> Xbox 360 Reviews

Xbox Live Arcade Reviews (26)

Grand Theft Auto IV Review (X360)
Easily one of the most anticipated games ever, Grand Theft Auto IV is finally out and is selling by the boatloads. Has it been worth the long wait and massive amounts of hype? Yes and no. It is certainly a huge game with tons of insanely cool little touches and tidbits that tickle gamers in all of the right places. But in terms of gameplay and graphics and storytelling, it all feels awfully familiar. Find out our final verdict on GTA IV right here in our full review.

NBA Ballers: Chosen One Review (X360)
Midway is back with another entry in the NBA Ballers franchise, but the results aren’t so good this time. The presentation is fine and it has a definite smooth style to it, but the core basketball gameplay just isn’t all that fun. When the basketball aspect of your basketball videogame is the weak link, you have issues. There is some fun to be had with NBA Ballers: Chosen One if you learn to put up with the complicated controls and other quirks, but you aren’t missing much if you skip it.

Universe At War: Earth Assault Review (X360)
2007’s Command and Conquer 3 proved that real-time-strategy games can work just fine on consoles if you follow a few rules. Keep the gameplay simple and focus on the combat. Don’t make us micromanage too much. Give us nice graphics and a solid framerate. And give us varied and interesting factions to choose from. It was with these things in mind that I approached SEGA’s Universe at War: Earth Assault. Find out if this game follows that formula for success right here in our full review.

Dark Sector Review (X360)
On a console stuffed with shooters, a new entry in the genre has to do something special to really stand out. Dark Sector brings the heat with a bladed throwing weapon and ability progression that keeps you playing just to see what nifty stuff you’ll get to do next. For every great thing Dark Sector does, however, other aspects are decidedly average, which tempers whatever rush you get from slicing enemies up. Dark Sector is fun, but it can’t really stand up to the Xbox 360’s elite.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Review (X360)
Recipe for success: Take everything that was good about the original R6V, add in some new features and fixes requested by fans, and let bake for 18 months. The result is a solid game that absolutely plays better than the first game. It isn’t dramatically different, and because of the return to Las Vegas setting it kind of has an “expansion pack” feeling rather than that fresh new game feel. It is still great fun, though, and one of the best co-op games on the Xbox 360. Find out more here.

Viking: Battle for Asgard Review (X360)
Viking: Battle for Asgard is a game you’ll want to love. But it is one of those games that just won’t let you. It does have some great moments, such as when you rally your Viking soldiers and lead a huge battle to capture a city, but in between these great moments the game is just repetitive and shallow and boring. This is a game that had a ton of potential, but falls short mostly due to, as far as we can tell, a lack of ambition. Find out all of the details right here in our full review.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Review (X360)
Another year, another great playing but poor everything else Winning Eleven/Pro Evolution Soccer release. We love the smooth and flowing gameplay, but are getting sick of the average graphics and lack of licenses. Come on Konami! EA’s FIFA series is catching up little by little every year, and unless you spend some money on licenses and giving the graphics an overhaul, soccer fans are going to start abandoning you. Pro Evo 08 is still a decent game, but it could have been so much more.

SEGA Superstars Tennis Review (X360)
Lets get this out of the way first – SEGA Superstars Tennis is about fan service first and tennis second. If you go into this expecting Virtua Tennis 3 with SEGA characters, you are going to be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you are a die-hard SEGA fanboy that loves all of the company’s classics, then this game might be right up your alley. Find out all about it right here in our full review.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot Review (X360)
One of the surprise hits from the November 2005 launch of the Xbox 360 was SEGA and Monolith’s horror beat-em-up, Condemned. It put a new spin on horror and first-person gameplay that critics and consumers alike loved. Now they’re back with Condemned 2: Bloodshot. Bloodshot is improved in just about every area and makes a few key additions that really round out the experience and make a better game overall. Find out all of the details in our full review.

Frontlines: Fuel of War Review (X360)
Frontlines: Fuel of War is, basically, a more fun and accessible version of Battlefield 2. Massive battles with up to 50 people complete with tanks, helicopters, air strikes, and drones are the name of the game here, and it all works incredibly well and is just plain crazy fun. This is a solid game that is well worth checking out.

Army of Two Review (X360)
Army of Two is a third-person-shooter designed from the ground up with co-op in mind. It should have been a dream game for those of us that love co-op, but it is just too hard to look past the downright insulting story, completely mediocre core gameplay, short campaign, and bonehead single-player A.I. Playing with a friend is fun, yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that Army of Two is still an average shooter on a system with tons of great ones. Rent it.

Bully: Scholarship Edition Review (X360)
At first glance, Bully seems a lot like “Grand Theft Auto: The High School Years”, but once you dig a little deeper you find out that it is much more than that. Bully is wickedly funny, offers a surprising variety in the gameplay, and is simply one of the most enjoyable games to come around in quite some time. Bully: Scholarship Edition adds a few new tricks to everything that made the PS2 original great, and even though there are still some kinks to work out, it is worth picking up.

Lost: Via Domus Review (X360)
Lost: Via Domus is an interesting game that, unfortunately, just screams “rental” from the get go. It has nice presentation and a decent story, and we dig the adventure game elements, but Lost is crazy easy, very short, and a pretty poor purchase at the full $60 price tag since once you see the story and collect your 1000 achievement points, there isn’t anything to keep you coming back. It is absolutely worth playing through once, though. Find out more in our full review.

Lost Odyssey Review (X360) PG1
Lost Odyssey is without question the Xbox 360’s answer to Final Fantasy. If it was called “Final Fantasy XIII”, I don’t think anyone would have questioned its place in that series. But it isn’t Final Fantasy. And it isn’t from SqueEnix. It is a brand new franchise exclusive to the Xbox 360. And it is darn good. Find out all about it right here in our full review.

FIFA Street 3 Review (X360)
I'm not a fan of the original FIFA Street. It was all style and no substance and just drove me crazy because it focused too much on individuals rather than on the team, which is what real soccer is about. FIFA Street 3 has toned down the “me first” attitude and put a bit more attention on the fundamentals of soccer, but it is still a very flawed game. When it all works, Street 3 can be a lot of fun, but the huge list of flaws will sour you on the game very quickly.

Jumper: Griffin's Story Review (X360)
Even after playing videogames for 20 years and being a reviewer for the last 7 years, I still hold out hope whenever a new movie game comes across my desk that it is going to be good. Sort of like comedian Lewis Black’s bit about candy corn, I approach movie games with unexplainable optimism only to be disappointed. Jumper: Griffin’s Story is the latest movie game to hit the Xbox 360. Find out all about it right here.

Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom Review (X360)
One of the more underrated Xbox exclusive franchises has always been the Kingdom Under Fire series. The previous two games on the OG Xbox were hack n’ slash action games mixed with a bit of real-time-strategy, and they were pretty darn fun. The latest in the series, Circle of Doom, nixes the RTS elements in favor of a more straight up action RPG. Was this decision a wise one or a mistake? Find out all about Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom right here.

The Club Review (X360)
The Club is basically Project Gotham Racing with guns and no cars. It is all about being stylish and setting fast times and high scores, and it works surprisingly well. And it is a fresh take on a third-person-shooter genre that has been feeling kind of stale for a while now. It is addictive and fast paced and pretty darn fun once you get into it. The Club is solid all around and is worth checking out.

Burnout Paradise Review (X360)
EA and Criterion have finally delivered the first true next-gen Burnout, and the results are pretty impressive for the most part. The game maintains the blazingly fast racing, slick visuals, and bone shattering crashes of the past, but adds in a few new bells and whistles to keep the series fresh. Not all of the changes were for the better, however, but even with a few lackluster race modes, Burnout Paradise is still an excellent racing game overall that is worth a look.

Culdcept Saga Review (X360)
Culdcept Saga is one of the most surprisingly enjoyable games I have played in a while. I ignored the demo, but when the retail version arrived for review I gave it a shot. And I have been completely hooked ever since. There is just something about this strategy-CCG that is incredibly addictive and very rewarding. It isn’t for everyone due to the investment of time and the hardcore nerdiness it usually takes to play any CCG, but Culdcept Saga is amazingly fun and well worth checking out.

