FatalDeathSG45

Another year, another Call of Duty title. The campaign's good as any, really, but the real deciding factor is multiplayer. Just like other CoD titles, you play different game modes, get XP and unlock weapons, camos, etc. Squads Mode offers offline players a chance to experience online play while unlocking new weapons and gear for their characters (which can also be used online). Customizing your characters' appearance and gender is finally an option, though it's not nearly as deep as, say, Halo 4. Extinciton's an interesting addition, tasking you and up to 3 other players to destroy alien hives while fighting off waves of aliens. Despite all of this, it's the exact same game engine we've been playing for nearly a decade, just with prettier graphics (especially if you're playing it on Xbox One or PS4). At the end of the day, this Call of Duty game is just like any other Call of Duty game: there are going to be people who like it, and there are going to be people who hate it. And from the looks of things, I don't expect that to change anytime soon. That said, it's still a decent game. Just don't expect it to re-invent the wheel.

Being only the second Headhunter pack for Borderlands 2, this is definitely my least favorite so far. It's barely the same length as Bloody Harvest, but with 3 missions instead of 2 (the 2 side missions will test your patience) and the expected boss fight and unlockable head. Despite that, this has less content than Bloody Harvest, with no hidden boss this time around, and of course no new loot. The setting isn't terribly interesting either (compared to Bloody Harvest, at least). If you absolutely MUST get all of the DLC for Borderlands 2, then by all means spend the $3. Everyone else shouldn't bother.

For the first Headhunter add-on for Borderlands 2, it's just what I expected. A neat-looking new location, 2 short missions and a boss whose head you can unlock for your character. And... that's pretty much it. There is also a hidden boss who doesn't drop anything spectacular (a bit disappointing given all the things you have to do to get him to spawn). No new achievements, either. But since it's only $3, you get what you pay for. Only die-hard Borderlands 2 fans should bother with this. Everyone else should save their $3 for something else.

Another free-to-play title to grace the XBOX 360. Unfortunately, it's not as good as I thought it would be. Combat's decent enough, and building up a roster of gladiators with different weapons and equipment is an interesting concept, but connection problems (it is a free-to-play title, after all) hurt this game in the long run. You'll be spending more time dealing with server maintenance than actually playing the game. Mediocre graphics, sub-par sounds and repetitive fights don't help matters. While Primus Fights offer perks, they do little to offset the repetitive fights, and weapon restrictions don't help either. And of course, the much-maligned microtransaction favor pay-to-win gear over simple cosmetic choices like in Defiance. If you're looking for a good (I use that term lightly) free-to-play game on the 360, go with Ascend: Hand of Kul. It may have its flaws, but they're not nearly as bad as this game's.

This was the free-to-play title I was most anticipating on the 360. In some ways, it does not let down; in some ways it kind of does. You take control of a Caos warrior and choose to worship one of 3 gods (Light, Dark and Void), each of who grants different powers, abilities, etc. As you play the game, you control territory for your god, acquire new armor and weapons, and level up your warrior. Racking up combos increases your Soul multiplier, whic increases the amount of Souls you can acquire. When you get to a certain level, you can "ascend" your character, allowing them to invade territory of other pllayers' worlds while also granting permanent upgrades for future warriors. You can also grant blessings and curses towards other players (provided that they're within your vicinity). While this game has some interesting ideas, it's not without its flaws. Being as it's a free-to-play title like Happy Wars or World Series of Poker: Full House Pro, it takes a long time to load up, and there are some connection problems to deal with. Combat is also not to my liking. The lack of an evade or a lock-on feature makes combat against large groups of enemies and building up your multiplier very difficult. Another thing I dislike is how quickly your equipment can degrade. With the Souls (the game's currency) you grind from enemies (which becomes a chore), that will barely be enough to repair your equipment, let alone buy new gear. To make combat even harder, enemy attacks almost always knock you back, leaving you vulnerable to attack. And of course, free-to-play games are dreaded by microtransactions, and this game is no exception. As mentioned before, the Souls you grind normally are barely enough to repair damaged equipment, let alone buy new gear. So if you want high-end gear, you pretty much HAVE to fork over real-world money to get it. This game has potential, but it needs a lot of work if it's going to stand up to better paid RPGs like Diablo III and Dark Souls.

