Catch is a casual game for Windows Phone 8 that calls upon you to connect like symbols together without getting your lines crossed.  The game is simply drawn-up but challenging enough to keep you interested.

The game has forty levels of game play with the free version with additional levels available through in-app purchase.  Catch also has a colorblind mode that adds a letter to the colored stars to make them distinguishable.

If you are looking for a challenging game to help you pass a few minutes with, Catch is worth a try.

The main menu with Catch has options to jump into the game, rate the game over in the Windows Phone Store, view other games from the developer and follow the developer on Twitter.  At the top right corner, you will find a mute button and as you begin each puzzle, an additional icon will appear that resembles an eyeball that turns on the colorblind mode.

Game play is simple with Catch.  Each puzzle will have an assortment of colored stars that you will need to connect the stars of the same color.  The paths connecting the stars must not cross and some levels contain bridges and overpasses to act as intersections.

To connect a series of stars, tap and hold on your starting point/star and draw a line to the next star of the same color.  Continue drawing until you connect all the stars of the same color.  Lines are drawn either vertically or horizontally.  Some puzzles will have barriers you have to draw around to make the connection and some barriers will allow for diagonal lines.

As you progress through the levels, game play gets a little more challenging with more stars added to the puzzle.

Overall, Catch is a fun game to consider for your Windows Phone.  It isn't a puzzle game that will drive you crazy but challenging enough to be an entertaining way to pass the time.  The first few levels are rather easy but allow you to get used to game play.   The first forty levels of puzzles are included with Catch with additional puzzles available through in-app purchase.  The Master Pack and Elite Pack both costs $.99 each and contains sixty levels per pack. 

Catch is a free game and available for Windows Phone 8.  You can find your copy here in the Windows Phone Store.

If you are yearning for a tennis game for Windows Phone 8, you need to check out Cross Court Tennis 2.  It is a relatively new sports game for Windows Phone and once you get used to the controls, it is an entertaining game to pass the time with.

Graphics are top notch, game play challenging but the screen does feel a little cramped.  Nonetheless, overall, Cross Court Tennis 2 is a welcomed addition to the Windows Phone gaming library.

Let us get this out of the way first.  Cross Court Tennis 2 is listed as a free game available for Windows Phone 8 devices.  However, the free version does not have all the gaming features unlocked making it more of a trial version than a free version.  You can play Quick Matches but to play the Career Mode, you will have to pay $1.99 through in-app purchase.  A little on the deceptive side but should not detract from what is a rather nice game for Windows Phone 8.

Cross Court Tennis 2 Main Menu

The menu for Cross Court Tennis 2 has the option to pursue a career, play a quick match, access the gaming options, and hit the court for a little practice (replay the tutorial).  As you begin to play the game, you will be offered the opportunity to play through a series of tutorials.  While you can skip the tutorials, they will help you with game play once you compete in tennis matches.

Cross Court Tennis 2 Player Creation

Quick matches are just as they sound, a quick way to get into game play.  The Career Mode allows you to create a tennis play and compete in global tournaments.  You have a training mode available in the Career Mode as well as player rankings.

Cross Court Tennis 2 Tournament

The gaming screen has a movement joystick positioned in the lower left corner and two swing control buttons in the right.  The buttons are large and it will take you a little time to get used to the controls.  You will over run the tennis ball often and miss the timing of your tennis racket swing often as you learn your way around the game.  Luckily, it does not take long to get used to the controls and game play becomes less frustrating.

The only issue with the large buttons is the amount of space they take up on the screen.  Cross Court Tennis 2's game screen can be rather crowded.  The game is playable on devices such as the Nokia Lumia 1020 once you get used to the controls.  I can see Cross Court Tennis 2 being better suited for larger screens such as those on the Nokia Lumia 1520 or the crop of 8” tablets that are hitting the market should a Windows 8.1 version become available.

Quick Update: As noted in the comments, you can adjust the size of the controls.  Once a game has started, pause the game to pull up the settings menu.  At the bottom of the screen, next to the “quit match” option you can access the controls option where you can adjust the size of the controls as well as a few style options.  This makes the game a lot more versatile and playable on smaller screens.

Cross Court Tennis 2 Game Play

Game play follows your traditional game of tennis.  You can set the number of games per set in the game’s settings to shorten the length of the overall game.  The downside to game play is that if you have to end a match mid-stream, the game does not save your progress. 

While the gaming screen can be a little on the crowded side and the free game is really a trial version of the paid game, Cross Court Tennis 2 makes a good first impression.  I would like to see the option to save your gaming progress added with future updates.  It can be rather frustrating to get a few games under your belt, have something come up that takes you away from the game, and then have to start at square one when you return.

Cross Court Tennis is listed as a free game, available for Windows Phone 8 devices.  Unlocking all the gaming features will cost you $1.99 through in-app purchase and you can find Cross Court Tennis here in the Windows Phone Store.  The game does install and play on the Nokia Lumia 520 but on the smaller screen it is easy for your fingers to get in the way of game play.

Thanks, Izyan, for the tip!

Microsoft is running a 12 Days of Deals for the Microsoft Stores and to match that, they’ve quadrupled their Red Stripe Deal from three apps to twelve. Starting today, users can head to the Windows Phone Store to grab these twelve popular apps, heavily discounted for next few weeks.

Which twelve get the discount? Head past the break to find out!

Modern Combat 4– This is the second time this combat shooter drops to $2.99 (from $6.99) making it quite the steal. Fire up this action packed shooter on your Lumia 1520 or other Windows Phone 8 device with 1 GB of RAM or more. Find it here in the Store, read our review.

Runtastic Pro– Need to go for a run? Have Nokia’s new Motion Monitor? Then grab Runtastic Pro for $1.99 (regular is $4.99 - right-hand QR code). We wrote up our experience with the app here.

Ruzzle – The popular word game akin to Boggle has had its price dropped again from $2.99 to a more affordable $1.49. Pick it up from the store.

Bejeweled LIVE– Bejeweled LIVE used to be a Nokia exclusive, but it lost that a few months ago. The super addictive puzzler previously fetched for $2.99 but now it’s only $1.99. You can download it from the store right now.

Cocktail Flow – The most popular alcohol mixer app for Windows Phone (and Windows 8), Cocktail Flow set the bar for design way back when it was first released. It’s still the go to app for cocktails and it seems perfect for the holidays. Regular price is $2.99 but now it’s only 99 cents.

Sunny Hillride– This popular slider game, where you try to see how far you can get before time runs out, normally goes for $1.99 but is discounted to 99 cents for the holidays. We called it “the next big thing” and highly recommend it.

Rayman Jungle Run– Although we’re still waiting for the follow up, Rayman Jungle Run is hands down one of the best games around on Windows Phone and Windows 8. It just got 20 new levels and is one of our favorite games around. Grab it for 99 cents instead of $2.99.

Package Tracker– If you’re like us, you do a lot of online shopping. If so, you NEED this app. Package Tracker allows you to input the tracking code for UPS, USPS, FedEx and more and gives you Notifications (Toast, Lockscreen and Live Tile) when its status changes. You can even track it on the map. Have Windows 8? Grab the companion app as they talk to each other via SkyDrive. Must have for the holidays! Regular price is $2.49 but is now a steal at 99 cents.

Dr. Pickaxe– It looks like Pinball FX2 may never make it to Windows Phone, but Dr. Pickaxe is an interesting indie alternative. Normally priced at $1.99, the pinball game is just 99 cents this week.

Gravity Guy 2– Departing a bit from its previous version, Gravity Guy 2 is still an addictive arcade/endless runner and one of the top titles on the platform. The game used to cost $2.99 but now you can have it for 99 cents! Read our review for more info.

Jack of Tools Pro– This all in one app has LED flashlight, compass, geographic camera, virtual level, your Earthly coordinates, your altitude, your speed and heading and even a sound meter all built in! Perfect in case you get stranded…with your relatives. The super tool costs 99 cents, down from its $1.99 price point.