Turok Review (X360)
The Turok series has always had the coolest concept around: Shoot dinosaurs with really big guns. But for some reason, each game has had issues that turned people away. With Acclaim long dead and a new developer and publisher at the helm, hopes were high that the new Turok could deliver on the promises and potential we saw in the first game on N64 more than 10 years ago. Unfortuantely, that isn’t the case. It isn’t awful, but there are a lot of little things that make Turok hard to love.

NFL Tour Review (X360)
EA is back to take another stab at arcade-style football with NFL Tour. You may remember the NFL Street series on the PS2 and Xbox. Well, NFL Tour is pretty much the same game minus the thug attitude. That means it is fast paced, extremely biased towards the offense, and ultimately pretty darn shallow. It’ll keep you entertained long enough to add about 700 points to your Gamerscore, but there just isn’t enough substance here to make it a solid experience in the long run.

MX vs. ATV Untamed Review (X360)
The latest offroad racing game from THQ and Rainbow Studios is here, but is it worth the $60 investment? MX vs. ATV Untamed features all of the things that have made previous entries in the series enjoyable, but it doesn’t do much to move forward and improve the series. It is a fairly safe, by-the-numbers sequel that doesn’t do anything wrong, but everything will feel very familiar for series vets. Find out more in our full review.

DDR Universe 2 Review (X360)
Konami has delivered its second Xbox 360 DDR game of 2007, but we’re not sure if we should be excited or concerned. DDR Universe 2, unfortunately, has the exact same flaws as Universe 1 – a weak song list being the biggest offender – which makes it pretty hard to recommend if you already put down $70 back in February for the first game. The core gameplay in DDR Universe 2 is as solid as ever, but it really struggles in terms of overall value.

Scene It! Lights, Camera, Action Review (X360)
Scene It! Lights, Camera, Action brings fun movie trivia to the Xbox 360 complete with a set of four nifty controllers that ensure that the game is simple enough for the whole family to enjoy. Movie buffs (or people with a Netflix subscription that think they are movie buffs) and people just looking to have a good time with their friends and family at parties, Scene It! Lights, Camera, Action is highly recommended.

Need for Speed ProStreet Review (X360)
Need for Speed ProStreet is a rather different beast from the past few Need for Speed games. The focus now is on legal, sanctioned races rather than running from the cops and tearing through city streets. The gameplay has also shifted a bit towards a more simulation-style of driving, but it is still very much an arcade racer at its heart. The changes take some getting used to, but in the end, Need for Speed ProStreet is a very solid entry in the series that is worth checking out.

Rock Band Review (X360)
EA, Harmonix, and MTV’s monster music game is finally upon us, but is it worth the hefty $170 asking price for the full kit? Whether you are playing solo or have friends that want to play, the answer is a definite yes. Nothing beats the feeling of getting a group together and creating music, even if it is using fake instruments. Rock Band is just crazy fun, has a good soundtrack, and is a solid addition to the Xbox 360 lineup that I highly recommend.

BlackSite: Area 51 Review (X360)
Midway takes us back to the Nevada desert for more alien blasting and government cover ups in BlackSite: Area 51. So how does it stack up against 2005’s Xbox/PS2 Area 51? Not too good, unfortunately. BlackSite brings some nice looking graphics to the party, bur pretty much every other aspect of the game is entirely forgettable. Dumb AI, glitches galore, and framerate issues spoil the experience even more. Find out all about BlackSite: Area 51 right here.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 Review (X360)
Easily the most wanted feature for any Xbox 360 wrestling game is being able to use your own music for wrestler entrances. Even if there are flaws elsewhere in the game, being able to bring your custom character out to any music you please is a selling point all by itself. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 satisfies both of those conditions. It is flawed and the series overall is in desperate need of an update, but custom soundtracks make it worth a look anyway. Find out more right here.

Assassin's Creed Review (X360)
Assassin’s Creed is one of the most intriguing, fresh, fun, and absolutely impressive games to come to the Xbox 360. The presentation is stunning and the gameplay will hook you and not let you go for hours at a time. It is not a perfect game by any means, but when you take your time to really experience everything the game has to offer rather than rushing through it, the flaws fade and the strengths shine even brighter. Assassin’s Creed is a great game that is among the very best of 2007.

Mass Effect Review (X360)
BioWare’s latest RPG epic is finally upon us, but has Mass Effect been worth the wait? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yeeeesssss. Not only does it look and sound incredible, but it also has a great story and offers some of the best role playing elements of any game yet. The combat isn’t quite on the same level of quality as other aspects of the game, but it is still plenty good enough to make Mass Effect one of the best games on the Xbox 360. Find out all about it right here.

The Simpsons Game Review (X360)
The Simpsons Game from EA delivers great visuals and sound and is really genuinely funny throughout the 6-8 hour campaign, but the gameplay is so bland and uninteresting that it really is a struggle to force yourself to see it all. Simpsons fans will definitely enjoy it, but it isn’t the end-all-be-all Simpsons game we had all been hoping for.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Review (X360)
So long World War II. Hello modern warfare! Call of Duty has made the leap from the heroics of the greatest generation to a horrifying vision of the future in CoD4, and the results are pretty darn spectacular. The single-player campaign is filled with tight gameplay and great moments you’ll want to play again and again, and the multiplayer is some of the deepest and most satisfying around. Call of Duty 4 is a great game that is highly recommended.

Viva Pinata: Party Animals Review (X360)
Unlike the first Viva Pinata game, which looked like a kids game but leaned a little more towards adults with the gameplay, Viva Pinata Party Animals is a kids game through and through. This minigame collection slash racing game pairs the characters from the FOX Saturday morning TV show with some easy and pretty mindless gameplay that is sure to keep the kids entertained. Well, kids under 8 or so. Pre-teens and older will likely get bored with it pretty quickly. Find out more right here.

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Review (X360)
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga follows a simple formula: Take two great games and mash them together to create the ultimate LEGO Star Wars experience. From a sheer value standpoint, it is an absolute success because you get all six movies, new areas and characters and secrets, online co-op, and more for just $50. The only downside is that you have likely already played through most of it before, but to have improved versions of it all on one disc, makes it worth picking up all over again.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Review (X360)
Red Octane and Activision are back for another set, this time with Neversoft at the helm since lead guitarist Harmonix got a big head and left the group to form a new Rock Band. For the most part, Guitar Hero III is more of the same great guitar playing we all love, but just like when any outsider is brought into the core of an established band, some things change and not all of them for the better. It isn’t completely Yoko Ono’d, but an increase in difficulty could be a big issue for some.

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Review (X360)
For years, the Ace Combat series has been pretty much the only flight combat game to really get everything right. And now, if the box art it to believed (we’ll check back in 6 months to a year …), Ace Combat 6 is exclusive to the Xbox 360. Ace Combat 6 looks and sounds absolutely stunning, has a wealth of both single and multiplayer modes, and features smooth and easy to learn controls that make the game fun for newcomers and veterans of the series alike. Find out more right here.

TimeShift Review (X360)
After being in development for seemingly forever, TimeShift is finally out on store shelves. But was the wait worth it? Yes. Absolutely. TimeShift is a solid game that looks and plays remarkably well. The time shifting aspect of the game could have used more work, but the core shooting is fun enough to make it worth playing even after the wow factor of the time controls wears off. Make some room in your holiday game release schedule, because TimeShift should not be ignored.

Virtua Fighter 5 Review (X360)
I almost feel bad about the PS3 version of Virtua Fighter 5. It seems like SEGA doomed it from the start by first announcing the Xbox 360 version before the PS3 version was even out, and then a few months later revealing that the 360 version would have online play and other enhancements. Whatever SEGA’s motives were regarding the two versions of VF5, the only important thing is that both games are great, but the Xbox 360 version is definitely the better of the two. Find out more right here.

