Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer		Grade: B-
	Publisher: 2K Games (2007) Reviewed: 2007/7/25 Rating: Teen (fantasy violence)

Despite an agonizing first stage that never seems to end, Rise of the Silver Surfer ultimately proves itself to be a well-constructed superhero title. A few stages take place in boring caves, but the battles in New York City and an old Russia Space station (infested by apes no less) are far more compelling. Playing Fantastic 4 is mainly about beating up gang after gang of aliens or apes, and the action would be awfully repetitive if not for the amazing number of attack options, including potent "team up" moves. The Invisible Woman and Human Torch can create bombs together, and the Thing can whip Mr. Fantastic around to clear out nearly enemies. The puzzles provide a nice break from the mayhem, and these are usually solved using the special ability of one particular hero. Fantastic 4's control scheme is tailor-made for the Xbox 360 controller. The face buttons are used for basic functions, but holding the right trigger toggles them into special moves, and the left trigger enables your team moves. Icons on the screen mirror the button configuration and indicate exactly what powers are available. I enjoyed playing the game solo, but the multiplayer fun was offset by a problematic camera that made it tough to keep the heroes in view. Fantastic 4's graphics are about average, and the sound effects suffer from uneven volume. This Xbox 360 edition is almost identical to its Playstation 3 cousin, except you don't have the motion control during the flight stages, but you do rumble feedback. In the scheme of things, Rise of the Silver Surfer is a good, all-around superhero game, if you're into that type of thing. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Far Cry Instincts Predator		Grade: D
	Publisher: Ubisoft (2006) Reviewed: 2007/7/25 Rating: Mature (blood, drug reference, intense violence, strong language, suggestive themes)

Last summer I had a lot of fun playing Far Cry Instincts on my Xbox, and I was expecting more great first-person jungle-shooting with this new 360 edition. Billed as "two games in one", Predator includes an "enhanced" Far Cry Instincts and a brand new story called Evolution. Naturally I was ready to dive right into Evolution, until I discovered this mode is locked until you beat Instincts! What kind of BS is that? Having paid full price for the game, the idea of having the "new" content locked from the outset is insane! That should be worth at least a letter grade. I dug up a cheat code ("GiveMeItAll") to unlock Evolution, but my troubles were just beginning. The graphics are obviously sharper than the Xbox game, but not noticeably more detailed. The cut-scenes are certainly not up to 360 standards, and the women look like transvestites. Yes the islands are gorgeous tropical paradises, but they were on the Xbox too! As I began playing the game I noticed that something didn't seem quite right, and soon realized that I couldn't freakin' aim with any precision! Thinking my controller might be low on batteries, I tried another, but the results were the same. The crosshair movement is erratic, and once the action heats up, the jerky controls degrade even more! Attempting to aim from a moving a jeep or a jet ski is an absolute joke. Ubisoft obviously didn't do a very good job porting this game. Evolution offers a few new minor elements like the ability to detonate pipe bombs or consume special plants to power up your adrenaline gauge, but it still feels like the same game. The overall structure is less linear, but the added freedom makes it harder to locate objectives. There are frequent framerate hiccups, and once I even found myself stuck in the scenery! The only thing that saves Predator is the four-player split-screen mode, which is far more respectable than the story modes. I like how the numerous maps are rated by "number of players" so you don't need to worry about selecting a location that's too big or too small. Still, Far Cry Instincts Predator is clearly a case of a developer "mailing it in", and fans of the Xbox game will not be amused. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Fight Night Round 3		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Electronic Arts (2006) Reviewed: 2006/4/14 Rating: Teen (blood, mild language, suggestive themes)