Sparkle 2– From the fantastic developer house 10Tons, who have won numerous awards, comes this excellent puzzler. It has outstanding graphics and great gameplay, making it one of our favorite games to date. Read our full review to get a better idea of why you want this fantastic time killer. Regular price is $4.99 but for this week, you can have it for $1.29. Do it!

All great titles and apps for your Windows Phone, we have to give Microsoft some credit here for some great choices. Hit the links above or scan the QR codes to grab ‘em. Are you using our app? Then just swipe to the right to get the links on your phone!

Source: Microsoft; Thanks, Sebastian K., for the tip!

They might not always achieve release date parity with other platforms, but Disney Interactive is still a major supporter of Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. This year we’ve seen new releases like Where’s My Water? 2 and Where’s My Mickey arrive in fairly timely fashion, and even a few slightly older games like Wreck-it-Ralph make the trip to mobile Windows platforms.

Today Disney’s latest mobile game Frozen Free Fall has popped up on Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, just a few weeks after the iOS version’s November 21 release. Free Fall is a free-to-play match-3 puzzle game, not unlike that Candy Crush Saga game that everyone raves about. Head past the break for impressions and Store links!

Cool as ice

Windows Phone 8 version

Frozen Free Fall is based on Disney’s CG animated film that is still going strong in theaters; it took the top spot at the US box office last week. The movie tells the tale of two estranged royal sisters, one with dangerous ice powers, and their attempts at reconciliation and protecting their kingdom. It features very strong female leads, better-than-average songs, and is just fantastic on the whole.

Being a simple puzzle game, Free Fall doesn’t match up to the movie it’s based on quite as closely as Temple Run: Oz. Basically, players progress through 75 unique levels spread across a frozen landscape. During each level, you’re paired with a companion character from the film that animates according to the action. Since the game lacks actual story scenes (that I could notice), the setting and companions are about the extent of the Frozen-ness.

Let it go (and make matches)

Windows 8 screenshots

The actual gameplay involves matching three gems of the same color, just like Bejeweled and its many clones. But unlike Bejeweled, players have a finite number of moves in which to reach a target score. Fail and you lose a life. Succeed and you’ll receive a star rating based on how much you exceeded the target score. You can eventually gain access to powerups like torches and snowballs as well. Nothing revolutionary, but still fun stuff.

Being a free to play game, Frozen Free Fall needs be monetized through In-App Purchases. Players start with five lives which they can lose by exiting a level (boo) or failing it. You get a new life every thirty minutes. To refill your lives sooner, select the life counter at the top corner of the map screen. A full batch of lives costs $1.49. Of course, buying lives is optional and you could just wait it out without paying. Note that the Windows Phone version makes you sign into your Microsoft account and agree to SkyDrive access before playing for some reason, just like we saw in Memory Battle Time last week.

Frozen Free Fall is sort of a mixed bag visually. On Windows 8, the 2D background images look very low resolution and washed out. Perhaps Disney went this route to avoid distracting from the gameplay; I don’t know. The actual animated companions come to life through 3D models and fare much better than the backgrounds. The jewels and visual effects for matches don’t disappoint either.

It might not fully take advantage of the Frozen source material, but Free Fall is still a fine little puzzle game. Give the game a try for free. And if you like animated movies, don’t miss the film before it leaves theaters!

Source: Windows Phone Apps.es

• Frozen– Windows Phone 8 – 25 MB – Free – Store Link
• Frozen– Windows 8 and RT – 65 MB – Free – Store Link

It was only a few days ago when we covered the release of Despicable Me Minion Rush for Windows Phone, but already the popular title has received an update, bumping the game to version 1.0.0.1. Since this is such a minor update, we can only assume that bug fixes have been implemented, alongside some possible optimisations.

Unfortunately, Gameloft have failed to provide a changelog for the Despicable Me update, but should you notice anything else that's new or improved, be sure to shout out in the comments. If you haven't yet downloaded the game we strongly urge you to do so, especially if you're one who loves both endless runners and the Despicable Me movies.

You can download Despicable Me Minion Rush from the Windows Phone Store for free (Windows Phone 8). Thanks, Edipose, for the tip!

Windows Phone has been slow to pick up some of mobile gaming’s heavy hitters – though the promise of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas coming next week is certainly a big step in the right direction. Still, many of the most unique and interesting mobile games come from smaller developers instead of the big guys. Windows Phone is making great progress with indie game makers, as evidenced by the developers we interviewed at Casual Connect who are preparing to dip their toes into Microsoft’s mobile waters.

Yesterday we reviewed BigBot Audio Drop, and today we bring news of another just-released indie game for Windows Phone 8: Aztec Antics from Bouncing Ball Limited. Not only does Aztec Antics sport some terrific retro-style pixel art, it also features MOGA controller support! That makes six MOGA-enhanced games on Windows Phone 8 and counting.

Head past the break for our Aztec Antics hands-on video and the developer’s video guide for setting up a MOGA controller with Windows Phone 8!

We’re looking for treasure

Aztec Antics is a classic arcade-style game in which players control a treasure hunter as he grabs coins and avoids danger. The levels are basically single-screen, but they scroll vertically a bit on Windows Phone. It reminds me a lot of the original arcade Mario Bros, except you don’t attack enemies from below in this one.

Enemies constantly spawn from the top of the screen and descend toward the bottom. Our hero can jump on their heads to defeat them and score some points, but it’s tough because they move so quickly. At first you’ll only have to fight off enraged boars, but other types appear as the level goes on: the Aztec mummy, Nagual the jaguar, and Quetzalcoatl the god of death.

The main goal other than staying alive is to grab as much treasure as possible. Coins randomly appear throughout the level, but only one coin at a time. Thus you’ll grab a coin and then scramble to get the next one, and so on, until an enemy catches you or you fall into the pit at the bottom of the screen. Aztec Antics only gives players one life to work with.

Other than hunting high scores, collecting coins plays another important purpose. At the start of the game, only one level is unlocked. To gain access to the remaining four levels, you’ll need lots of coins. Every fifty coins collected will open up a new level. You can’t track how many coins you have from the main menu, and the level select doesn’t have a visual indicator of which levels are locked or not. But when the game ends, it at least displays how many coins the player needs to get a new level.

The Windows Phone version currently lacks online leaderboards – an important component for any score-based game. Thankfully Bouncing Ball plans to add them very soon in an update.

Controlling the antics

To move around in Aztec Antics, players can swipe left or right (basically an invisible virtual d-pad) on the left side of the screen. Tapping the right side of the screen jumps.

Gamers who don’t like virtual controls have another option as well: MOGA controller support! What better way to recreate the classic gaming experience than with a physical control pad and buttons? Developer Gary Ritches has even made a video demonstrating how to set up your controller to work with the game.

On iOS, Aztec Antics supports 4-person competitive multiplayer by using allowing each individual to control a character with an extra iPhone or physical controller. Bouncing Ball really wants to bring the same support to Windows Phone.

Unfortunately, MOGA controllers don’t support the simultaneous use of two controllers with the same device. As such, the game’s substantial local multiplayer component can’t work with Windows Phone just yet. If MOGA ever updates their software to support multiple controllers, the game will be updated to take advantage of that.

Future expeditions

Aztec Antics IIfeatures a new art style reminiscent of Another World/Out of this World

Luckily, Aztec Antics is coming to Windows 8 and RT within the next week or two. Windows 8 supports the use of multiple controllers, so crowding around a PC or Surface (along with a USB hub) and a few controllers will allow for a great multiplayer experience. We’ll be sure to let you know when the Windows 8 version arrives.

Bouncing Ball is also hard at work on a sequel: Aztec Antics II that will come to mobile Windows platforms and even consoles like the Wii U! Hopefully that includes the Xbox One as well.

