Deadlight Review Summary

Released for xbox live arcade on August 1st 2012, Deadlight is a 2d sidescrolling survival horror cinematic platformer for Xbox Live Arcade developed by Tequila Works.

(..takes deep breath...)

Plot:
Virus outbreak reanimates the dead, decimation of society, Randall Wayne (you) searches for his family.  Walking Dead meets Limbo.

Postive critic reviews focussed on the horrific and compelling storyline and challenging puzzle game play.  Negatives include issues around game controls, brevity and voice acting.  Opinion is polarised as to the game environment, impressive vs. bland and the plot, compelling vs pointless.  The game managed to score a decidely average 69% from 52 critic reviews on Metacritic.

My 2 cents
In fairness to the developers, I've only managed to invest an hour in the game since launch day, which probably says more about the game than I'd like to admit.  I found the voice over script contrived, the game athmosphere failing to impress and then there is that overly familiar nod to the walking dead, the "shadows" responding to loud noises...please!!.

Alf The Helper: Yeah I noticed that too, they could have mixed it up, like the zombies responding to smell!
Elderly: Smell?
Alf The Helper: Yeah, like the zombies can pick up your smell if you've been sweating and stuff.
Elderly: What?
Alf The Helper: Yeah, like you've got to shower and brush your teeth, find cans of Lynx to put the Zombies of your trail..
Elderly: 8( .....oh sweet divine!!....where was I?

.....getting pummelled by "shadows" before I knew how to fight back, didn't help either.  I do however intend to return and finish the game, at which stage I'll update this little section...  without Alf!

Quote of the Bunch:
Deadlight draws you in with its rich, pervasive atmosphere, but doesn't give you much to do once you're there. -Gamespot

Reviews Summary:
The quality of content is amazing, psychotic storyline with fluid gameplay.
The full product is a disappointment to say the absolute least.
Probably the best downloadable title on the market right now.
Weirdly inconsistent 2D survival horror.
A breathtaking adventure, though the main campaign lasts only five or six hours.
It's as mindless as the zombies it features.
All the style, substance, and gameplay you could want, with none of the originality you need
Without satisfying mechanics or narrative, there's nothing pushing you forward towards Deadlight's conclusion.
An incredibly slight experience, a single play-through comes in at under two hours.
Ruined by the lacking storyline and extremely short campaign.

Official Website

Snippets and Screenshots July 2012

Rainbow Moon
PSN exclusive due 4th July
$14.99 in North America, €12.99 in Europe, £9.99 in the UK and $19.95 in Australia.
Developed by SideQuest Studios and eastasiasoft, of Soldner X and Soldner X-2 fame.  An open world RPG with shades of Bastion in its isometric art style. The game's story and turn-based battling will last some 40 hours.

Official Game Website
IGN Review

Inversion
For Windows, Xbox 360 and Ps3 on release in  Us due Eu 13th July
A cover-based third-person shooter, featuring destructible environments and gravity manipulation.

Official Game Website
Digital Trends Review

Wreckateer
Exclusive for Xbox live Arcade due July 25th cost 800 Points
Physics based destruction in a fantasy medieval world, uses Kinect to put you in control of a massive castle-wrecking ballista.

Hybrid
Exclusive for Xbox live Arcade due 8th August cost 1200 Points
A multiplayer online third-person shooter set in a post apocalyptic world,  first Xbox 360 title from developer 5th Cell the studio behind the Scribblenauts. Drawn to Life and Lock's Quest series.

Official Game Website

Preview Deadlight for Xbox Live Arcade

Deadlight is a sidescrolling, survival horror, cinematic platformer, due August 1st for Xbox Live Arcade developed by Tequila Works and published by Microsoft Studios.

Set in 80's America, you play as Randall Wayne, a common garden scientist, who happens to find himself in an apparent virus outbreak.  Set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop the game begins 145 days after Patient Zero, and as you can see from the trailer owes a big nod, kiss, hug and wink to The Walking Dead, the Road and a drop of Epyx's Impossible mission for C64 and recent XBLA hit I Am Alive by Ubisoft. 

Seriously prime ingredients and perhaps just enough to reawaken my interest in 2D scrollers.........

Tequila CEO and creative director Raul Rubio says "Deadlight is not an objective story. It is told through the eyes, thoughts and diary entries of Randall Wayne."

.....with a decent storyline.

I Am Alive Xbox live Preview

Developed by Ubisoft Shanghai and published by Ubisoft, Due for download on XBLA on March 7th 2012 and PSN Spring 2012

What it says on the tin
One year after a worldwide cataclysmic event that wiped out most of the human race, a man struggles for survival in a desolate city as he tries to reunite with his long lost wife and daughter. In this post-apocalyptical tale, there are no supernatural threats, just an everyman who faces a decaying and hazardous world and humanity’s darkest inclinations. Will you hang on to your humanity and help strangers or are you ready to sacrifice others in order to survive?

Gameplay
Third person view for navigation, and first-person when aiming and shooting,
Gameplay has you dealing with three key elements, stamina management, gathering resources and Combat.

"I am alive" places emphasis on climbing and exploration, managing your stamina will be critical for survival and you'll be rewarded by gaining access to hidden paths, resources and other survivors.

Along the way you'll collect hidden resources and supplies which are scattered throughout the city: water, food, gas, medicine, cigarettes, tools, climbing gear, weapons, and ammo.

Survivors will adopt different behaviors and adapt to your actions. Some are friendly and need assistance, some are scared and others are hostile and will use group tactics to take you down.

