The emphasis in Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is on the complete experience, which just so happens to include a more scripted, movie-like gameplay experience. If you don't like the more "on rails" M.O. in your war game, then you may want to look elsewhere.

The Jedi Starfighter feels more graceful and precise than the classic starfighters like the X-Wing or even the Tie Fighter, but maybe I was just feeling the Force...yea right.

The story may not make total sense, but the action is fresh and furious. Gamers well versed in the ways of the Flawless Victory should get a kick out of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks as well.

While the animations and physics are vastly improved, there’s too little else to like with this series. A general art direction overhaul seems to be in order, plus, a bit of A.I. tweaking could cut down on all-world goaltending occurring on any difficulty level.

The map editor has gotten a nice boost in functionality and the online multiplayer modes are sure to keep players busy for months, but how long do we have to wait until there is a true sequel for Far Cry?

Bow to the artists that worked on Metal Slug 3: This is gaming art at some of its finest. The gameplay is up there among the better coin-op action games of all time, too, and it translates well to the Xbox 360 controller to boot.

If you’re into strategy games, you might find A Kingdom for Keflings a bit light on your abilities. Just the same, even the best strategist could enjoy a fun workout like this, which is often more like a Rube Goldberg machine that needs constantly changing parts to be integrated in for it to work correctly.

Namco Bandai should be proud of what they have here. Sure, there are a few hiccups in play here or there but it is nothing that is so bad as to turn you off from the experience.

While the new single-player gameplay modes are nice additions, they still end up being too repetitive over the long haul. Multiplayer is the strength of NFL Street 2 and can make for some heated matches.

All in all, Switchball is certainly one of the best puzzles games on XBLA, and is definitely the best, um, ball-based puzzle game of all-time. It’s a great looking game, offering a deep single-player mode and plenty of multiplayer options.

This is one game that makes you "feel" like part of the conflict rather than just a spectator. Hardcore FPS fans will probably have a few complaints about the simplistic squad command system, the short length, and the standard multiplayer modes, but there is no doubt that this is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end.

Even though the game boasts online play, better animations, and a more accurate hitting system, it still doesn’t catch up to MVP’s dazzling action and ultra-deep franchise mode. ESPN MLB definitely gets the nod as far as online play goes.

E4 is way more fun than last year’s E3. We know that’s not a major feat, but it still should give some kind of indication of what Q Entertainment brought to the table in their sophomoric effort

Revamped risk shots pay dividends. Revamped character movements backfire.

For those of you who've played the previous versions to death, then you may want to pass on this and wait for part 3 to come out early next year.

Although it has a rocky start, most will find it highly addicting after you have learned the basic mechanics of the game.

Although you’d have to be a real top-down blaster fan to own Geometry Wars and Mutant Storm Reloaded, it would be hard to pick between the two. Mutant Storm Reloaded is possible a bit more well-rounded, although it’s hard to argue with Geometry Wars’ TRON-like setting.

Sega Rally Revo’s gameplay is both basic and difficult, and thus aligns correctly with its Sega Rally Championship roots, but these traits don’t transfer as well onto a complex console of the new millennium.

The on-ice gameplay is some of the best hockey you’ll ever play in a videogame; the control is unmatched. Then, the game lays an egg when it comes to all around game modes and extras.

Aside from the flaws with the "detective" mode, and lack of direction the game provides, Cthulhu is a solid experience. An untraditional take on the FPS genre (no WWII action or one-liners here), players are sure to get taken in by the game's eerie levels, immersive world, and engrossing story.

Close to the same game as OutRun 2, although the name is different.

Live 09 is leaps-and-bounds above its HD-era predecessors. With that said, it’s hard to imagine anyone but the sturdiest of pro-level B-ball critic not being able to find a clinical dosage of fun on the silvery surface of NBA Live 09’s disc.

