Xbox Live

This week’s Xbox Windows Phone release is a title we didn’t know was coming, but it comes from fan favorite publisher Chillingo and sells for a low price, so let’s call it a good surprise. Extraction (also known as Extraction: Project Outbreak) is now available for just 99 cents – less than the iOS version!

As the game’s title sort of hints, Extraction is a military-themed game about fighting zombies. But unlike Zombies on the Phone or Gun Bros, it’s not a twin-stick shooter. In fact, you could almost call it a strategy game due to the unique control method. Don’t skip the tutorial like I did or you’ll be totally lost.

In case you missed it, Electronic Arts’ Tetris recently dropped to $2.99 (AKA the maximum price it ever should’ve cost). That’s all well and good, but how about a price drop on something today’s gamers really want to play? That’s just what developer Press Play and Microsoft have given us, as Tentacles now costs only 99 cents.

It’s Gameloft week on Windows Phone, folks. Not only do we get a long, long, long-awaited new Xbox release from the big G (Real Soccer), but another one of their titles is going on sale as well. Let’s Golf 2, normally priced at $4.99, drops down to an affordable $1.99 this Wednesday. This continues the awesome trend of greater-than-50-percent discounts on Xbox titles.

Let’s Golf 2 is an arcade-style golf game modeled after Sony’s popular Hot Shots Golf franchise. Features include cartoony players, clean 3D graphics, six 18-hole courses, and both Career and Challenge modes. Even if you don’t care about the sport of golf at all (like me), the game is actually very enjoyable and easy to learn. Check out our full review for more details.

Rocket Riot was among the first Xbox Live games released on Windows Phone, way back at the end of 2010. Despite the game’s age, developer Code Glue continues to pump out updates for it, with a new one arriving within the last few days. The previous patch, version 1.4 was fairly substantial as Windows Phone updates go, and yet this latest, version 1.5 actually manages to top it by adding Avatar Awards, asynchronous multiplayer, and more.

Check out the full release notes and our impressions after the break.

Update: Game is now available. See link below.

If you’re like me, you’re still plugging away on last week’s Xbox Windows Phone release, the awesome Crimson Dragon Side Story. But shooters aren’t for everybody, and some people might crave a more casual or thoughtful experience. This week’s release should catch their attention then: Contre Jour from Chillingo.

Let's get ready to...wait, wrong sport

When you’re done pounding down your scotch, you may want to watch some brawny guys beat the heck out of each other—if so the official UFC companion app for Windows Phone may just be your next download.

We say 'companion' because it expands upon the official Xbox UFC Live app for the 360--that app allows you to watch UFC fights through your 360 to your TV and more. (Of course you can use the app without an Xbox 360 too).

The app just landed on the Store for Windows Phone and it’s not half bad (though it does have the default load screen for a split second). Actually, the app had a really gorgeous Metro layout and logs into your Xbox Live account automatically.

This Shoot1UP skin can be yours

Remember that picture of an LG Quantum wearing a Shoot 1UP skin that we included in our interview with Shoot 1UP developer Mommy’s Best Games over the weekend? Of course you do, because you’re cool like that. And if you also happen to be inquisitive, you might’ve wondered how you could get a skin like that for your own phone.

As it turns out, Mommy’s Best Games is giving away three of the skins in question in a contest that runs throughout the week. The skin you win doesn’t need to be for a Quantum, either – it can be any Windows Phone (or even *blech* non-Windows Phones). Head past the break for more details!

The most challenging Xbox Live Achievements in the Windows Phone version of Galaga Legions DX involve reaching high score milestones on Area 1, Area 2, Area 3, and Championship. These goals are no easy task, and it seems that the developers forgot to factor this version’s terrible movement controls into account when choosing the scores - let's hope for a patch. That said, none of the Achievements is impossible and we’ve got some tips to make things easier.