This was unexpected for an expansion pack, if you could call it that. Not only is it an XBLA title, but other than the game engine and mechanics, this shares little in common with the base game. With it's satire of 80s pop culture, crazy enemies and animals, and synth soundtrack (provided by Power Glove), you'd think this is a completely different game. Everything that made the original Far Cry 3 a great game (unlockable weapons and upgrades, exotic wildlife, wide open world, etc.) are present here, mixed with pop culture references, 80s sci-fi flair and cheesy one-liners by Kyle Reese himself, Michael Beihn. Of course, being an XBLA game, it's fairly short and really easy compared to the original game. NO multiplayer either, but given how unspectacular the original's was, that's probably for the best. A pretty fun and funny take on Far Cry 3, and a recommended download.

This is easily one of the best 2012 first-person shooters I've played. Exploring a large island while undertaking different missions and activities spells hours of fun. Unlocking weapons, getting upgrades, expanding territory and exploring the island leads to a lot of replayability. It's no slouch in the graphics department. While it's not the best-looking game on the 360, it's pretty close. The only downsides are the multiplayer and co-op, both of which aren't very spectacular (and don't justify an extra $10 if you buy the game used). Regardless, this is an amazing game that first-person shooter fans of every stripe should try.

I was not aware of this game until now, much less that it was free. In some ways, it does not let down. In some ways, it kinda does. It your basic poker game that you can play online and use earned chips or gold to purchase new decks, table designs, chairs and even chip stacks. However, the online play is lacking, with a lot of lag. Long load times don't help much either. But because I like poker, I still enjoy it. The overall amount of enjoyment you'll get from this game depends on what you're into. If you like poker, check this out (it's free, after all). If you don't like poker, then steer clear.

It's been 13 long years since Blizzard's last console offering (StarCraft 64 on the Nintendo 64 back in 2000)... but it was worth the wait. Diablo III not only translates well to consoles, but actually improves over the PC version. The lack of an always-online connection meant you can play the game offline. The point-and-click PC controls are replaced with fluid console controls (though the right-stick being evade instead of camera control is odd, for me at least). The rest of the game shines: addictive RPG gameplay, various monsters to fight, lots of loot to collect and tons of replayability. Gather 3 more players and you're in for a fun time that's second only to Borderlands. It can get difficult at parts, especially if you play solo. But this is the definitive version of Diablo III. Blizzard's return to consoles has shined in more ways than one.

A classic from the Sega Dreamcast, Quake Arena translates very well on the 360. All of the characters, levels and weapons are intact. Slightly-improved graphics and faster gameplay round out this update. However, compared to other online shooters this game hasn't aged well and can feel a little clunky at times (especially considering that the "aim down sights" button in other games is the "jump" button in this game). And of course, being as this is an multiplayer game, the single-player "campaign" feels tacked-on, merely serving as a warm-up for playing against human players. Despite this, there's no denying the nostalgia and charm Quake Arena Arcade gives.

I found this game to be pretty enjoyable. It looks and controls well, the story's pretty deep and the gunplay's pretty fluid for a third-person shooter. The main draw for me is the weapons customization, which is the deepest I've ever seen in a video game. It's even better than Army of Two's weapon customization; everything from the magazines and stocks to the gas systems and triggers can be customized to make your own killing tool. Guerilla Mode is Ghost Recon's take on Gears of War's Horde mode, tasking you to take on waves of enemies. A few gripes, however. The game's too easy at parts and the AI is predictable. And while past Ghost Recon games relied on tactics to complete missions in one piece, in this game it's all about hunkering down and shooting anything that moves. Also, an online pass is required to play the game online, and I absolutely hate when games do that. This game may detract from the tactical roots of its predecessors, but just because it isn't a tactical shooter doesn't mean it's terrible. It's a pretty good game if you find it cheap. Just keep in mind of that infernal online pass...

Blacklight: Tango Down's main draw is the customizable weapons, which would be pretty awesome... if any of the attachments amounted to anything. Other than that, it's a fairly basic online FPS with clichéd story, ranks, level unlocks, different game modes, some varied (but boring) maps, and a single-player mode that nobody cares about. There are far better FPS games on the 360, but there are far worse, too.

