While it is nice that gamers can control both Kain and Raziel for the first time ever, the compromise of the control scheme takes some of the unique aspects away from what fans have experienced in the previous games.

While there are some issues with subtly repetitive gameplay modes, the difficulty level problem, and the occasional cheap computer AI, the overall game is an extremely solid first effort by Microsoft Game Studios.

I appreciate the attempt at drawing non-hunting fans to the game with modes like the Action Zone and being hunted by animals in general, but the end result doesn’t seem as much fun and can be downright frustrating at times.

Simply doesn’t deliver what Xbox’ers are used to in terms of a quality first-person shooter.

Involves enough gaming elements to keep the action/adventure or platformer fan busy.

With a more refined graphical engine, better play control, and more options, this game could have been very enjoyable. Sadly, all of the previous elements were executed at a poor level and the game seems very rushed.

The contrasting abilities of Sphinx and the Mummy make this a true two character game and not simply the same character with a different model and textures.

A serious lack of gameplay depth and overall game length keep me from recommending this game to anyone other than a driving game freak.

As a side scrolling shooter, Blowout does a decent job, but as a next-generation title, it just doesn't cut it. There's something to be said for linear, simplistic gameplay, but for most gamers, this takes it a little too far.

Being strictly children’s title, The Cat in the Hat may entertain children who are new to gaming and fans of the movie.

The upgrades to both the visuals and audio plus the all-in-one price of $49.99 make the GTA Double Pack one of the best values in videogame history.

Definitely has an intriguing storyline, but the repetitive gameplay and static camera hurts what could have been a much better effort.

The gamers who are all about gameplay and who could care less about fantasy drafts and eleven players a side aren’t going to be too impressed.

Improves upon last year's hack-and-slash fest in every single aspect. The multiplayer action is incredibly fun, but it does take time to get adjusted to the camera angles. The camera isn't too much of a problem in the single-player game, but still provides a few quirks that will cause some frustration.

Even though Xbox was screwed out of online support yet again, anyone who is a fan of soccer will enjoy this title thoroughly, and find a lot of depth worth hours of play.

It is true that there are some gameplay redundancies and a healthy amount of character interaction issues, but will a kid point to mommy and say “look at all of the clipping issues!”, or “look at all of the horseys!”?

If repetitive slaughtering of the innocent by punching a few buttons is what you're looking for, then True Crime isn't the title for you. But you other guys really can't go wrong if you're looking for an action/adventure with riveting, twisting, non-linear storyline, advanced move sets, solid graphics, and a sweet audio track.

There are so many bad aspects found in Drake that it is difficult to present them all in one review. The broken gameplay mechanics, uninspired level design, and horrible production values makes Drake one of the worst games on the Xbox to date.

Possibly one of the best kid’s titles on the Xbox to date. Full of many familiar environments and great cartoon graphics fans of the show will be drawn in and kept happy throughout.

A competent entry into the arcade-racing genre. While there isn’t a lot of innovation, you just cannot argue with a ticket price of $19.99. Fans of Ford classic and concept cars should take notice.

The visual style, the sounds, and the jokes are straight out of the show, and all come together to create a fun and enjoyable game.

An incredible game. The GotY Edition will give previous Morrowind fanatics a few more reasons to dust off their character, and at the discount price, it offers a great chance for those whom may not have played it to jump right in.

It’s almost a shame to see such a unique graphics engine go into a game with such a generic feel.

Gladius is by far unmatched in terms of character control in the strategy/RPG genre. The only thing I would have wished for is more ability customization for characters in between class types.

It is so quickly apparent that the gameplay makes Top Spin as good as it is and so damn addicting.

A much better title than its original, and even though we got through it, we have already begun our second round to build up our characters and unlock all the goodies the game has to offer.

Gives you a bit more "professionalism" than the arcade feel of SSX so it’s a nice blend of arcade fun and authenticity.

Simply an above average space shooter. The sketchy mission objectives and the difficulty level will certainly turn off everyone but true diehard Battlestar Galactica fans.

If the game was a little more difficult and the players weren't limited to one controllable plane, then I would say take a serious look at this one.

In some ways it plays worse than existing stealth/action games, especially when it comes to interacting with objects. The combat mode raises the gameplay level, but not enough to truly satisfy people that are familiar with other stealth titles.

An intense and fun shooter that will sadly be overlooked by most gamers. The main negative aspect of kill.switch is the longevity; basically there is none. The game can be completed in 5 hours or less even in the hard difficulty level and there are no real extras or multiplayer elements to give it legs.

The new story mode takes the genre in another direction that is engaging but still keeps the tried-and-true Tony Hawk goodness intact. If you love the series then you are going to cream over Tony Hawk’s Underground.

Every so often a rare title comes along that is so exceptional, so impressive that it’s nearly impossible to find a flaw. ESPN NBA Basketball is one of those games. For b-ball fans there is simply no other game with this level of depth, and for non-basketball fans it’s an excellent opportunity to learn the game, become acquainted with the players and experience the most realistic simulation of the NBA experience.