If a single game embodies the raw power of the new generation of consoles, it's Fight Night 3. At first glance, this could be mistaken for an actual televised event. The sweaty fighters look incredibly realistic (especially up close) and their movements appear smooth and natural. Wait until you see the close-up, slow-motion replays of a boxer's face becoming grotesquely contorted as he's "crunched" with a devastating right hook. Heck, it hurts just to watch it (is that a blood worm that just flew out of his mouth?). Fight Night Round 3 maintains an unprecedented level of realism without sacrificing the raw energy and fun of the sport. You can throw jabs, hooks, uppercuts, and even specialty punches. Most are initiated with intuitive sweeping motions of the right thumbstick, and the ensuing lag time depends on how tired your fighter is. Being proficient at this game will require employing proper boxing techniques. Punches must be varied and strategically mixed with blocks and dodges to keep you opponent off-balance. Simply whaling away with reckless abandon will leave you tired and wide open for counters. As the fight progresses, sweat flies, bruises form, and blood runs down faces. Initially I was perplexed by the lack of screen indicators (like a clock), but my buddy Scott pointed out that this just adds to the realism. EA got so many things right with Fight Night 3. You get a whole slew of recognizable fighters from all weight classes, including Mohammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Roberto Duran, and Sugar Ray Leonard. The load times are substantial, but the hip-hop background music is outstanding - some of the best I've heard. Each round is introduced by a shapely bikini-clad babe, but as my friend Jonathan noted, these girls could really use a sandwich (too skinny). The announcers sound professional enough, but at times their commentary is so far off base that you'll wonder if they're watching the same match. In the addictive Career mode, you can create your own boxer and gradually work him through the ranks. It's amazing how you can customize every minute detail of your fighter, right down to the contours of his face. Some of the more tedious aspects of the game have also been addressed with the handy auto-training and auto-healing options. Playing solo is fun, but there's nothing better than slugging it out with a buddy in the versus mode. Fight Night Round 3 is perfect for applying a profanity-laden beat-down to a close friend, so let the trash talking commence. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Full Auto		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Sega (2006) Reviewed: 2006/5/7 Rating: Teen (violence)

Full Auto combines the power sliding of Project Gotham, the breakneck speed of Burnout, and the brutal weaponry of Twisted Metal to unleash an unprecedented degree of destruction and mayhem. You have to wonder why nobody thought of this before. What could be more satisfying than blowing up the leader of the pack just before he can reach the finish line? I love Full Auto's bright, arcade-style graphics, which exude a certain Crazy Taxi flavor. The detailed city streets are lined with phone booths, trees, outdoor cafes, and other obstacles you can plow right through without even slowing down. Practically everything is destructible, including storefronts, fences, telephone poles, dumpsters, and monuments. Massive explosions and excessive flying debris make it all the more satisfying. The first time any of my friends play this, they can't help but laugh out loud at all of the gratuitous destruction. The wrecks are awesome, and occasionally your car will hit a ramp and go soaring through the air. Each vehicle is equipped with a pair of weapons - one mounted on front and the other in the back. These include machine guns, missile launchers, mines, smoke screens, and grenade launchers. A rearview mirror makes it easy to keep an eye on opponents, and you can even aim at cars on the side by targeting with the right thumbstick and pushing it in to fire. But what really pushes Full Auto over the top is its novel "unwreck" feature. By holding in the upper right shoulder button, you can "rewind" the last few seconds of the game, effectively allowing you to turn back time and correct any ill-advised maneuvers on your part (like running into a wall). Once you get spoiled by this feature, you'll wish it were in every racer. As in Burnout, vehicles are also equipped with a exhilarating turbo boost, and green arrows are used to guide you around town. The scenery is fairly spectacular, especially close to the water's edge. But while the downtown areas shine, the mountainous tracks look very fake. The two-player split screen mode does a respectable job of maintaining the frame-rate and providing a clear view of the road ahead. It even includes CPU-controlled opponents! Despite its winning formula however, Full Auto does take a while to get up to speed. The tutorial takes forever to complete, and you have to invest a heck of a lot of time in the career mode to unlock the weapons. The computer AI seems cheap at times, with CPU racers that tend to bunch up and take advantage of hidden shortcuts. You'll also need to contend with a heck of a lot of load screens. The more I played Full Auto, however, the more I liked it. Its brand of nonstop action and mindless destruction is hard to quit. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Gears of War		Grade: A
	Publisher: Microsoft (2006) Reviewed: 2007/1/28 Rating: Mature 17+ (blood and gore, intense violence, strong language)

