PopCap Games, has  announced plans to release Plants vs. Zombies for Xbox LIVE Arcade this Autumn.

With an anticipated launch in early September, Plants vs. Zombies on XBLA will deliver more game content than any previous iteration of the franchise, boasting seven game modes, including two all-new multiplayer modes, 12 unique achievements and 21 mini-games. Upon its release, Plants vs. Zombies for XBLA will be available for 1200 Microsoft Points (US$15.00).

“With a ton of new features and content exclusive to the XBLA version, we’ve pulled out all the stops to both expand and optimize this adaptation for a hard core gaming audience,” said Ed Allard, head of worldwide studios at PopCap. “The two new multiplayer modes allow gamers to work cooperatively to defeat hordes of invading zombies, or go head-to-head in a true ‘plants vs. zombies’ challenge. We’re also featuring a customized ‘house’ for tracking and sharing progress as well as a total of 21 mini-games and 12 achievements, all designed to enthrall Plants vs. Zombies players once again.”

Plants vs. Zombies for XBLA showcases many standout features, including:

• A total of seven game modes, including two new multiplayer modes: Co-Op and Vs. Mode
• 12 achievements and 21 mini-games – more than any other adaptation, and including the exclusive Heavy Weapon-inspired mini-game
• A goofy new way to track and share progress online, where players create their own custom house and cruise down the street to see their friends’ cribs!
• The highest resolution of any Plants vs. Zombies adaptation to date at 1920 x 1080
• All 50 levels of the original Adventure mode along with Puzzle, Survival, and Zen Garden

Later this year, PopCap will also release a retail boxed edition of Plants vs. Zombies (including full versions of Zuma and Peggle as well) for the Xbox 360 as well as a new “Game of The Year” boxed edition of the PC/Mac original, a limited number of which will include a zombie figurine. Both are expected to arrive on retail shelves later this fall and carry a suggested retail price of US$19.99 each.

A certified number one bestseller, Worms 2: Armageddon is still the title of choice for thousands of gamers across the globe.

With this in mind, Team17 are thrilled to release the feature-packed Worms 2: Armageddon Battle Pack on Xbox LIVE Arcade, a new downloadable content pack containing new weapons and utilities, a new single-player campaign, tons of crazy new customization features, new achievements and an all-new game mode amongst other upgrades to the original smash hit.

The Body Count mode pits a single worm against a never-ending army of enemies, with the aim being to amass the largest number of kills before eventually being laid to rest with your own signature tombstone. Your high scores will be tracked on an all-new Leaderboard, so it’s easy to see whose worm is harder than yours!

With 30 new singleplayer Deathmatches, new “Warzone” theme and a cluster (grenade) of new weapons and utilities including termites, ferrets and worship statues there is plenty to keep the average Wormer occupied; 10 brilliant new Forts and new items to customize your team mean that it’s now even easier to remember who you blasted off the landscape in previous matches, and which players pounded you into the dirt.

Worms 2: Armageddon: Battle Pack is available now for 400 MS Points via Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Here’s the breakdown of what you’ll get.

• New single-player content:
  • Warzone Campaign – 30 all-new single-player Deathmatches (with an additional Achievement for completion)
  • Body Count Single Player Mode (one level per theme and one random level)
  • 7 Body Count Leaderboards
• New weapons and utilities - 6 new weapons/utilities:
  • The Three Ferrets (an animal-based explosive attack)
  • Termites (an animal based “quick” tunnel creation)
  • Marked For Death (utility that doubles the effect of any damage taken)
  • Invisibility
  • Steal
  • Worship (utility that places a statue which simultaneously heals your team while damaging any opponents)
  • Extra Achievement for the use of all new weapons
• Forts additions:
  • 10 all new Forts (includes 2 contest-winning Forts designed by Facebook Worms Fans)
  • Super Forts Game Style including ranked Leaderboard
  • Extra Achievement for winning a game on each new Fort
• New Game Styles:
  • New Warzone Game Style
  • New Super Forts Style
• Customization elements:
  • A range of new customization features; new voices and hats.
  • Additional colour variants of all existing hats
  • Custom HUDs – ‘light-side’, ‘dark-side’ and ‘fire’
  • 40 new player titles
  • Custom particle sets for light side and dark side players
• Bonus Landscape themes – enhanced landscape themes to make a total of 13:
  • Warzone (all new)
  • Arctic
  • London
  • Hawaii
  • Space
  • Hell
  • Jungle

