The push and pull between the great and sketchy in Fable Anniversary can wear over the course of the game, but its infallible, messy charm still manage to make it every bit the enjoyable time sink it was back in 2004.

The over-the-top carnage is rounded out with co-op play (starring new redneck pal Huff), vehicle stages, new levels not in the PC version, and an inexhaustible supply of sticky high-jump pads — though it’s held back by rough visuals, co-op lag, and an overall lack of polish.

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

Betrayal's wild artistic flair alleviates some of its pain, but you'll still grind your teeth at least as often as you sink them into new flesh.

Even if Hollywood never produces another Rango movie, we want a sequel to the game. [May 2011, p.77]

If you're into music and/or puzzle games at all, Break Steady is worth a gander for its single-player and versus throwdowns. [June 2008, p.77]

Compared to this new generation of arcade hoopsters, Jam feels unambitious and uninvolving. [Dec 2003, p.146]

There's a definite downshift in graphical swagger (no more heat-haze and speed-blur visual effects), but MotoGP 08 delivers pretty much everything else a two-wheeled racing fan could ask for. [Dec 2008, p.87]

As simple as it all may be, it makes for a frantic, dizzying, four- to five-hour rush. And that's Deadlight's strongest suit: you feel a constant, adrenaline-fueled urge to just. Keep. Moving.

Declassified may not be innovative or even very pretty, and it certainly has its problems. But this is also a strategy-lite shooter that’s more than the sum of its often rough-hewn parts. It's entertaining from start to finish, and feels a bit brainier than other shooters when it comes to gunning down hordes of enemies. In that regard, Declassified captures at least part of what makes the XCOM franchise so special.

If you're looking for tactical depth, environmental variety, or anything resembling a story, you'll be left wanting. But if you're in the mood for a blissfully mindless fire-and-forget shooting gallery, you could do a whole lot worse.

In the heat of battle, Need for Speed: The Run generally serves up a solid and speedy arcade racing experience, with expectedly steady controls and physics. But it's consistently undone by painful rewinds and a dull campaign marked by predictable events, not to mention technical issues.

This whole setup would fall apart completely if the red-headed Capell weren’t so freakin’ likeable. It helps that despite the fumbling voice-acting, each character’s lines — as well as the story itself — are well-written. Every new discovery pulls you deeper into the mysteries and personalities that keep Infinite Undiscovery so involving.

Most adults will want to look for more sophisticated fare. [Oct 2009, p.82]

There are plenty of great moments, but the complete package falls a bit short. [Nov 2002, p.112]

What sours the deal, however, is the lack of care and value put into the package. JoJo's is premium-priced at $20, and there's little here to justify that cost. The "HD" upscale looks blotched and muddy, and there aren't any tutorials, special challenges, or even combo exercises to ease new players into this very demanding fighting game.

It's a minor relief to compete against slower-moving humans, and the option to play as robots who behave a bit differently injects a smidgen of variety. But even in online games, paltry tactical options and awkward controls makes Planets feel shallow and clumsy. [Nov 2012, p.77]

All told, Advent Rising does a whole lot more right than it does wrong. If this really is the first of a trilogy, we'll be first in line for the next installment. [July 2005, p.86]

Surprisingly challenging in an enjoyable, old-school way. [Holiday 2005]

Regrettably, Puddle's enticing possibilities are mired in a swamp of irritating issues. Increasingly lethal obstacles take the place of actual puzzles, and overcoming them requires painful trial and error. Meanwhile, the camera frequently focuses on runaway specks even as most of your goop starts to dissolve once it's off-screen.

Even if you're aggravated early on, don't take this game at face value. From Software has developed some of this generation's most interesting games, and obtuse or not, Armored Core V is one of them.

Schizoid proudly bills itself as "the most co-op game ever," and it ain't lying. [May 2008, p.74]

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]

There's no career mode; no Royal Rumble mode; no cage matches, table matches, or ladder matches; no storylines or character interaction; no tag-team moves; no backstage areas; an no other arenas. [Apr 2002, p.76]

There's a strange delay as characters to from one move to another, and matches with more than two AI opponents can take as much as half an hour because of constant interference. [Dec 2003, p.120]

It's enjoyable enough for a few go-rounds, especially in co-op mode, and that makes it one of the more endearing retro ports to hit Live Arcade. [Oct 2007, p.78]

Even with all these enticing extras, we wouldn’t recommend buying the Arcade Cabinet games in one of five available three-packs (most of which are $10); that’s too much money given that almost every three-fer includes a mediocre game.

Deceptively simple, jewel quest can be very challenging on the higher levels, but constantly addictive throughout. [Jun 2006, p.64]

Fun for a quick multiplayer spar, but it doesn't come close to what we were hoping for nor what the Xbox really needs. [Apr 2003, p.85]

The behind-the-scenes retrospective angle is good for a few laughs, and it’s fun to see the new characters, battles, and goofy ending that could have been.