The majority of the puzzles occupy that zone between "challenging" and "frustrating," so you shouldn't feel bad if you get fed up with it every once in a while. I noticed that stepping away from the game when I was stuck usually helped me out, since it gave my brain a little time to solve the puzzle or approach it from a new direction.

The gameplay engine is showing its age, and the graphics hurt the story mode with some pretty poor cut-scenes.

My friends and I are going to have a ton of fun playing it, and playing it for a very long time. There are definitely some head-scratching design decisions from where we sit, but it remains that we can sink hour after hour into the game without even feeling the time pass.

The game is one of the better Westerns we’ve seen on a video game console, and while that’s not saying a whole hell of a lot when you put it into context, it should be taken as faint praise.

Smooth moves like this are paramount for a platformer, which probably explains why Banjo-Kazooie, even ten years after its release, is still a solid player for both the pick-up-and-play crowd as well as the serious jumpers out there. There’s enough comic relief and clever level design surrounding the slick team-up moves and animations of Banjo-Kazooie’s leading animals to pull it all together into one of the better classic console platformers to grace Xbox Live Arcade.

It's a ton of fun watching your gangster progress through the ranks. Some of the gameplay mechanics come off better than others but for the most it's a fun package that stays enjoyable throughout the saga.

RAAM's Shadow is worth your $15 investment. The campaign will take you 3 - 4 hours to complete on the Normal Difficulty.

There's good gameplay (aside from some framerate choppiness), excellent modes, palpable pageantry, above average graphics and audio, and even sweet navigation screens. The lack of online tournaments is the biggest detriment.

If you’re looking for a chess match, you’ll probably be disappointed by what’s instead feels like the kind of war game you played with toy soldiers as a kid in the backyard - lots of bodies flying around willy-nilly and lying face first in the dirt.

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.

For those of you who like to be creeped out, wigged out, or just plain scared, I can't recommend Fatal Frame enough. It uses just about all the senses to weave together a highly unsettling and downright scary experience.

The online play, with tournament support, is incredibly fun as the intense and upbeat tempo of the series lends itself well to Xbox Live battles.

If you go into the game expecting a rush of nostalgia backed by solid gameplay you will not be disappointed.

The four player action and quirky storyline makes this one unique, making the downloading of this title a no-brainer for platforming fiends.

Daytona USA will make for a welcome trip down memory lane for fans of the original, but newcomers to the franchise won't find much to entertain themselves here.

While The Suffering hits a bulls eye in almost every cinematic category, it misses the mark in a few of the areas which make a good game, namely unique gameplay and high resolution graphics.

It’s almost the lack of innovation that makes this fun, as it’s a throwback to the original TR game of 1996. It just doesn’t take a lot of chances either.

It takes a bit of getting used to, as most puzzlers of this kind are, but before long you’re rocking and rolling with it. And your friends and family might not be able to pry it out of your hands until you drop from exhaustion.

Packed full of great new features, tons of new enemies, and a perfectly flowing storyline there is none better than Dark Alliance II. The graphics are stunning, the audio is brilliant, and the gameplay shows why Dark Alliance II is still at the top of the genre.

Lego Indy doesn’t vary much in scope and content from the previous titles that the pair have worked on, but it’s still a fun game to play and a smart take on the game-from-a-movie process, which more times than not turns out to be lacking in the “game” portion. Most of all, it makes me wonder what they’ll team up on next.

The primary downside to The Sleeping Dragon is its linear gameplay and simplified control scheme that will turn off some gamers. Overall I felt that TSD was a breath of fresh air.

On one hand, the systems and gameplay here are AWESOME, on the other it seems that lessons learned in making solid single player games that are also co-op or vice-versa have been missed, and missed hard at that.

Having the mission editor that the PC version does would have made a huge difference. The developers said it was impossible to include due to technology and disk space, but Far Cry 2 did it with a very robust engine.

A great game engine plus a web slinger equals a damn fine game. Venom and Carnage need their own games.

For what it is, BLACK delivers one of the most exciting, explosive and intense FPS experiences we've had on the Xbox in a long time, but it's straightforward and repetitive gameplay also leave the overall impression a bit thin.