Eager to share their latest creation, IO Interactive are now inviting gamers into the world KANE & LYNCH 2: DOG DAYS, in an exclusive demo now playable for a limited time via Xbox 360.

As 2010’s most visually unique game, IO Interactive want to encourage gamers to experience the gritty realism of KANE & LYNCH 2: DOG DAYS first hand and so are offering an exclusive early demo to showcase the distinct and gripping world of Shanghai as seen through the eyes of gaming’s two most notorious criminals.

The exclusive demo features…

• A brief look at the brutal single-player Story Mode
• Ability to sharpen heist skills in new Arcade Mode
• All-encompassing access to the highly anticipated Multiplayer modes:

o Fragile Alliance – up to eight players – celebrated multiplayer experience based on Greed, Betrayal & Revenge, extended with more risk and more rewards. Work together as a team to escape with as much loot as possible, within a four minute time period. Players will need to move fast, if they decide to turn on the team and make off with the money on their own. Die and respawn as a cop to prevent the heist.

o Undercover Cop – up to eight players – adds an extra level of paranoia to Fragile Alliance as teams are infiltrated by a mole set to stop the alliance.

o Cops & Robbers – up to 12 players – Creates a new team-mode dynamic with Robbers trying to protect their loot and Cops trying to retrieve it.

In KANE & LYNCH 2: DOG DAYS, Kane and Lynch face the consequences when a simple job gone wrong sets off a desperate and frantic struggle to escape the entire Shanghai underworld.

Ground-breaking art direction, relentless action gameplay and innovative multiplayer redefine the action shooter experience and position this product as the standout shooter of 2010.

Available for a limited time, access to the demo is available from:

Official Website: www.KaneandLynch.com

GamesRadar: www.gamesradar.com/kandl2demogiveaway

Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/user/kaneandlynchofficial

A public demo will be released on all platforms prior to game launch.

If you are buzzing about the Kinect add on for the 360 then you are probably wondering what games will be available for it too.  We have the skinny on the games that Microsoft has shown today.

Kinect Sports

Turn your living room into a world-class stadium, bowling alley, soccer pitch or track-and-field arena. With “Kinect Sports” you’re not only the star player, you are the controller — through the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360. See a ball? Kick it. Spike it. Even give it a little topspin. “Kinect Sports” features soccer, beach volleyball, bowling, table tennis, track and field, and boxing.

Simple, intuitive and instantly fun, “Kinect Sports” delivers the ultimate party experience — whether you are trying to outmaneuver the goalie to win the soccer match or cheering on your friends at ringside. The first full-body, controller-free sports game, “Kinect Sports” is so real, you will almost feel the wind in your hair as you fly over hurdles and the sand in your toes as you set, bump and spike your way to volleyball victory.

• Become a multisport athlete. “Kinect Sports” features six team-based and individual sports — soccer, beach volleyball, bowling, table tennis, track and field, and boxing — with many challenges for each experience. Getting into the game is as easy as stepping in front of your TV.
• Take one for the team. “Kinect Sports” includes a variety of fun game modes for solo, cooperative and competitive play with levels to encourage and challenge players of all ages and skill sets. Sports Party mode allows you to compete against a friend, rally a whole room full of players into teams, with everyone jumping in and out to catch a breath, or bring your team to victory.
• Live your sports star dreams. “Kinect Sports” puts your avatar in the spotlight and lets you experience what it is like to be a world-famous sports star. Bask in the glow of the paparazzi fervor with your teammates after a big victory and deck out your avatar with stylish rewards for your proudest gameplay feats.