Okay you've got my attention.... but then so did the ill fated Amy and I can't help but  ponder why a game that sounds this good didn't make it to disc.  Call me skeptical.

Offcial Website

Alf the Helper: Your skeptical!!! ...cynical !!! and a... a miser!!.... ahem.. 
:(    oops!, sorry I got carried away...

(Alf runs out of the room before Elderly can get a hand on him...)

Amy, The Game Review Summary

From the creator of Flashback, a survival horror, set to launch on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade on Wednesday 11th January 2012.

Amy Official Website

Plot: A comet strike has brought havoc on humanity, unleashing a deadly virus that has infected almost everyone.  Lana regains consciousness in the midst of chaos, roads have been destroyed, walls crumbling, electricity cables cut.

As Lana begins to feel the effects of the virus she meets Amy, a seemingly defenseless eight-year-old autistic girl who has curious powers. Together, they must fight or run from the infected humans, demons and the military, in the hope of not only saving each other, but also the future of humanity. 

What it says on the tin: A new approach to the survival horror genre, a unique experience at the crossroads of horror, adventure, action and
stealth. The co-operative gameplay featured in Amy is a deep and unique system that requires players to think carefully
in order to keep both characters alive.

Cool bits: Players must use Amy's size and special abilities to their advantage by keeping her close in order to ward off the virus,
and having her complete tasks that Lana can't..  Holding Amy's hand sends vibrations to the controller in sync with Amy's
heartbeat.  If danger is present or approaching, Amy's heartbeat will increase.

Cost Issue: In the US, Amy will cost 800 Microsoft Points ($10) while its PSN counterpart $3 more, $12.99.
Update! Lexis Numérique and VectorCell announced that they will drop the PlayStation Network price of AMY to $9.99, pushing the release date back to January 17th. 

Reviews Summary:
Scoring 22% Xbox 360 and 36% Ps3 on Metacritic.com, it's fate is sealed :(
Pick of the Review bunch

"Hugely disappointing download is not just a failure as a survival horror but as a video game"
Metro

Technically shoddy, poorly designed and unbearably frustrating
An imaginative concept and some strong design are undone by a game that's gruelling in all the wrong ways.
Amy rises above the zombie splatter masses
Grueling death-march through a gauntlet of poor design choices 

It is terrible and should be avoided.

Alf the helper: So are we getting it then?
Elderly: I dunno, the reviews kinda sunk my boat.
Alf the helper: There's a boat?
Elderly: No.. it was just a figure of... are you really... nevermind..
Alf the helper: I like boats, we should get it!
Elderly: 8/

Trine 2 Review Summary and Game Trailer

Online and local co-op for up to three players. A side-scrolling action platform and puzzle video game developed by Frozenbyte. The adventure begins when the three heroes, the thief, the knight and the wizard, rediscover the Trine which brings them back together. They then decide to travel on a journey to save the kingdom from evil goblins and other fiends.

Alf the Helper: fiends!...like Gnomes!
Elderly: No Alf, Gnomes aren't fiends
Alf the Helper: What are Gnomes then?
Edlerly: Alf... shut up!
Alf the Helper: :(

Available for
•PC & Mac (released on 7 December 2011)
•(Xbox 360) XBLA worldwide (to be released on 21 December 2011)
•(Ps3) PSN NA (to be released on 20 December 2011)
•(Ps3) PSN EU (TBD 2011)
•Linux (2012)

So is it any good then?  well here's What it says on the tin:

•Physics-based puzzles with fire, water, gravity and magic
•Online and local co-op for up to three players
•Save anywhere to play as long or short sessions as you like
•Unlimited Character and Game+ modes add to additional replay value
•Accessible for both casual and hardcore gamers
•Hidden collectibles extend the length of your adventure
•Fun and challenging Achievements to unlock
•Soundtrack composed by the acclaimed Ari Pulkkinen

Official Website

And with no Xbox 360 or Ps3 review available at the time of posting here's what the critics had to say about the PC version.
Scoring 86% on Metacritic

Executive Summary: short but sweet

Reviews Summary
A lesson of how a great game should be.
No matter who you are, you can't help but love Trine 2
One of the most beautiful games this year
Some of the most amazing 2D graphics ever seen
A charming fantasy platformer with dazzling good looks and fun physics puzzles.
Better, bigger and funnier.
It's short, but the design and the animations are extraordinary

Castlevania Symphony of the Night on Xbox 360

Recreated and enhanced for Xbox 360, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on Xbox Live arcade, features enhanced graphics, new achievements, and Xbox Live leaderboards. Play the original version of the game or experience it in enhanced mode with improved graphics and modernized audio and sound effects.

Collect items, weapons and armor to defeat the powerful boss monsters that block access to key areas of the castle. Earn 12 achievements and 200 Gamerscore points, and check the top players with the online leaderboards.

Scoring 90% from 9 reviews on Metacritic.com

Reviews Summary
The greatest game ever
Even after 10 years, it's still most definitely worth playing
A gaming masterpiece
Gameplay on the 360 is almost perfect, but for the mushy d-pad on the wireless controller
A momentous addition to the Xbox Live Arcade family, both because of its incredible depth and the fact that it is the first game allowed to break the 50 MB size restrictions
Easily one of the greatest games of all time, this is a pretty solid version minus a few oddities and a piss-poor d-pad
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is the epitome of the side-scrolling genre.

IGN Review
ZTgamedomain.com
IGN Screenshots
Achievements list from Gamefaq

Clickable inkies Castlevania Symphony of the night SOTN Xbla Xbox live arcade review screenshots achievements