Tony Hawk Proving Ground Review (X360)
Tony Hawk needs a year off. Nine games in nine years is just too much. The gameplay has become too complicated, the level designs aren’t nearly as good, and the fun and humor and real skater feel just isn’t there anymore. With the first real competition that the series has ever had this year in EA’s Skate, the latest Tony Hawk game just feels old and outdated by comparison. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is an okay game, but it isn’t anything special.

FIFA 08 Review (X360)
FIFA is back to take another stab at next-gen soccer for the 08 season, and while there are some definite improvements over 07, it still struggles in the most important area of all: gameplay. It has great presentation, tons of modes, tons of real teams and players, but the play out on the pitch is slow and clunky rather than crisp and beautiful. We have to admit that we love the new Be a Pro mode, and the new camera angle it uses, but it isn’t enough to give FIFA 08 a solid recommendation.

Beautiful Katamari Review (X360)
The Katamari series is one of those unfortunate franchises that burned the brightest with its first release, and despite Namco Bandai’s attempts to recapture that magic in subsequent releases, it just hasn’t been the same. Beautiful Katamari continues that trend. It is a fun game, certainly, but we have literally seen and done all of this before. The $40 pricetag definitely works in the game’s favor, but Beautiful Katamari is only really a rental at best.

Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII Review (X360)
While the WWII FPS genre is rapidly cooling down, the WWII flight combat genre is just as tepid as ever. At least with the flight combat games we only have one company taking on World War II instead of dozens. Just what has Ubisoft learned in the year and a half since the first Blazing Angels hit the Xbox 360? A lot, it seems. Blazing Angels 2 is a definite improvement over the first game in just about every area, but it is still too easy for its own good.

Eternal Sonata Review (X360)
Who would have thought that an RPG based on the life of and death of composer Frederic Chopin would make for a fun game. But that is exactly what Namco Bandai and Tri-Crescendo have created. Eternal Sonata offers a rich story and great characters tied together by stunning graphics and a fun and inventive battle system. This is just a great experience all around and is highly recommended for JRPG fans.

SEGA Rally Revo Review (X360)
SEGA Rally Revo marks the first appearance of the series in the US in eight years. What has changed since SEGA Rally Championship 2 on the Dreamcast? Not much. This is still arcade-style racing through and through, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing depending on what type of a race fan you are. For arcade race fans, SEGA Rally Revo is a fun game, but it can’t quite match up against the heavy hitters in the racing genre that are also available on the Xbox 360.

The Orange Box Review (X360)
The Orange Box is one of the best videogame bargains ever. For your $60, you get Half-Life 2, the Episode One and Two expansions, puzzle/FPS Portal, and online multiplayer game Team Fortress 2. None of the games are perfect on their own, but taken as a whole this package is very, very good and is highly recommended for all Xbox 360 owners.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe Review (X360)
This year’s take on the X-Men Legends/ Marvel Ultimate Alliance style of gameplay from Activision comes in the form of Spider-Man: Friend or Foe. The hook here is that famous villains from the Spider-Man universe actually fight alongside rather than against our hero. Unfortunately, while the premise is cool, the execution falters in several key areas. It can be fun, particularly in co-op, but it is too darn short and too easy to be worthy of anything more than a rental.

Project Gotham Racing 4 Review (X360)
Project Gotham Racing is back and better than ever after a nearly two year break since PGR3 launched alongside the Xbox 360 in November 2005. PGR4 takes everything that was great about that game and improves it. It looks better, has a far better car list, has a better career mode, and just plain has more stuff to do. The gameplay is as sharp as ever as well. Project Gotham Racing 4 is a solid racing game that Xbox 360 owners will be proud to have in their collection.

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights Review (X360)
Just when you thought the import racing fad might finally be dead, another game pops up. Luckily, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights is actually a pretty decent take on the genre. It features some of the best visual customization available in any racing game on the Xbox 360 along with some decent, if not uninspired, racing and the Hot Import Nights license gives it a more authentic look and feel than most street racing games. Juiced 2 isn’t a perfect game, but fans of the genre will enjoy it.

Stuntman: Ignition Review (X360)
The original Stuntman on PS2 was a real love it or hate it type of game. It was very difficult and frustrating and it seemed like you spent more time looking at loading screens than actually playing. Some people really enjoyed it, but for most it felt like work rather than fun. Five years later, Stuntman is back with a new publisher and developer at the reigns. Stuntman: Ignition addresses most of the issues with the first game to produce a fun experience that is worth checking out.

NHL 08 Review (X360)
EA Canada follows up last year’s solid effort with another great hockey game in NHL 08. The skill stick has been refined and is better than ever, and the improved AI and wealth of modes make this one of the best hockey titles yet. EA has fully committed to the simulation side of hockey rather than arcade-style like they used to do, but NHL 08 is very polished and has a great feel that will make you forget all about scoring ten goals a game and laying on a big hit every time down the ice.

NHL 2K8 Review (X360)
It is always interesting when the young up-and-comer manages to pass by the old standard, and that is exactly what happened with the NHL games this year. EA came out swinging with new controls and a focus on simulation in 07 that they greatly improved in 08, so 2K tried to make some big changes of their own. Unfortunately, the new controls in NHL 2K8 fall flat, and not much else has changed from last year. NHL 2K8 is still fun, but it isn’t the best hockey game out there anymore.

Kengo: Legend of the 9 Review (X360)
Kengo: Legend of the 9 is a third-person-action game that focuses squarely on the simplicity and elegance of samurai-era sword fighting. It sounds like a cool idea, but suffers from repetitive combat and braindead AI and a single-player game that takes all of an hour to beat. Kengo does have some good things going for it, but even at a budget price of $39.99, it is hard to recommend for anything more than a rental.

Halo 3 Review (X360)
Halo 3 is the best Halo yet and one of the best games available on the Xbox 360. Every single aspect of the game is polished to near-perfection from the presentation to the campaign to the multiplayer, Halo 3 does everything amazingly well and adds in a bunch of new bells and whistles to really put it all over the top. And above all else, Halo 3 is one of the absolute best values in the industry. You will be playing this for months and likely years to come. Find out all about it right here.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Review (X360)
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is exactly what the title implies. It is a Dynasty Warriors game with giant robots rather than ancient Chinese warlords. This combination works surprisingly well, and even though the gameplay is basically unchanged, hacking up hundreds of robots is just plain more fun than hacking up hundreds of enemy Chinese soldiers. For Dynasty Warriors and Gundam fans alike, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam is a fun game that is worth checking out.

Medal of Honor: Airborne Review (X360)
Medal of Honor kicked off the WWII FPS craze way back on the original PlayStation, but in the ten years or so since then, the MOH series hasn’t changed too much. Not saying the games are bad, but Call of Duty and Brothers in Arms have pushed the genre in terms of immersion, intense battles, and emotion while Medal of Honor has always seemed like a regular FPS with a WWII mod tacked on. Airborne adds a few new bells and whistles, but it can’t really compete with the elite titles in the genre.

Stranglehold Review (X360)
If you are looking for nonstop action and satisfying shooting, look no further than Stranglehold. Rolling around on carts, sliding down railings, and shooting things in slow motion have never been done better than in Stranglehold. It is just too bad that the game design never goes anywhere other than what is established in the first level and it all starts to feel pretty repetitive rather quickly. Stranglehold is a good game, but is more of a rental than a buy.

Blue Dragon Review (X360)
With the game design and scenario put together by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, character designs by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and music from Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, Blue Dragon had an all-star lineup behind its development. For whatever reason, however, this talented group only managed to put together a safe and very by-the-numbers RPG rather than the epic game fans had hoped for. Blue Dragon is a fun game, but it isn’t anything you haven’t seen before.