Enter the jungle

Aztec Antics works with all Windows Phone 8 devices. It even runs at 60 frames per second on the Lumia 520. If you enjoy classic arcade games and/or retro graphics, give these antics a shot.

• Aztec Antics– Windows Phone 8 – 9 MB – $1.29 – Store Link

Anodia is a Windows Phone 8 game that has the feel of a brick breaker styled game but loses the traditional feel with the variety of targets you are called upon to destroy.  You do not have a series of bricks to destroy but instead you have to take out light bulbs, hanging lamps, groups of bouncy balls, and more.

The game has over one hundred gaming levels, over twenty different power-ups, and if you are a fan of the brick-breaker styled games Anodia is worth a try.

Anodia’s main menu tosses out options to start the campaign game mode, start a quick game, view/purchase equipment, access the game’s settings, remove the ads via in-app purchase ($2.99) and unlock the entire game (levels, paddles, balls, bonuses, etc.) also through an in-app purchase ($6.99).

The equipment store has a wide range of balls, paddles and perks that you can purchase with the coins you earn during game play.  Settings cover sound/music levels as well as your gaming controls.  You can control your gaming paddle by touch or use your tilt sensor to move the paddle around.

The hundred plus levels of Anodia are progressively unlocked.  The best I can tell, the Campaign Mode takes you through the various levels of Anodia while the Quick Play allows you to choose which unlocked level you want to tackle.  Your progress in the Campaign Mode is saved to let you pick things up where you left them.

Game play is not unlike any other brick-breaker styled game.  You have a paddle at the bottom of the screen and your scoring stats running across the top of the screen.

Each game begins by swiping up at the screen to launch your ball from the paddle.  The goal is to smash all the targets that are scattered about the game screen with your ball.  You keep the ball in play by bouncing it off your paddle.  Targets range from hanging lights to light bulbs on a spinning wheel with all taking multiple hits to destroy.

Power-ups and power-downs will fall from shattered targets and will become active if you catch them with your paddle.  Power-ups include a stretched out paddle to a protective barrier that will keep your ball in play if it misses your paddle.  Power-downs include a smaller paddle or clouds that will obscure your view.

There is also a gravity field that becomes available that when you tap the screen, your balls will swarm to that area.  It is a handy tool when you are down to just a few targets and cannot seem to get the right bounce angle with your paddle.

If you like the brick-breaker styled games, Anodia is well worth a try.  The variety of targets and range of power-ups and power-downs keeps this game from growing stale.  The only downside to the game is the lack of a help section to give you a reference point for all the power-ups/downs that will be heading your way.

Anodia is a free, ad-supported game that is available for Windows Phone 8.  There are in-app purchases available to remove the ads ($2.99) and unlock all levels/paddles/balls/etc. ($6.99).  You can find your copy of Anodia here in the Windows Phone Store.

Reindeer Round-Up, a cool physics-based puzzle game, is now free at the Windows Phone Store. It’s probably free only for a limited time, so we recommend downloading it now. Reindeer Round-Up is normally $1.29 without a trial.

This game will get you in the holiday mood as you stack reindeers on top of each other to reach the presents above them without falling. Reindeer Round-Up has originally launched for iOS and Android, so we are really happy the game has released for Windows Phone 8, too.

If you haven’t installed it yet, go grab Reindeer Round-Up from the Windows Phone Store while it’s free. Let us know what you think of this Holiday game in the comments!

(Note: The staff here are only seeing the game free on our phones, not via the web Store. So try to download thru the Store on the phone first!)

It’s Saturday, so it’s time for another round of our weekly app highlights. This is the part of the week where we sit back and go over the big news around apps that you might have missed. We’ll look at new apps to the Windows Phone Store, big updates to some of your favorite apps, and any new betas worth checking out. Let’s jump in.

New

Motion Monitor– Rocking a Nokia Lumia 1520? Then check out Nokia’s new Motion Monitor app. It requires the Nokia Black firmware update and a Snapdragon 800 processor, therefore only Lumia 1520 owners can take advantage of this app that will track your activity without needing an accessory. Get in the Windows Phone Store. (Free/Lumia 1520 only)

LiveGaming– Watch a lot of gaming on Twitch? We don’t have an official app for Windows Phone yet, but we do have LiveGaming. It’s a third-party app that rocks and worth checking out for Twitch fans. Browse games, top streams and more with LiveGaming. Get it in the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Socl– Microsoft has finally released an official app for their social network called Socl. It launched simultaneously on Windows Phone, Android, and iOS. Which is great, but that means this is a PhoneGap app for the time being. Hopefully we’ll see a native app sooner than later. Sign into your account and browse your timeline with the app and more. Get it in the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Updated

USAA – The official USAA banking app went missing from the Windows Phone Store about 11 months ago. It’s not reappeared and with an update to boot. The latest version brings Windows Phone 8 support to the banking app and should be installed immediately on the phones of USAA customers. Grab it in the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Instance–It’s finally here! Instance was the first app on Windows Phone that allowed direct uploading to Instagram. Version 2.0 of Instance brings geotagging, support for other networks like Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare, and much more. Grab it in the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Readit – Our favorite app for Reddit on Windows Phone picks up a massive update. Readit 1.3 introduces various improvements for battery, optimizations for low memory devices, and much more. Grab it from the Windows Phone Store. ($1.99)

myTube – One of the best YouTube apps for Windows Phone, myTube, has been updated. You’ll find version 1.4.1.3 in the Store with the ability to open videos from the browser into the app, the ability to search for playlists and much more. Grab it from the Windows Phone Store. (Trial/$0.99)

MetroMail – The first native Gmail app on Windows Phone is picking up an update. Head to the Store and find v1.2 of MetroMail that includes the ability to upload photos, night mode and much more. It’s in the Windows Phone Store, so go try it out if you’re a heavy Gmail user. ($1.49)

LinkedIn – We haven’t seen an update for quite some time for LinkedIn, but this week we had one. The update lets you add/edit your profile picture, grow your network through your address book, and see who’s viewed your profile. Grab it in the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Skype – We love Skype updates and are anxiously waiting for the update that introduces a shift to the fundamentals of the platform. This week we didn’t get that, but we did v 2.13 that introduces the ability to copy and paste instant messages. Get it in the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Games

Frozen Free Fall– Disney’s latest animated hit, Frozen, has a game on Windows Phone and Windows 8. Frozen Free Fall feature puzzle gameplay in this free game. Grab it in the Windows Store or Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Angry Birds Go!–The first Angry Birds game that doesn’t feature the typical gameplay has been released for Windows Phone. Angry Birds Go! is a kart racing game that’s free with in-app purchase. It’s a 3D world where you’ll race your way to fun. Grab it in the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Despicable Me: Minion Rush– Pretty good week for gamer’s right? There’s now an official game for the Despicable Me movie franchise. This endless runner features those little yellow creatures from the game and is free for folks. There’s also a Windows 8 version! Grab it in the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store. (Free)

No new betas to report on this week and not that many new apps hit the Store. This past week was all about apps getting some pretty impressive updates. Have any favorite apps from the week? Sound off below. 

Forza Motorsport 5 is one of the premiere titles in the Xbox One launch lineup. With hyper realistic graphics, excellent physics, and innovative cloud-based driver AI, Forza 5 should keep fans of racing sims busy for months on end.

That’s all well and good, but my favorite feature of the Forza series has always been its unrivaled livery editor. Players have an impressive amount of freedom to make practically any decorations they want. An enterprising gamer could even make some classy Windows Phone designs with which to adorn the game’s cars. That’s just what our reader “B0BCAT wp” has done, as a matter of fact. Look at the detail on that phone!

Meanwhile, Forza 5 has also just received a significant balancing update. More details and custom car design pictures after the break.

