Exclusive Xbox Windows 8 Preview: Rocket Riot 3D

Rocket Riot 3D Logo

A short while ago, Microsoft announced 40 Xbox games that will release inside the Windows 8 launch window. A few are titles that accept never been released inside Microsoft'southward Xbox ecosystem, but many will be familiar to Windows Phone and Xbox 360 gamers. One such game we're excited about is Rocket Anarchism 3D, developed in-firm past series creator Codeglue and published past Microsoft Studios.

Head past the break for our total preview with lots of exclusive details.

A flying riot

Rocket Riot 3D

Windows eight screenshots

For those who've never played Rocket Riot, the game can exist summed upwards as a cartoony 2.5D arena-based shooter. The cute bean-shaped characters wing effectually with rocket propulsion and nail at each other with a diversity of armaments. While the game takes identify from a 2D perspective, the environments are rendered in 3D and explode into tiny cubes when shot. It makes for a frenzied but lighthearted experience. Bank check out our Rocket Riot WP7 review (one of my very first for thi site) for more details.

Twin sticks, both real and imagined

Rocket Anarchism is a twin-stick shooter. The graphic symbol can fly in any direction using the left stick, while the flicking the right stick (rather than belongings information technology) fires your gun. The Windows Phone version actually controls actually well with its virtual sticks, which I consider the finest on the platform.

In moving to Windows 8, Rocket Anarchism 3D supports more than control formats than always before. Virtual sticks render for tablet gamers, while the desktop oversupply can become the mouse and-keyboard route. Or plug in an Xbox 360 controller to experience the same controls as the original. Basically, information technology should play peachy whether yous're on the go or plugged in with peripherals.

Graphical enhancements

Rocket Riot 3D

Rocket Riot 3D gets its proper noun from its new stereoscopic 3D support. The extra-dimensional result works with both red/blue and red/light-green 3D glasses. Even if you don't care about adding a third dimension to the visuals, this version still looks better than the original Xbox 360 game. It supports upwardly to 1080P resolution (same as my gaming notebook'south screen, ooh). The environmental explosions (which already looked terrific on WP7 and especially Xbox 360) have also been improved, making the game even more of a anarchism on the eyes.

Loftier-flying entrada

Rocket Riot 3D

The Windows Telephone version of Rocket Riot's entrada featured 48 single-player levels – quite a few less than the original XBLA game'southward 80 stages, but even so decent for a telephone game. The story pitted players against the evil pirate Blockbeard, who was quite the devil of an endboss. Thankfully, Rocket Riot 3D not simply packs all eighty levels (complete with music cutting from the mobile game), information technology also adds a lot more on acme of that – 48 make new levels.

The new campaign's narrative picks up right where the first one left off. Code Mucilage doesn't want to spoil too much of the story, but it will circumduct around lumberjacks and samurai (2 of history'due south most notorious occupations) instead of pirates this time. The levels stringing this epilogue together feature all-new locations and enemies. The new campaign can be selected correct from the start, then players who've already experienced Rocket Anarchism on other platforms tin leap right into fresh content.

2 more than additions to the single-player game are minibosses and diseases. Minibosses will make normal levels more than challenging due to their giant size, actress health, and unique offensive powers. Meanwhile, some regular enemies volition carry diseases that they can pass on to players. You'll want to avoid their carmine rockets like the plague!

Social features

Rocket Riot 3D doesn't include real-fourth dimension multiplayer like the XBLA game as it'due south primarily designed around the tablet experience. But the asynchronous Claiming mode that was recently added to the Windows Phone game returns, so y'all'll nonetheless be able to compete with friends by setting upwards challenges for each other. A new sharable screenshot characteristic lets players show off their unmarried-player accomplishments as well.

More to come

Because the relative ease of portability betwixt Windows 8 and Windows Phone eight code, it's off-white to wonder whether Rocket Riot 3D might see a WP8 release. Lawmaking Glue doesn't have any such plans withal, but that could change after WP8 becomes bachelor.

Rocket Riot 3D is scheduled to launch alongside the Windows eight OS on October 26. It volition be an Xbox title and have 200 GamerScore worth of Achievements. We'll have more than to share (including outset word of an all-new, ridiculously cool playable grapheme) presently. In addition to checking back with Windows Telephone Cardinal, Codeglue asks you to go on an heart on their Facebook folio and Twitter account @Codeglue for additional fun tidbits.