Two Worlds Review (X360)
You love ES IV: Oblivion. I love Oblivion. Everyone loves Oblivion. So it is no surprise that eventually someone made an Oblivion clone. What is surprising, however, is just how extremely poorly put together this clone is. Two Worlds sort of looks and feels like Oblivion only, you know, with much poorer looking graphics, bad sound, bad combat, and bad menus. And the most touted new feature, online play, is completely broken. Simply put, Two Worlds is a mess.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 Review (X360)
With sports games, there seems to be two levels of effort put in. Some years developers will go all out and really make improvements, and some years they just coast and ride the success of the year before. Unfortunately, Tiger Woods 08 falls into the latter category. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is a solid game of golf with a couple of nifty gameplay improvements, but the graphics and sound and features list aren’t all that different from last year’s entry.

Madden NFL 08 Review (X360)
EA’s third attempt at Madden NFL football on the Xbox 360 is as close to the glory days of last-gen Madden as we have seen so far. It looks great, and the gameplay has been tweaked to where it is just as good, if not better, than ever. Sports fans, you really can’t go wrong with Madden NFL 08 on the Xbox 360.

BioShock Review (X360)
BioShock is a great game. It is the best game that the Xbox brand, not just the Xbox 360, has ever seen, and will likely go down as one of the best games ever on any system. It is one of those rare games that combines not only amazingly polished graphics and sound, but very solid, deep, complex gameplay, a great story, and an overall feeling of immersion that sucks you in and keeps you playing that few other titles can match. BioShock is a must play game for Xbox 360 owners.

NASCAR 08 Review (X360)
EA’s NASCAR series has finally made the jump to next-gen systems but, unfortunately, the transition hasn’t been a smooth one. Like all of EA’s other sports franchises, the first attempt at NASCAR on 360 is bare bones, visually unimpressive, and suffers from some seriously flawed gameplay. Oh, and you get all of these “great” features for an inflated price of $60! Simply put, NASCAR 08 is a complete mess, and you’re much better off sticking with the last-gen NASCAR games.

NCAA Football 08 Review (X360)
Just like most of EA’s sports games on the Xbox 360, the second time is the charm for NCAA Football. Last year’s game was a bit bare bones and felt rushed, but NCAA Football 08 is fully featured and polished and finally ready to do college football justice on next-gen systems. There are still a few hiccups here and there, but NCAA Football 08 is a great game overall that is highly recommended.

All-Pro Football 2K8 Review (X360)
Back in the summer of 2004, 2K Sports rolled out NFL 2K5 at a bargain price of just $20. It was arguably the best football game yet. EA countered this threat by simply eliminating it by snatching up exclusive rights to the NFL license, and 2K’s brand of football just disappeared for a few years. Now in 2007, 2K is back with All-Pro Football 2K8. Does the 2K style still hold up after three years? And can a roster of legends on fake teams compete with the real NFL? Find out here.

Overlord Review (X360)
Overlord, from Codemasters and Triumph Studios, is an action RPG where you take on the role of an evil overlord who has control over hordes of vicious minions. Your main objective through the game is to destroy everything you come across, and if that doesn’t sound fun, I don’t know what is. It didn’t get a lot of attention prior to its release, but I can happily say that Overlord is not only one of the great surprises of the summer, but one of the best games of 2007 so far.

Monster Madness Review (X360)
Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia is a top-down perspective action game that has you duking it out with zombies and other creeps who are attacking suburbia. At first glance, it seems like a loving retelling of the classic game Zombies Ate My Neighbors but, unfortunately, the execution of pretty much every aspect of Monster Madness falls far short of LucasArts’ zombie killing epic. We love the concept and the corny jokes, but the bad controls and camera make actually playing it a nightmare.

Vampire Rain Review (X360)
Vampire Rain is a stealth action game that attempts to mix the stealthy gameplay of Splinter Cell with the horror elements of titles such as Resident Evil. The idea certainly is interesting enough, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Bland presentation and some odd quirks in the game design will turn you off of the game almost immediately. And to top it off, all of this mediocrity will only cost you $60! Vampire Rain is a bad game that should be avoided.

Hour of Victory Review (X360)
If you weren’t already sick to death of World War II first-person-shooters, Midway’s Hour of Victory will be the game to finally break you. Not a single aspect of the game manages to be more than mediocre, and most things instead end up on the terrible end of the scale. This is a bad game, period.

The BIGS Review (X360)
The BIGS is an arcade-style baseball game that puts the focus on pure hitting and nasty pitching rather than the tedious stat tracking and complex controls that you find in simulation baseball games these days. The result is an enjoyable, although shallow, game of fast paced baseball that hardcore fans and casual sports fans alike will enjoy. It isn’t without some issues, but the hitting is extremely satisfying, and that really is what The BIGS is all about.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Review (X360)
At long last, we have a summer 2007 movie game that isn’t just a quick cash-in. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a solid game that was clearly built with the love and attention the franchise deserves and fans will really enjoy it. It isn’t perfect, though, and some questionable design elements drag the experience down a bit. You do get to freely explore every inch of Hogwarts, so it is worth checking out just for that. If you’re a fan, you’ll love it.

DiRT Review (X360)
When you mix the hardcore rally feel of the Colin McRae games and tweak the gameplay towards the arcade-style, Rallisport Challenge side of the fence, you get DiRT. An amazingly fun, accessible, and highly polished game that rally fans and casual race fans alike will both love. Not only does it play very well, but it is one of the best looking racing games ever. So strap in and get ready for the ride of your life.

Transformers: The Game Review (X360)
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Transformers: The Game was supposed to be the first good movie game of summer ’07. It was supposed to be the first good Transformers game ever. With such a great license to work with, and with Traveller’s Tales behind the development, we expected LEGO Star Wars-levels of awesome. Instead, we end up with yet another disappointing, thrown together, crappy movie game. Rabid Transformers fans might like it, but I’d suggest renting it first.

Tenchu Z Review (X360)
If you have been eagerly anticipating the US release of Tenchu Z to live out your secret fantasies of being a ninja, you’re going to be in for a letdown. Tenchu is a mess of bland graphics, repetitive missions, and just plain bad game design that sucks all of the fun out of the experience from the moment you load up the game. Rent it if you are desperate, but don’t buy it.

WarTech: Senko no Ronde Review (X360)
WarTech: Senko no Ronde is a port of a Japanese arcade game simply known as Senko no Ronde. It combines elements of fighting games as well as shoot-em-ups to form a genre all of its own. Senko no Ronde is a rather niche game, though, that fragments its potential audience into such a tiny group that you have to wonder how the game will sell at all. It is a good, fun game if you are of the right mindset going in, but it certainly isn’t going to appeal to the mass market.

Shadowrun Review (X360)
From the moment it was announced, Shadowrun on the Xbox 360 has been controversial. Fans had issues with the use of the license and gamers everywhere balked at the $60 price tag and lack of a story mode, but when you actually play it you find that Shadowrun is really a pretty darn fun game. If you can see it for what it is rather than pining for what it should have been, Shadowrun is a very solid game that is worth checking out.

Forza Motorsport 2 Review (X360)
Forza Motorsport 2 is one of the most addictive and deeply satisfying racing games you will ever play. There is no greater feeling than when you tweak and tune your custom painted car for hours until it drives exactly how you want it. Or when you make a really nice custom graphic design and then it sells for a high amount in the auction house. Forza 2 is a great game that is accessible enough to appeal to a wide audience despite the fact racing sims are historically only for the hardcore.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Review (X360)
The summer blockbuster movie (and movie game) season is in full swing now, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is the latest movie licensed game to hit store shelves. The graphics are surprisingly good, but the gameplay is too simple and repetitive to really hold you for too long. It isn’t bad, it isn’t good, it is merely average. It makes for a decent rental, but not a purchase unless you are a huge Pirates fan.

Shrek the Third Review (X360)
Another animated movie, another quick and dirty video game cash in. Shrek the Third isn't a bad game, but it is hard to shake the feeling that it was created with bare minimums in mind in order to meet a deadline. The gameplay is bland and boring, the presentation is weak (particularly on the Xbox 360), and all we are left with is yet another generic action platformer with a movie license slapped onto it. Rent it for the easy achievements, but don't buy it.

Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars Review (X360)
After a successful test run for RTS games on consoles with Battle for Middle Earth II, EA is back with another Xbox 360 real-time-strategy game. Only this time, it is one of the biggest and best franchises the genre has to offer, Command and Conquer. Fast and smooth gameplay, easy to learn controls, a cool storyline, nice graphics and sound, Command and Conquer 3 does pretty much everything right and it is highly recommended for Xbox 360 owners.

Spider-Man 3 Review (X360)
Spider-Man 2 on the PS2/Xbox still stands as one of the best superhero games ever. It gave you all of the powers of the hero along with a huge city to use them in. With Spider-Man 3 hitting next gen consoles, it wasn’t unreasonable to expect improvements over SM2 to make this the best superhero game yet. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. It isn't really a bad game, just disappointing. Find out all about it in our full review.

Armored Core 4 Review (X360)
Mech fans, you are in for a treat when Armored Core 4 finds its way into your Xbox 360. It tweaks the formula of the long running mech series so that it is more accessible for newcomers, but it still has everything that has attracted the hardcore fans of the series over the years. Combat is fast paced and fun, the graphics and sound are very nice, and the customization options will keep you tweaking and tuning for months. Armored Core 4 is a solid game that is worth checking out.

Virtua Tennis 3 Review (X360)
Sega’s Virtua Tennis is back and it is better than ever on Xbox 360. Virtua Tennis 3 offers addictive and fun gameplay, tons of modes, and nice presentation that combine to make it not only the best tennis game, but one of the best sports games overall on the system. Virtua Tennis 3 is a flat-out fun game that is highly recommended.

Guitar Hero II Review (X360)
The Guitar Hero games represent two of the most addictive and fun games to come out in the last several years, and now we can finally experience the fun on Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II includes extra songs, downloadable content, leaderboards, and enhanced graphics that set it a step above the PS2 version. We have a couple of complaints, but Guitar Hero II on Xbox 360 is still an amazing game that is highly recommended.

Tetris Evolution Review (X360)
I’m going to come right out and say it. Tetris Evolution is probably the finest version of Tetris ever released. It has a ton of modes, lots of options, a bargain pricetag, and the classic Tetris gameplay we all love. Consider also that you can use your own custom soundtracks, and you have an extremely addictive and enjoyable puzzle game that is worth the $30 price of admission.

TMNT Review (X360)
What do you get when you mix the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles attitude with Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia-style gameplay? TMNT, that’s what. It looks and sounds like the Turtles, but with far more interesting gameplay than the franchise has ever seen before. There are a few nagging issues, but for Turtle fans or people that just want to rack up 1,000 easy Achievement points, TMNT is worth checking out.

Earth Defense Force 2017 Review (X360)
Earth Defense Force 2017 is one of those games that, no matter how much fun it is, you can’t help but feel that it could be a heck of a lot better. Sure, blasting giant bugs and robots is cool, but you are also struggling against sub-par graphics, wonky controls, dumb AI, and a laundry list of other annoyances that ruin the experience. There is still fun to be had with Earth Defense Force 2017, but it could have been so much more.

Bullet Witch Review (X360)
Bullet Witch is a third-person shooter that tries to rely on a shallow gimmick rather than focusing on things like, oh, solid gameplay and decent looking graphics. Instead, the main focus of the game is that you play as an attractive woman and you have a big gun. Now, that certainly isn’t a bad thing to have in a game, but when it is the only appealing aspect of the title, you have problems.

Def Jam ICON Review (X360)
To say our expectations for the new Def Jam fighting game were high would be an understatement. We loved Fight for New York and included it in our Top 10 Xbox Games of 2004. Things have changed with ICON, however, and not all of the changes were for the better. We like the gorgeous graphics, the roster of real life rappers, and the uncensored music, but the actual fighting is horrible. Fans of the music and the artists will probably like it, but look elsewhere if you want a fighting game.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Review (X360)
In March of 2006, when the first GRAW hit the Xbox 360, it was one of the first “Wow. This is next-gen” type games to hit the system. It looked absolutely phenomenal and played like a dream. And now, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 has arrived as a highly polished and refined sequel. It doesn’t take any risks or deviate from the GRAW formula, but you can’t deny that it looks and plays even better than the original, which should make fans of the series very happy.

NBA Street Homecourt Review (X360)
NBA Street Homecourt is easily the most refined and best-playing entry in the series, and basketball fanatics will find a lot to like here, but there just isn’t enough here to do. The main game mode is pretty shallow, however, and there aren’t enough other worthwhile things to do with the title so you can enjoy all of this smooth-as-silk gameplay. Homecourt is still a very fun game, but maybe a couple of steps backwards from Vol. 3.

Dance Dance Revolution Universe Review (X360)
The Dance Dance Revolution makes its next-gen debut on the Xbox 360 with DDR Universe, and it stands as one of the most accessible DDR games yet. Lots of songs, lots of modes, and tons of options including a “Basic Edition” that eases newcomers into the world of DDR. It isn’t without some flaws, but DDR Universe is a good dancing game that most Xbox 360 owners will be very happy with.

Crackdown Review (X360)
Crackdown, or Riot Act as it is called in Japan, mixes GTA-style “sandbox” gameplay with special abilities you’d usually only find in a Marvel superhero to create a game that actually stands out among the increasing number of GTA wannabes. It looks gorgeous, plays amazing well, and is one of the most addictive and satisfying games around. Crackdown is highly recommended.

Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 Review (X360)
Konami’s great Winning Eleven series finally makes it’s next-gen debut, and now everything is right with the world of soccer on Xbox 360. It isn’t a perfect game, not by any means, but it is certainly better than EA’s efforts so far. Winning Eleven 2007 doesn’t look quite as nice, or pack all of the official licenses of the FIFA games, but it plays a lot better when you are out on the field, and that is what really counts.

Fuzion Frenzy 2 Review (X360)
Microsoft went straight to the source for party games for Fuzion Frenzy 2, developer Hudson Soft (who make the Mario Party games for Nintendo), so it seemed like a can’t lose situation. Unfortunately, when you take out the lovable mascot characters and insert a crew of no-name wannabes into the same formula, the minigame heavy gameplay just doesn’t have quite the same flair. Some of the minigames can be fun, but there are far more negatives here than positives.

Battlestations Midway Review (X360)
Tired of slowly trudging around Europe in the latest weepy WWII FPS? Yeah, so are we. That is why Battlestations Midway is such an interesting take on the WWII genre. It puts you in full control of naval battles in the Pacific theater with a unique mix of real-time-strategy and action oriented gameplay. You can control lots of different types of boats and submarines and airplanes and everything about the game is surprisingly solid. Battlestations Midway is well worth checking out.

NCAA March Madness 07 Review (X360)
One of the most appealing aspects of college sports is the unpredictability of it all. These young kids aren’t perfect. They aren’t used to the pressure. And on any given night, the little guy can beat the big dogs. March Madness 07 captures the thrill of college basketball perfectly, and despite some issues, is worth checking out for college sports fans.

Burger King Xbox 360 Games Wrap-Up
Microsoft and Burger King’s little experiment in cross promotion has proven to be a surprising success. Big Bumpin’, PocketBike Racer, and Sneak King have each sold more than their fair number of copies, and for $3.99, how can you really go wrong? We cover the good, the bad, and the ugly right here.

Lost Planet Review (X360)
The first big game of 2007 is upon us, and after months of hype and anticipation, we can finally play Lost Planet. Was the wait worth it? I would say yes, but it does depend on what you were expecting. If you liked the demos that were released in 2006, you’ll love the final product. If you weren’t impressed by the demos, you can pass on Lost Planet. It really is as simple as that.

Star Trek Legacy Review (X360)
Star Trek Legacy is truly any Trek fans’ dream come true. You get to control the Enterprise from the different eras as well as many more ships from not only the Federation, but the Klingons, Romulans, and Borg as well. Legacy offers up just the right balance of sim and arcade gameplay that makes it just a bit easier to slide into the captain’s chair than, say, the Starfleet Command series. It isn’t without some issues, but overall Star Trek Legacy should make Trek fans very happy.