Reaching for players’ wallets

2013 Audi RS 7 Sportback

When Forza 5 launched, it did so with a heavier emphasis on microtransactions and In-App Purchases than previous games in the series. Rare car prices had been boosted exponentially, to the point where it would have taken literally months of grinding to unlock the full complement of 200+ cars.

Things that used to award free cars to players in previous games no longer did, and players couldn’t sell cars to each other either. Meanwhile, the game offered to sell premium currency on virtually every screen. This caused quite a stir among the loyal Forza community and the general IAP opposition.

Quick turnaround

2009 Honda S2000 CR

Remember how Microsoft responded to negative feedback about the Xbox One’s online requirements by removing the requirement prior to launch? Well, Microsoft and Turn 10 did the same thing with Forza 5, except a few weeks after release instead of before. Correctly anticipating player preferences would have been better, but at least they’re trying.

Post-update, credit payouts have been increased dramatically. Leveling up used to pay 15,000 credits; now it pays 35,000. On the average difficulty setting, players will earn 60 percent more credits than before, says Microsoft.

Simultaneously, Turn 10 has reduced the prices of the best cars in the game. The Ferrari GTO, for example has had its price slashed by four million credits. It now costs only two million. The cumulative price of all Forza 5 cars has gone down by 45 percent. These changes should allow people to progress through the game at a reasonable pace.

Also, don't forget to visit the Forza Rewards website to unlock free credits and bonus cars!

More improvements

On top of repairing Forza 5’s economy, Turn 10 has also added a couple of new multiplayer-oriented modes. First, drag races are now available in free play and multiplayer modes. Up to 16 players in a lobby can compete in 1-versus-1 heats. Alternately, 8 drag racers can compete at the same time on the same track.

The second new game type is multiplayer-only tag racing. It offers three variations: try to stay “it” the longest, try to spread “it” everyone, or try to be “it” the least during a match. Tag is one of Forza’s more inventive game types.

The only downside to the new tag and drag racing game types? They don’t appear in career mode. I suppose it would have taken the developer much longer to integrate them into single-player, so perhaps that’s for the best.

More designs to come

Getting back to custom car decals and designs, B0BCAT wp did a great job capturing the look and coolness of Windows Phone in his designs. To get these signs:

• Purchase and hop into the 2013 Audi RS 7 Sportback or 2009 Honda S2000 CR
• Then go to Paint / Find New Designs / Search / Creator and search for in B0BCAT

Do you guys have high quality Forza 5 designs to show off? If so, share them in our forums! I have a few special designs in the works, but they won’t be ready until early next year. Blame a hectic review schedule. Or blame it on the rain.

• Forza Motorsport 5– Xbox One – 32 GB - $59.99 – Amazon Store Link – Xbox.com Store Link

Thanks to RJ Priest for showing us the custom car designs!

The Xbox One includes a free fitness and exercise game called Xbox Fitness for Xbox Live gold subscribers – see our console review for a detailed description. Not to look a gift mouth in the horse, but Xbox Fitness has a lot of room for improvement. Where’s the personality – the verve? A player serious about working out might want something more.

Luckily, Majesco Entertainment (publisher of Double Dragon: Neon for Xbox 360) and British developer Zoë Mode (makers of fellow Xbox One launch title Powerstar Golf) have a fitness game of their own for early Xbox One adopters. Zumba Fitness World Party is the latest game in the Zumba series. Combining dozens of workouts with surprisingly good music from around the globe, World Party is a title that fitness-focused Xbox One gamers should not overlook.

Head past the break for more details, exclusive screenshots, and our first-ever Xbox One video review!

Authentic dance workouts

World Party is based on the Zumba dance fitness program, which consists of real life classes, workout videos, and of course: games.

The debut Xbox One game utilizes the new Kinect in order to provide highly accurate motion recognition. Players dance along to a live-action instructor (who appears on a CG and sometimes fanciful background) and imitate the instructor’s movements. Gameplay-wise, World Party more closely resembles Dance Central than a strict workout game. Each step is a legitimate dance move; it just so happens that dancing provides a great workout.

Your silhouette appears at the bottom corner of the screen. As you perform moves, various ratings from “Good” to “Zumba” will appear over your silhouette. The instructors themselves don’t provide verbal feedback or instructions; they just lead you in the dance.

Earn six “Zumbas” in a row and the background will start to glow with streaks of light and other visual effects. These can be distracting and/or cheesy, but they also make the game more interesting to watch than a plain old workout video.

At the end of a song, each player receives a star rating based on his or her move ratings during the song. One thing I love about Zumba is it’s fairly easy to get a 5-star rating the first time you play a song. I hate when dancing games demand accuracy above and beyond my physical abilities.

Game Modes

Before we get to the meat of the game (World Tour mode), let’s look at the other modes World Party offers:

• Learn the Steps: A tutorial mode in which players can practice the basic steps of the game’s 13 dance styles. Given World Party’s multicultural focus, these include such diverse styles as salsa, reggae, Bollywood, and capoeira (AKA “Sexy Dance Fighting”).
  
  Moves can be practiced at slow or normal speed. One annoying aspect of the tutorial UI: you have to raise your hand and return to the menu in order to progress to the next move. There should be a shortcut gesture. Regardless, each style tutorial offers an easy Achievement, so you’ll want to run through them at some point.
• Quick Play: Choose a single song to dance to. The game’s 44 songs contain a bagful of licensed tracks like Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” as well as recognizable world classics like the theme from “Carmen,” the Capoeira chant from Only the Strong, and a Russian medley that starts out with the Tetris theme! Full list here.
• Full Class: Modeled after real life classes, players can choose from several 20-, 40-, or 60-minute sessions. Even better, create a custom playlist with 2-10 songs of your choosing.

World Tour

With a name like World Party, it’s only natural for this Zumba’s campaign mode to span the globe. Select from seven locations to visit: Brazil, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, India, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. After choosing a destination, you’ll be treated to a brief live-action introduction to the region. Then you’ll set out to complete the area’s 6-8 songs consecutively.

By earning high star ratings, players can unlock collectibles like postcards, passport stamps, souvenirs, and bonus movies. A good idea, but the non-video content mostly disappoints. Each item is a tiny image that can’t be zoomed in on. Come on, the game disc has more than enough room for full-screen photos!

It’s always nice when a metagame ties various modes together, and World Party knows it. Any progress made in World Tour and other modes contributes to the player’s level. Starting at level zero, there are 10 levels to advance through. Each level gained unlocks new bonus content.

Multiplayer

Besides an excellent array of music from around the planet, World Party’s other big advantage over Xbox Fitness is local multiplayer. Every mode except for Learn the Steps supports two simultaneous dancers on Xbox One and Xbox 360. Fellow launch game Just Dance 2014 lets up to four dancers play at once, but two people works fine for a game with the goal of providing a serious workout. I get the impression that World Party tracks motion better anyway.

Teaming up with a friend or significant other for world dance sessions is great fun. Each person gets to select his or her own Xbox Live profile and earn Achievements – a huge advantage over the Just Dance series which stubbornly continues to deny Achievements to anyone but the main player. Both players earn stars independently of each other, so a less skilled dancer won’t hurt the other player’s chance at a good rating.

My Zumba

World Party has a few decent aids to aid in tracking player progress. The Weekly Report displays time played, calories burned, and routines completed for every seven days of the year. The stat tracking could probably be a little more extensive. How about using the new Kinect's heart rate tracker? But it gets the job done.

The Goals feature allows players to create up to four goals to work towards simultaneously. You can basically set how many calories you want to burn and then a time period to make it happen. World Party also offers Community Goals in which all online players can participate, such as collectively reaching calorie and routine milestones.

Menu Madness

The only downside to World Party’s Kinect integration is its menu system. The motion controlled menus work well enough (much better than Just Dance 2014’s) but they’re still of the slow “highlight a selection for a few seconds” variety.

