Billyheel

Even if the 360 port of Minecraft is lacking many things, it does not detract from the overall immersion and experience you get in Mojang's world. Cons: -The port did take away the "trial-and-error" crafting, in support of auto-crafting that the computer will do for you (if you have the necessary items). -The game world isn't as expansive on the 360 which means the depth and the overall earth the map encompasses is much smaller. -No character customization Pros: -Highly addictive gameplay that translates well from the PC version -Very pleasing graphics that are worked in a way to stimulate the senses -Absolutely chilling piano score -Day/Night cycles are handled very well -Combat is on-point -Multiplayer is fun and addictive and it compliments the overall experience I recommend this to anybody and everybody.

Disappointing, drab, dreary, repetitive. Just some of the adjectives that can be used to described 'Prototype 2.' In essence, P2 should have been called "Prototype 1.5" since there is no step forward in the sequel, and nothing that creates the sense of playing a new game. From the very start of the game, you realize that the presentation and gameplay in this game is an exact copy of the first game. The story will not surprise you and often you feel as if the writing was done by a teenager. It's sloppily written, designed and executed. The game does start to become tolerable near the end, but it's too little, too late. The gameplay is loose and often it doesn't feel like you have any control over your character in battles. Combine that with battles that are way too lopsided for the extent of your abilities; and you have a frustrating combat system that destroys the game. The few good things about P2, is the overall character progression and the ability to gain new moves throughout the game; but even these facets of the game have been done before and done better. It's not to say that Prototype 2 is horrendous, because it is not. The mindless, thoughtless combat that you will engage in is fairly entertaining; but starts to become uneventful and highly repetitive after a couple hours. The draw distance when flying above the city is terrible, and it often feels as if you are flying around in a gas chamber. The visuals are something to pass on as well, seeing as the graphics engine that P2 operates on is dated and it shows. Overall, P2 is a game that falls short of the original and fails to deliver on many fronts. Prototype 2 may be worth the purchase when it is in the bargain bin, but as a full retail release, it's not worth the price of admission. 4/10 Dismal

The previous score I had given this game was an 8: This game is uninspired, uneventful, and it feels like "we've done this before." Bad deja vu, a train wreck, and an embarrassing online service that feels stale. The single player campaign is the first in the Modern Warfare series that I didn't find interesting, not even in the slightest. The sound effects of the guns are too similar to each other and it feels as if the guns you shoot have no power to them whatsoever. The explosions are either over-the-top, or small and insignificant to the point that it looks and feels cheap. The A.I. is also terrible with either super-human killers or enemies that walk towards you, waiting for you to mow them down. The online service, what COD is known for, is not done well at all this time around. There is no advantage for doing well, the game doesn't reward you accordingly, and the entire community wants to cheat instead of play the game fair. The Spec Ops missions aren't as fun this time around, and they feel rushed. The graphics are touted as better, but this is not the case. The graphics seem to have a grainy filter over them, to give the effect of a "war-hardened" game. This game was rushed, and it shows. With the first two installations of the MW series warranting a 10 and 8 from me, respectively; this game falls very short of that. No longer fun, not creative, and not balanced; Modern Warfare 3 is one of the worst games I have played in a long time. Don't waste your time, money, or life on this game. Not worth the $60 price tag, and I wouldn't pay $20 for it. Terrible, terrible game.

'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim' is a game that only happens once every 10-15 years. Like 'Ocarina of Time' before it, Skyrim sets a new standard in video games and blurs the line of "Virtual-reality". From the onset, you have the ability to change anything and everything about your character (except height and weight). The game starts off like previous games in the Elder Scrolls series, with you taking the place of a nameless prisoner. From there, you choose: the race, sex, origin, and name of your character. Then, the story starts; and it never stops. The game is massive, and every side quest, miscellaneous quest, and main-story quest all have their unique dialog, story, and characters. The game also doesn't take any shortcuts on content. Almost every chest is filled with goodies to loot, every person has their own personality, every city has a unique layout, and their are no two vistas that share common form. Everything in this game is detailed, from the buildings and roads, to the people and mountains; everything has been giving some area of uniqueness. The game will also keep you busy for a while; with the main storyline lasting about 10-15 hours and side quests/misc quests lasting well over 100 hours. It is possible to beat Skyrim in 10 hours, but chances are you won't want to. I am 50+ hours into the game, and maybe 10% through the main storyline. The game is massive, expansive, and highly detailed; which leads to some of the few flaws in the game. The game, very rarely will chug when multiple enemies (5+) are all fighting on screen. The game will also render in front of you and texture pop also happens. But, keep in mind; I have only experienced these issues 3 times in 50 hours. 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim' is the ultimate game. A game for RPG fans, hack-n-slash fans, and action-adventure games; Skyrim is a game for everyone. And, like The Ocarina of Time before it, Skyrim is the best game this gen; and in my opinion, all-time.

