Get an early look at Peggle 2 for Xbox One with our hands-on footage and interview

Peggle 2 Sylvain Dubrofsky and Paul Acevedo
Sylvain Dubrofsky of PopCap Games and Windows Telephone Central's Paul Acevedo

Microsoft'due south Xbox One console is in stores now and doing very well; we fifty-fifty gave it a highly detailed review concluding week. Early adopters accept more twenty games to choose from, virtually of which are actually quite good. Nosotros'll be reviewing more of those titles very soon, but in the concurrently permit's wait ahead at the next swell Xbox game to go along auction: Peggle ii!

PopCap's Peggle 2 is one of the upcoming Xbox One titles we played during our visit to Electronic Arts headquarters simply earlier Thanksgiving. If you've ever played the original Peggle on Xbox 360, PC, DS, or phones (sadly it never arrived on Windows Phone), you should know why we're excited for the sequel. Peggle 2 launches as a timed exclusive on Xbox One this Monday every bit an $11.99 download.

Head past the break for our video interview and easily-on footage of Peggle 2 in action!

Taking down the pegs

Peggle is a deceptively simple game. Each level consists of an assortment of colored pegs and bricks for players to destroy past firing balls at them. Blue pegs just requite points, royal pegs add to your score multiplier, green pegs activate your character'due south special power, and all orange pegs (they look red) must be cleared to end the level.

Players take 10 balls with which to have down all those pegs. You aim and fire the ball from a launcher at the superlative middle of the screen. One time it hits a peg, the brawl bounces around realistically, hopefully striking other pegs earlier information technology falls off the bottom of the screen. Hit enough pegs in one shot, or get the ball to land in the moving bucket at the bottom, and you'll earn a gratuitous ball instead of depleting your supply. These mechanics combine practiced aiming and reflection judging (much like puddle) with a fun element of chance.

Improvements galore

The original Peggle was always designed for 4:iii monitors, then even the great XBLA version didn't accept advantage of its widescreen presentation. The new game runs at a native 1080P resolution and really benefits from the wider presentation. The playable Peggle Masters occupy the left side of the screen, where they react to gameplay and animated like real drawing characters. The backgrounds themselves are lush and filled with parallax scrolling. Everything has so much more life than earlier.

This sequel allows players to select between v Peggle Masters, including the returning unicorn Bjorn and four new ones. Bjorn still has his advanced aiming power that provides a detailed guideline while aiming. The new masters have more complex and artistic abilities. Luna the ghost girl, for instance tin fire shots that pass through blue pegs in order to accomplish the orange pegs behind them. Berg the yeti'southward special shots cause pegs to move around and bump into each other, knocking out whatever they striking.

Peggle 2 for Xbox One

Peggle two plays only like the first game, but its campaign fashion works a little differently now. Each Peggle Master still has his or her own set of ten levels to play through. Subsequently clearing a prepare, these levels can be revisited in any lodge with the Master of your pick.

Standard levels have three optional objectives to become after, such every bit clearing all pegs or making specific types of shots. Every master also offers 10 Trial levels with laissez passer-or-neglect objectives. Complete the Trail way or complete enough optional challenges and yous'll unlock new outfits for the Peggle Masters.

The online multiplayer fashion first introduced in the Xbox 360 version makes a return besides. We haven't tested information technology yet but playing Peggle with friends tin can never be a bad thing.

Nigh here!

Peggle 2 for Xbox One

Peggle 2 beginning appeared on PCs in 2007, so this sequel has been a long time in coming. Xbox One players will be able to play information technology outset, just like the upcoming Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare. Both are timed exclusives and welcome additions to the Xbox Ane lineup. You lot might not buy a powerful new console just to play a small-scale-calibration game similar Peggle two, but you'll definitely exist missing out if you don't add together this one to your drove.

Peggle two arrives on Monday, December 9^th. Information technology volition cost $eleven.99. Grab it from the Games Store on your console or Xbox.com in one case it becomes available. We'll have a total review soon!