Game Shopping from your Sofa

WATCH TOP DOWNLOADABLE GAMES VIDEO

Too hot outside? Fed up with your local game store? Skip the tedium of retail shopping and relax with some of the best titles the video game world has to offer, delivered directly to your console without CDs, manuals, or interpersonal contact. Some of these games are original creations, some are re-releases of well-loved classics, some are a little of both -- but all are well worth your time.

Xbox 360

WATCH BOMBERMAN LIVE TRAILER NOW

Bomberman Live

Original release: July 2007
Price: $10

Hudson's long-running Bomberman series finally made it to the 360 recently. For the first time. No, Bomberman Zero never existed, and if you played it you'll surely agree. Bomberman Live is a classic tale of a bunch of little astronaut guys, a maze, and enough high explosives to blow the whole lot to kingdom come. Best enjoyed with a crowd, if you've never experienced the joy of blowing seven shades of doodoo out of your friends, you can't miss this - and if you're a fan of the series, you probably already own it. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

Verdict: Explosive multiplayer action. 4/5

WATCH CARCASSONNE GAMEPLAY NOW

Carcassonne

Original release: June 2007
Price: $10

One of the flagship titles in the recent resurgence of strategy-oriented board games, Carcassonne comes to Xbox Live Arcade flushed with awards, sales success and countless addicted players. The game is set in medieval France, and sees its players competing to develop the Carcassonne region, constructing the game's board as they go. It's one of the few turn-based Xbox Live Arcade games to support more than one local player, and also plays very well on Xbox Live.

Verdict: You won't get board of this. 4/5

WATCH PRINCE OF PERSIA GAMEPLAY NOW

Prince of Persia Classic

Original release: 1989
Price: $10

Jordan Mechner's platform game Prince of Persia, at its debut in 1989, was widely considered to be the pinnacle of computer animation. Mechner used a classic photographic technique called "rotoscoping" to produce the Prince's characteristically smooth movements, snapping high-speed pictures of his brother running and jumping to use as a guide for his computer model. Even today, the animations hold up remarkably well, and, if you ask us, the classic Prince of Persia is better than most of the modernized sequels published in the last few years. Take it for a spin and see if you agree.

Verdict: Fit for a prince. 4/5

VIEW GEOMETRY WARS EVOLVED SCREENSHOTS

Geometry Wars Evolved

Original release: November 2005
Price: $5

One of the first games to be released for the newly opened Xbox Live Arcade, Geometry Wars remains one of its most gripping single-player offerings. It traces its roots back to arcade games like Robotron, has an easy-to-learn two-stick control system, takes place at a pace that's absolutely blistering, and has an addictive hook that's strong enough to reel in an elephant. Thanks to its vibrant, almost overwhelming graphics, epileptics should probably steer clear, but the rest of us are guaranteed a fantastic experience.

Verdict: We still can't stop playing. 5/5

CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Original release: 1997
Price: $10

SOTN to its friends, this episode in the much-admired Castlevania series touched down on the PlayStation in 1997, just as the console world was reveling in the new-found realism of 3D graphics. Symphony, a 2D action-adventure, didn't exactly capture the mood of the time, but it nevertheless captured the imaginations of a whole generation of fans -- and, thanks to Xbox Live, it's reborn to do exactly the same thing again. Its open-ended style of gameplay borrows heavily from role-playing game traditions, and its fighting-game inspired controls work beautifully. Don't miss it.

Verdict: Symphonic. 5/5

PAC-MAN

Pac-Man

Original release: 1980
Price: $5-10

Yellow, hungry, and eternally pursued by ghosts, Pac-Man needs no introduction. Although hardly the first popular arcade game, it was the first to break out of the traditionally male demographic and captivate players of both sexes. Pac-Man's popularity among what we now call "non-traditional gamers" was later recognized by Midway with the release of Ms. Pac-Man which, if anything, was even more successful than Pac-Man itself. Both, plus a shined-up Championship Edition with improved graphics and new mazes, are available on Xbox Live Arcade.

Verdict: Definitely our favorite game character inspired by a pizza missing a slice. 3.5/5

STREET FIGHTER II

Street Fighter 2

Original release: 1991
Price: $10

Updated, re-released, and overhauled numerous times, Street Fighter II is still regarded as one of the best fighting games of all time, thanks to its delicate balance and complex system of special moves. The Xbox Live version includes online multiplayer and a "quarter mode" that simulates the winner-stays-on rules adopted by players of the arcade original. The 360's pad isn't exactly ideal for fighting games, but it works well enough -- and you can't argue with gameplay that's this tried-and-tested.

Verdict: Haaaaaaaaaaaadoken! 3.5/5