World Party only supports a few voice commands (making voice mostly useless) and lacks controller support. Every Kinect game needs controller support in its menus (something Just Dance gets right).

Achievements

This Zumba offers 39 Achievements worth 1,000 GamerScore. Most are quite easy and/or simply involve completing every song/tutorial/World Tour collectible. As I said before, World Party is far easier than Dance Central – Achievements included.

The one that will take some doing requires players to complete a full 60-minute class. I believe you could just stand still during the class, which would help people like me who struggle with longer workouts.

There are also two co-op Achievements, so you’ll need a friend to get the full GamerScore.

Overall Impression

I went into Zumba Fitness World Party with hopes for a good workout game and low expectations for the soundtrack. What I found is an exercise game that stimulates the mind too, thanks to its robust selection of multicultural songs and dances. The green-screened backgrounds and visual effects could look better, but World Party rocks the block with its soundtrack and dance moves.

If you’re looking for a fitness or dance game this year, the latest Zumba provides a better workout and more mature presentation than its competitor Just Dance. Find it at retail or as a digital download. Just don’t call me out when you out-dance me; I was born this way.

• Zumba Fitness World Party– Xbox One – 24 GB – $49.99 – Amazon Store Link– Xbox.com Store Link
• Zumba Fitness World Party– Xbox 360 – 8 GB – $39.99 – Amazon Store Link– Xbox.com Store Link

Word Soup is a relatively new word game for Windows Phone 8 that has had a fair amount of success over on iOS and Android platforms.  Word Soup is a puzzle game where you are given a sea of letters and have to find hidden words within.  The game does have a bit of a "find-a-word" puzzle game feel to it but with more pep.

Word Soup includes three single player modes, two two-player modes and comes across as an entertaining, challenging word game for Windows Phone 8.

From the main menu of Word Soup you can jump into game play, access the game’s options and view your records (high scores, achievements and stats).  Game options include music/sound levels, choose one of three tile sets, set shuffle sensitivity and turn on/off confirmation on drag (more on this in a second).

The single player game modes include:

• Relaxed Game: No timer, no pressure, just find the words.
• Timed Game: See how many words and points you can find before the timer hits zero.
• Brain Game: The longer the word, the greater your survival in this game of endurance.

The two player game modes (pass and play style) include:

• Tit for Tat: Take turns with your opponent to see who can find the best word.
• It’s Blitz: See who can score the most points in 90 seconds.

Regardless of the game mode, building words is universal.  Word Soup will fill the screen will an assortment of letters and you are tasked with building words from this soup of letters.  Just tap and drag across adjoining letters to build your word.  Words must be three letters long or greater and the letters can be connected vertically, horizontally or diagonally.  The longer the word, the more points earned and some letters offer bonus points or time.  For example in the Timed Game, building words with an "X" or "Q" will add a little time to the clock.

If you have the confirmation turned on in the settings, you will need to tap the last letter to claim the word and collect the points.  If you have the confirmation turned off, when you lift your finger from the last letter the word is collected automatically.  If the letter combination does not create an actual word, the highlighted letters will flash and return to their original tile color.

Should you find yourself stumped, at the bottom of the screen are two tiles that may help you along.  The “?” Tile will identify one word out of the letters and the tile with the letters on it will shuffle the letters around.

There is a bit of strategy involved with playing Word Soup.  Sure, identifying words is important but also looking ahead to see how removing the letters from the grid will affect the remaining letters is also important.  My only nit with Word Soup is that the letters are a little on the small side and large fingers may have difficulty building words.  I also could see Word Soup being a fun, online game where you compete with other Word Soup players in the timed game to see who can rack up the most points.  As is though, Word Soup is a fun, addictive word game for Windows Phone 8 well worth a look.

There is a free trial version for Word Soup that is restricted to the Timed Game only.  The full version of Word Soup is currently running $2.49 and you can find your copy here in the Windows Phone Store.

Slowly but surely, the upcoming Windows Phone 8 games we previewed from Casual Connect a few months ago have started to appear on the Store. First came Babel Rising 3D, then Yeti on Furry (awful name!) and Nightmares from the Deep: the Siren’s Call. Now Puzzle Retreat, the first game we covered from the show, has finally become available on Windows Phone 8.

Puzzle Retreat (from Australian developer Voxel Agents) is quite clearly a puzzle game. Windows Phone owners can enjoy the first 60 levels for free, and then opt to purchase additional level packs if they like. The developers took great pains to ensure Puzzle Retreat runs on devices with 512 MB of RAM, so everyone rocking a Windows Phone 8 device can play it.

We’ve got impressions, hands on video, and new behind the scenes info from the developer – all after the break!

Get away from the grind

The basic goal in Puzzle Retreat is to fill every empty space on the board by sliding blocks into it. A block can only be moved once, and only in the cardinal directions. Once all the empty spots are filled and the blocks have all been used, you win the level.

Before long, a variety of special blocks and tiles make their way into the puzzles:

• Blocks with dice patterns on them will split up into 2-5 separate blocks when moved, filling multiple spaces.
• Ice blocks can water Bonsai saplings or be melted by fire blocks.
• Fire blocks melt ice blocks and turn into an impassable block when they burn out.
• Bonsai saplings grow into impassable trees when ice blocks touch them.
• Arrow tiles cause whatever blocks pass over them to move in a different direction.
• And more!

Since blocks can only be moved once and puzzles get increasingly complex, it’s possible to make a mistake that prevents you from finishing the level. If that happens, players can undo any move they’ve made so far by pressing the undo button on the previous move (the hardware Back button also performs the same action on Windows Phone). Or start from scratch by tapping the reset button at the top of the screen.

Call for help

If you really struggle with a puzzle, help is only a button press away. Press the Help button at the top of the screen to visit a Facebook page dedicated to that specific puzzle. There players can ask questions and offer advice. It’s definitely an innovative use of Facebook.

However, the feature’s implementation on Windows Phone leaves something to be desired. The page loads up in a web browser at a highly zoomed, not optimized for mobile level. Because it can’t be zoomed out, the shared solutions are difficult to read.

Voxel Agents discovered this issue during the game’s QA process. Unfortunately they don’t have the control over the page’s formatting on Windows Phone. But they are currently working with Facebook to solve the problem, which should not require an actual title update.

Graphics and sound

Besides clever and challenging gameplay, Puzzle Retreat has also benefited from its very solid artistic design and UI. On the level select screen, you get a preview of the level’s appearance and indicators for whether that level is un-played, in progress, or completed. During gameplay, all the functions you’d need are just a single button tap away.

Backgrounds look like they’re made of wood, as do most of the blocks. Slide a block into the spaces and they make a satisfying “thunk” sound. Everything is bright and inviting. The only disappointing aspect of the sound for me is the complete lack of music. I always prefer an in-game soundtrack to hunting down my own tunes.

Building a better port

Puzzle Retreat utilizes the Unity game engine, allowing for a relatively painless porting process from iOS to Windows Phone 8. It took a team of two (one designer and one programmer) two months to bring the game over. That’s the same time behind the Android port, so at least Windows Phone doesn’t seem that much harder to work with than the competition.

The developers added a couple of improvements in the process of bringing their baby over to Microsoft’s smartphone platform. For one: they enhanced the level completion animation. This should increase the satisfaction players feel when they beat a level. It does look pretty cool when all the blocks pop out of their holes before the game moves on to the next stage.

The second little enhancement: a live tile. After pinning the game to the Start screen, its tile will display the game’s logo atop the most recent stage’s background. It’s not the most inventive use of a live tile, but still a cool touch regardless.

One challenge that Voxel Agents faced involved Puzzle Retreat’s stability on low memory devices. The game would sometimes crash when played on the Lumia 520 and other devices with 512 MB of RAM. The developers discovered that an issue with Unity was the source of the problem.

