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GDC '08: The Dishwasher Hands-On

By Kevin VanOrd, GameSpotPosted Feb 20, 2008 2:55 pm PT

We check out a playable demo of this gory XNA-created side-scroller.

SAN FRANCISCO--Ever-vigilant Microsoft is eager to promote its XNA platform for up-and-coming developers. In an effort to show off what talented game designers can do with these tools, the company announced at GDC this week that a number of demos for XNA-based games will be available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace for a limited time. Eager to see what the offerings were, we plunged right into the most interesting-sounding game: Dishwasher--or to be technically correct, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. No, this isn't a kitchen-based minigame collection with ninjas. Rather, it's a wonderfully gory side-scroller that whetted our appetites for the full-fledged version, which will be released later this year via Xbox Live Arcade.

Be sure to download the Dishwasher demo while it's available.

We checked out two levels, starting with story mode. In this level, Foghorn Cafe, we took control of our angry-looking, cleaver-wielding samurai after a short graphic-novel-style introduction that told you...well, rather little. Regardless, we didn't need a story to tell us what our main objective was: carve up dudes like they're Thanksgiving turkeys. It wasn't long before enemies came crawling out of the woodwork with guns and swords, forcing us to do our dirty work.

The controls are quite easy to get a handle on. You jump with the A button, perform normal attacks with the X button, use the Y button to attack with even more force, and finish off enemies with B. Unsurprisingly, you can string button combinations together to make for some truly spectacular acrobatic moves. As we progressed through the beautifully bloody level, we found out we could jump up and off of walls, which allowed for some awesome attack moves that would make Ninja Gaiden's Ryu proud.

Eventually, we encountered the end-level boss. He didn't prove to be much of a challenge initially, given that his charge on horseback was easily avoided as we whittled him down while fending off the more standard enemies. Once we knocked him off, he proved to be a much bigger challenge; he was so quick he essentially teleported through the air. A play of the arcade mode on the Swatted! Level resulted in a similar whomping. This impressive moving-train level had us fighting with katanas, and required a slight technique adjustment because the moves were a bit more deliberate.

The terrific visual design is replete with muddy blacks and rusty reds, and we especially loved the splashes of blood that splattered against the screen and trickled down. Ska Software has delivered a demo with remarkable potential, and we look forward to getting our hands on the complete product. We'll bring you more information about The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, including a release date, as it is announced.

47 Comments

  • arcader965

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 2:31 am PT

    I heard on Ing that it comes out on December 31 08

  • reckeweg

    Posted Apr 23, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    Does anyone know when MS actually plans to release the full version of this. I had an absolute blast with the demo.

  • Heylin_Force

    Posted Mar 23, 2008 12:11 pm PT

    how do you play the demo? I can't find it.

  • Killermanjaro

    Posted Mar 5, 2008 5:34 pm PT

    damn! i love the whole concept of this game. dishwasher samurai? awesome!!

  • edhc44

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 11:08 am PT

    Just a reminder, this game was originally the winner of a MS contest and the prize was a contract to work for them... The dude who coded this is a zombie freak (I googled him) and I've been keeping tabs on this game since then... I dunno if I still can download the demo, gonna check this right away...

    Anyway, looks hot!

    And if anyone is gonna use the acronym XNA (which is not acronymed, BTW =p) again, I suggest reading netblue post first. He said it all.

  • N1njaSquirrel

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 4:26 am PT

    I loved this demo. definatley the greatest game on the XNA games, and possibly the greatest XBLA game as well. i just hope they come up with more amusing and interesting enemies as they have in the demo. A clever mix of easy to kill zombies and more advanced enemies like the ogre thing, but still with an interesting attack pattern which never makes it dull. also, the teleport katana makes me feel like a bleach character, and keeps up the combo score. 7million on the robot level. W00t! i can't wait to get my hands on the full game of this.

  • Regan_Fencl

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 6:38 am PT

    The demo was awesome! Can wait to play the full version.

  • Dan2002sk8er

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 1:47 pm PT

    this was the only cool XNA game of the whole bunch I cant wait for the real thing.

  • Bansheesdie

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 12:18 pm PT

    One of the few XBLA games that I am excited for, the demo is amazing. But the online co-op should be even more amazing.

  • wakko19991

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 11:20 am PT

    this had to be one of the best games i have played yet through xbla. the gameplay is not entirely new (GoW like), but the combination of visuals, music and pacing made it fun to play.. and fun matters...

    i'm shicked that a singel guy did this. the piece they did on him w/ major nelson was ffunny tooo.

    everyone is making comments that xbox shot its load last year, but i think xbla is going to be big this year. The thing i like is that the title that appear are like apple releases, they don't get a lot of hype, they jsut show, you play then, you like...

