Poker purists will hate it, and poker haters may be totally uninterested. But if you like goofy games with surprising depth, this one's worth a try. [Apr 2009, p.65]

We would've loved a story-based solo campaign like that in the similar (but infinitely superior) Undertow. [Aug 2009, p.74]

If the sheer act of dungeon-crawling is your bag and you don’t mind a subpar story and an unending flood of other random errands to run, Sacred 2 is a great romp that lasts 25 to 30 hours.

100% exact port of a stellar series. [Aug 2009, p.74]

Sadly, the basic objectives in each level rarely change. [Oct 2008, p.81]

Modern mechanics give this chestnut new life. [Mar 2009, p.81]

Arkanoid is Breakout without the boredom. Well, without as much. [May 2009, p.83]

A solid choice for couch time with the kids. [July 2009, p.84]

It’s a savage game; the only thing more violent that the damage inflicted on Wolverine is the rapid and nonchalant dismemberment of everyone he comes into contact with. Mature’s one word for it: absurd and childish are other, more accurate words. But it’s a brilliant kind of ridiculous nonsense that’ll occasionally pull reluctant cheers out of your grown-up neck.

It could've been soon much more. [Aug 2009, p.70]

That nostalgia isn't worth 15 bucks. [July 2009, p.84]

The real draw is the mix of action and hardcore puzzle-solving. [May 2009, p.84]

Really, it’s the same old story — if you like all things Warriors, buy this with confidence. If you don’t, then don’t. Easy.

Even at $10, we won't be taking another ride with OutRun until Sega serves up some substantial new content. [May 2009, p.80]

Galactrix is perfect for puzzlers who want to chip away at an epic quest over many, many sessions. And yes, it's 1,600 Microsoft Points - but worth all 20 bucks. [Apr 2009, p.80]

While Flock isn't the incandescent flare of pure awesome we'd hoped it might be, it's still a terrifically enjoyable, lusciously good-looking, and admirably original Arcade game. [May 2009, p.79]

The allure of this package is irresistible. [May 2009, p.70]

Though it deftly combines action, strategy, and resource management, Godfather II simply never evolves. [May 2009, p.74]

Despite its flashy razzle-dazzle, Ninja Blade feels surprisingly shallow.

For the Hannah fan in your household, pick up Disney's Sing It instead. [July 2009, p.84]

The only reason to bother with it is its low-hanging Achievements! [July 2009, p.84]

For those of us who like a little tough love with our games, Dishwasher's ironclad challenge and simple-but-effective design scratch an itch few games can reach. [Feb 2009, p.83]

It’s Metallica’s underlying design that is the hero of the day, however. For starters, Neversoft has finally mastered the difficulty curve. A far cry from the torturous days of Guitar Hero III’s Hard setting, the songs here are a treat on any skill level. Better, though, is how the career mode is structured. It’s star-based, meaning you’ll unlock new venues and blocks of songs at certain star milestones.

You're constantly on the brink of both success and failure. [June 2009, p.76]

On paper, the mission design seems suitably varied, but before long it grows deeply repetitive. It doesn’t help that outdated design decisions, such as artificially sped-up vehicles during chase sequences, rear their ugly heads.

Whether you still watch wrestling or just enjoyed it back in the day, Legends is entertaining to the end. Its pared-down controls may disappoint hardcore fans, but they do make it more playable for newcomers - and players of all stripes will appreciate the giant bearhug it gives to nostalgia.

And to top it off, it’s almost shockingly short: for a full-priced game, we expected more than four hours of gameplay with no multiplayer in sight. If it cost $40 or less, we’d be singing a different tune…

Repetitious platforming may have cut the mustard back in the NES days, but today’s tech-savvy, multi-tasking kids won’t stand for it.

Despite a few flaws and one ill-conceived megamix, these games are treated with the respect they deserve at a price we’re willing to pay. We’re happy to see them on Arcade where they belong.

Despite a few flaws and one ill-conceived megamix, these games are treated with the respect they deserve at a price we’re willing to pay. We’re happy to see them on Arcade where they belong.

