5 Games That Deserve A Spot On XBLA

Added 11/06/2008 by Brittany Vincent

The Xbox Live Arcade is the premiere source for 360 gamers to acquire their fix of updated retro classics, indie darlings blessed with an HD makeover, and all-new titles that are suited best for digital download. Though there is a vast library of games to choose from, there are many still missing in action. There are some deserving titles out there that would fit quite nicely into the scheme of things. That's why I’ve compiled a list of five games I’d like to see available on the Xbox Live Arcade.

1. Rampage

George, Lizzie, and Ralph, three mutants brought into this world by human hands who decide to do what the title of the game implies: rampage. A classic arcade game released in 1986, it allowed players to release their inner beasts. Up to three players could ravage large cities while puny humans attempted to thwart the destruction. George was a terrifying homage to King Kong, Lizzie had the pleasure of being a gigantic lizard akin to Godzilla, and Ralph was tossed in as a werewolf for good measure. What made the game so ridiculously fun was the fact that all players would work together to completely obliterate a city in order to reach the next stage. Buildings would be reduced to rubble, civilians would be yanked out of windows, and explosions were never a strange occurrence. Though all players work together to completely eradicate a city, if one took too much damage they would revert to a normal human, after which another player could eat him. It's a monster-eat-human world, after all.

With all the mayhem and destruction going on in the title, it'd be a sure bet for modern gamers who utilize the 360's fantastic multiplayer support. Add a new monster to even out the supported amount of players or, create the option to submit new city layouts, and this could be one of the most hilariously fun multiplayer experiences since Castle Crashers. Forget the Wii release of Rampage -- Xbox Live is where it's at for a classic such as this.

2. Bust a Groove (aka Bust a Move)

There is a serious dearth of actual good music/rhythm titles on the Arcade, and this gem from 989 Studios would be the perfect way to get things grooving. Featuring a selection of songs from 10 different genres, it was one of the quirkiest music games of the late 90s. After choosing an avatar from a cavalcade of interesting characters, players would press face buttons or the D-pad following onscreen prompts. At the end of a string of buttons would be a final button to hit on the downbeat of the current song. However, there was never a multiplayer mode in the original inception so gamers were forced to test their skills against AI that wasn't always up to par for more seasoned players. With a much-appreciated graphical update and multiplayer support, Bust a Groove would be a stellar addition to the Arcade. Not only would it be a blast to match up with opponents around the world, but it would eliminate the wild goose chase of having to track this PlayStation title down. In the words of the Bust a Groove announcer, the Xbox 360 needs to "bust a stone-cold groove!".

3. Gazillionaire

Gazillionaire may not be much in the graphics department, but it more than makes up for its visual deficiency in strategy. A LavaMind production, it's described as "Monopoly in space" and this couldn't be truer. Originally released on the PC, this game combined an erratic outer space economy, intergalactic travel, and micromanagement to weave together a fantastic strategy game that was both hard to master and impossible to put down. The goal? Become the richest corporation owner by the end of the game, by any means necessary. At the onset gamers are required to choose a ship based on its capacity for goods, speed, and room for passengers. The option to buy insurance or not was always a regret when one chose not to, but a hassle to keep up with payments every month. Learning how to effectively play the economy that was stretched out across different planets was a job in itself. However, even if you managed to play pain-free the entire game, a random event was not unheard of such as a meteor shower (destroying your ship) or an inheritance being given to a competitor. With the rising number of casual gamers wanting to get on the 360 boat, this would be an excellent addition to the Arcade.

4. Cannon Fodder

A staple for early PC gamers, Cannon Fodder placed you in control of squads of tiny soldiers (from the top-down view) armed with machine guns, rockets, grenades, and other goodies. The game revolved around simple objectives such as "Kill all enemies" or "Destroy enemy base", which made it a mindless little shoot-em-up that provided lots of good, violent fun. If soldiers were to perish, they would be replaced at the beginning of the next phase. Managing to keep soldiers alive garnered bonuses in speed and hit points. It was a rule of thumb to try and sustain as many soldiers as possible. A transition to Xbox Live Arcade would be a no-brainer. It's just casual enough to be fun for anyone who wants to join in, and though it is violent as all get-out, it's done in such a cartoony way that it's hardly offensive. Multiplayer matches on this game would be simply divine. Let's keep hoping for Microsoft to see the light and add this to the Arcade repertoire.

5. Hodj 'n' Podj

Hodj 'n' Podj featured two princes (one red, one blue) on their way to save two princesses. The premise was to be the first prince to rescue his princess by completing a series of minigames. The title, an obvious play on the term "hodgepodge" is just what the game is. It's a collection of minigames such as mancala, word scrambles, Battleship (at least, a form of it), poker, and many other titles to keep you busy. However, unless you wanted to take turns with a human player on the PC or compete against the AI, there was little potential for this game. An Xbox Live Arcade release would make perfect sense. It's not graphics-intensive and it provides a mishmash of different games that anyone can enjoy. There's literally something for everyone within. You could consider it a distant cousin of Mario Party, but with a story. If this is ever added to the lineup, count me in.

My five candidates are only some of the fine choices there could be. Perhaps in the near future I may see my pipe dreams realized. Until then, what games would you like to see come to the Arcade? How much would you consider paying for each, and why? We'd love to hear from you. Don't be shy! Let your opinions be heard, because you never know who might be reading!