Lead And Gold On PSN, And A PC Cult Hit Punches Through To XBLA

A plentiful week of downloadable game releases is on the way – we've got the pricing, schedule and details.

The Game Informer office was treated to an extensive multiplayer demo of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West a couple of months ago, and everybody went away happy. Lead and Gold is a clever approach to third-person shooting, set in a particularly violent part of the Old West. Though it has a bare-bones single player experience, the meat of Lead and Gold is in its multiplayer matches, where two teams of up to five players go at it in one of six multiplayer maps. One of the game's coolest features are called synergies. By moving your team in a tightly packed group, you gain buffs based on the other character's special abilities, like strength or aiming. An experience system rewards long term play, and there are lots of era-appropriate game types (like bank robberies!) to keep the action fresh. Though it's already out on PC, the PSN version releases today, May 4th, for $14.99.

Xbox Live Arcade is set to play host to Raystorm HD this week, a title that will be familiar to fans of old-school shooters. The vertical space shooter was part of a trilogy that played out on the original PlayStation and Sega Saturn systems in the 90s. The new game is a remake of the original Raystorm, with updated graphics and several new modes. We've heard that the new game will include a new, third playable ship into the mix. Pay 1200 Microsoft points on XBLA ($15) and you'll be saving the galaxy in no time.

Raystorm HD isn't the only treat headed to XBLA this week. Wednesday will also include the release of the PC first-person game Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition. 1200 Microsoft points ($15) will purchase the stunningly original title. Zeno Clash is set in a profoundly strange world of unusual creatures and environments. Players adopt the role of Ghat, a fugitive on the run after murdering his Father-Mother, a parent creature that combines both genders in one. As Ghat flees, he's forced to fight his way through the surreal setting, mostly with punches and melee weapons instead of the expected guns. Zeno Clash is undoubtedly one of the more unique and surprising additions to the XBLA catalog this year. If you're into supporting experimental games, you should check it out. We'll have a full review up later this week.

WiiWare has two new titles emerging this week, but we'd be lying if we said we knew anything clear about them. Word of their release only surfaced recently, so you should venture into these waters at your own risk. But, in case you're curious, the first of the two is called Zombie Panic in Wonderland. The official press release for the game offers this enigmatic description: "A sudden wave of zombies is attacking Wonderland. To save your friends from the spell of the 'amorous zombies,' you'll have to solve the mystery of the 'scented dwarves' in time and put an end to the evil power hidden in the castle in the northern city. Game features include cut scenes, music with lyrics, seven playable characters, hidden levels, final bosses, multiple weapons, nonstop zombie attacks, explosions, demolitions and fire." If that sounds like your sort of thing, then all we can say is good luck, and may god have mercy on your soul.

WiiWare's other offering this week is Kung Fu Funk: Everybody is Kung Fu Fighting!. 500 Wii points ($5) will get you this unabashed party game for up to four players. A collection of kung fu themed minigames await over three game modes. This could offer an evening's appeal for a family's weekly game night, especially if that family has been weaned on classic martial arts flicks.