Every Extend XBLA this week
Along with Speedball 2.
Every Extend Extra Extreme (E4) and Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe are this week's Xbox Live Arcade releases, and should be waiting for you to fling 800 Microsoft points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.30) at both of them this time tomorrow morning.
As well as being the spiritual home of Dawson's Creek, E4 is the sequel to the PSP Every Extend Extra, which we thought was smashing (we'll give you a couple of seconds to let that one sink in). Like its predecessor (we did like its predecessor!), it sees players trying to cause chain reactions by detonating themselves in the midst of wacky space ships.
Having originated with a lone Japanese programmer as, simply, "Every Extend", the PSP version was adapted by Q Entertainment to centre around music - with chain reactions popping off various musical effects, which gradually intensify and accelerate as you collect power-ups and string together bigger explosions.
The 360 version massively increases the game's visual effects quota (we were playing it last night, and it's like having a firework display in a kaleidoscope), and features a total of five gameplay modes - including a new, actual shoot-'em-up mode and multiplayer.
Meanwhile, as everyone knows, Speedball 2 is a remake of a classic futuristic sports game from when Kristan was only about 38, and followers will also be watching out for downloadable content packs after it's released.
Look out for reviews of both in the days ahead. Or don't. See if we care. Sniff.