Whether you're tackling it solo or with friends, Simpsons Arcade likely won't take more than an hour to run through from start to finish, making the $10 price tag seem a little steep. Even so, there's a lot to take in, especially in this version.

Shoot Many Robots seemed like a sure thing, and its extensive and amusingly described weapon and gear options - which directly affect stats - are a standout feature; really, they're the only one that feels fully developed here. Nearly everything else around it is as unremarkable as a pile of bolts.

Both Cave fans and challenge hounds will bask in Nin2-Jump's oft-arduous tests. All others, proceed with caution. [July 2011, p.75]

The Fancy Pants biggest problem, though, is that it's just plain dull. [July 2011, p.77]

All mini-game are extremely simplistic, and range in difficulty from absurdly easy to hair-pullingly frustrating. [Holiday 2004, p.80]

Glitches keep Sniper Elite V2 from a higher score, though, especially in the game's innovative co-op modes, where bugs kept us from completing some objectives. Hopefully, an update will fix this otherwise excellent experience.

Even if you don’t harbor the slightest hint of nostalgia for the original, Castle of Illusion offers up a great experience. It’s a fun update to yesteryear’s classic, but also a solid platformer in its own right.

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]

Has enough satisfying moments to warrant a playthrough, but only a patient gamer will make it to the brilliant final hour. [July 2010, p.76]

What redeems Wreckateer, ultimately, is its variety. Each gleefully cartoony castle is sprinkled with point targets, explosive satchel charges, cowering goblins, and special icons that make your shot speed up, bounce, and so on.

It's definitely not for the uninitiated. [Nov 2002, p.125]

It's straight arcade action all the way, and it lets you re-create some of your favorite fights from all five of the Stallone films. [Holiday 2004, p.78]

Storywise, The Betrayal is a shade sillier than The Infamy, and a few moments in its missions are strange to the point of absurdity... If you’re invested in its alternate-universe narrative, though, The Betrayal is an important piece of the puzzle, and its ending hints at something potentially amazing for the final chapter.

A merely adequate, uninspired, but occasionally funny soccer game. [Oct 2002, p.108]

Like Live 06, it has some core goodness, but it just needs some TLC. [Feb. 2007, p.79]

Despite the visuals, slow pacing, clunky camerawork, and somewhat unsatisfying controls, this is a generally solid pool game. [Jan 2004, p.79]

Constant C’s certainly not for the easily discouraged, but its cleverly designed puzzles and surprisingly engaging story are a treat if you don’t mind a little (okay, a lot of) punishment.

Strike Suit Zero still has its issues, but the Director's Cut does a much better job of accentuating its strengths while hiding its weaknesses.

The action is incredibly easy. We rarely had trouble with events, particularly the formal tennis matches.

Just try getting Rhama to climb up a wall, and watch the camera flail around behind you. Puzzles are clever, but that doesn't mean they're fun. Boss battles are repetitive, and at times, insanely drawn out. [Sept 2004, p.74]

The rough edges of 11-year-old game design will keep you from losing yourself in the experience, but there's more than enough substance to make this acclaimed adventure from another age worth a fresh look. [Nov 2011, p.85]

So while the elder console looks like it's stuck with the 360's scraps, the series' next-gen evolution isn't complete either. Project 8 is a strong start and one worth playing, but it definitely feels immature--it's merely a beginning. [Jan. 2007, p.78]

We'd have appreciated a thicker campaign, more visually diverse missions, and especially the option to play co-op over Xbox Live, but as-is, this hors d'oeuvre is still an entertaining treat.

Car models and framerates are superb, and some of the courses look great, but overally, you could be forgiven for thinking you'd turned on your PS2. [Jan 2004, p.60]

After 20 minutes of watching people run around crazily and aimlessly, you realize that they're mostly just window dressing for very basic, uninspired, beat-'em-up gameplay that we've all played before. [May 2003, p.74]

Joy Ride Turbo is exactly what its title promises: a fast, fun experience that unfortunately runs out of value far too quickly. Even at $10, it's hard to recommend, as you could buy Sonic & Sega's All-Stars Racing from a bargain bin for just a few bucks more.

Just because you can cut a worm in half to get two new ones doesn't mean you actually should. [Apr 2005, p.81]

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

This game was designed for multiplayer, so if you can't find at least one other person to share the pain, knock off two points from our score. [Oct 2010, p.86]

Resident Evil 6 is solid, challenging, and at moments outright amazing, but razzle-dazzle Hollywood production never quite masks a subtle, intangible lack of focus and pacing that pervades its formidable spread of content.