Rainbow Six: Vegas Review (X360)
In the same way Ubisoft “fixed” Splinter Cell with Chaos Theory and Ghost Recon with Advanced Warfighter, the Rainbow Six series has been reborn in a more accessible, and ultimately far superior version in Rainbow Six: Vegas. It looks fantastic, plays amazingly well, and is filled with features and modes that will keep you playing for weeks to come. Rainbow Six: Vegas is a great game that is highly recommended.

F.E.A.R. Review (X360)
After scaring up sales on the PC for a year, F.E.A.R. has launched on the Xbox 360 and the result is a fantastic port that has more features and plays tighter than the PC original. It looks great, is packed with modes and features, and plays fantastically well, even when you consider all of the great Xbox and 360 shooters to come before it. The best part about F.E.A.R. is that it is genuinely scary and horror fans will absolutely love it.

Viva Piñata Review (X360)
Back when I first saw the E3 2006 footage of Viva Piñata, I knew it was going to be a cult hit. There is something really intriguing about the Harvest Moon-meets-Animal Crossing-meets-Pokemon-meets-The Sims type of gameplay featured here. It looks amazing, is surprisingly deep, and is one of the most addictive games of the year. Don’t be fooled by the “kids game” look, Viva Piñata is a great game that is highly recommended for Xbox 360 gamers of any age.

Superman Returns Review (X360)
We have seen a lot of great superhero games over the last couple of years. Wait. Strike that. We have seen a lot of great Marvel superhero games over the last couple of years. For whatever reason, DC just can’t pull it together. Superman Returns, loosely based on the movie of the same name, continues this pattern. It is repetitive, ugly, glitchy, and feels like it was merely phoned-in by all parties involved. It is still the best Superman game ever, but that isn’t saying much.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Review (X360)
It has been a long time in coming, but a decent wrestling game has finally landed on an Xbox system. The SmackDown series has been the best wrestling game for the last 4-5 years, and the 2007 edition is every bit as good as the previous entries in the series. Great gameplay, tons of customization options, and decent graphics all make WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 a very solid grappler.

Call of Duty 3 Review (X360)
Call of Duty 2 was clearly the jewel of the Xbox 360 launch. It was a great game that ushered in the next generation of gaming in style. Call of Duty 3 doesn’t have quite the same impact, because it is a safe, by-the-numbers sequel that is basically identical to COD2. It looks a lot better, but it plays exactly the same and has a few too many glitches and other issues to place it on the same pedestal as the previous game.

Sonic the Hedgehog Review (X360)
Every time a new Sonic game is announced, gamers take notice. We desperately want it to be good so we can relive the glory days of the Mario vs. Sonic / Nintendo vs. Sega wars of the early 90’s, but for the last five years or so we have been disappointed when the game finally arrived. Sonic’s next-gen debut is no different. Camera issues, load times, poor gameplay, and an ever-growing cast of extra characters no one cares about make the new Sonic the Hedgehog hard to enjoy.

Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 Review (X360)
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 is the follow-up to one of our favorite Xbox games, and I am happy to say that DOAX2 is better in pretty much every way. It looks great, plays great, and packs in a ton of extra minigames and other fun stuff to keep you occupied. Oh, and it is filled with attractive women playing beach volleyball. Fans of the original will love it.

Tony Hawk's Project 8 Review (X360)
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 brings the series back to its roots, so if the antics and silliness of the THUG games and THAW weren’t your cup of tea but you still loved the gameplay, Project 8 will make you very happy. Activision and Neversoft have delivered the best looking, most realistic, most challenging, and one of the most fun skateboarding games yet, and I am also happy to say that the level design this year is as good as it has ever been. This is a fantastic game.

Gears of War Review (X360)
You would think that after all of the hype and coverage Gears of War has gotten over the last year or so, that there would be no way it could live up to expectations. But it does. It meets those expectations and even exceeds them. This is one of the best looking and best playing games of 2006. And you’ll only find it on Xbox 360.

Phantasy Star Universe Review (X360)
Phantasy Star Universe is an action-RPG where the main attraction is hooking up with your friends online to hack and slash your way through dungeons in search of rare items and loot. It also includes a surprisingly excellent single-player adventure that will make anime fans absolutely giddy. Whether you plan to play it online or just want a decent 20 hour RPG on the Xbox 360, Phantasy Star Universe is worth checking out.

Cars Review (X360)
Cars is the best movie Pixar has released in a long time, so it seems fitting that Cars the videogame is also the best game based on a Pixar license. The game captures the fun and personality of the movie almost perfectly, and the result is a fun driving game that both kids and adults will really enjoy.

Need for Speed Carbon Review (X360, Xbox)
Need for Speed Carbon is a mix of the absolute best that the Need for Speed series has offered over the past few years. You get solid racing along with police chases and some of the best customization options around all in one pretty looking package. Carbon is better than Most Wanted, and that is all you really need to know.

FIFA 07 Review (X360)
Oh look, a new Xbox 360 sports game from EA. Nice graphics? Check. Less features than other versions? Check. Clunky gameplay that isn’t as good as other versions? Check. Higher price than other versions? Check. Yep, FIFA 07 more than meets the high standards set by EA over the past year for Xbox 360 sports titles. It is really a shame that FIFA 07 on the 360 is so disappointing, though, because the PS2/Xbox version of the game is amazing.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance Review (X360)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance is Activision and Raven Software’s third attempt at a superhero-themed action-RPG and the results are every bit as good as the first two X-Men Legends games. The gameplay and graphics have been refined and perfected which make MUA something truly special. I’m not sure if the overall Marvel universe has the same kind of mainstream appeal as the more focused X-Men games, but it plays so perfectly you’ll love it even if you don’t know the characters that well.

World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions 2007 Review (X360)
Poker videogames in the past have suffered from a couple of specific issues that made them less than exciting for anyone but the most die-hard poker fan. These problems were pacing, and the lack of a real feeling of risk/reward. World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions does a fairly good job of addressing these problems and also adds extra features to make it a pretty solid title all around.

Splinter Cell: Double Agent Review (X360)
After the extremely positive response to the changes made to the Splinter Cell formula in Chaos Theory (developed by Ubisoft Montreal), you would think that Ubisoft Shanghai’s next attempt at Splinter Cell would try to follow that same path. You know, open levels, less alerts, less frustration, and ultimately more fun? Well, it doesn’t. There are certainly flashes of brilliance, but then you are shoehorned into a forced stealth level and it all comes crashing down.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 Review (X360)
Golf fans, the first true next-gen version of your sport has finally arrived. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 offers twice as many courses as last year, a ton of modes, great create-a-character, and some innovative new gameplay features that make this the best playing golf game yet. And best of all, the Xbox 360 version is actually better than the older-gen versions.

NBA Live 07 Review (X360)
EA is back for another attempt at next-gen basketball, but unfortunately the results are pretty much the same as last year. There are a lot more modes this time around, but the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. It is certainly better than Live 06, but can’t stand up to the unstoppable basketball juggernaut that is the NBA 2K series.

Just Cause Review (X360)
Just Cause turns takes the GTA gameplay out of the city and into the jungles of a fictional Caribbean island nation. It has taken seemingly forever, but we finally get an open world sandbox game where we don’t have to play as a thugged out gangsta. Just Cause features some nice visuals, a very interesting story and overall concept, and some satisfying gameplay, but it is filled with glitches and bugs and annoyances that seriously hurt the experience.

Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)
Test Drive Unlimited is huge. More than 90 vehicles, 1000 miles of road, and hundreds of missions and races mean you’ll be playing for a long time to come. Just driving around and exploring the gorgeous island of Oahu is a thrill and a large part of what makes TDU so addictive and fun. The gameplay takes some getting used to, but once you wrap your head around it the game is very enjoyable and stands as one of the best racing games on the Xbox 360. For just $40, you can’t go wrong.