  • Pete5506

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 9:28 am PT

    The demo was crazy fun, I am so getting it

  • nycjet

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 9:14 pm PT

    Nosnitsttam and Netblue I hear you and you too are right but if you must know I used to own a video gaming Trading store in Fl but went out of business when game stop and eb got together!!! I just think that the fee that Microsoft and XNA DO charge should be for free !!!

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 2:23 pm PT

    Of the 7 free XNA-created titles, I liked this one the best. I look forward to see what a little imagination, some tools and a lot of time can bring in the form of arcade games. I was a little tired of the PAC-MAN remakes. This game will be a must buy for me.

  • GSx0

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 7:43 am PT

    It's not bad. I played through all the content available on the demo. The worst part of it all for me is that there was a real kid thinking about this while he was washing dishes. It's a little scary if you think of it like that, no?

  • netblue

    Posted Feb 22, 2008 7:33 am PT

    @The uninformed: XNA is neither a dev tool, nor something that needs to be purchased in order to run this (or any other XNA derived game). XNA is a programming language framework offered FOR FREE from Microsoft along with other FREE tools that you can download that allows programmers to create new games in a much much shorter amount of time than a traditionally developed game.

    Now, the fee they DO charge is to be a member of the XNA creators club, which allows you to share XNA created games with other members, and also run an XNA game on your Xbox 360.

    Games that are created using XNA and published via the XBLA will NOT require you to purchase a creators club account, only purchase the game from XBLA for however many points.

    And finally, a shout out to the dev(s) of this game, I have been keeping tabs since the dream build play, and game of this design and quality from a lone developer is astounding and frankly, just awesome.

  • unreal_master

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 10:54 pm PT

    i played this game its great the gameplay n graphics are awsome so idk what everyones deal is

  • Nosnitsttam

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 8:12 pm PT

    everyone knows that this is available right now, right? if you haven't checked it out yet, go do that now. "nycjet -Lets get real here what a big rip off from the ppl from Microsoft xbox360 now they want you to pay $49.99 or $100.00 for this XNA !!! When you just payed $49.99 for Xbox live and you payed $449.99 for the 360 Elite console system now I can really see that Microsoft's all about the money and not the gaming !!! I'm going to get rid of my Xbox360 and go the Sony's PS3"

    first off, please read what you type before posting to make sure you don't sound like you're FIVE. next, i don't recall microsoft saying you need to pay $50-100 to play these games. you need to pay that much for the dev. tools, yeah. but no dev. software comes cheap. and last, why would you get rid of your elite? you own a great console that has a lot of great games for it and last i checked, the PS3 isn't any cheaper. and you'd be out $500 plus what you spend on the PS3 and all the same games you want. so that really makes no sense.

    @killax - dude, it's for XBLA, so it's not a full fledged 360 game. I'm sure you've picked up one of the PSN games on the PS3, it's the same basic idea. as for it looking like a PS2 game? i'd take that as a compliment since the PS2 churned out some great looking stuff in the end. but i doubt the PS2 could handle some of the effects used in the game. It may look simple but it really has a lot going for it. the fact that i had as much fun with this demo as i did the full version of DMC4 should say how good it actually is. just play it first, you'll understand. or if you don't, at least i'll respect your opinion. Letting the gamers get there hands on this was one of the best ideas MS ever had. I really can't wait to see how the finished product comes out and i'm gonna start saving points just for that. on the downside, the other XNA demos were only OK but they could always get better.

  • km1498

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 6:27 pm PT

    looks good.

  • jmar2445

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 6:04 pm PT

    looks like a mediocre ps2 game. 'Next-gen'? HA....no way. a pathetic xbox 360 game is what this is.

    Lol this is Coming from an idiot with Ace Combat in his advatar. Dude you know nothing of games. :LOL

  • staticgod

    Posted Feb 21, 2008 5:47 pm PT

    "Lets get real here what a big rip off from the ppl from Microsoft xbox360 now they want you to pay $49.99 or $100.00 for this XNA !!! When you just payed $49.99 for Xbox live and you payed $449.99 for the 360 Elite console system now I can really see that Microsoft's all about the money and not the gaming !!! I'm going to get rid of my Xbox360 and go the Sony's PS3 "

    i dont think that sony look for somthing else. money not gaming in itself.

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Game Stats

  • Rank:
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    X360 Rank:
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    Highest Rank:
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    Tracking:
    248 Track It»
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  • Player Reviews:
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  • Number of Players:

    1-2, 2 Online | Offline Modes: Cooperative | Online Modes: Cooperative

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  • Mature Rating Description

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