Battlefield 3 proves to be a good FPS, but is it "Above and Beyond the Call?" Having no connection to its predecessor, Battlefield 3 manages to whip up a story and make it somewhat believable. A cliche storyline and spotty humor, Battlefield 3 puts together a jigsaw story and tries to make it stick. The characters are annoying, and this makes for an unimaginable and frustrating story that will turn off even the most diehard Battlefield fans. But, that's not what makes Battlefield is it? The multiplayer returns, following almost identically to Bad Company 2 in almost every facet. From the game modes, to the weapon sounds, this game does everything identical to BC2. The game does feel fresh though, upgraded with a new graphics engine and a new destruction engine. The game does impress in more than one way online, especially when it comes to the combat. The jets and tanks make a triumphant comeback and manages to be quite balanced for the online warfare. The destruction engine holds up well online, but not close to the standard that is in the single-player. At times, the game can feel unbalanced and spotty. The destruction engine seems to work at times, and refuses to work at others. The destruction engine also causes glitches and awkward deaths following combat. The game is good and it manages to stay fresh, even though the similarities with its predecessor being obvious. Not a bad game, and I would recommend it to anyone; especially the online. The single player is a pass for most players, and multiplayer is a dime; making for a solid 8 for an FPS.

Bigger and better is what Epic promised with the release of Gears of War 3, and they delivered on all fronts. The game has a great story, that does enough to draw you in; even with the inevitable ending to follow. The gameplay is tight, the best it's been in the trilogy and the game never makes you feel over-encumbered or slow. The gunplay is on point, with the sound, look and feel of every gun being unique and satisfying. The co-op campaign is done very well, with support for up to four players online and two locally. The multiplayer game modes are expertly varied, and horde mode returns with some tricks up its sleeve. The game is fulfilling, wholesome, and precise; and might also stand to be considered the best Xbox 360 exclusive to date. Gears of War 3 is one monster ****.

Arkham City is better than its predecessor in every way, and that says a lot. How is it better you ask? In Arkham City, there is more to do. Instead of just main story missions there are also side missions, collectibles, and Riddler Challenges that expand upon the Arkham Asylum's Riddler Trophies. The game also adds about twice as many of Batman's foes as the original did. Each character, also has their own unique storyline and are woven into the overarching storyline seamlessly. The story is also improved over the original's by staying more true to the comics, and less true to the freelance writing that was in Asylum. The gameplay has also had minor tweaks added that improve gameplay. A couple of those improvements are: the dive bomb (used to gain speed while gliding), using the grapnel in combat and in flight, and having more quick-use commands to use in the game. There are more gadgets that have made it into the game, and that is a welcome surprise. The game is better than the original in every way, and their are few games on the market that are better. Batman: Arkham City is one of the best games of all-time and it is the best Batman game ever made. A game for the ages!!

One of the most solid racing games to date, Forza 4 will make your jaw drop; whether from the gorgeous graphics or the tight gameplay. What doesn't Forza 4 do right? There is a hefty single player career mode that gives the user a ton of stuff to do, along with challenges inspired by Top Gear that are creative in their own right. The handling is on point, with your car feeling like it has weight to it and always feeling like you have full control over the way your car handles, looks, and behaves. If you drive hard into a turn, your car will react with a slide. The cars act and drive so realistic, it will actually feel like you are driving a full size car. The cars, vistas, and tracks look very good and realistic; although I did see a few flat trees and the tire barriers aren't the most realistic. But, those are just nitpicks and you will only see them if you try pretty hard. The online play is very smooth, and it holds up really well against lag and whatnot. The game spans tons of cars, and if you are a car aficionado; your favorite car is most likely in this game. I wouldn't give this game a solid 10, but rather more like a 9.4 or 9.5. It's hard to call Forza 4 the best driving game ever made, but it might be the best simulator ever made. Turn 10, really outdid themselves and it's a good feeling to know that they are going to keep making driving games.

Rage is great from the beginning, right when you put in the first disc. The vistas are gorgeous, but the graphics system likes to continuously shade and blending. This technical hiccup is easy to overlook, only because it doesn't take from the experience. The story starts off strong, but fizzles off quickly and is only a distant memory by the halfway mark in the game. The gameplay is very solid and it's very responsive. The gunplay and driving segments both work great, but the latter seems like it was tacked on. The game could use more enemy types, and the AI is laughable at times. The PRG elements that are entailed in the game are handled very well, and the inventory system never feels too crowded. Every item that can be used, traded, or dropped is nicely labeled for easy decision making. Rage may not be the strongest or best game this year, but what it does is give a very solid game that people can enjoy. Technical hiccups and quibbles aside, Rage is a very solid game released on the Xbox 360.

Dark Souls does what Demon's Souls meant to, two years ago; perfect the RPG experience. This game is phenomenal, taking everything from the previous game and making it bigger and better. The game is quite expansive, spanning large environments that are littered with enemies. "Prepare to Die" is the catchphrase for this game, and it lives up to that. You will die, and die a lot. But, there is a difference between dying in Dark Souls, and mostly every other game. In other games, when you die, it can be for various reasons: glitches, AI being overpowered and impossible to beat, etc. But, when you die in Dark Souls, it's because you made a mistake and you were punished. And, there is more than enough incentive to play through Dark Souls multiple times: i.e. multiple paths, collectibles, and alternative customization. Definitely a game for the hardcore, and an almost perfect game.