A phenomenal game in nearly every aspect and will set its mark among other great titles like "Halo" and "Star Wars: KotOR" as they did for their particular genres.

The linear gameplay, camera system and shortness of the game make this not a title for everyone, but it still warrants a glance just to witness the goodness that is Rare.

The ultimate hybrid of the old-school arcade game and next generation console. Your hands are going to hurt at the end of this game, but it’s going to be a blast.

This game has exceeded my expectations far beyond my belief.

Gamers new to Bionicle may find the story uninteresting or burdensome and the gameplay short lived. With a deluge of other platformer titles available, Bionicle doesn’t stand out as anything special and will at most be a rental for the majority of gamers.

A visually stunning game that truly captures the feeling of the show. Unfortunately, the gameplay quickly grows tiring and stale.

Fans of the series should definitely give it a shot because the game does do the Wallace & Gromit name justice in every respect. With a little tweaking of the camera and level design Project Zoo could have had a bit more flash, but it still ends up being pretty fun overall.

The outdated and unfunny jokes, horrible fighting engine, and lackluster visuals and sound make this a game that could have been, but never will. Stay very far away.

The artists and developers did a great job of capturing the essence of a vast, empty mansion. Every room is well detailed with the flavor of a dusty, cobweb infested, untouched house.

The game does have several shortcomings, including incredibly tough computer defense, a few glitches in the dynasty mode, and some overly long animations that affect gameplay, but all in all NBA Live 2004 is the best game of the series.

RoadKill is fueled by over the top gun-fire, ridiculously tricked out cars, and just the right amount of profanity to satisfy your desire for a little fun blowin’ sh*t up in a busy metropolitan environment.

What could have been a very unique and innovative title failed in several key areas. With a very clunky wrestling/fighting engine that will leave the player frustrated, and more than lackluster visuals, Backyard Wrestling needs plenty of touch-ups.

A lot of the Xbox crowd won’t be able to cope with the dumbed down AI or the hazy graphics in this title; those that will put up with it are the folk who realize that this is still one of the best military campaign fighters available on the Xbox and a really nice 4 person title.

The greatest weakness for Freedom Fighters is its length, which is really disappointing considering that overall the game is nothing but an enjoyable thrill ride. As a single-player experience, you can’t do any better than Freedom Fighters.

Even at its sub twenty dollar price, Slot Car Thunder leaves me shuddering in a corner searching for a happier place. If the gameplay was at least competent...

The gameplay still remains as rambunctious as ever, but the available modes of play are definitely lacking.

Graphically the game is smooth and unique and the sound is simply spectacular. While there aren’t many gameplay options and selecting particular voodoo powers is nonexistent, the rest of the game is solid.

The series is turning towards the likes of "Madden," with realism being added into every nook and cranny of the game. The greatest strength NHL 2004 holds is that it brings back the game of hockey the way it was meant to be played...physical and tight scoring.

While the single-player game is also enjoyable this game was designed to be played with others. It's easy to pick up and difficult to put down. The fast-paced, frenzied gameplay will have you and your friends addicted for hours.

Gameplay is fast and furious which sometimes makes bike control a real shot in the dark.

To tell you the truth, I actually had a lot of fun playing through the game in its entirety. Once I got over the camera issue and a few minor audio problems I became engrossed in the Dino Crisis 3 world.

A few gameplay issues and graphical shortcomings keep the game from being an A+ stellar title, but hardcore Simpsons fans will be more than happy with this baby.

The "grudges and alliances" mode alone makes the game above and beyond any racing sim out there in terms of AI.

The easy controls and deep season/CAW modes revived my love of wrestling videogames. The multiplayer aspects of Raw 2 really make this game able to go the distance, and single-player modes and options are a plenty.

What really brings this game down is the sub-par graphics, terrible framerate and fairly poor voice acting that eliminates any interest in the plot.

With the new modes of play, and astonishing online play, it will be nearly impossible for any other franchise this year to touch Sega’s masterpiece.

While Koei has done a fantastic job in bringing DW4 over from the PS2 it would be nice to see the Xbox used a bit more towards its capacity.

Just what the fans of the 2K series have been waiting for; an updated version with more polished controls, better computer AI and the best presentation possible...This game has the perfect blend of arcade and simulation football that should make it fun for every type of sports gamer.

The simplified control scheme and the tried and true Tony Hawk game engine make this a perfect game for children to jump right into.

There have been few action adventure games that pull of the perfect blend of gameplay, storyline and presentation that Otogi manages to do. From Software did their homework in regards to the control scheme and overall gameplay mechanics.

The perfect title for those fishing enthusiasts that would appreciate the sim-like experience and huge assortment of lures.

Only NFL Fever 2004 will give you the option of taking your game beyond your console and allowing you to participate in a virtual league like never before.

With varied levels and several different abilities, there is certainly enough here to warrant the cheap price tag and should be an instant hit with kids.

Deer Hunt has incredibly deep and challenging gameplay that is coupled with fairly decent visuals and top notch Dolby 5.1 audio. Perhaps now I can understand why hunting appeals to so many people around the world; the thrill of the hunt.

