5. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD
Maybe it's because I already played both titles a ton when I was younger, or because it just didn't quite translate as well to Xbox 360, but Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD just didn't excite me quite as much as the other titles from Summer of Arcade 2012. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Pro Skater 2 are just as fun as you remember them from all those years ago, and the enhanced graphics make this nostalgic trip down memory lane a treat for the eyes, but Summer of Arcade should be about giving us something completely new that we've never seen before, and the game was a slight letdown in that regard. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD is an addictive title, but my least favorite from the promotion.
4. Wreckateer
Wreckateer plays out similar to what you'd expect to see if Angry Birds came to Kinect. Tight motion controls dictate your actions as you launch magical items from your ballista towards old buildings that must be demolished. The game is a ton of fun and is completely innovative. The title challenges you to destroy these structures while hitting powerups and point multipliers along the way, and you have plenty of stages to complete and higher ranks to earn for each stage. You may look silly playing the game, but you'll sure have fun, especially if you bring a buddy along for the ride.
3. Deadlight
Deadlight was the best experience of all the Summer of Arcade titles. The game's storyline is riveting and will have you sitting through the entire game in one playthrough, as you cannot wait to see how the game turns out. The problem is that the game only lasts you a few hours until you've completed it. Replaying the game again is fun but not nearly as magical the second time around. You'll want to replay the game to find different ways to approach fights with the Shadows and to find all of the game's hidden collectibles. The game even features throwback handheld games that can kill a little time on their own. Had Deadlight been a longer title, it could have easily been the best game featured in this year's Summer of Arcade, but as it stands, the game comes in at a respectable third place.
2. Hybrid
Hybrid on the other hand has nearly infinite replay value. The third-person shooter is unlike any you've ever played, and that's not just a promise the developer has made to get you to purchase their game. In this futuristic world, the human side known as the Paladins and a humanoid race known as the Variant square off in wars all around Earth to gain total control of continents and get their hands on a rare mineral known as Dark Matter. This cover based title allows you to fly around with a jetpack and even stick to walls and ceilings as strategic vantage points in the game is just as important as your shooter skills. Choose an area you'd like to move to, and the game takes over movement, while all you do is rain down bullets on your enemies. The game is a lot of fun with 3 vs. 3 online matches, and it will be remembered as one of the best games from this year's Summer of Arcade.
1. Dust: An Elysian Tail
Dust: An Elysian Tail is the best Summer of Arcade 2012 has to offer, and there are plenty of reasons why. The new downloadable title contains a fantastic storyline that casts you as Dust--a former soldier who is suffering from amnesia and must learn who he is and save the world with the help of some newfound friends. The gameplay is fun with plenty of depth, and completing the game and its many side quests will take you well over 20 hours to finish. The artistic design of the game is phenomenal, and making the game even more amazing is the fact that the majority of the game was created by a single person. If you enjoy action RPGs, picking up this title is a no-brainer, as it is the best game in the Summer of Arcade promotion for 2012.