The Godfather Review (X360)
The Godfather videogame from EA is an intriguing blend of great story, many different gameplay elements, and decent production values that all come together to create a surprisingly good videogame adaptation of one of the most beloved films of all time. This is a license that EA couldn’t afford to mess up and, thankfully, they have delivered. The Xbox 360 version isn’t too different from the others, but with better graphics and achievements, this is the version to own.

NHL 2K7 Review (X360)
Another hockey season is upon us and we are blessed with yet another great hockey game from 2K Sports. It is as if all they know how to do is breathe and make good hockey videogames. NHL 2K7 packs all of the great features and gameplay of the last few years along with significantly upgraded graphics and sound, which make this one of the best looking and playing NHL games yet.

Saints Row Review (X360)
Just when you might be getting tired of open world “sandbox” games and gangsta themes, a game comes out that gets you hooked all over again. Saints Row won’t win any awards for originality, but it takes the GTA formula and polishes it to create an amazingly addictive and well put together experience. I highly recommend it as a worthwhile time waster while we wait for GTA IV.

NHL 07 Review (X360)
EA’s first attempt at Xbox 360 hockey is fully featured (a nice change from the other 360 sports games from EA), and even innovates with some new controls, but the pacing and overall feel has taken a hit this year that makes it hard to love, at least for a casual fan like myself. Hardcore hockey fans will enjoy it, but if you are looking for high scoring, hard hitting, fast paced hockey you are probably better off sticking with NHL 06.

Enchanted Arms Review (X360)
Enchanted Arms is the first traditional Japanese style RPG for the Xbox 360 and I’m happy to say it is actually pretty good. It doesn’t really try to change the JRPG formula, but it does everything it is supposed to just fine so it is pretty enjoyable overall. It looks nice, tells an interesting story, and introduces a few new gameplay tweaks that make the whole experience more addictive and fun than you might think at first glance. RPG fans, Enchanted Arms is well worth checking out.

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Review (X360)
LEGO Star Wars II doesn’t stray too far from the formula laid down by the original game, but there are enough improvements here that there is no question which one is the superior game. Everything is bigger and better and there are more secrets and unlockables than you can shake a stick at. It also doesn’t hurt that it features the characters and locations we have all come to know and love from the classic Star Wars Trilogy. This game is a blast to play and is highly recommended.

Bomberman: Act Zero Review (X360)
If ever there was a game that absolutely did not need a darker and more sinister re-imagining, it was Bomberman. Instead of cute and funny, we now have dark and serious and that isn’t cool. Of course, the graphical overhaul is the least of Act Zero’s problems. The gameplay is stripped down, some really obvious modes aren’t included, and the $50 pricetag is just too bitter of a pill to swallow to make Bomberman: Act Zero worth a purchase.

Madden NFL 07 Review (X360)
EA is back with attempt #2 at NFL football on the Xbox 360 and this year’s game is head and shoulders above last year’s dismal try. It doesn’t match up mode for mode with the Xbox version of the game, but it makes up for it with far superior graphics and equally as good, if not better, gameplay. It is far from perfect, but the Xbox 360 version of Madden NFL 07 is actually worth playing this year and stands as my preferred version of the game.

Ninety-Nine Nights Review (X360)
Ninety-Nine Nights, published by Microsoft and developed by Phantagram and Q Entertainment, is an action game where you hack and slash your way through hundreds upon hundreds of enemies at the same time. It looks good and plays fairly well, but there are a couple of stumbling blocks that suck all of the fun out of it. You’ll want to love it, but the game just won’t let you and that is a shame.

Dead Rising Review (X360)
Recommending Dead Rising is easy based on your reaction to the following statement: All you do in Dead Rising is run around a mall and kill thousands of zombies in hundreds of different ways. If you first thought is “Wow, that will get repetitive after a while”, you should probably rent it. If, however, your first thought is “That is everything I ever dreamed of and wished for in a zombie game”, then Dead Rising is worth a purchase. It really is as simple as that.

NCAA Football 07 Review (Xbox 360)
Just like all of EA’s other sports games so far, NCAA Football’s first appearance on the Xbox 360 will go down in history as a disappointment. It isn’t a bad game and it looks great and plays just fine, but there is just no logic behind charging $10 extra for a game with less features. For that reason, the Xbox classic version is the one to own, but if you don’t have any other systems, the 360 does a fine job.

Prey Review (Xbox 360)
Prey is an odd game to review. It looks great and introduces some nifty new gameplay mechanics, but when you actually play it, it is hard not to feel a little under whelmed. Sure, it has the portals and wall walking and spirit walking stuff, but they don’t really change the standard FPS formula. There is nothing really wrong with it, but it isn’t anything special, either. Prey is decent and well worth a rental just for some easy achievement points, but is pretty forgettable overall.

Chromehounds Review (X360)
Fans of giant mech combat, take note, Chromehounds on the Xbox 360 stands as one of the best giant robot games around. It looks gorgeous, introduces some nifty new gameplay mechanics, has a solid multiplayer mode, and plays very well overall. It won’t appeal to everyone, however, so it is definitely wise to rent it before you decide to buy.

Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II Review (Xbox 360)
Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II will long be remembered as the first game to do real-time-strategy right on a console. RTS games (good ones, anyway) used to be pretty much PC exclusive because they required complicated control schemes to really work right. Developer EA LA has streamlined the controls to work with a controller and the result is an amazingly good game of army building that will make Xbox 360 fans very happy during these slow summer months.

Hitman: Blood Money Review (X360)
Eidos is on a roll this year. First they brought the Tomb Raider franchise back from the dead and now Hitman gets a much needed facelift. Blood Money has all of the things that made the Hitman series great to begin with but makes everything more accessible, gives you a lot more to do, and coats everything with a very nice looking layer of graphical goodness. The beauty of it all is that you can play however you want, so stealth and action fans alike will find a lot to love here.

Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis Review (X360)
Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis is an extremely solid game of ping pong from famed developer Rockstar. The gameplay is surprisingly solid and the character models are some of the best we have seen in a videogame yet. It is just too bad the rest of the package is so bare bones. The $40 price tag definitely works in Table Tennis’ favor, but I’m not sure that there is $40 worth of gameplay here.

X-Men: The Official Game Review (Xbox, X360)
The curse of the bad movie tie-in games is in full effect with X-Men: The Official Game. It is your standard third-person beat-em-up where you could plug in pretty much any characters and the experience would be the same. It feels rushed and the graphics are far from the best the Xbox 360, or Xbox for that matter, have to offer. I know your desperate need for all things X-Men has reached a fever pitch thanks to the new movie, but do yourself a favor and play X-Men Legends II instead.

2006 FIFA World Cup Review (X360)
The 2006 FIFA World Cup edition of EA’s soccer franchise is a solid effort that washes away some of the bad taste of the Road to the World Cup game that launched with the Xbox 360, but it is still far from perfect. The gameplay still falls well behind Winning Eleven and there just isn’t enough stuff here to justify the $60 price tag. It definitely succeeds in the excitement and atmosphere department, but that isn’t enough to warrant picking it up over other soccer titles.

Final Fantasy XI Xbox 360 Info
Final Fantasy XI is now out for the Xbox 360 much to the delight of massively-multiplayer-online-role-playing-game fans everywhere. It features a huge world to explore and hundreds of hours of gameplay to share with all of your online buddies. MMORPG’s aren’t for everyone, though, and there are quite a few things to consider before you dive into the world of Vana'diel.

Tomb Raider Legend Review (X360)
Crystal Dynamics and Eidos have done the impossible. They have revived the Tomb Raider franchise. What was once the butt of many gaming industry jokes has been rebuilt. Bigger. Stronger. Faster. Better than ever before. Tomb Raider Legend is a darn good game that series fans and newcomers alike will find very enjoyable.

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat Review (X360)
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat makes the jump to Xbox 360 in pretty good shape, but if you are expecting something different from what you played on the Xbox last year you’re going to be disappointed. There are some improvements here and there, and the game definitely looks better, but the content is mostly the same. Of course, if you haven’t already played the Xbox version, the X360 version is definitely the one to get and offers some of the best Xbox Live multiplayer you’ll find on the 360.

