While Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWIIisn’t a flying revolution, it is a flying game on a system which is short on them, and one which should appeal to a larger demographic due to the historical license that Ubisoft exercised in its creation.

If you've played one button mashing Warriors game, you've played this one as well.

Though the game has some interesting features—including educational facts that relate to Chopin—the alternating running and combat gets tiresome.

It won’t blow your socks off in any one area (expect maybe for some of its online functionality), but it will keep you satisfied while progressing through the career mode. Pick this one up if you need a fresh tuner fix, stat, or if the idea of winning pink slips or betting on races via Live gets your glycol boiling.

The world of San Vanelona is incredibly detailed, with lots of graffiti and markings on every surface. You also get the feel for realistic skating action, as every move you make is tied in nicely with the audio and controller vibration, such as when you skate over a cobblestone street or a brick pedestrian crosswalk.

More precise skate speed control and a revised skill stick make NHL 08 an icy-hot dream.

Despite its age, Sonic 2’s gameplay holds up pretty well, with a lot of adversaries to avoid or dispatch.

Fatal Inertia isn’t a bad first foray into the racing genre for Koei. It’s got a good look, decent personalization and a unique arsenal that should keep players somewhat entertained.

While we certainly give 2K and Visual Concepts/Kush an “A” for effort with NHL 2K8, the bottom line score is a bit less. While NHL 2K8 still has the heart of a champion and features its rivals can’t touch, the competition has finally figured this video hockey thing out for the most part.

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.

SNK’s long line of fighting games are classics for a reason. With Fatal Fury Special pretty much being the benchmark of the early fighters (not to mention the harbinger for the modern-day 3D fighters) it’s no surprise that this game rocks.

Medal of Honor Airborne pushes at the boundaries a bit, but mainly stretches the franchise experience, not necessarily breaking new ground for the game industry as a whole.

No, it won’t be for everyone, but for the player who wants to jump into something different or who already knows the Super Puzzle Fighter gameplay and wants to enjoy it on the Xbox 360, this is a wonderful addition.

A solid battle system is flanked hour after hour by attention-grabbing cutscenes and cinematics. Fun to watch, fun to play.

A tough one to master, but progressively rewarding for those that stick to their guns.

Dynasty Warriors Gundam doesn’t stray too much from the classic DW formula, but for hack-and-slash fans, that may not be such a bad thing.

Tiger 08 gives you a ton to do, and offers lots of variety across these various events to reduce potential tedium—an effect that, unfortunately, really drags down the Skills Training section.

The simple fact of the matter is that the game has a lot of potential, but it’s ultimately critically wounded by poor gameplay design and one of the worst engines in recent memory.

Somewhat one dimensional, with gameplay that doesn’t inspire a lot of repeat play.

A game that will only appeal to a few people. These players will have to be dedicated to the task of figuring this thing out, like a grueling math problem or logic puzzle.

It's inventive and entertaining, with a number of twists and unexpected situations that'll have you on the edge of your seat...It's rare to find a game that has both quality in its engineering and quality in its gameplay.

Hexic 2’s addition of other pieces will make it a bit more playable, though Black Pearls are still going to be a challenge if you don’t already know how to get them. As well, the inclusion of Battle Mode adds a great platform for competitive gamers.

It was a tough game when it came out for the Genesis, and that hasn’t changed now. The 400 Microsoft Points (about $5) is a small price to pay for the title; the bigger cost is in the time, effort and patience you’ll need to devote to this one in order to wring every drop out of it.

While Madden NFL 08 certainly isn’t perfect, it’s damn near close. The on-field action is stellar, thanks largely to a buttery smooth framerate and one of the best animation systems seen in a sports game to date. You’ll stay busy with the Franchise and Superstar mode for a good deal of time, and the impeccable online netcode will ensure that you’ll have an excellent experience on Xbox Live.

Unlike some classics that have been ported to XBLA, Track & Field seems to retain much of what made it fun when it first came out. It’s a title that is one of simple-to-play-yet-hard-to-master concepts—and its party potential adds to its appeal.