Kinectimals

A wide-eyed Bengal tiger cub cocks its head to the side and playfully peers at you. Memories of your first trip to the zoo come rushing back. Through the magic of Kinect that furry tiger cub is in your living room and about to become your best friend.

“Kinectimals” invites children, their parents and animal lovers of all ages to build lasting friendships with some of the world’s most exotic creatures. Just like real pets, your “Kinectimals” will come running when they hear your voice, respond to commands such as “jump,” “roll over” and “play dead,” and purr with joy when you scratch them behind their ears.

• Get in touch with your wild side. Your journey begins when you adopt and name one of 20 playful friends, including a lion, cheetah and Bengal tiger.
• Create memories that last a lifetime. From the first time she recognizes her name to when she learns to fetch, your cub will grow up as your sidekick, eager to discover the island around you. She will always be ready for a scratch and a belly rub with smiles and purrs.
• The fun never ends. There are new ways to train tricks such as fetch, play activities such as jump rope, and even master agility courses with hops, stops and balancing acts. Invite a friend with his or her pet for some fun contests.
• Discover, collect and customize. “Kinectimals” rewards those who are curious about the island they live on. Travel far and wide to discover treasures and toys, and find and unlock new environments. You can customize your pet and decorate your home, plus use the in-game store to shop for items to nurture and care for your new best friend.
• Grow your “Kinectimals” family. Collectible, limited-edition plush toys will be available online and at popular retail stores. Choose your new friend, scan the code with the Kinect sensor, then watch it come to life on the screen right before your eyes. With your very own plush pal you can keep your new friend with you even when you’re away from your Xbox 360.

Kinect Adventures

Float in outer space. Experience the thrill of roaring rapids. Tackle mountaintop obstacle courses. And dive into the deep to explore a leaky underwater observatory — all from your living room. With “Kinect Adventures,” you are the controller as you jump, dodge and kick your way through exciting adventures set in a variety of exotic locations.

• Explore the world from the comfort of your living room. Jump, duck and dodge in beautiful mountaintop obstacle courses, test your reflexes in Rallyball, or experience anti-gravity in outer space. With 20 adventures to complete, there is plenty of action to go around.
• Show off and share. Adventures are best when shared with friends and family members. Express yourself and pose for the camera as it captures Photo Moments of you and your friends tackling adventures together. Use your body and voice to create live videos called “Living Statues” as the reward for a job well done. Share the fun with friends on the Internet through Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, e-mail and anywhere you choose.
• Dive into social adventures. Whether you want to play for five minutes or five hours, “Kinect Adventures” is a rich mine for fun with friends and family members. Take turns jumping in and out of games whenever you like, or jump onto Xbox LIVE to play online. Compete or cooperate — stretch your muscles or your social skills. “Kinect Adventures” is an inclusive experience.

Joyride

3 … 2 … 1 … Go! “Kinect Joy Ride,” the first controller-free racing game, will take you and your friends on the ride of your lives — no driver’s license required. “Kinect Joy Ride” combines wild kart racing excitement with the effortless fun of full-body gaming possible only with Kinect for Xbox 360.

“Kinect Joy Ride” reinvents driving and kart racing by adding massive jumps and full-body stunts to the classic kart racing action. With a host of cool features and game modes you can find your inner Andretti by going solo, pick up a co-pilot, or team up with your friends and family to take on the world.

“Kinect Joy Ride” takes the thrilling driving experience off the track and into your living room as you bend, twist and move your body to hug the curves, jump through obstacles and show off your acrobatic skills — when you get your whole body into it, you are the car!

• No steering wheel or controller required. Feel the wind in your hair, show off your high-flying stunts and tricks, or blast and smash through a destruction arena. Lean to drift, and use your hands to fire rockets. Flip, twist or spin your car in the air with full-body motion and chain tricks together for even better scores.
• Racing action meets friendly competition. When the road gets lonely, “Kintect Joy Ride” is the perfect collaborative experience for friends and family. With racing competition or co-pilot cooperative play in the same living room, or head-to-head competitive play for up to eight players on Xbox LIVE,* getting into the game is now easier than ever.
• Take it to the street and around the world. Stunning landscapes provide the backdrop for unique driving adventures in three far-flung worlds with six hyperactive courses and a multitude of environments that are exciting to everyone from amateurs to the most skilled.

