With a handful of infuriating exceptions, Blood of the Werewolf's challenging gameplay generally feels fair and rewarding, and its increasingly lethal, lightning-quick action is well paced. [July 2014, p.78]

Dropping collectible fish in a handful of environments feels hopelessly extraneous; luckily, you can disregard the aquatic nonsense and enjoy timeless gameplay in a reasonably attractive wrapper. [Dec 2007, p.65]

Irresistibly cute. [Feb 2009, p.84]

It's just not the cohesive, polished experience that it should be--and that "NBA 2K7" is. [Dec. 2006, p.86]

The track design is hit-and-miss, usually featuring aggravating blind curves that can quickly turn a comfy lead into a last-place finish. [Sept 2006, p.80]

For all the game's possibilities, however, it also feels remarkably sparse at times, with a seemingly limited set of materials, animals, and enemies in the world. Minecraft is naturally a very slow and deliberate experience, but the Xbox 360 Edition is curiously based on a year-old PC beta version, and thus lacks many of the elements seen in the official release and later updates, including new animals, resources, food, enemy actions, and combat mechanics.

However, hitting the line of scrimmage with a friend on Xbox Live distills football's best elements into a tasty online brew that fans will suck down with gusto. [Dec. 2006, p.76]

Still, you've got to be a real fanboy to want to mash your way through all two dozen or so of its missions. [July 2006, p.84]

If you're already a Naruto believer, this game's excellent visuals and its faithfulness to the source material will outweigh its flaws. [April 2013, p.76]

This repetition, combined with Severed's short runtime(two chapters beaten in around two hours), keeps it squarely in the realm of diehard devotees. [May 2011, p.75]

Though you don't get much for your extra $20, the slight gameplay tweaks make the 360 version of MLB 2K6 the best choice if you've got both systems. [Jun 2006, p.78]

What it does deliver is a clearer, darker look at Wolf’s depressingly downbeat landscape, complete with trolls shooting smack and corrupt, greedy bureaucrats. It’s as mesmerizing as it is glum, using the series’ stark, black-and-neon backdrops as visual clues to Fabletown’s — and Bigby’s — split nature.

A strong example of challenging, polished 16-bit platform gameplay. [Oct 2009, p.80]

It may be a poor man's "Ratchet," but at least it's not a phoned-in bargain-basement "Ratchet" ripoff. [Nov 2005, p.131]

Playing against other people online, you'll have a decent time, but solo players will miss out entirely on the sense of satisfaction that comes from outwitting another person. [Nov 2010, p.81]

It's worth putting up with the game's frustrating failures for the chance to defeat 100 Agent Smiths. [Jan 2006, p.68]

This DLC isn't quite the arm-jerking reflex test that Gunstringer's Real Big Shootin' DLC was - you have to be quick but careful in deciding whether to shoot targets - but both packs were built purely for diehard fans. If that's you, spend the $3.

Jedi Academy was a solid game on PC, but sadly, the Xbox version falls far short in nearly every regard. [Holiday 2003, p.85]

All three modes are fast-paced and enjoyable, but don't expect them to add anything major to the game: aside from letting you gradually unlock weapons and characters that can also be earned in Mercenaries (including the new, faceless Agent and mysterious Carla Radames), they're a little shallow.

Mired by clumsy controls and spotty friendly AI, this sequel can't decide whether or not it wants to be a tactical realistic shooter or simply a run-and-gun arcade fragfest. [Nov 2003, p.114]

Front Mission Evolved doesn't deliver the innovation its name suggests, but it does offer the best classic mech action on 360, and fans of big-bot wars will enjoy it. [Nov 2010, p.82]

The cartoonish, blocky graphics don't help, but constantly challenging gameplay and surprisingly smart A.I. make this a game that all strategy nuts will enjoy. [Oct 2008, p.85]

Without multiplayer or varied play modes, Rhythm Party can be conquered in a snap. But it's an entertaining and solidly priced treat for Kinect dance fans who need a fresh distraction.

Yes, the graphics are sharply upgraded, the new 12-player online matches are wicked fun, the Franchise mode is deep and detailed, and the silly Zamboni mini-game somehow mesmerized us. But with NHL 09 turning in such an all-star performance (see review, left), this exercise in nostalgia is enjoyable…but unnecessary.

If you wish your home had room for a pinball table, put this in your collection. [Feb 2005, p.80]

We'd recommend this Trilogy more if most of its content wasn't available for free or a lot less money on other platforms. But what's here is still plenty addictive, challenging you with many hours of fun.

Want an excuse to keep climbing ledges and sailing the high seas? This downloadable Assassin's Creed III pack gives you exactly that, and little more.

