This week on Xbox Live… Bubble Bobble!

After seeing a successful remake on the Wii, Bubble Bobble receives the high-definition treatment on Xbox Live. Command & Conquer gets chopped up for a downloadable release, and several more Games on Demand releases.

Games

Bubble Bobble Neo: A high-definition version of the WiiWare title Bubble Bobble Plus!, this is a remake of the 1986 arcade classic. The aim is simple: as a bubble-burping dragon, you run around static screens capturing monsters in pockets of air. Capturing and bursting every enemy will advance you to the next stage, but of course it's not that easy: different enemy types that can transcend walls and various power-ups such as flooding and lighting ensure the level designs can get very devious.

Although the visuals contain 3D models, the side-scrolling gameplay remains fully intact, and can be played with four dragons locally or over Xbox Live. This release contains the original 100 stages from the arcade version, as well as the rock-hard Super Drunk finale, while two DLC packs out soon (attractively titled Extra 1 and Extra 2) offer 50 stages each and unique bosses. It offers simple and refined gameplay that's highly recommended, even to complete Taito virgins, and you can grab it for 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80).

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge: An arcade version of the over-the-top RTS series, Commander's Challenge offers 50 stand-alone challenges to complete. Each one is score or timed based, with successful completion unlocking new units and technology to use in the subsequent one. It can be downloaded for 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80).

Games On Demand

A varied offering sees both FIFA Street 3 and Virtua Fighter 5 now available to download directly to hard drives. Each can be purchased for £19.99, and manuals are provided on the official Xbox website.

Track Packs

Rock Band: Songs can be downloaded for 160 Microsoft Points (£1.40) a track, 440 points (£3.75) for a set.

Anvil singles: '666', 'Metal On Metal' 'This Is Thirteen'
Dinosaur Jr: 'Pick Me Up', 'The Wagon'
The Guess Who: 'Hand Me Down World', 'No Time'
Tenacious D: 'Rock Your Socks', 'Tribute'
Anvil pack 01: '666', 'Metal On Metal' 'This Is Thirteen'

Deal of the Week

This week sees a third off Lode Runner, now at 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80) until Monday.

What did you pick up this week? Add a comment in the space below!