Skydive offers a chance to experience what it’s like to fall from the sky without the fear of splattering yourself all over the ground below.

Section 8 also offers a lot of customization options, with players able to tweak their weapon loadouts, tools (like healing abilities and various flavors of explosive), and even a whole slew of buffs and perks called “passive modules.” Best of all, racking up kills nets you points that you can use to buy deployable gun turrets, hard-to-drive tanks, or hulking mech suits.

It's goofy, deeply involving fun.

Aside from the odd cut-scene, the game basically has no story, and the four campaigns essentially differ only in their starting-territory distributions. [May 2006, p.84]

High-concept and high-action from beginning to end, Jericho is far closer to "Gears of War" and "Painkiller" than to "Condemned", but it's darker and gorier than all three combined. [Holiday 2007, p.66]

Gangstas is a grand time reminiscent of the main game. It's not a must-play, but it is a good way to keep the Saints Row fun going.

Warp's upgrade system isn't explained or implemented well: you're never reminded to use your currency at the innocuous upgrade stations, and we still don't know how we earn skill points. Plus, physics become a greater enemy than the puzzles in the final stage, resulting in a lot of frustration near the end.

If you're hoping to truly break into the higher tiers of fitness, as exemplified by the pro athletes who make video cameos during the game, you should seek real-life options instead. This one's best suited for NikeFuel addicts and people who just need motivation to work out.

The game's biggest addition - including Tails as an aid in single-player mode - gives the perfect level of balance to correct mistakes made at mach speed.

Mind-bogglingly inconsistent difficulty. [Apr 2012, p.74]

Watching friends take a club in the teeth while you rack up a nine-kill-combo is immensely satisfying. [Feb 2010, p.85]

It's not for everyone, but with patience, Uprising can become an incredible experience, with plenty of giant bosses and insane, over-the-top action set-pieces. [Jan 2011, p.74]

Its enduring strength...is its simplicity. [Nov 2009, p.84]

Nexuiz can't hold a candle to full-priced war games, but its mix of constant speed and occasional silliness make it just the thing for when you've got only 10 minutes to kill. [Apr 2012, p.80]

Winning Eleven may still be a more joyful celebration of the sport, but FIFA 07's beauty and fluidity mark it as the early champ of the next generation. [Holiday 2006, p.74]

Age can't turn lead into gold, but these games are still enjoyable - and at $10, this bundle's a real bargain.

Hardcore realism and all kinds of cool real-world weapons and vehicles. [Holiday 2005, p.83]

Ground Zeroes' story feels a bit skimpy for the price, but it excels as a breathtakingly pretty stealth sandbox, and as a chance to try out Phantom Pain's gameplay in a smaller, more intimate open world.

You don't hear "digging" and think "Oooh, fun!"--but somehow, Dig Dug makes you crave it. [Holiday 2006, p.86]

With 30 tracks and only a few dance locations, The Black Eyed Peas Experience feels lightweight compared to the similarly priced Dance Central 2, plus it's not breaking much ground. But once the beat dropped, we couldn't help but dance like fools and have a lot of fun. And damn if those songs aren't catchy.

But for now, you're buying what feels like an early beta test. [June 2011, p.77]

We do recommend Baller Beats to anyone hoping to increase their b-ball acumen or try something new. If noise and space aren't an issue, it's definitely worth a shot.

You may tire of the basic gimmick before you're skilled enough to succeed on elaborate, brutally competitive four-player online maps, but Half-Minute Hero's charms still last a surprisingly long time.

Ultimately, you either think giant stompy robots are rad or you don’t; if they’re your thing, and you don’t mind its split single-/multiplayer nature, Armored Core: Verdict Day provides an enjoyable stage on which to both rock and sock ‘em.

As long as you don't mind that manual targeting is a twitchy mess, and that Joanna slides around like she's on skates, 10 bucks buys you at least as many enjoyable hours stealth-killing thugs and perforating your pals. [Jun 2010, p.81]

Ultimately, Virtua Tennis 4 tries to please everyone by walking a fine line between sim and arcade, but regrettably, it never commits to either camp. [June 2011, p.80]

After spending most of your time in Dragon Age II confined to the cramped, dingy corners of the politically scrambled seaport of Kirkwall, the wide-open greenery and lush palatial estate of Mark of the Assassin are refreshing.

Strong enough to be a no-brainer for ardent fans, but other music-game junkies may find this $60 pill very hard to swallow, especially with Rock Band 3 lingering on the horizon. [July 2010, p.73]

Make no mistake: this is the definitive version of Konami's amphibian-driven arcade game. But because the original wasn't quite the masterpiece Pac-Man­ and Space Invaders were, it falls just short of those homages.

Diverse online multiplayer battles are exciting and accessible. [Apr 2010, p.80]

Fortunately, these stumbles won't keep you from enjoying most of Carnival's offerings, especially if you play it with friends. [June 2011, p.83]

As long as you possess ample patience and an abiding affection for mental gymnastics, you’ll still emerge with a smile on your dial.