Despite a few flaws and one ill-conceived megamix, these games are treated with the respect they deserve at a price we’re willing to pay. We’re happy to see them on Arcade where they belong.

Despite a few flaws and one ill-conceived megamix, these games are treated with the respect they deserve at a price we’re willing to pay. We’re happy to see them on Arcade where they belong.

Fun? Not for long, and not for the asking price of 10 bucks. [July 2009, p.77]

Boggle's speedy rounds [are] perfect for quick doses of multiplayer. [June 2009, p.75]

Sliders compensates with stupid-fun multiplayer. [June 2009, p.75]

For those new to the series, Resident Evil 5 may not be what you expect. It's neither scary nor survival horror, and though its story throws plenty of love to longtime fans, you don't need to be one to enjoy it. Ultimately, it's an action feast for two - with just a little gristle amid all the delicious blood, bone, and brains. [Mar 2009, p.58]

Simply put, this is a once-in-a-generation puzzler, much like Tetris. It’s Xbox Live Arcade’s finest offering, and it can be both mindless and high-level strategic fun. Don’t miss it. Find an internet connection and create an Xbox Live Silver account if you have to; it’s that sublime.

Yes, people, it finally happened - a phone game's been ported to Xbox Live Arcade! [June 2009, p.79]

Nice gameplan, poor execution. [June 2009, p.79]

Skip all that and go straight to the Facts & Friends mode, a madcap battle where you share one wheel and take turns competing for wedges. It’s too complicated to fully explain here, but there’s betting, mini-games, cool power-ups, and a duel-to-the death finish. It essentially modernizes Trivial Pursuit in an ingenious way, and it’s really the only reason to spend an excessive $40 for this game now, instead of waiting for the inevitable Xbox Live Arcade version.

Street-brawling combat is fun, gleefully violent.

Though it's not a first-person shooter, Halo Wars packs all the Halo fixings you've come to expect: an engaging campaign, co-op play, engrossing multiplayer, efficient party-friendly matchmaking, hidden skulls, Legendary difficulty, and impeccable controls. We can confidently say that it's the foremost example of a real-time strategy game done right on a console. [Mar 2009, p.72]

The laundry list of annoying little problems is too substantial. [Apr 2009, p.76]

Eat Lead could have been a better critique of the medium than any reviewer could ever write, but it’s neither bad enough to be a savage commentary nor good enough to feel like a satisfying, stinging satire.

Stoked is priced at a sweet $40. So even if a tricks-splosion isn't your personal boarding nirvana, there's enough great stuff in this game that you'd be crazy not to check it out. [Mar 2009, p.82]

It all moves at such a slow pace that there's no feeling of excitement or achievement in finishing a level. [May 2009, p.84]

You’ll also have no one to remind you to leave your brain at the door and enjoy this game as it was meant to be taken - as a fairly well-built, over-the-top testosterone fantasy without all the fancy polish or (dare we say it?) smarts of, say, Gears of War, but still an incredibly satisfying shot in the arm for co-op addicts like us.

Despite different settings, there’s something very Infinite Undiscovery about Last Hope. In a good way.

At $15, Death Tank is ludicrously overpriced. [Feb 2009, p.85]

Its monk-like devotion to pure racing simulation is remarkable...and kind of a turn-off for the rest of us. [Feb 2009, p.80]

If you're a novice, a training mode and eight levels of difficulty will help you find your way. If you're a pro, SFIV contains all the depth you've ever loved about the series, without compromise. Capcom simply got the feel of Street Fighter perfectly right. [Feb 2009, p.76]

This tongue-in-cheek offshoot of EA's core NHL sim is a smooth zamboni ride that mixes goofy gameplay with razor-sharp control, just as "NBA Jam" did when it pioneered this genre over 15 years ago. [Mar 2009, p.83]

Only the most avid Minesweeper fans will find the game entertaining for more than a couple of hours - but for five bucks, that's a pretty fair deal. [Mar 2009, p.83]

