With no key Xbox 360 titles coming out for the next few weeks, (Command and Conquer 3 is slated for May 10th,) my last refuge of any good games has come from Xbox Live Arcade. In the past few weeks I have been treated to something old (Gyruss, TMNT 1989 Arcade, Castlevania SOTN,) and something new (Jetpac Refueled, Boom Boom Rocket, and Pinball FX) but it wasn't until checking online via the Xbox 360 fan boards that there is an XBLA title that really caught my eye and hope will be released soon.

That title is Space Giraffe.

I'm sure a lot of people are reading this and are thinking what the heck type of title that I'd be plugging with such a strange name like Space Giraffe. I too was one of those people because screenshots do not do the game justice. It wasn't until I checked Youtube and watched a Google Tech Video featuring the game's creator Jeff Minter that I knew what the game is about. Put simply, Giraffe is the next evolution of Minter's excellent Tempest track record.

Anyone ever play Tempest 2000? I'm sure not many people have since it was on the ill-fated Atari Jaguar, but arguably it was the only game worth playing on that system. Jeff Minter was the creator of that game, as well as its successor Tempest 3000 on the lesser known Nuon DVD platform. Xbox 360 owners might not be aware of it, but Minter is also responsible for the Neon Visualizer that is in the Xbox 360 Media Player.

That brings me on to Space Giraffe. At first glance, Space Giraffe appears to be a true sequel to Tempest 2000 or 3000 but that's where their similarities end. Gameplay in itself is in the same vein as Tempest 2000 with shooting monsters inside a web and collecting power ups, but the power ups take on a whole new meaning. The power ups (or pods as the most recent demo calls them,) not only allows jumping from 2000, but also the ability to ram monsters off of the rim in a technique called "bulling."

Back in the early Tempest days, having too many flippers at the end of the web was instant death. However in Space Giraffe by simply bulling them off the rim, it leads to big points. In fact, playing it like any other Tempest game is strongly discouraged, and Jeff Minter himself has vehemently denied that the game is going to be Tempest 4000.

In addition, Space Giraffe, seeing how it runs off of Neon, actually takes the webs and turns them into a monster in itself. It's hard to describe and screenshots again do not do the game justice but when you see the game in motion, you will see exactly what I mean. In fact, as I mentioned earlier there is a Google Tech Video that demonstrates the later levels in action. I suggest taking a look at it.

Oh and for those who wonder about the weird title, it's because Minter said the player does look like a giraffe and in his forums, fans said the game's title should be "Space Giraffe," which eventually stuck. Hopefully that will be the final title upon release.

According to Minter's own blog, the game is complete and is awaiting Microsoft and XBLA approval. From what I read, Space Giraffe should only cost about 400 Microsoft Points, which I think is a steal compared to what RedOctane are charging for their songpacks (500,) and you'll definitely get your money's worth more this time.

Now hurry up Microsoft and make it your next XBLA release!

CURRENTLY PLAYING: GUITAR HERO II (XBOX 360, still haven't downloaded songs until the price goes down.)

WAITING FOR: SPACE GIRAFFE (XBLA,) COMMAND AND CONQUER 3 (XBOX 360)