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by TheDCD on 05.04.11  It’s not often you get an Xbox Live Arcade game that knocks you off your feet to the point that you forget it’s a downloadable game. Some of the better experiences are right up there with retail releases, such as Twisted Pixel’s brilliant Splosion Man or the moody but effective Limbo. Now joining the pack is Ubisoft’s wondrous Outland, a game created in house by the same team behind Super Stardust HD, Housemarque. But Outland isn’t a by-the-numbers shooter. Instead, it’s a brilliant foray into platforming that will really challenge you, the only way a good platformer can. You may be looking at the next great XBLA classic. The game’s story provides a little bit of mystical backbone, as you play a chosen one who must fight his way through a land of turmoil, using special light changing abilities and a sword that can pretty much cut through most enemies. The trick here is being able to blend in with your surroundings on occasions. Red and blue attacks will come at you from all sides, and you’ll need to switch between light and dark abilities in order to avoid getting killed. This may sound easy, and it is at first, with solid streams to pass through and small bullet formations. But surprise! The challenge really picks up later on, with formations and level designs that are so amazing that you’re in awe, even if you can’t quite figure them out. And then there are the boss battles… Every aspect of Outland’s design simply shines through. The visuals are something out of the Patapon universe, but with a design and flair that almost reminds us of the multi-color formations from the classic Treasure shooter Ikaruga. (They have similar strategies, even though you don’t really charge up shields.) The bright, beautiful colors really look good on your TV screen, to the point that you’ll want to stop and take a good look around. The music is equally impressive, with an epic soundtrack that really grabs you and won’t let go. Yes, XBLA music can be done the right way, folks. We haven’t been this addicted to in-game tunes since “The Donut Song”. But what really shakes you to your very core about Outland is its gameplay. Rather than taking the one-note approach, Housemarque makes it feel like you’re really in control of your character, whether you’re leaping off walls, slicing up enemies with a combo or figuring your way out of a room filled with colorful gunfire. It’s here you really test your platforming capabilities, and really discover just what kind of geniuses these guys are when it comes to design. It makes us pine for a sequel that much more. Really, at 800 Microsoft points, Outland is just screaming, “Buy me!” It has no imperfections, aside from the fact that, like all good games, the ride eventually ends. But what a fun time you’ll have getting there. Don’t miss this gem.
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