It's one of the brighter spots in this somewhat patchy DLC set, but serious online players needn't shrug off a welcome injection of variety. [April 2014, p.73]

Multiplayer offers little besides in-person crowing or comfort, and the difficulty ratings for songs are somewhat uneven, but for $10 plus roughly another $20 for a dance mat from eBay, Dance! does a cheap, solid job of training you to hop between four arrows effectively. [Nov 2010, p.67]

While we would've had the first female Dead Rising hero headline a full length game, Fallen Angel is a nice add on with excellent storytelling beats and a beefier adventure than Broken Eagle. [May 2014, p.77]

Beyond the visuals, the new Live is a completely fresh experience, rebuilt from scratch for Xbox 360. [Holiday 2005, p.94]

Game of Thrones lacks the absorbing gameplay and polished presentation that'd help set it among the 360's finer RPGs. But those already committed to the realm won't regret the couple dozen hours they'll spend under its narrative spell.

Obviously, Up wasn't meant for adults, but the kid in all of us can find something to enjoy in it. [Aug 2009, p.74]

However you look at it, the so-so cardplay (you can choose Texas Hold ’Em or Omaha this time) does offer some nifty real-world prizes for winning challenges and tournaments: several unlockable heads and skins for use in Borderlands 2, plus five 360 Avatar items. It’ll take a number of hours to get them all, although while you’re working on that, you can also spend your in-game cash on custom chips, decks, and felts for use within Poker Night 2 itself.

Twenty-seven years later, the game's Live Arcade version is still stressing us out, but in good ways. [Aug 2007, p.79]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

It's just a prettier version of a really enjoyable multiplayer game. [June 2002, p.76]

Still, even the subtle control lag that crops up online can't diminish the ham-fisted charm of each vicious contest, so retro fans shouldn't think twice about dropping 10 bucks on Speedball 2. [Oct 2007, p.81]

It might not hold your attention for too long, but it's not meant to.

Hell wars doesn't promise any particular greatness, but for a quick $30 FPS thrill-ride, it'll do nicely. [July 2006, p.85]

Though Space Ark is a visual riot of bright pastels, sparkly special effects, and supermarket-circular-burst graphics, it'd be a stretch to say it ever becomes truly exciting. [July 2010, p.85]

A super-accessible, stylish, over-the-top slaughterfest. [Dec 2009, p.80]

So yeah, Stranglehold does a great job of aspiring to the qualities of Woo's movies, but unfortunately, it just doesn't aspire to be a truly great game. [Nov 2007, p.86]

It absolutely nails the atmosphere. [July 2010, p.81]

It's a cute toy without enough pieces to build anything truly great. [May 2005, p.84]

It shines as a fun but pricey distraction. [May 2008, p.76]

If all you want is Knuckles' debut, this is a fine $5 deal. [Oct 2009, p.77]

Fluffy ultraviolence. [Sept 2010, p.79]

Lips: Number One Hits certainly isn't a full-fledged sequel to Microsoft's singing debut, nor does it come across as a quick cash-in with new songs. [Holiday 2009, p.83]

With 20-plus cars to unlock (and upgrade) and modes ranging from straight-up, no-weapons racing to missions where you protect a VIP--all of which are seriously more fun when up to four buddies join in--Scrap Metal is more than worth the $10 download. [Jun 2010, p.81]

The central story mode follows December's movie with players unlocking successive sets of songs and stages. Free play and same-screen co-op modes round out the package, with all content generously unlocked from the start. Between the kid-friendly dance-a-thon and the Chipmunk singing, Chipwrecked is equal parts adorable and grating. Your young ones will have a blast getting down with Alvin and his pals while you can at least take solace in the easy Gamerscore boost.

But it’s still a letdown. If only this had been packaged with more goodies or delivered digitally for a more reasonable price.

It's not the most spirited or original game, but Realms' raw intensity and chaotic excitement will keep you playing.

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

Fighting tanks, getting ambushed, and creeping through jungles provide enough variety to keep armchair generals satisfied. [Nov 2004, p.85]

Amazing speed, fluid graphics. [Feb 2006, p.81]

Dreamfall's downfall may be that it's too ambitious. But control issues aside, its epic story has us wishing that we won't have to wait another six years for the series' final resolution. [Jun 2006, p.80]

Prizefighter is definitely a contender in the guilty-pleasure category: its story mode trumps the competition’s, and though its fighting mechanics won’t dethrone the current champ, they still pack a simple, straightforward wallop.

Assault Heroes is a no-nonsense blaster with plenty of co-op chaos and a lust for making hordes of things go boom. [Feb. 2007, p.77]

Plus there's no Quidditch - what's with that noise? [Aug 2004, p.78]

Battlestations may not be the deepest or prettiest WWII-themed 360 game on the shelves, but it still hits a solid broadside. [Mar 2007, p.80]

But none of those gripes can compare to the biggest crime committed here: no co-op! In a game that focuses more than a little on the exploits of two seemingly inseparable brothers, why would we not be able to bring a friend down the dusty trail? That absence is completely inexcusable, and the addition of pointless, paint-by-numbers competitive multiplayer only adds insult to injury.

