When I asked for suggestions as to what video content you guys would like to see I got a lot of calls for video reviews. Alright, most of them were from nofi but still, it seemed like a good idea. I think doing full reviews for large scale retail games might be a bit ambitious for my skill level so I’m starting with an Xbox Live Arcade title called Tower Bloxx Deluxe, developed by Digital Chocolate.
Scroll down past the embedded video for a textual “pros & cons” section and the all-important score rating.
Pros:
Cons:
Verdict:
Tower Bloxx Deluxe is, at its core, a fun game with an interesting and novel mechanic. It doesn’t have many tricks up its sleeve but what it does is carried off with charm and style in abundance. Lack of online multiplayer is slightly baffling at this point but the local modes are fun enough that you won’t mind too much, as long as you have a supply of friends close-by. It does what it tries to do very well but ultimately I was left wishing that it tried to do a little bit more: 6/10
cc_star | 29/10/2009 14:50
Team TSA: Writer
7796 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Nice review, looks very similar to an iPhone game I downloaded where you have to balance coins on top of each other, can’t remember what it was called though.
smokeybeef | 29/10/2009 15:01
Member
280 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
I played this yesterday, it seems to lack just about everything. It got repetitive after 10 minutes (and that includes giving it the benefit of doubt) and what it repeated was pretty boring and pointless.
I agree with the price disagreement (hm?), I would say it was worth about 100 MSP
piekat | 29/10/2009 16:00
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122 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
I’m not 100% sure, but I think it’s available for free as a Facebook game
gazo69 | 29/10/2009 16:03
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1152 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Hey i like video reviews, you should do them more often for sure. As for the game it looks quite fun for the right price of which i can’t comment because im not sure what how much £’s 800ms points converts too!
matty | 29/10/2009 16:36
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1320 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
nice review, i have this on my fone and i got it for free
bunimomike | 29/10/2009 17:53
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4723 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
CB – is that you doing the voice over? It’s clear, well-read, etc. All good but….oh my god, it’s the first game’s review I’ve ever listened to where someone British has carried out the speech. The worry isn’t aimed at you but us as a country/society. Will we all sound a little “stiff upper lip” in comparison to our across-the-pond compatriots? I wonder if one of the TSA staff has the sort of voice that sounds like they’re the clichéd English bad-guy from any Hollywood blockbuster. That’d be awesome (and a trifle worrying)
You should definitely do more of these, however, as it means that a feel for the game can be ascertained in such a short amount of time (eg. video, etc).
Top stuff.
colossalblue | 29/10/2009 18:47
Team TSA: Editor
1366 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
yes it is me.
To be fair I do have a “posh voice” when I get nervous and I am pretty nervy about how these video pieces will go down…
Hopefully I’ll loosen up as I do more of them.
bunimomike | 29/10/2009 18:58
Member
4723 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Well I sincerely hope you do (and other TSA staff) as it was very enjoyable. If you ever want a deep-voiced TSA member who’ll bring the female gamers flocking, give me a shout. Ha!
bunimomike | 29/10/2009 18:59
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4723 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
Edit: Sincerely hope you do more… not sincerely hope you loosen up. *guffaw*
davidjmclare | 29/10/2009 19:48
always on easy
1093 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
awesome review, will publicise TSA too cos its far better than some reviews that get shed loads of hits.
liking the posh uk accent to, usa gets annoying on reviews! lol.
nice work!
bully1990 | 29/10/2009 20:16
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351 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Enjoyed the video review and look forward to seeing some more.
Hodgi92 | 29/10/2009 20:31
The Thumb
1054 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Great video review. One point, the score displayed on the video would be nice
Zuler | 29/10/2009 20:40
Team TSA: Writer
10495 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I really liked the video review, would be great to see more of these
KatsPurr | 29/10/2009 21:34
Member
6 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
Despite the fact that you bludgeoned Tower Bloxx, this has been the best review I’ve seen so far. The video idea is far superior to a mere textual review. Although critism is fine, what you failed to take into account was how perfect this game is for anyone except a frat boy. This will be a welcome addition to families with smaller children, for seniors and disabled people who need simple controls. But most of all for all the casual players out there who just want to nip in and nip out of games.
The entertainment value of the review was awesome. I was chuckling through the whole thing. And no matter how much I love Ava the architect, I have to admit that even I laughed when you talked about email diplomas.
I can understand that making a video review versus textual one is a huge endeavor, but I do hope you keep making them! Well worth the trouble!!!
colossalblue | 29/10/2009 22:13
Team TSA: Editor
1366 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Thanks a lot, and thanks for the YouTube comments too!
It’s not a bad game, just a bit pricey considering that it doesn’t have a lot of stuff to do. Good for quick bursts of 10 minutes before you do something else. I’m a fan of the “one-button” approach but I’m also a fan of making fun of anything I can find to mock
KatsPurr | 29/10/2009 22:34
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6 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
I’m not sure how much you’ve played Quick game, but there is a considerable about of people competing on the leaderboards for that one. The quick game isn’t all that “quick” once you get up over heights of 300. The nice thing about quick game for me personally is the exploration value. It’s addictive because you want to get up higher to see all the surprises lay in store in space.
Manorhowze | 30/10/2009 01:19
Driving God
2020 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
For your first video review that was excellent Peter. It does help to see a game when deciding on a potential purchase.
The video format is more suited to the PSN/XBLA games as the retail titles would require a longer video which means more work etc..
I agree with Hodgi about having the score on screen in the video.
nofi | 30/10/2009 07:00
Wants a custom tag.
4280 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
I agree. I now know exactly whether or not I want to buy the game because Peter has shown us just enough to convey precisely what the game is about. I think video reviews, just from this one alone, are probably the best thing we’ve done for months.
Aitrus | 30/10/2009 07:53
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1485 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Great review.
The advantage of the video review is, that it is no longer as subjective as the written reviews are. We can see the action for our selves and make our own desicion based on that and at the same time you give us your opinion of the game – and in this case the criticisms were well founded as were the strong points of the game.
All in all excellent format for reviews!
Gastos84 | 30/10/2009 12:05
Team TSA: Writer
3873 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
I finally got to watch the video with sound! Yay!
Really good. I’m really liking the addition of video.
Agreed about PSN/XBLA games being ideal for these vids but a review of certain sections within main games would be cool.
hazelam | 31/10/2009 09:33
Member
3900 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
there is simply not enough to the game for those kind of points.
£1.50 on a phone would be a good price but 800 points on live, no way.
played demos of both versions, i think it actually works better as a little casual game on a phone than on the xbox.
hazelam | 31/10/2009 09:33
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3900 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
of course it still can’t compete with monopoly on my mobile