It’s nicely constructed and attractive, but doesn’t provide compelling reasons to play it a lot either—unless you already own an Xbox 360 and know another Xbox 360 owner with which you’d like to compete in any or all of these games regularly.

Where the action of Doom’s XBLA debut sucked me back in, I didn’t have quite the same attraction to Marathon: Durandal, especially considering the stomach-churning byproducts of its “new and improved” look. It’s a good, smart shooter, but I don’t think it’s aged as well given its more deliberate pace.

All-in-all, Wing Commander Arena is what an Xbox Live Arcade game should be about- fast-paced pick-up-and-play action with a dash of depth. If you can live with being lost in space, and in only one plane of such a vast expanse, then download Wing Commander Arena post-haste.

It’s extremely challenging and demanding, so those looking for a more casual shooter might be best served going for another game. Additionally, the lightweight “enhanced” graphics and audio don’t bring the game as far into the next-gen era as some XBLA titles have done.

Fans of the franchise will enjoy the Car of Tomorrow action and the telemetry, but should proceed under the caution flag with the glut of training that is forced on the user.

It’s multiplayer Bomberman at its finest. With Bomberman Live! you don’t have to get a Wii to play some good, local multiplayer.

For its time, Yie Ar Kung-Fu was the hottest game in town and played like it too, other than its control issues. The Xbox Live enhancements to Konami’s original ROM once again make this classic coin op title worth its cheapy asking price, especially to those who respect the family tree of video gaming.

While this year's iteration fell just a bit short of greatness, we'll just have to wait to see if the game strikes the Heisman in during its junior year.

If you’re a fan of the original Golden Axe, this is definitely worth a download, as it’s essentially the exact same game you played in the arcade. The combat is just as basic, the magic looks just as bad-ass, and the end boss is still frustratingly tough.

It’s a lot of the same thing, with a load of space battles awaiting your arrival. It doesn’t take long for you to become frustrated and perhaps even bored by the repetitive action.

I wanted to like Missile Command more than I did. While it was fun to play again—and the 400 Microsoft Points price tag (about $5) is a small cost—it’s another case where a control pad isn’t the best input device.

This game is a bit confused about its identity. It’s not a great stealth game, action game or horror game for that matter.

I honestly didn’t know much about Carcassonne before I played it on XBLA, but the cozy format and computer control makes it a lot of unfettered fun. Sierra also promises that it’ll add some of the board game’s expansion as inexpensive downloads soon, which will extend the gameplay that much more.

Neither the combat nor the driving are fun, and the camera is one of the worst this reviewer has ever seen.

The concept is there in spades; it’s the execution that doesn’t go the distance.

The development team may have been a little too ambitious, as the game tries some new things, succeeding in some areas and falling just short in others. The presentation and visuals are absolutely top-notch, but the gameplay ultimately becomes a bit too repetitive and the multiplayer feels tacked-on.

Although the fielding needs some work, the hitting and pitching mechanics are excellent, as are the “big play” moments.

Technically unsound, with many glitches; some of them major. Playable characters with individualized skill sets is a cool concept. Multiplayer is, well, WWII multiplayer.

Despite its occasionally frustrating design and lackluster combat, the sheer size and detail of the game world make this a must-play for hardcore fans of the series.

This is a turn-based strategy game through and through, so fans of the genre will likely have a great time with Band of Bugs. However, if you don’t like the pacing or style of gameplay found in this type of game, your best bet is to avoid the game.

Brilliant physics, handling and damage engine are well utilized in this be-all,-end-all ode to four-wheel dirt racing.

The gameplay is about as basic as it gets, and while the super powers add a bit of fun, you’ll probably just end up using the same ones over and over.

It’s a solid piece of gaming history brought back to the fore by a publisher and developer with an eye for modern flair. It’s not overdeveloped or taken in such a different direction that it loses sight of the fun and appeal the original game offered.

Surprisingly, Tenchu Z comes off “chunky” in general; the antithesis of what a ninja game should feel like- sleek and efficient.