A band of heroes facing insurmountable odds. An epic adventure of choice and sacrifice on the journey to rule.

Tens of millions of faithful fans worldwide. Look out Hollywood, Xbox 360 is delivering the entertainment blockbusters of 2010.

On the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. unveiled a breathtaking lineup of games, proving once again that Xbox 360 is the best place to play. “Fable III,” “Gears of War 3” and “Halo: Reach” took center stage as the biggest exclusive games, and Microsoft unveiled its newest exclusive blockbuster, code-named “Kingdoms,” from legendary developer Crytek GmbH. Delighting audiences even further, all “Call of Duty” Game Add-on content will launch first, exclusively –on Xbox 360 through 2012, starting this November with the release of the map packs for “Call of Duty: Black Ops.”

“With a portfolio of exclusives including ‘Alan Wake,’ ‘Mass Effect 2,’ ‘Splinter Cell Conviction’ and the record-breaking ‘Halo: Reach’ multiplayer beta, it’s already been an incredible year for Xbox, but we’re not slowing down,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. “In the next year, we’ll continue to redefine this generation of blockbuster entertainment with the controller-free experiences of Kinect and new chapters to three of the most acclaimed sagas found only on Xbox 360: ‘Fable III,’ ‘Gears of War 3’ and the biggest game of 2010, ‘Halo: Reach.’”

The Most Exclusive Entertainment

Twenty-five million passionate and engaged Xbox LIVE members have spoken, and Xbox 360 is this generation’s console of choice. As the top destination for millions of gamers, friends and family members to experience a world of entertainment together, it’s no surprise that the best developers are rewarding members with the year’s greatest exclusives, Game Add-ons and experiences.

A telltale sign of the meteoric year to come, fans around the world joined Xbox 360 and Bungie in making history with record-breaking participation in the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta. An astounding 2.7 million fans worldwide rushed to enlist and be the first to experience the year’s biggest game, establishing the “Halo: Reach” beta as the single most downloaded console video game beta test in history.

The release of the “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package” in March also shattered Xbox LIVE records, as more than one million gamers worldwide downloaded the new map pack from Infinity Ward in the first 24 hours alone, surpassing the two million mark in fewer than four days. Xbox LIVE is the largest “Call of Duty” community of any entertainment system.

With games for the hero, adventurer and storyteller within us all, Xbox 360 is bringing larger-than-life experiences into living rooms like never before, including the following:

