New 360, need arcade suggestions

[Jedi Hampster]

So after a year of desire, I have finally been able to sell my wife on the idea of getting an Xbox 360. The question isn't what retail store games to pick up, because after this last year I have a long laundry list of games to pick up in the upcoming months. The question is what Live Arcade games I should pick up right away. So I come to my favorite lurking community, and come out of the shadows to request your opinion and support. What games should I pick up on arcade, and in contrast, are their any I need to avoid like the plague??

Thanks!

[CaptStu]

Johan, stay away. We all know your problems. No need to repeat them... again.

[Dukefrukem]

I love playing through the Contra games.

[Inverarity]

Puzzle Quest gets a lot of play at our house. Ditto for Pac-Man CE, Geometry Wars, and Catan. If you have fond memories of the Incredible Machine games, I can't recommend Eets: Chowdown highly enough.

[Shadowstorm]

Omega 5, Geometry Wars, and Sonic 2 are all games that I've purchased on the Arcade after getting much enjoyment out of the trial versions. I'll recommend those titles.

Other people seem to like Contra and some other title that I can't pronounce but it starts with a "C".

[Lord_Don]

Bionic Commando Rearmed is a must own, whenever that comes out. I always liked Outpost Kaloki (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/o/outpostkalokixbox360/default.htm), if you're into sim type games.

and some other title that I can't pronounce but it starts with a "C".

Carcassone? (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/c/carcassonnexboxlivearcade/)

[Shadowstorm]

Carcassone? (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/c/carcassonnexboxlivearcade/)

Thanks, sir.

[Jedi Hampster]

Does Catan have the same feel as playing the actual board game, cause if that's the case, I'm gonna defiantly pick that up.... Totally forgot about puzzle quest, Almost picked that up for the DS, so I'll have to check that out as well... And Shadowstorm, are you referring to carcassonne?

*edit* Too slow */edit*

[Brinstar00]

I really liked Heavy Weapon, Pac Man CE, Puzzle Quest, Band of Bugs, Outpost Kaloki, Catan.

[Haemorrhage]

Here is a thread (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39401&highlight) from November which could also offer some good advice.

My personal favorites are Geometry Wars, Carcassone and Lumines Live.

[King Drewsky]

Puzzle Quest
PacMan CE <- Best update to a classic game ever
Castlevania
Worms
Catan
Uno
Robotron <- my guilty pleasure

[Camel]

I have a bunch of Arcade Games, but I kind of wish I hadn't bought some of them. It's not that they are bad games, it's just that I don't ever play them. If I had to do it all over again, these are the only games I wish I had bought:

Pac-Man CE is great fun, and I really never liked Pac Man all that much.

Boom Boom Rocket is an awesome little rhythm game, although a lot of people didn't seem to like it when it first came out. I really like the music and the whole fireworks theme, though.

Puzzle Quest is addictive, but for me I can only play it in small bursts before it gets repetetive.

Carcassonne is fun, but I got it for free. I like it more than Catan for XBLA, even though I like Catan in board game form more.

Assault Heroes is great, especially multiplayer. Bomberman has a lot of multiplayer fun as well, but I really didn't play it as much as I thought I would. UNO is the BEST multiplayer game.

That's about it. There are a lot of fun XBLA games, but my recommendation is to not get any unless you REALLY like them, or else they'll just sit around unplayed. That's what happened with me, at least.

[asimonk]

Catan is awesome. If you like the board game at all, or have never played it, you should at least get the demo. Its great.

And of course, Puzzle Quest. Sweet, sweet Puzzle Quest.

Lumines is also decent.

Also, Aegis Wing. Its a side scrolling shooter; its also free. So there is that.

[UnderHero5]

My favorites are (in no order):

Boom Boom Rocket
Pinball FX
Every Extend Extra Extreme
Carcassonne
Omega 5
Marble Blast Ultra
Aegis Wing (free!)

Just try anything that looks interesting. That's the great part about Arcade. Every game has a demo (which kind of makes these threads pointless, but I digress).

[YoungAlCapone]

Super Puzzle Fighter, especially if you have friends who will battle with you.

Outpost Kaloki is pretty good and will murder an hour and a half of your life before you even realize it.

Gripshift and Marble Blast Ultra are fun if you are into the whole difficult to complete course and simple controls thing. I know I am.

Pac Man CE is an awesome update to a classic, it makes Pac Man interesting again, no matter how much time you spent with the old table cabinet thing.

[Aggort]

Geometry Wars and Boom Boom Rocket were the first two I owned and I adore them. Then I picked up Alien Hominid since I never got to play it on PS2 and had a strong desire too. Now I've got a pretty nice list of games. Street Fighter, SoR2, Mortal Kombat, annd for the girlfriend Spongebob Squarepants, along with a few others.

[Johan]

Johan, stay away. We all know your problems. No need to repeat them... again.

I love Arcade. I have 59 games, and some great suggestions.

*leaves silently weeping* :D

[Jedi Hampster]

No Johan, I value your input... I read your list, and was curious if anything has been added/changed/dropped in that Very large list of game recommendations. BTW, sorry for all the problems you've had with the RRoD. *quick knocks on wood so I don't get that*

[Hyperglide]

Castlevania SOTN for sure
TMNT
Streets of Rage
Aegis wing (it's free AND good)
Yaris (only cause it's free and easy achieve points)
Carcasonne

[Disgustipated]

Castlevania SOTN, Streets of Rage 2, Alien Hominid HD, Omega 5....

Castle Crashers when it comes out, Rez, Ikaruga...

[Kielaran]

Does Catan have the same feel as playing the actual board game, cause if that's the case, I'm gonna defiantly pick that up....

I thought the Live version stuck true to the original. It works very well on Live.

I think Exit is great. By the time I beat it, I will have had more hours on it than some retail titles.

Don't forget to pick up Undertow, being that it is free and all.

[Johan]

Jedi Hampster: I would download anything you're even slightly interested in, as the demos are all free. Here's an update to my list of the games I've personally enjoyed the most.

Marble Blast Ultra: This is so fun in multiplayer, and a real challenge at the higher difficulty on single player.

Pac-Man CE: Some consider this the BEST game on XBLA. I think it's a classic of a classic.

Alien Hominid HD: Controller-throwing fun!

Assault Heroes: Really good co-op play.

Catan: Solid board game.

Galaga: Totally unchanged from the arcades, but somehow I really enjoy it.

Heavy Weapon: Still haven't beaten the boss-battle challenge.

Geometry Wars Evolved: A bit difficult for me.

Mutant Storm Reloaded: Like it better than GWE. Good sequel to this one, as well.

Jewel Quest: My wife loves this game.

Omega 5: A very fun shmup...short, but very fun and visually appealing.

Undertow: Free next week, as has been mentioned, and very fun.

This is a pared-down list of my favorites on XBLA at the moment. There are other great titles, but these are the ones I really play a bit of!