It’s got a solid storyline and plenty of racy language (although not quite on the level of “Deadwood”), and while the action isn’t groundbreaking, it’s enjoyable. That said, there are a number of places where the game just doesn’t deliver the goods, and we can’t help feeling like this could have just as easily been a last-gen title.

It’s nice to see a classic remade instead of simply repackaged, especially when a great deal of respect has been paid to the original game in the reconstruction.

If the game were quite a bit longer or featured more variety, we’d feel fine recommending it to all the kiddies out there, but as it is now we can’t help thinking that even a 6 year old would feel gypped.

For a small-byte Xbox Live Arcade title, Mad Tracks packs some serious horsepower under its hood. The single-player campaign and multiplayer areas are closer to what you would find in a standalone title, and the amount of event types and variance among them keeps Mad Tracks fresh, yet it’s still easy to pick-up-and-play in true party game fashion.

Dangerously addictive and loads of fun, Forza Motorsport 2 has what it takes under the hood to satisfy both car junkies and general gamers alike.

There's simply not enough meat here to keep the attention of fickle gamers, as the limited number of maps and gametypes will get old fast. Still, the game gets much more enjoyable the more you play, particularly if you have a solid supporting cast around you.

There’s just not enough here to warrant the price tag.

Though Xevious was a ground-breaking title when it was released 25 years ago, it’s a great example of how game designers of that era were trying out new things and new ways of challenging players. As such, spending a few Microsoft Points to pick up the XBLA version will give you a good look at what served as a revolutionary game in 1982—and to test your piloting mettle.

Anyone who was a fan of the coin-op original, who was letdown by the NES version, should be more than pleased with what has been carried over to Xbox Live Arcade.

It has impressive visuals and a likeable cast, but the combat and platforming felt like they were designed to appeal to 5 year olds, not exactly the perfect demographic for a game based on PG-13 movies.

For 800 Microsoft Points (or about $10), it’s a nice diversion when you need a change of pace. Just don’t expect a lot of bells and whistles, and you’ll have some fun if you play your cards right.

There’s no question that Aegis Wing is fun and challenging, but it would be a hard sell if it wasn’t a giveaway.

The core of the game is the undoubtedly the combat, and while there are a few wrinkles thrown in here and there, it’s still a perfect example of button-mashing gone wrong.

Double Dragon succeeds in delivering the same action as its NES predecessor, but it’s bogged down by its total lack of difficulty and the pitiful emulation job.

In C&C 3’s world of the future, you expect the units to be faster-moving craft that crackle, zoom and jet from spot to spot—they are and they do. That speed is part of what makes the game look great, but which causes headaches in the gameplay, because the AI foe doesn’t seem to have any problem throwing units at you. Meanwhile, you’ll be pulling triggers, moving sticks and pushing buttons at a much less-efficient rate...and therefore need to scramble more to keep up.

Spidey 3’s camera is horrible. You can’t look up and move at the same time, because, when you start to move, the camera wants to correct itself to show Spidey’s heading, which sometimes conflicts with what you need to see when you’re playing.

One of the best reasons for buying a game like Catan on XBLA—which comes with a cost of 800 Microsoft Points or about $10—is that you don’t have to know the rules and procedures that well.

The fact that there’s no online multiplayer support is a big downer too, with leaderboards representing its only online presence.

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.

I really enjoyed the time I spent with Pinball FX, because it does have a similar feel to other real tables.

The mini-games are a lot of fun, especially if you have a few friends around for some party-gaming action. Some of them are a bit frustrating.

The course design is the real highlight within 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures, with gameplay that will frustrate until you figure out every detail of each hole, something that will take longer than most would care to spend with a XBLA game.

It won’t likely suck you back in for repeat plays, like a "Geometry Wars" or even other old-school arcade games like "Joust" - and if you’re getting it for the 200 achievement points, you might be disappointed that you’ll have to really work for some of the milestones.

A visual treat; even more so than its immensely popular "Geometry Wars." The tweaked classic tracks may not be for everyone, but at least they tie into the gameplay, making Boom Boom Rocket a very unique offering in the ever-surprising lineup of Xbox Live Arcade games.