• “Halo: Reach” (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios). Millions of fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the release of “Halo: Reach,” the blockbuster prequel to the best-selling Xbox franchise of all time. The action follows the story of Noble Team, a squad of heroic Spartan soldiers and their final stand on planet Reach, humanity’s last line of defence between the terrifying Covenant and Earth. The most ambitious “Halo” game yet, “Halo: Reach” launches in the UK on Sept. 14, and promises to be the biggest game of 2010.
• “Gears of War 3” (Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios). “Gears of War 3” concludes the epic trilogy starring Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad. In the finale, the last human city has fallen, leaving the survivors scattered and without refuge. Exposed on all sides, Delta Squad finds itself in a ruthless battle between two horrific enemies. “Gears of War 3” continues to break ground with new multiplayer experiences on Xbox LIVE for veteran players and rookies alike, adding four-player co-operative campaign and the new Beast mode.^* “Gears of War 3” launches in the UK on April 8.
• “Fable III” (Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios). Coming this autumn, “Fable III” delivers an unparalleled action and adventure experience as players journey from revolutionary to ruler and beyond. With your trusted canine companion, you will embark on an epic hero’s quest against injustice, forge alliances, crush your enemies and take control of your kingdom. But with great power comes great responsibility. Will you honor promises made in your rise to power, or sacrifice allegiance for personal gain? Choose wisely, as the decisions you make will forever impact your ever-evolving world.
• “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” (Konami). “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” is the highly anticipated debut of Hideo Kojima’s critically acclaimed “Metal Gear Solid” franchise on Xbox 360. “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” will star Raiden, one of the most popular characters in the “Metal Gear Solid” universe, in a new, lightning bolt action-adventure on Xbox 360.
• “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (Activision). On Nov. 9, Treyarch will make its return to the “Call of Duty” franchise with the release of “Call of Duty: Black Ops” on Xbox 360, the seventh entry in the best-selling first-person action franchise. “Call of Duty: Black Ops” continues the gripping experience and unprecedented level of action with players taking on multiple covert international conflicts in dedicated single-player, co-op teams and multiplayer on Xbox LIVE,* the largest “Call of Duty” community in the world.  All “Call of Duty” Game Add-on content will release first on Xbox 360 through 2012, starting with the November release of the map packs for “Call of Duty: Black Ops.”
• “Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO” (Blue Castle Games, Capcom). Before “Dead Rising 2” launches in August and September, “Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO” will release as an exclusive prologue only available through Xbox LIVE, providing unique features that bridge the story between the 2006 action-adventure hit and its sequel. Get the complete “Dead Rising 2” experience only on Xbox 360.
• “Crackdown 2” (Ruffian Games, Microsoft Game Studios). “Crackdown 2,” the sequel to the sleeper hit of 2007, is the ultimate open-world experience featuring over-the-top action, a massive living world, stylish graphics, and unmatched cooperative and multiplayer online capabilities.^* An explosive tour de force that invites players to explore, experiment and navigate through objectives with complete freedom to do what they want, when they want. “Crackdown 2” releases in the UK on July 9. The public Xbox LIVE demo will be available globally starting June 21.

Summer Blockbusters on Xbox LIVE Arcade

Xbox LIVE Arcade offers the highest quality downloadable games with a broad library of more than 250 titles and free trial downloads. Kicking off in July, Xbox LIVE Summer of Arcade is back for a third year with the biggest and best smash hits of the season. Xbox LIVE members will enjoy five weeks of scorching blockbuster games with something for everyone, including these games:

• “Castlevania: Harmony of Despair” (Konami Digital Entertainment): Dracula takes a bite out of Xbox LIVE Arcade with “Castlevania: Harmony of Despair.” This fast-paced 2-D side scroller takes vampire hunters on a chase to bring Dracula, the Lord of Darkness, to his eternal slumber. Designed by the producer of the legendary “Castlevania” series, Koji Igarashi, “Castlevania: Harmony of Despair” allows up to six friends to play together via online co-op story mode or duke it out to see who the best vampire hunter is in Survival Mode.^*
• “Hydro Thunder Hurricane” (Vector Unit, Microsoft Game Studios): “Hydro Thunder Hurricane” is the all-new, full-featured sequel to the legendary arcade racer. Featuring rocket-powered speedboats blasting across amazing dynamic water, gorgeous visuals and interactive environments packed with shortcuts and surprises, this is the adrenaline-drenched sequel fans have been waiting for. Dive into intense multiplayer races with up to eight players on Xbox LIVE, up to four players locally, or even mix local and online games.^*
• “Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light” (Crystal Dynamics, Square Enix Europe): “Tomb Raider” heroine Lara Croft makes her headlining debut in this co-op, multiplayer action and adventure game. “Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light” combines the hallmarks of the classic “Tomb Raider” franchise including exploration, discovery and puzzle solving with fun and fast-paced combat to create a game that is a great balance of cooperation and competition. Choose your own solutions and explore various paths through the dense jungles of Central America as you solve puzzles to win the game.
• “Limbo” (Playdead, Microsoft Game Studios): Uncertain of his sister’s fate, a boy enters “Limbo.” This summer, experience his journey –  through a world media are calling hauntingly beautiful and philosophically provocative – in this Independent Games Festival award-winning title.
• “Monday Night Combat” (Microsoft): “Monday Night Combat” takes you into the most popular lethal sport of the future. This third person shooter blends intense combat, finishing moves and game show-like challenges to give you an action experience unlike any other. Rather than fighting for honour or duty, “Monday Night Combat” lets you fight for the real American dream – cash, game and endorsements.