Like a blockbuster action movie, there are definitely moments when Stranglehold drags (the second level was tedious), but there’s no doubt that your heart will be pumping by the time you make your way through the later levels.

For roughly about $10, this is a no-brainer for puzzle gamers.

Unless comical mischief is disallowed in your household, Outpost Kaloki X is a great family game that can teach the kiddies about resource management and making (instead of spending) money at an early age.

Whatever small fun that can be gleaned from Red Alert 3 is not worth the hideously poor attempts at humor and bargain basement production values that envelop the final product like a shroud.

It's not a particularly complex or challenging game, but it is charming, addictive, funny, and a joy to play.

It’s hard to go wrong with Mutant Storm Empire for 800 Microsoft Points, eve if you have never played Reloaded. With stunning 3D graphics and the perfect blend of mindless and strategic twitch blasting, Mutant Storm Empire is a near perfect Halloween treat.

For attempting to satiate the entire racing game populous with a single title, EA has done a pretty fine job. Would a super-mega tuner game have been a better move? Would a follow-up to the pursuit-style racing of "Most Wanted" have made more sense? Maybe and maybe.

Knowing full-well that real time strategy games are but faint blips on most console gamers’ radars, Ubi Shanghai knew it had to go big if Tom Clancy’s EndWar was to have a fighting chance on the Xbox 360. With a fully functional voice recognition system and solid, console-centric RTS gameplay Shanghai has succeeded in an attempt to give the strategy game its just due on the console.

Tropico 4 is an enjoyable and well-polished strategy experience that's accessible and highly addictive, and for that reason we have to recommend that strategy fans pick this one up. After all, it's (probably) the closest most of us will get to becoming any kind of tyrannical dictator.

It’s not a perfect game by any means; heck, it doesn’t even perfectly deliver its core story, but it does deliver a fun and deep campaign for you to play through.

Military buffs and the hardcore flight fans will gobble this one up, but I think most causal gamers that have Live will sadly pass over this one.

Not only does this latest DOOM title resurrect pure evil, it also resurrects one of the finest FPS Campaign modes you will currently find in the gaming world.

Where the game really separates itself from the pack is the armory functionality, its visual style, and the super weapons that it gives to players. The gameplay feels wonderful, even new in parts, the visuals bring a new flair to a classic style game, and the multiplayer trimmings are just icing.

The difficulty arises from the speed at which card arrangement this needs to be done. You’ll literally have seconds to anticipate what numeral/color will be thrown down before your turn and to arrange your cards in a logical order. This involves not only thinking very quickly, but also having pretty sharp hand dexterity since fast controller inputs are mandatory for said sorting purposes.

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.

A solid game, with some decent gameplay. But it’s not going to light your soul on fire like other shooters hopefully will, and might bore gamers who’ve played every single shooter out there and are looking for something new. It may not feel new, but it definitely feels polished and solid. If not very scary.

Even though Garou—Mark of the Wolves looks amazing (when taking into consideration the era in which it was released) and plays even better than it looks, there’ll be this feeling that you didn’t get that much value for your 800 Microsoft Point investment (or about $10).

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.

If you've never played a Keflings game, definitely start with this one.

Full House Poker is easy to learn, easy to get into, but challenging and increasingly rewarding so I'm pretty sure you'll be seeing me hitting the tables once the game releases on March 16th.

I can definitely see a "Splinter Cell" fan really getting into Sniper Elite. The subject matter is far different, and the sniping accent is unique, but the elements of stealth, gameplay difficulty, and general pace of play are reminiscent of many-a Fisher mission.

With its plethora of leagues, tournaments, and cups Rugby 06 should be any diehard rugby fans' dream come true, but in order to reel in the rest of the sports crowd the game had to bring more than authentic rugby teams, and it has done exactly that.

Built upon a strong engine, but not doing much to keep up with the Joneses.

