Iron Brigade emerges from the trenches, free for Xbox Live Gold members

Iron Brigade Xbox Live Arcade

Nosotros're entering the second half of the calendar month now, which means information technology's fourth dimension for a new free game for Xbox Live Aureate subscribers as part of the Games with Gold programme. The outset November game, A Globe of Keflings (from the makers of Fusion: Sentient) was a relaxing little city-edifice game. It was also an XBLA game. So how does Microsoft follow it up?

With a more challenging XBLA game. Iron Brigade (formerly known equally Trenched) from Double Fine Productions is now free for all Xbox Live Gilt members. Fe Brigade may non be a big retail release, merely it'due south a surprisingly deep and creative game with great cooperative multiplayer. Head past the intermission for more details and a download link!

Alternative history science fiction

Iron Brigade Xbox Live Arcade

The developers at Double Fine are known for their storytelling and creativity, with many having previously worked on classic LucasArts adventure games. That experience comes across in Iron Brigade's story and premise.

Shortly afterward World War I, a mysterious conflicting radio bulletin chosen The Circulate reaches the Earth, causing most people who mind to it to die. Two military veterans survive the Broadcast and gain super intelligence from it. But 1 (Farnsworth) wants to spread the Broadcast to the balance of humanity while the other (Woodruff) wishes only to protect it. Thus the disharmonize is built-in.

Into the trenches

Iron Brigade Xbox Live Arcade

Woodruff's solution to warding off the villainous Farnsworth's alien engineering-infused armies (chosen tubes) is to build mobile assault vehicles called trenches. You can retrieve of them as steampunk mechs. Every bit the thespian, your trench lumbers around like a walking tank would practise and can burn weapons to destroy hostiles and defend itself.

Trenches can't motion all that speedily though, then you'll need turrets (called emplacements here) to defend your base from the waves of alien robots that assault information technology. Yeah, Iron Brigade combines third-person shooting with tower defense.

The way that emplacements appear is especially cool. Instead of just building them out of the footing, they really plummet down from the heaven. An emplacement tin even land on a tube and destroy it.

Equipment and co-op

Iron Brigade Xbox Live Arcade

Fe Brigade offers a sizable number of levels – even more if yous grab the DLC expansion. Yous'll become even more mileage out of these levels thanks to a well-developed unlocking system. As you consummate missions, your level goes upward and new weapons, emplacements, and trench parts go available in the store. Many more than items tin only be found as random drops from completing missions or playing Survival fashion.

Online multiplayer also adds to the playtime. You tin can complete the principal entrada past yourself, but probably not iii-star every level. Invite a few friends for iv-thespian co-op and all of a sudden even the stiffest challenges become more doable. A team is pretty much required for success in Survival mode and the DLC. Luckily it won't be hard to assemble a group at present that everyone gets the game for gratis!

From Earth to Mars

Iron Brigade's sole DLC expansion is chosen "Rising of the Martian Bear." Information technology takes identify on Mars and packs fifty-fifty more than of the inventive story and witty dialogue found in the principal campaign. Y'all'll also get a raised level cap, new equipment, and several new campaign and survival missions to play. If you enjoy the base game, the DLC is a must-buy.

Co-op fans, give Atomic number 26 Brigade a attempt. Of all the shooter/belfry defense hybrids out there, Double Fine's take is hands the all-time.

Iron Brigade – Xbox 360 (XBLA) – one.43 GB – Free through 11/xxx/2013 (requires Xbox Live Gilt) – Xbox.com Store Link
"Rise of the Martian Bear" – XBLA add together-on – 277 MB – $4.99 – Xbox.com Store Link

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