I'm actually a bit surprised as to how this game turned out. An MMO on consoles (and PC) with a tie-tin TV show? How can you go wrong? Well, Trion Worlds figured that out. The game is pretty good when it works: multiple players taking on missions and Arkfalls, lots of weapons and loot to collect (kind of like Borderlands), leveling up and unlocking different skills, and a persistent world whose events are influenced by the show and vice versa. You can choose between four EGO powers wit hdifferent upgrades, and you can complete challenges to get access to exclusive gear. However, since this is an MMO, you can expect a lot of slowdown (especially on consoles) and some weird bugs. The game's constantly being updated to add stuff and fix bugs which would be pretty good... if the updates didn't take forever to download. And as with any MMO, there are microtransactions which range from XP boosts to cosmetic gear. All in all, this game is proof that MMOs CAN work on consoles... it's just that some more polish is needed if this game is going to contend with the likes of World of Warcraft.

Of the Borderlands 2 expansions released so far, this is my least favorite of the batch. While the new locations and enemies look amazing, the main villain lacks any character (especially compared to other villains in the main game) and the bonus weapons aren't as great. A few weak quests don't help matters. However, the 2 hidden raid bosses should challenge all but the best Vault Hunters out there. Seeing as it's one of the 4 Season Pass DLC packs, you get what you paid for. I just wished what I paid for was better than this.

Having been a fan of the 1st game and its DLC (save for Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot), I had high anticipations for the 2nd entry. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. The four new Vault Hunters (six if you include the 2 DLC characters) each have different abilities and skills, making each playthrough feel different. If there's one complaint I have with the first game, it's that the weapons all appear the same. Not in this game. Each of the 8 gun manufacturers have different shapes and designs for their guns, and the millions of guns in this game all look and feel different. You'll rarely see the same gun twice. Enemy variety is varied in the first Borderlands and even more so in this version, with a lot of returning enemies as well as several new varieties, each with different weaknesses and attacks. There's also an even wider variety of missions to undergo, everything from fetch quests to bizarre requests. But where this game really shines is in 4-player co-op. Like the first game, the game gets harder with more players, but hte loot enemies drop is much better. Everything is improved over the original, which was already a success. However, the DLC has been sub-par at best. But that hardly puts a dent in the overall enjoyment you'll get from this game. Any FPS or RPG fan will enjoy this game.

Let's get this out of the way: The main reason I bought this map pack was the bonus multiplayer weapon- a first in Call of Duty DLC- the Peacekeeper SMG. It has become one of the more popular weapons in Black Ops II with its accuracy and decent power (compared to other SMGs, at least). The maps themselves aren't too bad either. Grind is the standout of this pack, taking place in a skate park. The other maps aren't too bad, though Downhill is my least favorite. Die Rise, the included Zombies map, is pretty decent as well. Though the maps are decent, no doubt people bought this for the Peacekeeper, which I'm not surprised.

This map pack is pretty good in my opinion. A re-imagined Firing Range in the form of Studio is definitely the standout of this map pack. Verigo, Encore and Magma are pretty decent as well. But no doubt the real reason people like this is Mob of the Dead, with a few interesting twists to the Zombies gameplay. While I don't like this map pack as much as Revolution (Lack of a new multiplayer weapon, perhaps?), it's still a pretty good map pack to get. Come for the multiplayer, stay for the Zombies.

Of the 3 map packs I've played for Black Ops II (this review was made before Apocalypse), this one is my least favorite, but it's not terrible. Of the 4 multiplayer maps, Uplink is definitely a good map, considering it's a remake of the popular Black Ops 1 map Summit. Rush is my personal favorite, taking place on a paintball course (What's next? A theme park?). The other 2 maps, Cove and Detour, aren't terribly special in my opinion. And then there's the new Zombies map, Buried. No doubt people will be looking for the Easter Eggs (as they always do) while I'm blasting away at zombies with a few new toys. Overall, not my favorite map pack in Black Ops II, but it's decent nonetheless.

As a fan of pinball, I knew what to expect from a game called Pinball FX 2. Dozens of pinball tables, all original creations by Zen Studios, offer something completely different on every table. Every table has different layouts, different scoring systems, different bonuses and different achievements. There are even tables based on Marvel, Star Wars, Plants vs. Zombies and others. You can also compare your scores to friends and other players, and even participate in tournaments. Not every table is a winner, however. But with such a large variety of tables to buy, pinball fanatics of every stripe should download this game and see what it has to offer.

