Xbox Live Update: Dragon Age II, Lego Star Wars III demos hit XBL

First out of the gate this week are demos for BioWare's Dragon Age II and LucasArts' Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars.

As for BioWare's demo, gamers will be able to play through Dragon Age II's prologue as one of three character classes. The demo will introduce the game's primary protagonist, Hawke, and see him journey to Kirkwall to rendezvous with romantic interest Isabela. Gamers who complete the demo will also unlock Hayder's Razor, a dwarven blade that grants health, mana, and combat bonuses for use in the full game.

Additionally, if at least 1 million gamers download the Dragon Age II demo by March 1, two in-game bonus items will be unlocked for the entire community. Dragon Age II is due out on March 8.

Gamers who prefer lightsabers to swords can download a demo for Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars today. Developer Traveller's Tales will introduce new battle modes with Lego Star Wars III, including close-encounter combat techniques and the ability to build customized bases and fortresses. Gamers can take the side of either a Jedi or a Separatist, each of which comes with its own special abilities.

Switching to the Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft will add Bejeweled Blitz Live (800 MS points, or $10) on Wednesday, February 23. The game is part of the five-title House Party promotion, which kicked off last week with Hard Corps: Uprising and continues next week with Beyond Good & Evil HD.

Bejeweled Blitz Live offers both classic and twist gameplay modes where gamers can compete to top leaderboards. The game also features a 16-player party mode playable through Xbox Live.

Three new games are available from the Games on Demand hub now. They include 2008's Alone in the Dark ($20), Platinum Games' action title Bayonetta ($20), and 2007's Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War ($35).