Activision  announced today a multi-year agreement that will continue to bring Call of Duty game add ons and map packs first to Xbox LIVE.

The news was revealed today to a capacity-crowd at Microsoft’s Xbox 360 E3 press conference in Los Angeles. The agreement which began in 2009 now extends for all add ons and map packs from the mega-blockbuster Call of Duty franchise through 2012, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, the follow up to the largest entertainment launch in history and one of the most-anticipated titles of the year set for release Nov. 9th.

“Our Treyarch Studio is doing something special with Call of Duty: Black Ops, which is why we’re thrilled to announce this Xbox LIVE agreement,” said Philip Earl, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Activision’s Call of Duty Business Unit. “This agreement reflects our shared and continued focus on creating the most compelling and exciting content releases for fans around the world.”

With billions of hours logged online, Call of Duty titles consistently rank atop Xbox LIVE’s most-played charts, making it the largest Call of Duty community of any entertainment system.

“With 25 million members, Xbox LIVE is the industry’s premier online gaming service that establishes the best in cooperative and multiplayer online play for blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty,” said Marc Whitten, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Xbox LIVE. “With the release of game add ons and map packs coming first to Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE is the place to play Call of Duty for years to come.”

ESPN and Microsoft have just announced that ESPN HD will be available free of charge for all xbox live gold owners.

Available in the community section on xbox live, members will be able to watch over 3,500 live sporting events or rewind and re-watch games that have already been screened.  Also interactive polls and trivia will also be present.

Further details have yet to be announced but as the U.K. gets ESPN hopefully, this deal will be available here too.

The official Microsoft announcements are now only hours away and whilst most people already know what to expect there seems to be a few more surprises up their sleeve.

First and foremost we now know that Project Natal has now been officially named Xbox Kinect and looks a lot smaller than we previously thought.  There has also been a leak overnight that a slim line version of the 360 is also on its way with 250gb hard drive and kinect built in.  The exact details and specs are not available yet but expect some more surprises with this as word at the conference centre is that security is heavier than the Bank Of England which normally means there are announcements that for once, have actually been kept secret.

Microsoft are the first of the big three to get the show on the road later today (5.30 GMT) so check back just after that for all the news here.

This month Xbox is launching the “Summer of Football”, a variety of football themed games and entertainment to mark the most anticipated football tournament of the year in South Africa.

Running from 11^th June until Sunday 11^th July, the “Summer of Football” includes a new collaboration with the sporting giant adidas, so Xbox LIVE members will be able to dress their avatars in a range of branded clothing.

Xbox has also joined forces with Konami to allow fans to dress their avatars up in their country colours.  LIVE members can download officially licensed football kits for the Brazilian, Dutch, French, Australian, English, Spanish, German, New Zealand and Italian national sides, which will then appear as options within the avatar marketplace.

Additional items such as animated balls and banners as well as fan hats and caps will also be available in the Konami Soccer Kit Collection – each available in the user’s chosen national colours.  Costs vary from 240 Microsoft Points for a shirt, and 320 Microsoft Points for balls and additional items.

Xbox is also celebrating the big kick off in South Africa with a LIVE “unlock weekend” for a limited time only (11^th – 13^th June).  During that weekend, all LIVE members will be given Gold member access including multiplayer gaming opportunities.

The celebrations continue with a range of promotions on football games with up to 50% off top titles such as FIFA 10 Ultimate Team, Football Genius and Sensible World of Soccer as well as a tournament predictor tool and a free “penalty shoot out” application – a fun game in which fans can test their soccer skills and even compete against their friends.

