Shadow Complex – $15

One of the best things that’s happened in recent history for cheap gaming is the Xbox Arcade. There are hundreds of titles in a variety of genres — many of them quite good — most priced from $8 to $15.

One of the best recently (and perhaps ever) is an old-school, side-scrolling platformer with lots of pretty backgrounds and explosions called Shadow Complex.

Here’s the description from Microsoft’s marketing team. Odd thing here is that most of this is accurate:

From blockbuster developers Epic Games and Chair Entertainment comes the next evolution in Xbox LIVE Arcade games. Powered by the industry-leading Unreal Engine 3, Shadow Complex™ is the height of old-school side-scrolling design combined with modern, cutting-edge gameplay.

In Shadow Complex, gameplay is centered on exploration and fast-paced combat as you gather game-altering power-ups and an arsenal of futuristic weapons to overcome obstacles, thwart legions of enemies, and delve into a mysterious open game world. The original single-player adventure is set in a compelling universe based upon the best-selling novel, Empire, by Orson Scott Card.

• Original game: This completely original game features full 3-D side-scrolling action. The incredible next-gen graphics and robust physics combine with an open, evolving world design mixed with an awesome, compelling action-thriller story.
• Power-ups: Seek out 17 unique game altering power-ups, with more than 100 additional items and modifiers to discover and use.
• Bad guys: Fight against a large variety of enemies and experience massive, jaw-dropping boss battles.
• Pick up and play: The super-tight controls are simple and intuitive but also allow advanced players additional depth and precision.
• Award winning talent: Developed by Chair Entertainment, creators of OXM’s Downloadable Game of the Year, Undertow, and produced by Epic Games, creators of Gears of War.
• Noted scriptwriter: Shadow Complex features a script written by Peter David, one of the most popular comic book writers of all time. It’s the first game to be set in the Chair’s Empire universe and is based upon the best-selling novel by Orson Scott Card.

The reviews have been wildly enthusiastic.

Here’s what IGN had to say:

Team XBox says:

You know a game is good when everyone you know who has played it can’t stop raving about it. And everyone you know who hasn’t played it can’t stop talking about how much they’re looking forward to playing it. Such is the case with Shadow Complex, a new Xbox LIVE Arcade game from Chair Entertainment and Epic Games. So far, it appears to be the XBLA game of the year, if not of all time, but I wouldn’t blink at someone considering it as the best Xbox 360 game of 2009 period either.

Check it out.