A huge segment of the Windows Phone 8 market owns 512 MB phones, so Voxel Agents would have limited the game’s penetration potential had they released the game without low memory support. Leaving the crash in would have tarnished their reputation for quality and polish, so that wouldn’t have been ideal either. In the end, the team decided to delay the release until Unity could fix the engine problem.

Windows Phone and beyond

As long as Puzzle Retreat does well on Windows Phone, the developer plans to support it with new content and features. One of those features is cloud save support. At present, players can restore purchases, but actual save data is not stored on the cloud. As for new content, the “Promenade” level pack that debuted on Android last week will likely be released for Windows Phone as well.

A game like Puzzle Retreat plays great on tablets as well as phones. Voxel Agents first demonstrated it to us on an iPad, after all. Naturally we’d love to see a Windows 8 version to complement the phone version. Voxel Agents reveals that a Windows 8 port is “on [the] radar.”

Again, the decision to go ahead with it will depend on the Windows Phone game’s performance. As long as the phone version does well enough, we can expect Puzzle Retreat to appear on Windows 8 during the first half of 2014.

One pack at a time

Puzzle Retreat includes two free level packs: “Welcome” and “Morning.” Welcome starts out easy enough, but the challenge ramps up around the 15th level or so out of 24. Morning is even more deviously difficult from the get-go. It will take careful thought and practice to clear its 36 levels.

Players who want more block-sliding puzzles can buy extra level packs for 99 cents each. At present, the Windows Phone version offers six extra packs – all with 36 levels apiece. These new level sets feature unique backgrounds, advanced block varieties, and new completion animations and sounds. I grabbed the “Piano” pack and was not disappointed to hear a piano fanfare when I beat a level.

Puzzle games don’t tend to amaze from a technical standpoint. But games like Puzzle Retreat can grab certain players and refuse to let go. These puzzles require plenty of planning and/or experimentation in order to succeed. I imagine the game has some will be too hard for certain players, but at least you can always move on to a different puzzle or use the Facebook help feature if you’re stuck.

Puzzle Retreat has lots to offer puzzle fans. Hopefully mobile Windows platforms will see lots more from Voxel Agents in the future.

• Puzzle Retreat– Windows Phone 8 – 18 MB – Free – Store Link

We have seen a wide range of games hit the Windows Phone Store shelves and Cliff Diving may be the first and only diving game available for Windows Phone 8.  It may not be your typical Windows Phone sports game but the game has potential.

Cliff Diving 3D has two levels of difficulty and a healthy range of dives to perform.  Graphics aren’t terrible but could use a little polishing and game play is fairly easy but not without challenge.  You will find your diver performing plenty gut-busters or belly flops until you get the game's timing down just right.

If you are looking for a unique game for Windows Phone 8 or just a change of pace from the puzzle games, Cliff Diving is worth trying.

The main menu for Cliff Diving will send you into the game, launch a series of tutorial/help screens, view a demo video and view the About screen for the game.  You can also follow the developer on Facebook or Twitter, set the game difficulty, as well as mute the sound effects from the main menu.

The game’s difficulty is set by turning on/off the expert mode.  When turned off, your diver will clear the diving board automatically.  When turned on, you will need to tap/hold the screen to insure the diver clears the board.  If you release you hold too soon, the diver will smack into the board or hit the cliffs during the dive; neither being good for the diver.

The game screen has your dive requirement listed in the upper left corner of the screen (e.g. back dive, enter water feet first), you diving board height, and the number of attempts allowed for each dive (you get three chances).  Each round or dive set has you completing two dive styles successfully.

To initiate a dive, tap the screen and your diver will spring into the air.  Two buttons will appear at the bottom of the screen to have the diver perform a front or back flip.  Tap the button to perform the action and release to have the diver straighten out. 

After each dive, you will be scored on your Dive, Entry and Overall score.  Obviously, the cleaner you enter the water the better your score and belly flops are surely to land you a failing grade.  You need at least a D to move on to the next dive.  As you successfully complete the dive set, the diving board height will increase as will the dive’s level of difficulty.

While Cliff Diving 3D has an odd sort of appeal, it can use a little fine-tuning.  For starters, the pause button does not work nor does the back button.  To get back to the main menu, you will need to exit out of the game and re-start.  Graphic quality could be better as well.  There were several times when the diver’s feet did not match up with the diving board and the ad-banner would rotate with the screen (yet the gaming screen is locked vertically).

While the nature of the game is a bit surprising, I have to admit that Cliff Diving 3D’s entertainment value is also surprising.  Sure, there is still fine-tuning needed to help Cliff Diving 3D shine a wee bit brighter but it’s not a bad time waster of a game.

Cliff Diving 3D is a free, ad-supported game that is available for Windows Phone 8.  You can pick up your copy of Cliff Diving 3D here in the Windows Phone Store.

Every year since time immemorial, Microsoft has put a ton of downloadable Xbox 360 content on sale around Christmastime. The sale returns once again this year as the Countdown to 2014. Running from today through December 31, the Countdown consists both of daily and weekly sales. The first batch of weekly deals runs through the 23rd. 

Head past the break for a full list of today’s Countdown sales and the weekly deals.

Of special note this year is the inclusion of the Marvel vs. Capcom titles in the Countdown. You see, Capcom’s license to the Marvel vs. Capcom brand expires this year. As a result, all downloadable Marvel vs. Capcom games and content will be delisted on December 26. Unlike Windows Phone and Windows 8 games, they can be redownloaded after the delisting.  The good news is Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, its DLC, and the previous XBLA installments are all on sale for super cheap until December 23rd. Get them now before they’re gone forever!

First up: the two sales that will last all week long. Then we get to the daily deals for today and tomorrow. All prices listed are for the United States. Prices will vary in other regions.

Marvel vs. Capcom Sale – December 17-23

Open to all Xbox Live users. Games and downloadable content will be delisted on Thursday, December 26.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2

• Marvel vs. Capcom 2 - $3.74 (regularly $14.99) = 197 MB
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 - $5.09 (regularly $29.99) – 3.15 GB

DLC for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3:

• Additional Character: Jill - $1.24 (regularly $4.99) (also works with standard Marvel vs. Capcom 3)
• Additional Character: Shuma-Gorath - $1.24 (regularly $4.99) (also works with standard Marvel vs. Capcom 3)
• Value Pack - $4.99. (regularly $19.99) Contains all of the costume packs below. Just buy this.
• Ancient Warrior Pack - $.49
• Animal Pack - $.99
• Brawler Pack - $.99
• Costume Pack - $1.24 (also works with standard Marvel vs. Capcom 3)
• Femme Fatale Pack - $.99
• New Age of Heroes Pack - $.99
• The Evil Twin Pack - $.99
• The Rising Dead Pack - $.99
• Viewtiful Strange Pack - $.99
• Villain Pack - $.99
• Weapon Expert Pack - $.99

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is considered by many to be one of the best fighting games ever made. It first appeared in arcades and then the Sega Dreamcast console back in 2000. The XBLA version adds online multiplayer but is otherwise a low-frills port.

Players battle each other with a team of two characters. The game features a whopping 56 fighters, with 28 coming from Capcom games and 28 from Marvel comics. The graphics are made up of 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds. The music is utterly horrible, but on the Xbox 360 you can listen to a custom soundtrack instead! We miss that feature on the Xbox One.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is an improved version of Marvel vs. Capcom. It launched as a retail title and is now available via Games on Demand.

In this game, players select a team of three characters and then fight in 1-on-1 battles. As with the second game, you can “tag out” characters during the match. The graphics are entirely 3D, but the gameplay remains 2D and relatively similar (but more complex) to Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

The Ultimate version adds 12 new characters that weren’t present in the original Marvel vs. Capcom 3, for a total of 48 characters (50 if you buy the two additional DLC characters). The new characters are: Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Nova, and Rocket Raccoon on the Marvel side; and Firebrand, Frank West, Nemesis T-Type, Phoenix Wright, Strider Hiryu, and Virgil on the Capcom side.