If you’re a true surfer, I would think that this game would be a must have. People who enjoy other “board” games will also rate this game very high.

Whether you play 1-on-1, 2-on-2, or 1-on-3, the multiplayer support is where you will really have fun, and trash talking takes on a life of its own.

In a nut shell, it has a few "neat" things but in the long run they aren't worth the $60 price tag. I recommend waiting for a price reduction or saving your hard earned money for the next "Call of Duty".

With gads of planes and missions, a moving story mode, and total multiplayer functionality, Heroes of the Pacific sets it apart from the competition and puts this into the "worth owning" category.

Being that March Madness 06 is essentially an identical game as last year's it's hard to give this one props for advancing the series. The lockdown stick does improve on defensive mechanics but winning half of a battle won't win many wars.

You can’t ignore that R-Type Dimensions offers another taste of classic gaming, with some enhancements to make it more attractive and contemporary, and that’s playable from the comfort of the living-room couch.

The graphics in Blood Omen 2 are nothing short of spectacular even for Xbox standards.

The gameplay is great, graphics are above par for a baseball title, and the audio is exactly what it should be. On a negative note, there is slim to none single player existence so SlugFest is a multiplayer game in all its glory.

While there were definitely some changes to the game that I didn't care much for, such as the lack of radio/flashlight combo, perhaps the alterations were a good thing for the series overall.

Another very cool and nostalgic online treat is the Quarter Match mode that allows players to relive the days of lining up quarters waiting to take on the winner of any match in “I got next” style competition. The online lobby displays a coin/icon for each player along with their Gamertag and the order in which they are in line to play.

There’s no doubt that Band Hero is fun to play, but Activision could have had so much more to show if it had evolved it better in relation to the other Hero games.

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

Over on the PS3, MLB 10: The Show has just launched, and it likely still claims the crown in the video baseball showdown. But it clearly hasn’t experienced the same sudden improvement as the 2K line, which, now, can be considered a true competitor.

From the excellent blend of both arcade and pro-accurate MLB components, to the strength of the audio and graphics, The Bigs 2 is a player.

It isn’t a bad game; it’s just not a particularly original or innovative one. Those checking out a LEGO video game for the first time should enjoy how it plays, but those who have at least one LEGO game in the collection should try it before buying.

The faithfulness to the SW Universe (as perceived in the movies) might be better than any game out there, kid title or not.

From the story, to the combat situations, to the amazing cast, you'll be hard-pressed to find another title that does a movie license (an extremely heralded movie) so much justice.

It’s not a great game, and the presentation is definitely secondary to the gameplay, but it’ll keep you occupied for hours.

It’s more story-driven and -focused, which might not be as satisfying or challenging for hard-core gamers looking for constant, fast-paced action—and if you don’t like that kind of game, it’s a good bet you won’t like the next BiA that’s surely coming.

Whether you’re new to the game or a member of the old high-school chess club, you’ll find the Chessmaster series still holds the crown as “King” of the sixty-four-squared board.

Plagued by many flaws in the control system and in collision detection.

If you don't mind shelling out about twice as much as most other XBLA games for a fairly short tale, you'll likely find the game to be well worth the price of admission.

It simply crushes most of the competition in terms of art direction and audio composition. The gameplay is still a bit trite, and you won't need a PHD to figure out the puzzles, but the action is still more entertaining than the original.

It’s nice to see a shooter with a fresh premise, which changes up the strategy you’ll use to get your best results.

While I applaud the extra missions, MSCS shadows their importance and lessened my affinity for this unreal coin-op title.

I think the old-school gameplay shines through in its new packaging. And for about a quarter of the price of a regular retail release, it’s still a good deal in a trying economy.

Even though some of it feels familiar, there's enough new here to keep you coming back for more.

Drawing from such a huge universe of content, Shattered Dimensions does a great job at doing something new for the comic genre. While the normal fights are familiar, the tailored feel of each level to each boss is a nice touch.