Those who can’t make it to South Africa can sit back and enjoy daily updates from the tournament including news and interviews with fans as well as celebrity views and gossip.

Xbox has also joined forces with the charity 1Goal, which aims to get all children into school, to offer LIVE members the chance to download a free avatar t-shirt to show their support for the cause.  1Goal is seizing the power of football to engage people and over the course of the summer it aims to secure 72 million signatures to an online petition to take to world leaders.

For more details on the upcoming promotion as well as the opportunity to join in the fun and win some superb prizes visit www.xbox.com.

Everyone who is worth their salt will remember the birth of the modern day fps that was popularised in 1993 by ID Software’s gorefest, Doom.

One of the first games to provide on the PC, 3d spacial awareness with a heady mix of gore, Doom revolutionised the genre and office dogs worldwide linked up their work PC’s for a lunch time session of multiplayer too.  So popular was the game that the media soon jumped on the “games need banning” bandwagon and the attention it brought not only helped sell millions of extra copies but cemented Doom’s place in the history of games as one of the defining moments in the genre ever.

Flash forward 17 years and ID Software has ported Doom’s sequel, Doom II to xbox live so that you can relive countless memories of yesteryear on your xbox 360 hard drive.  The game itself downloads at just over 36mb and with so many other DLC titles using a lot
more memory you would initially think that not too much attention has been paid to the port itself.

Well, not so.  Doom II has been transferred into the marketplace with perfection to the asthetics of the original.  All the pixallated graphics are there and the classic look, feel, sound and movement do not seem to be tampered with from what I can remember of the original. For those of you who are too young to remember the original franchise or that their parents wouldn’t allow you to play it, then Doom and Doom II are the original archetypal FPS’s. Simply put, all hell (literally) has broken loose and you must find your way to the exit of each level whilst keeping yourself alive, finding bigger and better weapons to take on the enemy, keeping your ammo well stocked and defeat some meaty bosses to progress and finish the game.

The movement and control system work very well here indeed and many of you will remember cutting your teeth with the simplicity of move, strafe and fire for survival that have grown up with you to this very day. All the controls have been mapped ideally for the xbox 360 control system and geared for today’s traditional FPS layout. That pretty good seeing as there is no way of mapping the buttons yourself.

All the weapons and enemies that were in the original Doom make a welcome return here with some additions to the family to keep you on your toes. There’s nothing like getting down to a small amount of ammo only for one of the dastardly elementals to come around the corner wanting a ruck. Cue the strafing and running to try and protect yourself whilst you hunt around trying to find something to take them down with in what can only be called some of the most well designed fps maps that you will ever come across. Well, you wouldn’t expect anything else from ID Software to be honest as they have spent years getting it bang on in every single game they release. By the way, if you are looking for a beastly weapon then the Super Shottie for the win!

The campaign itself has had an addition of an extra chapter to it. No Rest For The Living is its name so you can expect a few new levels to blast through which adds a little something to it. For those of you who like hunting for secrets then you will get more than your monies worth here for a lot of searching around a level. Big guns can be found ahead of time if you know where to look or are lucky enough to stumble upon it.

As with Doom on XBL, Doom II also has its multiplayer options deeply rooted in within the game. After all, that is partly what it is famed for! Online deathmatches a plenty can be held as well as going local for some friend on friend action. Online, like its predecessor, it does falter a little with lag. It is not that off putting and doesn’t make you feel as though you want to put the game down but it is apparent and something that needs mentioning. But all in all a good blast with plenty of bodies getting mauled and enough to put a smile on your face whilst slaying some random victim has never been so satisfying.

Given the age of Doom II, it stands up very well to the modern day FPS’s. Great level design with rewarding gameplay that is unforgiving and can prove hard as nails will have you spending many an hour trying to complete it. I love the way ID Software has stayed faithful to the original game and not felt the need to cater to the COD generation and adapt the game with modern graphics and some other overhauls. It is definitely worthy of the money to buy it and the reminiscence value itself should be enough for you to want to make the purchase.