing it on a console seems about as ridiculous as virtual Jenga to me. And how much for the "pleasure"!?
Sabresun @ Dec 29th 2008 7:39PM
I actually bought this after playing the demo, I have to say, it just works well. The controls are fluid, and there is a good satisfaction from completing a high piece jigsaw in a good time. I had my doubts, but this is one of the few XBLA titles I've bought (the others Banjo Kazooie, and N+) It's a different type of experience, but a classic one. It could have gone very wrong, but they tweaked it so that it feels pretty natural and enjoyable. The scoreboards and co-op play, give it a value that it wouldn't have otherwise. It's a polished game all round, and feels exactly the same as a regular jigsaw (which I hadn't done for years before) except that you can save an uncompleted puzzle and come back to it. Good challenging fun, and timeless with better production values than most of the XBLA junk out there.