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]