During E3 there was one game I was interested in but I never reported on it. It was a Xbox Live Arcade game called Braid. It's a puzzle-platformer that allows the user to manipulate time to solve the obstacles in the game. Well it finally came out this week, and I purchased some more Microsoft points. Now I do enjoy the game, but at the sametime it's 1,200 points! That's is my only complaint about it. When playing this on a HDTV, it makes the 2D graphics look amazing. I was absolutely stunned at the artistic approach to the game(straight from a painting), and even the music. For those of you who've played Portal, remember how you got giddy after your first few puzzles(and even then some)? That's how Braid makes you feel. And you also might laugh as well. I saw a pink bunny-rabbit come up from the ground and it tried to attack! What's worst is they came at me in a flock! Check out the E3 stage demo here at Gamespot.
Moving on. I've been playing a lot of NHL 08 and Skate. On NHL 08 I've notice that in Dynasty mode the AI is forcing me to learn new strategies to approach both defense and offense. That is amazing and because of it I have learned many new things compared to lessons learned in previous NHL games from EA. One-timer goals are no problem. Before I was having trouble with 1 on 1 battles between the defenseman guarding the goalie. He would either physically knock me down, or simply just poke check the puck away from me. This forced me to use some of the new puck handling features, and I am able to deke the opposition. And my fore-checking was absolutely horrible but now I can apply enough pressure to open my opponent's defense, and score a goal. So if they block the passing lane in front of the goalie, I can just pressure them to open it up.
My defense was actually more of a problem. I couldn't setup screens, and the opposite team always seem to score high above the goalie's shoulders. Adjusting my team strategy features and being more responsible for each player while playing D; those easy goals that use to get pass me are far less then before. Also I notice that if you over-pursue a player with the puck you might leave your defense hanging, and your goalie wide open for a shot. Plus if your protect the center as they enter your defensive zone it forces your opponent to the outside; then you can send him flying with a hip check!
On the Skate side the game is still fun after a year, and it is cool to see that Skate 2 will be arriving early next year. I've actually met some cool individuals on Xbox Live, and we always play Skate. We'll have best trick contests, and we even film each other for the Skate.This Community. In all honesty I can't see Xbox without Live; it's such a remarkable feature! And the update is just going to make things even more sweet! My group of friends are already a talkative bunch, so that 8 player chat option is going to be a plus.