This is in my opinion THE racing game for the Xbox 360. It seems every iteration of Forza Motorsport gets better and better, while keeping the core gameplay intact. The graphics are the best I've seen in this series yet, the controls are as fluid as ever, and the selection of cars and race tracks is mind-boggling. Difficulty adjustments can be tailored to your skill level, and depending on how you set it you can more or fewer credits when you play, which are then used to buy upgrades for your cars and of course new cars. You can also go to auctions to buy cars from other gamers, as well as buy tuning set-ups, decals and paint jobs. Online play could do with some balancing, though. Being pitted against the fastest cars every time is just unfair. Other than that, this is one of the best racing games I've played and, without a doubt, the best racing game on the 360 in my honest opinion.

A fairly interesting mix of first-person shooter gameplay and tower defense. Like any other tower defense game, you place various towers (gun towers, cannons, etc.) around a playfield, placing them to both defend the core and form a path for enemies to go through (making that path longer and harder to traverse is key). Class-based gameplay is integrated as well, with four different classes with different weapons and abilities, and unlockable perks add a little more variety in combat. Feats of Strength add more challenge, by increasing enemy health or movement speed, rewarding bonus XP if you're successful. Enemy variety is decent as well, everything from basic run-on-the-mill grunts to enemies that can take a lot of damage before falling. However, the game isn't perfect. Another game designed to be played with more than one person, as playing solo is an uphill battle. Level glitches also plague this game, as do somewhat bland visuals. Aside from that, this is an interesting take on the tower defense genre. Those who like first-person shooter and/or tower defense game should definitely give this game a try.

This is a pretty decent compilation of 2 RPG-style beat-em-ups (D&D: Tower of Doom and D&D: Shadows Over Mystara) that have never graced North American consoles until now. Shadows Over Mystara is the better of the 2 games, with more balanced gameplay and more characters. Both games are traditional beat-em-ups with RPG elements such as a loot system, shops, leveling up and branching story paths. However, both games are clearly designed for multiplayer, as playing solo can be a real challenge (especially in Tower of Doom). All in all, this is a pretty good couple of beat-em-ups. Just bring some friends along for the ride.

I don't expect much from a free game. The plot's very basic, the controls are what you'd expect from a horizontal shoot-em-up, and there are a few features that are interesting (you have a health bar, power-ups have limited use, etc.). However, everything else about this game reminds you that this IS a free game. The backgrounds are uninteresting, the enemies are your basic fly-in-formation enemies, music's nothing special and it's fairly short (as to be expected from shooters of this type). For a free game, it's decent, but there are far better shooters on XBLA. Only die-hard shoot-em-up fans should bother with this game.

This is a very ambitious zombie apocalypse game. You have a large open world (for an XBLA game, at least) to explore. Scavenging for supplies, finding other survivors and upgrading your home base with storage, training areas, etc. are the main draws of this game. Melee combat is made intense with stamina, as attacking or running for too long will develop fatigue, slowing you down and leaving you vulnerable. Using guns is risky too as it not only consumes ammo (which isn't too plentiful) but it makes noise, which attracts zombies.Permanent death also adds intensity to the game, because once a survivor is dead, they're dead. With all of these interesting caveats, there are a few problems, mainly mediocre visuals and some weird glitches. But those don't detract from the point of the game: surviving the zombie apocalypse.

Let me get this out of the way: I love Doom. It was one of the games I grew up with, and I still play it to this day. When I heard they were releasing a remastered version of Doom 3 and its expansion Resurrection of Evil, as well as a brand new expansion (The Lost Mission) and the 2 classic Doom XBLA offerings, I simply couldn't resist. Aside from the slightly upgraded visuals and a few additions, it is largely the same Doom 3 I played on the first Xbox in 2005 (I've never played the PC version). I'm interested to see what The Lost Mission has to offer, and I already know how the classic Doom games are like. In all, an amazing package. While it may not be as good as The Orange Box, it's still a great deal, seeing as you're getting 3 awesome games and 2 expansion packs. Now if only they would announce Doom 4...