Button mashers will undoubtedly love it. But shouldn't the debut of a super-villain based on a master strategist be less...shallow? [Dec 2003, p.154]

The interface is considerably easier to navigate than the menu-heavy original Head Coach. [Sept 2008, p.69]

Even players with an insatiable lust for fiery explosions will be disappointed when they find that the whole affair’s easily finished in under four hours. Thunder Wolves is mindless fun if you're in the right mood, but it's just too flawed and fleeting to be a good value.

The game's dull, repetitive missions drive home the harsh truth: it's an aggressively average action-RPG that's here far too late for anyone to care. [Mar 2011, p.76]

Rabbids loses some of its originality and innovation in its move to Xbox 360, and bafflingly, it fails to adopt many of the console's strengths. [June 2007, p.73]

Kudos to Tecmo for the neat ability to swap between the classic 16-bit look and 3D makeover on the fly (offline only), a la Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition. But sadly, the rest of Throwback feels as flat as those ancient visuals. [Jun 2010, p.82]

The graphics tend to give it the look of a first-generation Dreamcast game, rather than a second-generation Xbox title – which may turn off those accustomed to the visual bells and whistles of, say, "Wreckless." [Apr 2002, p.84]

The star of this show is the new Lost Mission expansion for Doom 3. You'll tear through its mild terrors and pedestrian repair and retrieval errands in under three hours, but the final 45-minute trek through a bloody, lava-strewn outpost in hell is the prettiest and most entertaining part of the package. It's not enough to make the BFG Edition feel like a true bargain.

As a Museum piece, Galaga's beeen almost perfectly preserved, but the missing multiplayer makes us think twice about spending 400 Microsoft Points. [Oct. 2006, p.72]

As with all action-RPGs, Fallout's best played with a friend. It's not the deepest dungeon crawler, but it is among the most fun. [Feb 2004, p.76]

While Double Dragon Neon is definitely entertaining (and priced perfectly), it's unfortunate that a few design quirks weaken it. The promised online play should make it more beatable, but the poorly balanced soloplay does dim Neon's shine.

Surpisingly but appealingly worth your time and money. [Nov 2004, p.84]

In reality, what's here is competant, but this version just doesn't stack up to any Xbox Ghost Recon--next-gen or otherwise. [Jun 2006, p.76]

Level design is well done, giving players the illusion of a non-linear world while deftly guiding them down a path. Well-placed hints ensure that Scooby never gets stuck. [Nov 2003, p.130]

Four-player co-op is crazy amounts of fun. [Dec 2009, p.83]

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

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]

So it's dissapointing that instead of the mind-shattering experience that should properly claim "first MMO" honors, we get Final Fantasy XI--a port of a four-year-old game. [July 2006, p.78]

This game is challenging. [Nov 2002, p.138]

Outlaw Tennis' blend of comedy mishap and gameplay genius makes for an odd cocktail. But for a mere $20, it's a shockingly good one. [Oct 2005, p.110]

Like the hordes of Deadites through which you chainsaw a bloody swath, Regeneration's animated, but it's got no soul. [Nov 2005, p.131]

Apart from some death-by-bad-camera-angle moments and a few aggravating perfection-focused “challenge” sequences, Marlow Briggs is enjoyable enough. Just don’t expect to remember any of it next week.

F.E.A.R. Files delivers two standalone micro-campaigns brand-new to the 360--the new Perseus Mandate and the previously released PC expansion "Extraction Point". [Holiday 2007, p.80]

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]

We'd still rather play the first game than this weaker follow-up.

For that reason alone, we'd say this game makes a great distraction for younger kids(especially since you can share the mini-game fun with any friend who wants to jump in), but the young at heart will likely need something more. [June 2011, p.85]

As a cheap, on-the-go timewaster, this game might work. But at $1[5], forget it. [Aug 2011, p.83]

It may be an obvious clone (of "Splinter Cell"), but it's incredibly well done. [Jan 2004, p.72]

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]

The biggest complaint about Tapout 2 is that it doesn't really capture the wild differences in fighting styles that make the UFC what it is. As is, it's the best non-traditional fighting game on Xbox by a mile. [May 2003, p.76]

If Petroglyph can fix the single-player AI, smooth out some of the game’s graphics slowdowns, and provide a camera that zooms back more than a few inches, chapter two of Universe at War could well challenge Battle for Middle-earth II for overall Xbox 360 RTS honors.

If staring down a virtual swarm of Japanese Zeroes gets your heart racing and your under-used flight-shooter trigger finger itchy, this game certainly has the scratch. [May 2006, p.71]

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]

If you absolutely must skip one DLC case, make it this one.

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

Way too slow and boring by today's standards. [Aug 2009, p.75]

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

Though the graphics are sub-par and the character creator minimal, and there's no online multiplayer, ProStroke's different approach to virtual golfing is a welcome one, expecially given its budget price. [Nov. 2006, p.78]