It feels a lot like that last "007" movie: plenty of fun, but nowhere near as awesome as we hoped it'd be. [Mar 2009, p.76]

Everything a library of classic games should be: great games, no load times, and simple functionality. Just the way we remember it. [Apr 2009, p.78]

Horrendous camera and targeting system. [Apr 2009, p.79]

Ultra-repetitive, with very little sense of danger. [Apr 2009, p.78]

You might fail to see what all the fuss is about if you're not a shmup historian, but for the faithful it's a pleasure to rediscover R-Type with friends and flash. [Feb 2009, p.81]

Charging 10 bucks for such a stellar board game in such shoddy wrapping should be illegal. [Apr 2009, p.79]

Afro Samurai persisted in mesmerizing us. And really, with Sam Jackson spouting lines like “That girl puts the two ‘asses’ in ‘assassin’” in feudal Japan, how can we resist?

Unfortunately, it mostly feels like you're being charged $40 for something that offers little beyond what you've seen in previous games' GM and Owner modes. [Feb 2009, p.84]

Though not without its faults, Skate 2 is one of the most realistic, challenging, and fulfilling skateboarding games around. And it’s better than having your skin flayed off by asphalt. [Note: OXM and OXM UK reviews are the same & will not be listed twice.]

Irresistibly cute. [Feb 2009, p.84]

It’d be too easy to say that Conquest will appeal only to diehard Tolkien fans; in fact, they’re the ones most likely to hate it.

Some games baffle us by merely existing, and yes, Interpol, you are one of those games.

Worth the $10 for serious word nerds who don't need fancy production values. [Apr 2009, p.79]

While we miss the tactile feeling of physical pieces, the incredible customization options make Puzzle Arcade a great option for both dabblers and jigsaw enthusiasts. [Feb 2009, p.85]

Fortunately, the combat and RPG gameplay are where this game sizzles. [Feb 2009, p.82]

With all that content to complement its addictiveness, Meteos Wars shouldn't be missed by those who crave block puzzles. [Holiday 2008, p.69]

PowerUp Forever manages to catch our attention by giving you the opportunity to, power up forever. [Feb 2009, p.85]

Varied controls, unique challenges, and kooky characters make this old-timer a worthwhile blast from the past. [Holiday 2008, p.73]

It’s immediately tangible, even from the title screen, that Prince of Persia is a labor of love, meant to bridge luxurious aesthetic and spitshine polish with emotional investment. And despite its overly repetitive structure, we found ourselves compelled to fight our way through to see how it all ends — donkey or not.

Here, you’ll find little beyond groaners, pedestrian prattle, and underdeveloped monotony. Find another path to walk.

With HD Remix, it feels like you’re getting the Ferrari of 2D fighters — and it’ll cost you. The game is a moderately pricey $15, and while it’s playable with a standard controller, it pretty much demands a Hori Fighting Stick for the full arcade experience. But on both counts, the payoff is oh-so-worth the sacrifice.

Essentially, the only thing that kept us playing the campaign mode was to escape the horrible rap metal in the menu screens. [Mar 2009, p.83]

There are certainly bits and pieces of decent storytelling hidden throughout the game, but for every ounce of beauty, you get three humdrum pounds of grind. [Holiday 2008, p.78]

Sonic Unleashed is a game that feels schizophrenic in its execution. Unfortunately, you deal with the fun, easy-going personality for less than half the time.

The do-what-you-like pacing, charming presentation, and endlessly addictive nature of tackling increasingly complex structures in an effort to ultimately erect an impressive castle, mirrors an addiction we haven't experienced since the last time we preened in our pretty pinata gardens. [Dec 2008, p.88]

You’ll want it because, despite your having to turn its sometimes musty gameplay pages, or begrudgingly burn rubber in inessential motorcycle sequences (they’re back!), or do the usual hokey-jump-slide-swing-pokey with wellworn mechanics, Tomb Raider continues to feel like an old, comfy pair of jeans. Maybe they’re not as high-fashion as they used to be — and sure, they might not fit like they used to — but damn if slippin’ into them doesn’t feel like coming home.