I've always admired Cave shooters. They practically invented the "bullet hell" variety of shoot-em-ups, where you're dodging literally hundred or thousands of bullets. This game is no different. 3 different planes to choose from, beautiful 2D visuals, and intense shooting gameplay with challenging bosses await those who play this game. A few innovative features like a Phantom (which is used for defense and attack) collecting numerous score items (a staple in Cave shooters) add a little variety to the fold. However, like most shoot-em-ups the game goes by pretty quickly, and it's not for the weak-willed. As mentioned you'll be dodging literally thousands of bullets and projectiles at times, leaving little margin for error. If you like shoot-em-ups, definitely give this game a go. If you don't like these kind of games, this won't change your mind on them.

I'll admit, I wasn't expecting much from this game. But after playing it, it's mindless, but in a good way. Shooting dozens of giant ants, spiders, robots, etc. with all manner of machineguns and rocket launchers has been pretty fun, with added replayability in the form of unlockable weapons and health upgrades. Of course, the budget-look shows in repetitive environments and character models and bland visuals. Vehicles aren't much useful either, not providing much in protection or firepower. You might as well fight on foot. At the end of the day, it's just mindless shooting fun... and that alone is good enough for me.

I've played a lot of first-person shooters. I've played some good FPS games and some bad FPS games. But this game... this one may take the cake for the worst FPS game ever. I'm pretty sure if the real Richard Marcinko (the protagonist of this game) saw this, he would hang his head in shame and disbelief. The story is boring, the graphics are horrid, the controls are awkward for an FPS, and the A.I. is among the worst I've seen. And if that's not enough, the game goes way too overboard with the foul language. Did Marcinko swear this much in real life? Even the startup screen has the nerve to call you a for playing on easy. The only things this game have going for it is Mickey Rourke providing the voice of Marcinko and a few cool stealth kills. Other than that, this game is among the worst FPS games I've ever played. Even Soldier of Fortune: Payback was better than this... and that's not a good game, either.

In a way, this game was special. It had a lot going for it: a civil war on an oceanic floating city, customizable weapons, class-based gameplay and the SMART movement system. However, after playing it for a few hours, my expectations were diminished. All the attachments in the world won't cover the fact that your guns are very weak, sometimes taking an entire magazine to kill one enemy. Then there's the A.I. This game is clearly designed to be played with human players, because your A.I. partners are dumber than a bag of bags, ignoring objectives, standing still being bullet magnets and only coming to your aid when they feel like it. Meanwhile, the enemy A.I. seems to fire magic homing bullets, because you'll get hit almost every time. And there's the gameplay itself. Every match seems to lean more towards the defending team rather than the attacking team. Between that and your dumb A.I. partners, this game is virtually unplayable offline. Again, this game is designed to be played against other humans, and even then it's not that great. This game is such a disappointment. If they make a new Brink, I'm not going to buy it unless it's really, really good.

Having played and loved the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot, my expectations were already high for Injustice. Though I had mixed feelings about Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, I was still hopeful for Injustice. I was not disappointed. Having some of DC Comics' heroes and villains fighting each other has never been so much fun. The graphics are on par with the MK reboot, and the selection of characters are diverse. The controls are among the best I've encountered in a fighting game. Special moves and combos are easy to pull off and each character's super move is satisfying, though it would be nice if they had more than one. The story's really engaging, and there's plenty of content to unlock, everything from costumes to concept art. STAR Labs add different challenges akin to MK's Challenge Tower. Even arcade mode has variety with different ladders that do everything from limit super moves to have you fight the entire fighting roster with one life bar. In all, Injustice is one of the best fighting games I've played in this generation. Then again, I expected no less from the people who brought us Mortal Kombat.

If someone gives you a copy of Two Worlds, consider it your moral obligation to destroy it. The game's so broken that it's unplayable. The controls are awkward, even for an RPG, and the graphics are barely better than an original Xbox game. The story's uninteresting, the environments are uninspired, and the game's more buggy than a swamp. And if that's not enough, here's the kicker: the voice-acting is GOD-awful, and there's a reason why. Reality Pump, the game's developer, didn't hire professional voice actors for the game; they used members of their own development team. That alone proves just how little thought went into this game. In short, playing this game is inconsequential, especially given the sheer number of far superior RPGs on the 360.