With your $60 on the line, however, it's only multiplayer that rescues TimeShift from the throes of average-dom. [Holiday 2007, p.74]

Sadly, infuriating difficulty spikes--exacerbated by unskippable cutscenes and a lack of mid-chapter checkpoints--occasionally lead to frantic, fun-sucking button-mashing, as do moments of what-the-hell's-happening chaos. [Dec 2011, p.78]

With better tuning, this could be a much more fun game. As it is, we'd strongly advise you to check out the game's finicky controls for yourself in the demo before you commit. [Jan 2008, p.66]

While Lego Batman is loaded with goofy charm and humor, its original storyline is paper-thin.

All the glitches make single-play stumble, but the game looks good, sounds great, and runs smooth like butta. [Jun 2006, p.86]

FaceBreaker delivers fast online brawls, and the constant back-and-forth of counters, stuns, and outrageous signature moves yields a surprising amount of room for strategy and style. As tiresome as solo scuffles become, exciting multiplayer bouts against unpredictable humans save FaceBreaker from a TKO.

Doesn't make any earth-shattering changes to its predecessor, but it also doesn't break anything, either. [Aug 2009, p.76]

Red Faction is not a glorious revolution, yet neither is it a wafer-thin façade of the sandbox genre. Its foundation is strong, it’s fun in a mindless way, and its design intrigued us, but ultimately it’s not something that has been built to last.

As a $15 bare-bones Arcade title Jam would've been a treat, but what you get for the extra $35 is hardly fair value. [Jan 2011, p.63]

Thanks to its engaging combat and spectacle, Lightning Returns manages to distract somewhat from its overarching design issues. As a game, it's notably flawed but has its moments. [March 2014, p.76]

Harmless fun for every age. [Jan 2003, p.90]

There’s more to Ryse than its glossy exterior suggests, and Marius’ tightly told tale makes for an entertaining journey filled with its share of surprisingly considered carnage, but as the credits rolled, we dreamed about what a sequel might be like. Take it off its rails, inject more variety and depth in its systems…now that’s a game we absolutely want to play.

The absurdly named 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures takes the "sport" to extremes that should delight the kid in everyone. [Apr 2007, p.87]

With a greater focus on improving teammate intelligence and smoothing control quirks, UEFA could be a great soccer game. Until then, it remains merely good. [Apr 2007, p.90]

Basically, Madden 08 is just an 07 redux. [Oct 2007, p.81]

Still, the overall experience is quite fun and usually immersive as you re-experience the classic flick with a twist. [Nov. 2006, p.76]

You can also play with the old graphics and relive that '80s charm. [Oct 2007, p.74]

SvC will make the hardcore audience that lives for technical fighting games extremely happy; most other gamers will be left wondering what all the fuss is about. [Dec 2004, p.90]

The game's gravest offense is its lack of things to do...None of it is deep or varied enough to make the game much more than a "Halo 3" consolation prize. [Mar 2007, p.72]

It's intense, destructive fun while it lasts, especially with two players. [Aug 2010, p.79]

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]

While the character selection leaves a lot to be desired, the brilliant mix of versus battles, mini-games, and co-op challenges will keep you entertained for hours. [Sept 2008, p.77]

Hail to the Chimp might lack presidential polish, but it still earns an unexpectedly agreeable term in office. [July 2008, p.73]

A game of great ideas that aren't executed a well as they should be. [Feb 2006, p.76]

It may be initially enjoyable and easy to pick up, but the thrill doesn't last and it never quite distinguishes itself enough from the rest of the FPS pack on Xbox. [Apr 2006, p.75]

With a decent number of areas to clear, that's pretty much it. [Jan 2011, p.74]

Shadowrun is definitely good--"Counter-Strike with magic" works very well--but it should be great. [Aug 2007, p.76]

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

Aqua's combat and controls are quite good, and yet it feels a bit sleepy, even if the campaign does grow more interesting as you progress. [Aug 2010, p.81]

So while the hitting mechanic and improved ballpark creator are cool and the integration of a live ESPN sports ticker is sweet, you'll need to think long and hard about buying what is largely last year's game sans major league appeal. [Feb 2006, p.77]

Given the scope of what it tries to cover, Liberation HD could’ve easily been as complex and lengthy as its home-console siblings. Instead, this somewhat-confusing adventure gets you to love it, and then leaves you yearning for more.

Enemy paths are obvious, and at times, they'll forget to shoot at you. Meanwhile, you'll die behind cover much too often, requiring you to restart the whole level...If you can forgive these flaws, Blackwater is old-school arcade fun, and a solid step in making a hardcore Kinect game.

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.

It takes a minute or so to get used to controlling your hovering, weapon-packed F1 Speedster, but once you do, it's a snap and the entertainment kicks in. [Nov 2007, p.97]

The following is the biggest qualifying statement we've ever made: Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers is a great game, but you will hate it by the time you make it to the end, if you make it at all. [Apr 2006, p.84]

Silent Hill HD Collection is hardly well-rounded, but its tense manipulation of mood still rattles all the right nerves. [Apr 2012, p.62]