It seems content to merely bridge the gap between the quirky RPG charm of "Episode 1" and whatever's next without even getting out of the car to stretch a bit. [Dec 2008, p.72]

Even if you couldn't care less how efficiently you put hundreds of drug-dealing scumbags to rest, you may well be surprised by how enjoyable a bit of this disposable ultraviolence can be.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

From its quirky mechanical enemies to its strident strains of deliciously lo-fi music, this run-and-gun platformer honors the 8-bit era.

The Simpsons Game is wittty and well-written, and it intelligently plays into the nerdy sensibilities of gamers; really, only the by-the-numbers gameplay sometimes comes up short. [Holiday 2007, p.68]

Still, this is a smartly executed return to the kind of gameplay that made Castlevania great, and we'd love to see it grow into something more. [Jan 2014, p.85]

Fortunately you can also go online and play against humans in what is definitely one of the Xbox's better poker offerings. [Holiday 2005, p.73]

Following the action and its muddle of player bodies is the only real issue, and a tighter, less far-flung camera could have fixed it. [Apr 2006, p.77]

For longtime gamers and those who can stomach the blocky graphics and touchy controls, it's great retro fun. [Dec 2007, p.78]

The recurring annoyances that result don't bleed all the joy from clobbering, but they do keep this third-person action game from devel¬oping a more natural flow and better exploiting its gruesome graphic-novel aesthetics. Luckily, such issues are diminished when you try to chop down massive bosses inspired by Celtic mythology.

Though the inclusion of sometimes mind-numbing "climb the tower" segments in Story Mode, as well as occasional enemy AI that ranges from stupid to cheap, keep it from mass-scale beat-'em-up greatness, Samurai Warriors satisfies an appetite for destruction in a way that few other games can. [Aug 2004, p.80]

Destruction is simply more fun than obsessive tuning, assuming you've got a few screws loose to start with. [Nov 2007, p.84]

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

Great aesthetics and monster designs. [Feb 2010, p.85]

Sure the graphics are dated, but the game is just as fun--and frustrating obtuse!--to play as it was then. [Nov 2007, p.94]

For all the unique thrills and spectacle the series still delivers, Forgotten Sands never quite reaches the dizzying heights you want it to. [July 2010, p.78]

It’s not the most standout piece of work in Xbox One’s launch lineup, nor does it pull off any amazing technical tricks — but it’s a fun, cheap ride busting at the gills with an absurd amount of charm.

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]

The new Killer Instinct succeeds at stoking nostalgic fires while updating the action. However, a piecemeal season-based approach means that the initial incarnation is extremely light on content, revealing a fighter that’s as packed with vibrant combos as it is unfulfilled promise.

If only the title had been given a full HD makeover instead of sticking with its decade-old graphics, more players would've been turned on to this lost gem. [Oct 2009, p.82]

With WWE 2K14’s comprehensive roster and WrestleMania fan service, it’s hard not to find something to dig your teeth into à la George “The Animal” Steele on a turnbuckle. Still, we’ve seen the series tell better stories and work better between the ropes, making it tough not to notice the flaws in what might be the last dedicated current-gen match.

But it's certainly easier to grit your teeth through some frustration when almost every level has an intriguing new wrinkle.

Between the stages' constantly changing art style, the strange story, the unforgettable cast, and the novel take on action combat, this game is definitely worth checking out for people seeking something new. [Sept 2011, p.74]

Still, the big missions get a bit too big by the end, especially when you keep thinking you're going to fight the last guy, only to be forced to endure one tedius jumping puzzle after the next. [Jun 2006, p.83]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Sure NCAA is prettier on 360 (the stadiums and crowd atmosphere are particularly sweet), and hey, we love racking up Achievements as much as you do, but the vastly deeper Xbox 1 version (OXM score: 90) is really the only serious option. [Sept 2006, p.81]

You're in for a snooze if you demand a hurried pace and copious eye candy, but dice-rolling dungeon nuts will happily while away a dozen hours over the course of Vandal Hearts' satisfying ride. [Jan 2010, p.69]

Dead Rising 3 is undoubtedly fun, and cleans up a lot of the messiness found in previous Dead Risings, but it’s still not the complete antidote to the series’ slowly decaying zombie antics. It also doesn’t take much advantage of the new hardware. Don’t blame the Xbox One, though — this launch-day release is limited primarily by the constraints set by the original’s creaky mechanics and gameplay clichés way back in 2006.