The perfection it consists of is almost unmatched by any game to date. The blend of weapons, gameplay, control, graphics, and sound is downright superb. Fighting styles are different from character to character and the sheer amount of replay value this game has is remarkable.

Has its flaws, such as the camera and clunky controls, but is a nice total package. It definitely captures the feeling of the Buffy universe in more ways than one.

The primary drawback to Alter Echo is its repetitiveness.

The great presentation and audio is what really keeps the game alive. If only the developers would have taken more time and attention to detail in some of the gameplay physics, level design, or graphics this game could have been a contender.

The only gripe I have is the lack of a fully customizable control scheme. With playing all the various available football games, it becomes a nuisance to get used to each game's specific control scheme.

One of its best features is the detail to replicating a tennis simulation more so than an upbeat arcade-type of tennis.

The massive update of maps will draw any Live gamers to Island Thunder for sure. Add to that the fact that there will be downloadable maps and single player missions and this game is easily worth the discounted price tag.

The game will definitely have you busting a gut laughing and is even better when shared with friends. The single player mode, graphics, and especially audio are really polished but the game still feels like it could have used a little more "umph".

For younger gamers, it tries to offer some valuable lessons about respect for others and responsibility, but the message seems to be clouded by all the pointless side missions and mindless monologues of other characters.

A pathetic example of rushed development, and no one should be forced to witness the results. Sadly enough, Aquaman’s first shot at videogame stardom would have been more appropriate on another console five years ago.

Sadly, simply being a better console RTS does not mean it matches up to the great PC RTS games most gamers are accustomed to.

Hardcore Robocop fans should definitely give the game a rental, because regardless of the game's mediocrity, it still offers the experience of being Robocop. The majority of gamers will be unsatisfied by the lack of pulse pounding action and frenetic pace that is the staple of most titles in the genre.

A game that has enjoyable moments to it, but suffers from a severe lack of detail. With little variety to the gameplay and no incentive to go through more than once, The Great Escape is a perfect rental.

This game reads perfect, looks gorgeous, plays fantastic, and sounds unbelievable. Knights of the Old Republic is in a few words the best RPG to ever hit the Xbox, dare I say a next-gen console? It will make Star Wars fans drool.

So good, at times it can be too much to take. When it comes to football games, it simply doesn’t get any better than this folks. Whether you’re a casual or die hard fan of football, spend the money and build a college dynasty on your Xbox.

If you bought "DOA Beach Volleyball," do yourself a favor and redeem yourself by exchanging it for Outlaw Volleyball. For the rest of you out there that consider yourselves sports fans, ad this one to your collection for a few laughs and some fierce competitive spirit with lots of trash talking good fun.

Although the lackluster land gameplay drags the experience down a bit, the sailing parts of the game are just so exciting and enthralling that you can totally forget about the less riveting parts of the game. I do prefer Bethesda's other published RPG, "Morrowind," because there is simply more to do.

The joke of a campaign mode, horrid controls, laughable graphics, and decent soundtrack all mush together to make one hell of a beer coaster.

Codemasters was hoping to pull off a serious racing simulation here, but it feels like they feel a bit short in the depth of the game.

The game plays pretty decently, looks polished, and sounds just fine. Fans of the movie would love the action in this game, and casual gamers would love the length of the missions. The game’s biggest problem is that it’s so darned short!

Although not the masterpiece of AM2’s "18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker," Big Mutha Truckers sets out to give the player an enjoyable truck-driving game, and it accomplishes its purpose.

In simple terms, this game was brought to the Xbox unpolished, incomplete, and unready. There’s plenty to go through in SoF2, but it’s too bland and it isn’t worth spending numerous hours trying to complete.

While the AI isn’t horrible (at times it can be very challenging) you will find it funny to have a horde of enemies coming at you, all too timid to shoot... Mace has not only stood up to my expectations, but crushed them and left me very happy.

The multitude of gameplay options also makes this one of the most customizable racing/driving games available.

If you are in the mood for a mindless action game that will provide you a short burst of fun, this title will fit the bill. It starts off fun and has enough of the Evil Dead feel to warrant its price tag.

The online mode is fun and can make the game last, but the offline modes are so bland and boring.

Just like all the previous Activision O2 titles (even before they were called such) I find that I can’t put Wakeboarding Unleashed down.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I’d enjoy the offline career mode more than playing the game online. I’m not saying that MC II doesn’t provide quality online gaming, but the lack of game modes tends to bog the whole online experience down and it never quite gets out of first gear.

A game that takes the combat action of "Halo" and tosses it in the blender with the advanced tactical strategies of "Ghost Recon" to give you the best of both worlds while creating something completely new.

While the Bruce Banner missions are mind-numbing and the camera could use some extra tweaking, the Hulk still manages to play very smoothly and delivers an aura of excitement that can only be felt otherwise by going to see the actual movie.

This is a game you will need friends to enjoy, single player mode just doesn’t offer up much of a challenge or depth.