Ultimate is the final version of Marvel vs. Capcom unless Capcom ever renews the license and produces a new game. Get it via Games on Demand for a ridiculously low price – even with both DLC characters and the full costume pack it only rings up at $12.56!

Even after the game gets delisted, you’ll still be able to buy existing copies of the retail version. However, the DLC will be gone for good. If you love Marvel or fighting games, don’t miss the chance to own this massive crossover fighter.

Countdown to 2014 Sales: Week of December 17-23

Open to all Xbox Live members.

Castle of Illusion

Xbox Live Arcade

• Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse - $7.49 – 381 MB
• Doodle Jump Kinect - $.99 – 226 MB (requires Kinect)
• Freefall Racers - $.99 – 641 MB (requires Kinect)
• Fruit Ninja Kinect - $.99 – 141 MB (requires Kinect)
• Guardians of Middle-earth - $4.94 – 1 GB
• Marlow Briggs and the Mask of the Death- $11.24 – 2 GB
• Mini Ninjas Adventures - $.99 – 529 MB (requires Kinect)
• The Simpsons Arcade Game - $4.99 – 18 MB
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD- $7.49 – 461 MB
• Wreckateer - $.99 – 1.7 GB (requires Kinect)
• X-Men Arcade - $4.99 – 44 MB

Games on Demand

• Bioshock Infinite - $13.99 – 6.5 GB
• Deadpool - $19.99 – 5 GB
• FIFA 14 - $40.19 – 6.5 GB
• Madagascar 3: the Video Game - $9.99 – 4 GB
• NHL 14 - $40.19 - 6.5 GB
• Rise of the Guardians - $6.79 – 3 GB
• Spider-Man: the Edge of Time - $9.89 – 5 GB
• Spider-Man:  Friend or Foe - $9.89 – 3.5 GB
• Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions - $9.89 – 5.2 GB
• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows- $9.89 – 5.2 GB
• X-Men: Destiny - $12.79
• X-Men: The Official Game- $9.89– 6.3 GB
• X-Men Origins Wolverine - $9.89 – 6.5 GB - Weapon X Arena DLC - $.99 (90 percent off!)

Xbox Live Deal of the Week – December 17-23

Open to Xbox Live Gold members only.

• The Walking Dead— Episode 1– Free again!
• The Walking Dead— Episode 2: Starved For Help - $1.69
• The Walking Dead— Episode 3: Long Road Ahead - $1.69
• The Walking Dead— Episode 4: Around Every Corner - $1.69
• The Walking Dead — Episode 5: No Time Left - $1.69

Countdown to 2014 Daily Deal: Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Open to all Xbox Live members.

• Borderlands 2 - $7.49 (regularly $29.99) – 5.5 GB
• Borderlands 2— Headhunter 1 Bloody Harvest - $1.49
• Borderlands 2— Psycho Pack - $4.99
• Borderlands 2— Season Pass - $20.09
• Borderlands 2— Vault Hunter Upgrade 2 - $2.49

If you play Borderlands 2, you definitely need the second Vault Hunter Upgrade. It raises the level cap and adds other nice bonuses.

Countdown to 2014 Daily Deal: Wednesday, December 18, 2013

One of Wednesday’s sales has been revealed in advance; there could be more. Open to all Xbox Live members.

• Terraria - Xbox 360 Edition - $4.94 (regularly $14.99) – 34 MB

Terraria is still due out on Windows Phone 8 at some point. Why not enjoy the XBLA version while you wait? Fans of Minecraft will enjoy its mixture of exploration, survival, and building – all in a 2D world.

More sales every day!

That’s all the sales we know of for now. There will be new daily deals each day from now until the end of the year. A new batch of weekly sales should come along on December 24 as well.

See any games you’ll be buying, dear readers? Or have you moved on to the Xbox One with no plans to look back? Let us know in the comments below.

This one is coming out of nowhere but Kiloo Games and Sybo Games have released Subway Surfers for Windows Phone. We’ve confirmed with Microsoft that this is an official release and not a clone. Indeed, it’s the same version number as the one for the iPhone, that is version 1.16.

Subway Surfers is yet another endless runner, but it has gained a ton of popularity, rivaling Temple Run. First released in May 2012, this game has been one of the top requested titles for Windows Phone and now that day is here.

Weighing in at 27 MB, the game has spritely, colorful graphics with excellent gameplay. We’ve fired it up on our Lumia 1520 and it plays very smoothly, letting us ride our hover board through London while jumping trains. There’s even Santa and a Christmas theme, right in time for the holidays, so Windows Phone users should be excited by having the latest and greatest version from Kiloo. From the game description:

Help Jake, Tricky & Fresh escape from the grumpy Inspector and his dog.

• Grind trains with your cool crew!
• Colorful and vivid HD graphics!
• Hoverboard Surfing!
• Paint powered jetpack!
• Lightning fast swipe acrobatics!
• Challenge and help your friends!

All in all in this is a HUGE win for Windows Phone 8 today and we’re sure many of you will be extremely excited. We’ll have a video hands on in a bit , but for now you can go and grab Subway Surfers here in the Store. Windows Phone 8 only, 1 GB of RAM required (512 MB support is coming).

Thanks, Skyrocker007, for the tip!

This has been a terrible year for Xbox games on Windows Phone. Microsoft has all but dropped support for the Xbox branding on phones, developers have stopped releasing Xbox games en masse, and new Xbox games are basically a rare occurrence nowadays. Don’t you wish the Windows Phone team cared a lick about gamers?

The latest sign of the inevitable demise of Xbox on Windows Phone comes with last week’s Tetris Blitz update. The game launched in a bug-ridden state (see our review). But to Electronic Arts’ credit, the publisher has released a steady stream of updates to improve its product. The latest update certainly packs some improvements, but it sort of looks like it removes Tetris Blitz’s Xbox branding. Could this be the end of EA’s Xbox support or just a snafu?

Tetris Blitz version 1.4 release notes

• New Tournaments Mode– Compete against other players in limited-time events, each with its own unique rules and leaderboards
• Player Profiles and Avatars– Create your own Tournament identity
• Updated News Section– Stay informed of new Tournaments and challenges
• Holiday Content– Get festive this holiday season with surprise content

This update basically catches the Windows Phone 8 game up with the iOS version, which received the update on November 26.

This update totally revamps the game’s menu system. Several functions like the Bonus Blitz, Settings, and Achievements are tucked away under the orange button with three lines at the top-left corner of the screen. Actual game types are selected by swiping left or right in the main window below. The Pro Scoring Strategies button at the bottom of the menu leads to several YouTube strategy videos.

The update adds a couple of new powerups that players can buy: Blitz’n and Bulldozer. It also fixes the mismatched prices on the Power of the Week. Or maybe they fixed that in the previous update; I forget.

I haven’t managed to discover the holiday content yet. Maybe it’s hidden away in Tournament mode or something?

Tournament Mode

As for the new Tournament mode, unfortunately it doesn’t unlock until the player reaches level 11 (I’m at 8). There newly redesigned menu system has a button labelled “UNLOCK Level 11” right at the top of the screen. Presumably this is intended to allow players to unlock Tournament Mode straight away by making an In-App Purchase. However, the button doesn’t do anything.

We do know that Tournaments are timed worldwide competitions. The top three participants win truckloads of coins. That could never be me because unfortunately, I’m too slow to excel at Tetris Blitz.

Live no more?

The reason many are fearing the game has dropped Xbox support: the Xbox banner has disappeared from its tile on the Windows Phone Store! Indeed that is highly unusual; I can’t think of another game to have done so in this manner. See, Xbox has never been patched out of a Windows Phone game – the existing Xbox version usually gets delisted while a new non-Xbox version appears on the Store.

