A couple of updates for Xbox LIVE today, starting with a downloadable treat for fans of LIVE Arcade hack n’ slashathon par excellence, Castle Crashers...

The hotly anticipated ‘Necromantic’ pack enhances the already splendid side-scrolling fun with two new characters – the Necromancer and a Cult Minion – plus a pair of extra weapons in the shape of the NG Skull Mace and a Chainsaw. There's also a brand new ‘Dragonhead’ Animal Orb to follow you around and heat up the action. Will any of the above make you a better player? Perhaps not, although developer’s ‘The Behemoth’ describe the Necromancer as having “pure awesome” magic. It sounds like a blast, and it's a veritable steal at 160 MS Points (£1.36!).

Rather less of a bargain are today’s new 'Games on Demand'. Need For Speed: Pro Street eschews the borderline criminality of earlier outings in favour of straightforward street-racing. It’s not bad and it certainly lives up to the promise of ‘Speed’ in the title. It seems a little steep at 19.99, though – particularly when you can pick up a brand new boxed copy for several squids less.

Burnout Revenge, the second of today's Demandables, is a more of a racing certainty. But, again, it’s £19.99 to download when the retail version is loads cheaper if you shop around (or buy pre-owned). More puzzling, Burnout Paradise is not only more recent, more expandable and is better fun to play either on or offline – it’s also £19.99 to buy as part of the ‘Xbox Classics’ range. Go figure.

We’d honestly recommend you explore Paradise before taking the plunge with either of the above. Oh, and note to Microsoft: sort your damned pricing out!