Every month, Xbox Live gives Gold members a bundle of games to download across both systems – completely free of charge!
August’s line-up looks pretty darn tasty, with a nice mix that encompasses big oily dudes, Japanese warriors, a retro-style 2D platformer, and a beloved 3D adventure widely regarded as a modern classic.
Intrigued? You should be. Now, let’s take a closer look …
Xbox One
Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate
This is the third outing in the series of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors mash-ups. As an update to the original game, Ultimate actually features newer additions from the Hyper version released on the Wii U. As extra value for money, though, Ultimate tosses a few new characters into the mix, including those from the Dead or Alive and Soul Calibre series.
You also get two new stories and stages – and it won’t cost you a penny! Not bad, eh?
WWE 2K16
Wrestling games are a blast for fans and non-fans of the sport alike. There’s plenty to enjoy in WWE 2K16 especially, most notably the deep progression seen in other 2K games. MyCareer is great fun, giving you the chance to build your own superstar, shaping their personality through your own actions.
Of course, few things are quite as entertaining in a wrestling game as creating your own characters, and the photo-import tool lets you slap your own face on a buff body.
Xbox 360
Spelunky
Retro-style games are a big deal today. Not only do they give us all the chance to enjoy a little nostalgic fun and stripped-back gameplay, but they’re perfect for independent developers looking to experiment. Spelunky is a great example of how well 2D games can be when done right.
You take control of a nameless little guy, the titular spelunker, as he works through one underground tunnel after another. The aim is to grab as much treasure as you can without getting killed by the many enemies or traps. Still, you’re not helpless: you can jump on heads to beat enemies (in the traditional platforming style), or use a whip (it’s not Indiana Jones, honest!).
Spelunker’s levels are all generated randomly, and thrown together into different groups based on difficulty. Speaking of difficulty, it’s worth mentioning how challenging Spelunker is, with its scarcity of save points and high death-count. Still, for fans of 2D gaming with serious bite, Spelunker’s well worth a go.
Beyond Good & Evil HD
You may have heard of this one.
Released waaay back in 2003, Beyond Good & Evil might have been a commercial failure, but gamers lapped it up regardless. Since then, it’s become a definite cult favourite, and a belated sequel is finally in development as you read this.
The star of the show is Jade, a reporter with canny skills in hand-to-hand combat, which come in handy throughout her adventure. She’s dedicated to blowing the lid off a worldwide alien conspiracy by working with the resistance group opposing these extraterrestrial invaders, and along the way, you’re tasked with taking snaps on Jade’s camera, solving puzzles, and exploring gorgeous environments.
Sounds good, right? Well, this HD edition is completely re-mastered, with better character models, refined textures, and an enhanced soundtrack. You also get new achievements to unlock, too.
If you’ve never experienced Beyond Good & Evil before, this HD version is well worth downloading.
So, that’s it! As you can see, Xbox Live’s put together a pretty decent selection for August, catering to diverse tastes.
What do you think of August’s Xbox Live Games with Gold? Let us know!