Tetris Blitz version 1.4 is definitely not a separate version, and it still appears under the Xbox section of the Games hub. The Store page still lists Xbox Live in the description. What’s more, the Achievements continue to appear under the in-game Achievements menu under the new “Xbox” header. The Achievements menu also lists Challenges and non-Xbox Achievements as well now.

To my eyes, it looks like Tetris Blitz still has the same Xbox Achievements it always had – plus some extra ones that don’t award GamerScore. And a couple of readers have reported that they earned genuine Xbox Achievements after the update. If my optical receptors and those guys are to be believed, Tetris Blitz has not dropped the ‘box.

My best guess is that the removal of the Xbox banner from the game’s Store tile is simply in error. We contacted EA but haven’t received a response yet. If they provide an official explanation, we’ll update and let you know.

• Tetris Blitz– Windows Phone 8 – 42 MB – Free – Store Link

Fans of Disney's Nemo will be able to join the cute, little fish and his friends in the latest time management game to hit the Windows Phone Store. Nemo's Reef enables players to construct their own beautiful habitat and make a home for all their favourite Finding Nemo characters. Are you ready to help Nemo and his dad, Marlin to create the best reef in the class? Swim past the break for the full read.

If you're a fan of the story and adventures Nemo and friends get up to, this is a must-download game for your Windows Phone. Already available for both iOS and Android, there are over 50 kinds of fish available to enhance your own world, providing some scope for development and advancement, as well as personalisation.

You'll be meeting Dory, Gill, Bloat, Bubbles and more as you progress through the game. But it's no simple swim as you'll have to find different combinations of plants and decorations to delight and excite Nemo's friends, as well as other exotic fish. Mysterious fish are more difficult to come by, requiring you to plant rare seeds and attempt to attract them.

The game itself is free to download, but you have the option to go with in-app purchases if you choose. When starting up Nemo's Reed, the game will ask you to link the game to either your Windows Phone or Facebook. Linking the game to the social network includes numerous social benefits, but if you're just wanting to get stuck in and play through with Nemo, the device option is just as good.

It's worth noting now that this is an online game and requires an active Internet connection.

Once you've established your name and connected to Disney's cloud, the game will download some content and then it's time to get started. Since Disney is clearly targeting not only adults, but a younger audience with Nemo's Reef, it's super easy to get started. If you're used to other management games on the platform, you'll fit right in here. Prepare for some tapping. 

Vitality represents the population of ornamental plants, rare plants, fish and guests within your reef. The higher the vitality, the more chance you have of growing rare plants and whatnot. Sand Dollars join Algae and Pearls as the in-game currencies, but fear not as there are quests and easy ways to make enough to advance.

You can download Nemo's Reef from the Windows Phone Store for free (Windows Phone 8 only - 72MB) - note there are micro transactions included inside the game, should you wish to get ahead.

via: WPScoops

There’s a guilty pleasure surrounding the crew at here at Windows Phone Central. We’re addicted to Star Wars: Tiny Death Star for Windows Phone and Windows 8. The game combines Star Wars with time management gameplay. That’s the perfect recipe for addictive gameplay. Both the Windows Phone and Windows 8 version of Tiny Death Star also just picked up an update that throws in some holiday fun. Let’s check it out.

Head to the Windows Phone Store and you’ll see Tiny Death Star sitting pretty at version 1.0.1.4. While Windows 8 is hanging out at version 1.0.1.5. Update either on Windows Phone or Windows 8 and you’ll get the two following changes for the holidays:

• NEW, LIMITED-TIME VIP! Keep a lookout for the festive Imperial Decorator Droid, who will spread holiday cheer throughout the floors of your Death Star. Decorate enough levels to earn exclusive, limited-edition rewards!
• SPECIAL CHARACTER SURPRISES! Now you can deliver special characters with a question mark to any level you desire! Discover which levels will trigger special story moments for each character, and encounter other surprises along the way!
• Various bug fixes including an update to the BUX issue.(Windows Phone)
   

It also adds some other nice touches. For example, check out your Live tile on Windows Phone after updating to the holiday version and you’ll see some snow hanging out.

Want to get either game? They’re both free and include optional in-app purchases for you as you take over the Galaxy. Grab it in the Windows Phone Store or Windows Store. QR code below is for Windows Phone. Enjoy and happy holidays! 

Thanks for the tip Coan!

Lies of Astaroth is a fantasy card based battle game that has seen a bit of success over on iOS and now is available for Windows Phone 8. 

Game play has you dealing your characters from a deck of cards to do battle against a wide assortment of creatures.  The strategy battle game reminds me of the card games like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh. 

While card based battle games may not be everyone’s cup of tea, Lies of Astaroth does have a certain level of appeal.  Graphics are attractive, game play is fairly simple and challenging and we suspect the game will find its fair share of success on the Windows Phone platform.

The storyline of the game has you meeting an envoy to the God of Prophecy and travel the land battling spies, thieves, goblins, assassins, dragons and other magical monsters.  Your character is armed with a battle deck of cards that represent a wide range of characters such as Amazon Warriors, Imp Guardians, Battle Mages, and Palace Guards.  As you begin game play your deck of cards will contain the basics and as you progress through the game additional cards will become available.

The game itself is rather extensive and has features to let you manage your battle cards, shop for upgrades, test your strategy skills during the combat phases and invite your Facebook friends to join in on the gaming action.  Game play does start out with a series of tutorial screens to get you familiar with game play.

Lies of Astaroth's Main Screen

Navigation around Lies of Astaroth revolves around the main screen where you can access:

• The game’s menu that includes options to view the games cards album, the Runes album, your gaming achievements, your battle logs, the game’s update logs, your gaming settings (music/sound levels, auto combat and custom avatar), view the wanted poster, view the help screens and read any gaming news.

Lies of Astaroth's Store

• The game store where you can buy booster packs, magic tickets, and other upgrades.  The store also has in-app purchases of crystals that can be used to get a leg up on purchasing bonus items.
• View and manage your active deck of cards.

Invite your Facebook Friends

• Check in on the social features of the game where you can invite Facebook friends to join you in the game.  You can band together and explore the map or battle one another to see who has the strongest deck.

You can also head over to the game map, enchant items, visit the arena and visit the temple.  The latter three become available after you have advanced a bit in the game.

Lies of Astaroth's Map

Game play is launched from the Astaroth map and involves movement on the world map, combat sequences, and card deck management.  Just tap on an area of the map you wish to travel to and a series of dialog exchanges will take place, typically ending with a combat round.

Lies of Astaroth's Combat Screen

Combat can be done automatically or turn-by-turn.  If you select auto-combat cards will be selected from your deck and the rounds of combat completed automatically.  Managing the combat manually will require you to choose your lead card to start the battle with and then allow other cards to enter the melee as the rounds are completed. 

Each character (or card) has an Attack Point rating, a Health Point level, along with various attributes that relate to healing, special attacks or defenses.  First player to see all their cards go down in flames loses he battle.

Amazon Warrior Card Information

At the end of the combat sequence, you will be rewarded with gold coins, crystals and experience.  The coins and crystals can be used in the game’s store to purchase items.  As you gain experience, your character will advance in level, new cards will become available, the number of cards you have active will increase and new maps will open up.

Game play with Lies of Astaroth can be rather time consuming.  Luckily, the game will save your progress should you only be able to tackle the game in short spurts.

Deck Management Screen

Lies of Astaroth is more of a strategy game than an action/adventure game full on animation like we see in other RPG games such as Dark Lands or Order & Chaos.   The graphics for Lies of Astaroth are well done, just not very lively.

Battle card games may not appeal to everyone but for those who see the attraction; Lies of Astaroth is an appealing game and well worth a try.  Game play is challenging enough to keep the game fresh and again, the game is drawn up nicely. 

Lies of Astaroth is a free game available for Windows Phone 8 devices.  You can find Lies of Astaroth here in the Windows Phone Store.