Rumble Roses XX Review (X360)
Rumble Roses XX is an all-female wrestling game from Konami and developer Yukes. The in-ring action is decent and the girls are fairly good looking, but there are way too many roadblocks standing between you and having any real fun with the game. The single player is bland, the system for unlocking stuff is absolutely horrible, and there just isn’t enough meat to the gameplay to keep you interested for very long. It can be an enjoyable game at times, but Rumble Roses XX is a rental at best.

Far Cry Instincts Predator Review (X360)
Far Cry Instincts was one of our favorite Xbox games of 2005 but what has Ubisoft done to earn our $60 for a 360 version? Not much. The final product is still a good game but I can’t 100% recommend it. If you played Instincts on the Xbox already, be wary before you buy unless you love achievements. If you haven’t played a Far Cry title yet, Predator on the 360 is definitely the way to go.

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII Review (X360)
Blazing Angels is an arcade-style flight combat game that mixes intense dogfighting with easy to learn controls to create something that is at the same time better and worse than the other WWII flight games out there. Better because it is so easy to pick up and play, but worse because of bad AI and overpowered wingmen. It can be fun for a while, but we should expect more out of our $60 Xbox 360 games so Blazing Angels is a rental at best.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Review (X360)
After all of the hype and delays and waiting and worrying, Bethesda has delivered The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. In a rare feat for a game of this magnitude, it not only lives up to expectations but also surpasses them to create an experience that everyone can enjoy and not just the nerdy, dice rolling, RPG-elite. Oblivion is one of the best games available right now and is well worth the $60 investment.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter Review (X360)
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is the best Ghost Recon game yet. Period. End of discussion. It looks and sounds amazing and the new additions to the gameplay make Advanced Warfighter one of the best playing squad-based shooters around. And best of all, the game is amazingly newbie friendly while still retaining all of the stuff Ghost Recon fans love. Xbox 360 owners, you need this game.

Burnout Revenge Review (Xbox 360)
At this point, there is little debate as to whether or not the Burnout series is among the best racing games ever. These games deliver a fast, easy to get into, and satisfying thrill that few games can match. Burnout Revenge continues that trend and stands as the best entry in the series. The Xbox 360 version of the game also stands as the best version you can buy. Gorgeous graphics, additional cars and events, and all of the fancy Xbox Live features make Revenge on the 360 oh so sweet.

Fight Night Round 3 Review (X360)
Fight Night Round 2 was one of our favorite Xbox games of 2005 so Round 3 had some pretty high expectations to meet. Amazingly, EA has delivered a boxing experience that easily surpasses everything that Round 2 had to offer. The gameplay is absolutely phenomenal and the graphics on the Xbox 360 are amazing. Not only is this the best boxing game ever but it is also the best Xbox 360 game available.

Full Auto Review
The release of Full Auto marks the end of a long drought of no new Xbox 360 releases and for that reason alone it will likely sell well whether it is good, bad, or in between. The good news is that it plays quite a bit better than the demo that was released earlier this year, but the bad news is that it still isn’t all that great. Read our full review right here.

Dead or Alive 4 Review
Dead or Alive 4 is easily the best DOA game to date. Gorgeous graphics, tons of modes, lots of unlockable goodies, and online play make this a pretty sweet package. Laggy online play and cheap AI sour the experience somewhat, but overall it is very good. DOA4 is a must own game for Xbox 360 owners.

Call of Duty 2 Review
Call of Duty 2 is easily the best FPS available for the Xbox 360 launch. The single player campaign mode is great and the graphics and sound are simply outstanding. It doesn’t tell as good of a story as the Brothers in Arms games, but the gameplay is a lot more fun and that is why CoD2 is the best WWII shooter yet. Xbox 360 owners, this is a must own game.

Quake 4 Review
Quake 4 combines the best parts of Quake II and Quake III Arena by featuring a lengthy single player campaign along with fast and frantic multiplayer to create the ultimate Quake experience. Some technical issues sour the experience, but the game is undeniably fun and a surprisingly good value so it is worth checking out.

Ridge Racer 6 Review
The Ridge Racer games have always been known for their fast pace and drift-crazy gameplay and Ridge Racer 6 is no exception. This is Ridge Racer at its absolute finest with tons of cars, lots of races to compete in, gorgeous graphics, great sound, and gameplay that has been fine tuned to near perfection. The game might not be for everyone, but once you get “into” it, Ridge Racer 6 is very enjoyable.

Perfect Dark Zero Review
Perfect Dark Zero had some impossibly large shoes to fill and, unfortunately, it falls short of the incredible expectations placed upon it prior to release. It isn’t a bad game, but it is far from great, particularly when compared to some recent FPS games on the Xbox. With that said, however, it is still one of the best multiplayer titles available for the Xbox 360 and worth picking up with your new system even if it doesn’t quite live up to the hype.

Project Gotham Racing 3 Review
Project Gotham Racing 3 is the sequel to one of the best racing games on the Xbox and it is also a showcase title for the new Xbox 360 so it had a lot of hype to live up to. Thankfully, it delivers everything fans expected plus a whole lot more. It features a ton of cars and tracks, it plays great both online and off, and it looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous. This is a must own game and you’ll only find it on Xbox 360.

King Kong Review - Xbox, Xbox 360
Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie was crafted by Oscar winning director Peter Jackson and acclaimed game creator Michel Ancel (Beyond Good & Evil) so there was very little question that the game was going to be good. King Kong is a gorgeous looking game that is one of the scariest and emotionally charged experiences you’ll find in a videogame. It isn’t perfect, but it is still absolutely worth playing.

Need for Speed Most Wanted Review - Xbox, Xbox 360
Need for Speed Most Wanted is literally the best of all of the Need for Speed worlds. It combines the great car customization and open world of Underground with the police chases of Hot Pursuit and the solid racing gameplay that the entire series has been known for. Whether on the Xbox or Xbox 360, Need for Speed Most Wanted is a must play for race fans.

Tony Hawk's American Wasteland 360 Review
The Xbox 360 version of Tony Hawk's American Wasteland maintains the same exact gameplay and features as the Xbox version but gives the graphics a little boost. If you don't already have it, this is definitely the version to own.

FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup Review
Great graphics? Check. Missing features? Check. Higher pricetag? Check. Yep, this is an EA Sports Xbox 360 launch title. Perhaps it is the CAG in me, but I really don’t understand EA’s reasoning with their Xbox 360 launch titles. Sure, you had to rush them out for the launch, but charging more money for inferior versions of games you have already released on current gen systems just doesn’t make sense. FIFA 06 plays just fine, but at $60 it is a pretty poor value.

Madden NFL 06 360 Review
Madden football makes its way onto Xbox 360 just in time for launch, which is good news for pigskin fans. It definitely looks nice, no worries there, but it is very light in the features list. If all you want is a pretty game to use to show off your new Xbox 360, Madden gets the job done. If you want a solid game of football, however, you are better off with the Xbox version of Madden 06.

NBA Live 06 360 Review
Just like Madden, the Xbox 360 version of NBA Live 06 is a stripped down shell of its former self. Most of the features that made Live great in the past are gone. And to make matters worse, the available camera angles are far from optimal which means the gameplay, while solid, isn’t nearly as good as the current gen. Disappointing? Yes.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 360 Review
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 on the Xbox 360 continues the same trend of missing features as the other EA Sports launch titles, but the narrower list of features isn’t as unforgivable here. My only complaints with Tiger on the Xbox was that the graphics were far from impressive and the game was way too easy. Tiger on Xbox 360 solves both of those problems so even though there are fewer golfers and less courses, the gameplay overall is quite a bit more enjoyable.

Gun Review - Xbox, Xbox 360
Gun is a Wild West-themed action game from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater developer Neversoft. You’ll explore a wide open world where you can be a bounty hunter, a rancher, a miner, or just hunt animals among many other things. And you’ll get to shoot a lot of bad guys. Literally hundreds and hundreds of them. The gameplay is surprisingly fun and satisfying, but there just isn’t enough of it to make Gun worth much more than a rental.