Repetition can be an issue, despite the brief five-hour campaign, but Bolt remains a pretty entertaining adaptation of the Disney flick of the same name, and one that might surprise some older gamers. [Holiday 2008, p.74]

So sure, Lips doesn't offer the challenge of other music games, but the presentation is incredibly slick. [Feb 2009, p.81]

If you haven't gotten the chance to reach American Idol stardom or to challenge your friends to musical tournaments with the previous installment, Encore is still a decent party game. [Jan 2009, p.75]

Honestly, no one will want to play this for more than 10 minutes. [July 2009, p.81]

Left 4 Dead's simplicity offers purity of gameplay - the same reason that gamers keep returning to classic arcade games. Come to think of it, with a handful of levels and unpredictable events happening within them, Left 4 Dead has more in common with "Ms. Pac-Man" than just the eating. It's the same thing over and over - but when simple ingredients are perfectly prepared, what could be a mere snack becomes a feast. This one just happens to be on human flesh. [Holiday 2008, p.32]

A good time can be had, but only if you're patient...and a really big fan of Most Wanted. [Holiday 2008, p.68]

NCAA Basketball 09 is a serviceable showcase for basic hoops traits, but without a flagship feature to lead it, it fels more like a pro-flavored tilt without a few of the raw ingredients that make the collegiate sport special. [Jan 2009, p.76]

Playing alone is a tepid affair(even with create-a-clip Director Mode), and we would've liked meatier mini-games and more interactivity in general(waiting and watching are your primary actions), but this $70 package offers enough amusing antics and cheesy clips in it's four-player mode to warrant an audition at your next party or family gathering. [Jan 2009, p.75[

Online play over Live will enhance this game's replayability, but a little more content would've made it an epic crossover. [Holiday 2008, p.80]

A lot of us are baffled that snowboarding has been so deathly quiet on 360, and if you’re dying for the next SSX or Amped, Shaun White Snowboarding won’t be the game you’re hoping for. If you’re a serious boarding fan, the mini- MMO multiplayer is totally worth a look, but otherwise, you have better games to play.

Aside from everything else Mirror’s Edge succeeds at, it also has some of the most arresting, original visuals we’ve seen on 360. Its starkly colorful graphics and slick anime cinematics are expressly designed to wire directly into your nerd-joy cortex — and they do. With such raw creativity and built-in speed-run appeal, Mirror’s Edge will transfix you for a long, long time.

Red Alert keeps getting better as you play. [Holiday 2008, p.82]

There's a big difference: instead of hopping and bopping on one foot, you spend most of your time in tricked-out vehicles you make yourself. [Holiday 2008, p.72]

Despite all its new features, PES 2009 is packed with problems. [Jan 2009, p.75]

World at War is like watching a fireworks show that you’ve seen a few times before. You’re simply not wowed by the buildup, the grand finale, or any of it anymore. When - not if - the next sequel arrives, it’s going to have an upstream swim against an apathetic tide of familiarity.

Its flaws are overshadowed by crisp controls and the same unbridled fun that has made this the best wrestling series for years. [Dec 2008, p.86]

The Broken Bond provides a similarly potent blend of action, adventure, fighting, and puzzling--all supported by light RPG addictiveness--while also cranking up the nine-tailed-demon-fox fun with some strong additions. [Jan 2009, p.79]

Our favorite new addition to the Gears multiplayer family, however, is Horde. A fiveplayer co-op romp played on any of the 15 maps, Horde throws wave after wave of increasingly difficult Locust foes at you and your friends for 50 rounds, putting your teamworking skills to the ultimate test.

Problems — like a confusing camera (which, for whatever reason, is significantly better in mega-fun split-screen play), slippery vehicles that clip through the ground, and a mere five arenas on which to destroy opponents — make Vigilante 8 a questionable $10 purchase. But competitive smack-talk-athons and co-op multiplayer are a blast thanks to the diverse array of attacks.