With 110 cars, seven stupidly gigantic courses, amazing (if arcadey) graphics, and staggering freedom of movement (once you unlock free roam modes), it's hard not to recommend this. [July 2003, p.84]

Even the tire treads have depth to them. [Feb 2003, p.71]

It never does anything exceedingly well, nor does it do anything poorly...Though solid in many aspects, [it's] ultimately underwhelming. [Nov 2003, p.120]

The relatively crackling gameplay and amusing atmosphere make for an enjoyable whole, and above all a decent party game. [Feb 2003, p.78]

It does handle incredibly well, and the never less than lowbrow humor vaires from hilarious to so-stupid-it's-still-kinda-funny. It ain't perfect, but it's worth the ride. [Feb 2003, p.64]

What other puzzle game lets you play as a headphones-wearing monkey? [Mar 2003, p.80]

While the exterior looks great, within is a flawed baseball game that needs a good bit of work. [Apr 2005, p.85]

A welcome change from most lightgun games that stress "spray and pray" techniques because precision and skill are needed instead of mere blasting. [Apr 2004, p.82]

Makes a fun game of pick-up-and-play pigskin with some extra depth, but it could've been even more fulfilling. [Dec 2005, p.104]

What it lacks in hardcore squad dynamics, however, it makes up for with its funky soundtrack, detailed graphics, and semi-tactical gameplay. CGT is competent, but not outstanding. [Dec 2005, p.110]

The biggest problem is that (with very, very rare exceptions) you can only save at the end of a level...Imagine "Halo" without a recharging shield or checkpoints, and you'll start to get the idea. [Sept 2002, p.94]

Unfortunately, the game and story wrapped around this wondrous engine aren’t worthy of the visual splendor. [Mar 2002, p.72]

Add to this some of the game's camera problems and the smallish feel of each stage and Blinx is just slightly amiss of being the really creative, clever game it's premise hints at. [Dec 2002, p.96]

Other than the stunning graphics, Tao Feng doesn't excel in any other area, but is quite competent in most. [May 2003, p.72]

What makes MD so interesting is the three varied abilities of the characters. [Feb 2002, p.68]

Though it won't best the more enduring genre stalwarts like "Bust-A-Move," it has plenty of challenge for those tired of first-person shooting at full price. [Mar 2004, p.81]

What's here is only half a game. Live play may be brilliant, but the single-player experience is sorely lacking. [Jan 2004, p.78]

Many things: packed, fun, annoying, and humorously ironic. [Jan 2005, p.80]

Straighforward, visceral fun that may not be Oscar-worthy in the plot department, but provides plenty of popcorn-munching matinee-style entertainment for the over-17 crowd. [May 2004, p.72]

Dr. Muto's creativity, long length, and variety make it a good effort. [Jan 2003, p.78]

For a game that challenges you to outthink and outmaneuver your opponents, it's a shame that Tenchu's enemy A.I. is so awful and the camera control so twitchy and unyielding. [May 2004, p.83]

Mafia's real crime, though, is that it's a very good game wrapped in an absolute technical mess. [June 2004, p.74]

Even if you're frustrated by dying on a jump for the 50th time, you'll still think it's funny as hell. [Dec 2004, p.73]

Even on easy, beating the story means a thumb-callusing workout (And progress can't be saved.) [Feb 2003, p.78]

The fighting engine won't win any awards for realism or responsiveness. (At times the punches lag behind your button presses.) But ultimately it's good enough for what the game is. [Dec 2002, p.142]

Forget "Fuzion Frenzy," this is the better Xbox game to break out during a party. [Jan 2003, p.90]

Taking your talents onto Xbox Live is the real key. [March 2005, p.84]

Phantom Crash isn't a game you can simply pick up and play, but for mech fans and those gamers always up for a singular adventure and a time consuming (but fun) weirdness - this is definitely your ticket. [Nov 2002, p.144]

A few control problems prevent the game from being as fun as we'd like and the fighting engine is repetitive and too simple (even for kids). [Dec 2002, p.102]

The graphics are noticeably better, the gameplay is expanded upon, and it's twice as bloody as the first game. [Holiday 2004, p.67]

The showdown between pitcher and batter just isn't deep enough...Ultimately, ASB is an average game. [Apr 2004, p.74]

Throw in the aforementioned boobies - crammed into some hot leather corsets, mind you - and Darkwatch is all this bloodthirsty pardner really needs. [Oct 2005, p.104]

Instant replays - There aren't any! There's absolutely no excuse for that... especially on the Xbox. [June 2003, p.82]

Although the game's graphics absolutely scream "PS2 port," the programmers are to be commended for an almost supernaturally smooth frame rate throughout, with nary a stutter. [August 2002, p.82]

Proves enjoyable and instantly accessible. [Apr 2005, p.87]

Mixing the party-friendly mini-games with Xbox Live and offline multiplayer may be enough to warrant a purchase, provided you're able to temper your single-player expectations. [Aug 2005, p.84]

The problem here is that little about Lotus Challenge really stands out. [May 2003, p.79]

It's tasty and filling, but hardly haute cuisine. [Feb 2003, p.75]