By now you hopefully know that Microsoft has a big month of March planned for DLC and downloadable games. Actually, its spring “Block Party” is a flagship event, much like their Summer of Arcade. This March we’ll receive Perfect Dark, Game Room, Toy Soldiers, and this little guy from Slick Entertainment (the team behind N+), Scrap Metal.
Scrap Metal is an interesting little title, a top-down racing game like days of old, along with a whole bundle of modes players can take part in. While the single player game has plenty of racing (and weapons to boot), there are more than a few game modes to blast through.
Follow the jump for more.
Scrap Metal (XBLA)
Developer: Slick Entertainment
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
To be released: March 2010
Starting out, the single player mode has more than 60 different missions, each which entail more than just simply navigating around a track. There’s a Demolition Derby mode; a Survivor mode where you’re chased by police; an Elimination mode; King of the Hill; and finally, bosses to defeat and new cars to unlock.
These unlockable cars are important. You’ll have four you can use at any given time, and the bodies of each car will be unlocked or purchased through the game. They all have different characteristics that you can apply to the vehicle, and you can even customize the look of the machine. For example, you’ll definitely want to get a monster truck for the derby, but you’ll want to use a muscle car for some of the more brutal races.
I really must say I like the aesthetic of Scrap Metal. It has a cool looking junkyard feel, and a slightly cartoony style with the bold lines that make it fun to watch. I also like the goofy addition of support for Anaglyph 3D glasses — you know, those silly red and blue glasses. While it is not something you will spend a boat load of time using, it’s certainly a fun feature.
I had a good time with what I was shown, and it seems like a fairly solid entry entry for next month’s Block Party. Even better, there is four player multiplayer across the modes. I’m concerned that the 1200 Microsoft points price tag might be high, but the game looks good and has some neat little tricks, including four multiplayer modes.
Keep an eye out for Scrap Metal when it hits Xbox LIVE Arcade next month.