Best of all, it doesn’t look like a cheap throwaway title that you’ll play for a few minutes and never play again.

The Xbox 360 gets what’s probably the best party game ever, because GHII is compelling for anyone who’s into music, not just to hard-core gamers. It’s that rare title that doesn’t become boring with repeat plays. In fact, I played it so much the first day I had the game that the tips of two fret-flicking fingers went numb on me.

The platforming leaves a little to be desired, but the rest of the game is varied and challenging enough to keep you entertained.

While this expansion doesn’t really offer much in the way of new gameplay, it features some memorable quests and characters.

With a mixture of open-ended gameplay elements, more advanced controls, and a gripping story, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is the epitome of the side-scrolling genre.

The controls are responsive, but the A.I. needs a serious overhaul.

After the first few missions, you’ll have some strong challenge—and the need to reequip your mech to match the adversaries you’ll face. It just feels shallow, though, like there wasn’t much creativity poured into it.

Part of what is so incredibly endearing about this game is that it’s so technically abhorrent. You’ll feel like you’re playing something from Xbox Live Arcade, but the fun factor is where EDF 2017 makes the leap to a standalone title.

A lovely game engine featuring independent player and ball physics. Card game campaign mode jazzes up offline play.

The platforming action is pretty solid, but the combat quickly becomes mind-numbingly repetitive.

The gameplay is essentially the same as it has ever been, but instead of having only one game mode, there are a bunch of variants for you to meddle with. It’s good if you LOVE Tetris and can’t get enough, but newcomers shouldn’t expect to find a mode that straps certain powers onto different colored blocks.

To Ubisoft’s credit, they did as much as they really could have with the original content, and should be merited for the game’s feature set; especially the online four player co-op.

Ultimately, it’s Worms’ lack of features that is its downfall. There’s a semblance of a map editor, but there’s no real user control. Why can’t I place my own objects or shape my own terrain? Why do I have to let the computer do it? And why don’t I have access to weapons that past Worms installments have had?

In the end, Def Jam Icon is more like a bump-n-grind slow jam instead of the club banger that it should have been, but it still deserves merit.

The single-player campaign features a bunch of new gameplay mechanics, improved A.I., and some spiffed-up visuals, and while the multiplayer is largely the same, it’s still an absolute blast to play. Our only hope is that Ubisoft doesn’t decide to make this a yearly tradition.

It is really Dan Paladin’s creativity and skill as an artist that makes you want to continue on in Alien Hominid, not necessarily the gameplay.

There may be some presentational issues that need to be ironed out, and the quest mode feels like an unneeded addition, but for the most part Universe belongs among the dancing elite.

We gamers want to play and control the action, and that is, unfortunately, where the trouble with Bullet Witch lies.

A decent title, but it doesn’t offer the same visceral experience that gamers became enchanted with eight-plus titles ago. The "empires" portion adds replay and upgrades the hack-n-slash, but it’s tough to dig deep into those pockets and dole out money for a near carbon-copy artfully repackaged.

The pitching and batting mechanics are solid once again, and the fielding has been greatly improved.

But for every slight slip-up or apparent wrong in Crackdown, there’s a laundry list of perfection and general right that makes this title nearly impossible to put down - like some sort of digital crack.

The development team has added tons of excellent new features, from the new trick system to the improved Gamebreaker mechanic, without taking away any of the stuff that made the previous titles so great.

Aside from some iffy hit detection (2 pixels to the right of the front door won’t trigger a delivered paper at times), an RC car that’s relentless in its pursuit of your carrier (it’s pesky to say the least), and the omission of Paperboy’s Ditty from the soundtrack (j/k), Paperboy "delivers" as advertised in the classifieds.

It’s one of those games that you can show to people who were alive when the original was released, and it might be fun to toy around with for an hour or so, but that’s all the life you’ll get out of the game, even with the Xbox Live support thrown in.

Although there's a steep learning curve, you'll be having a grand old time once you get the hang of the controls. Hardcore strategy fans are in for a treat.