Hyped for well over a year, this kick-ass combat game really does live up to its lofty expectations. Gears of War is a brilliant combination of first-person and third-person shooting action, making optimal use of each point of view. The game's use of "taking cover" is ingenious. The third person viewpoint not only lets you easily duck behind protective barriers, but also lets you move quickly and effortlessly between different sources of cover. While taking cover, you can hold in the left trigger to aim you weapon without fully exposing yourself to enemy fire. In this position you have a first-person view, allowing you to aim with utmost precision. The well-designed campaigns let one or two players guide war-hardened soldiers through beast-infested, war-torn urban environments. The majestic ruins are stunning, and the battlefields are strewn with barriers to take cover behind. Gears of War is probably the best-looking game ever made, and even my PC-gaming friends can't argue with that. The visuals are rendered with gritty gray textures and the lighting effects are outstanding. The restrained use of color not only adds to the realism, but makes the spattering crimson blood all the more dramatic. All of the weapons pack substantial firepower, and that's good because the bad guys can absorb a lot of bullets. The splattering of blood makes it easy to tell when you've hit your mark, and some guns conveniently double as chainsaws (for when you want to get up close and personal). Before tossing a grenade, handy wire-frame graphics show its path, making it easy to adjust and play the angles. And wait until you witness the "hammer of dawn" - a gun that lets you direct a devastating particle beam from a satellite! Gears is similar to Halo in how it lets you recover health by laying low for a while. But even should you lose consciousness, your partner can resuscitate you, adding to the sense of teamwork. Gears of War is totally engrossing, and my friends often mention how "they could play this thing all night". The only aspect that really bothered me about the game is its dumb save system (the worst since Dead Rising) which only lets you to save one campaign per user profile. Since I'm playing through the game with multiple friends, I've had to create several user profiles as a work-around, and they're a pain to keep straight. A lesser gripe is that since everything's rendered in shades of gray, it can be tough to tell friend from foe in the heat of battle. Also, there's really no tutorial, so you need to pick up things on your own. Otherwise I love Gears of War. It raises the high water mark for combat games with its exceptional polish and innovative gameplay. It's kind of hard to imagine how Microsoft could even improve on this thing. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Halo 3		Grade: A
	Publisher: Microsoft (2007) Reviewed: 2008/1/17 Rating: Mature (blood and gore, mild language, violence)

Halo 3 is exactly what I expected it to be - nothing more, nothing less. The Halo series has always offered top-quality first-person shooting action, and this third edition continues that tradition. Although certainly up to snuff graphics-wise, it doesn't rock the boat much with regard to gameplay. Playing Halo 3 is a lot like playing Halo 2, but there's more of everything. The exciting campaign mode (played solo or cooperative) is briskly paced with frequent checkpoints and dramatic cut-scenes that typically run for several minutes. Some feature a hideous alien named Truth who has testicles hanging from his earlobes! That is not a good look for him! When playing the split-screen co-op mode, the second player assumes the role of the Arbiter, who unfortunately looks like every other freakin' alien in the game! I must have fired my rocket launcher directly into my friend Scott's face from point blank range about five times before realizing he was my partner! My bad! The campaign has a surprising amount of backtracking, but at least the environments are more diverse than previous Halos, from lush jungles to bright beaches to snowy wastelands. Halo 3's controls are right on the money, providing precision aiming and excellent maneuverability. One new feature is your ability to deploy "equipment" such as bubble shields, cloaking devices, and trip mines. Personally, I'm not convinced these things were worth complicating the user interface for. The weapons are well balanced, with the possible exception of the amazing new "war hammer", which makes the energy sword look like a Wiffle Ball bat by comparison. Some enemies now wear armor that can be blasted off. Halo 3 conveys an amazing sense of scale, especially when it comes to confrontations with the immense, spider-like "Scarabs". One minute you'll be firing at one of these mechanical beasts from high in the sky, and the next minute you're on the ground trying to infiltrate its outer shell. Halo 3's fantastic musical score melds seamlessly with the action, although my friend Scott did mention that one bit of music sounded like the intro to Kim Wilde's "Keep Me Hangin' On". After that, five minutes couldn't go by without one of us belting out some cheesy lyrics ("why don't cha be a man about it…"). Halo 3 is as polished as they come, and its endlessly configurable multiplayer modes provide unlimited replay value. The franchise has always been known for its superior on-line play, but the split-screen action is also terrific - especially on a high-definition television. If I had to complain, I might mention the seriously long load screens and the confusing "semi-automatic" save system which is never sufficiently explained. There's nothing revolutionary about this game, but when you have a proven winner on your hands, you don't want to mess around with the basic formula too much. The first time I showed Halo 3 to my friend Steve and asked what he thought about it, all he could say was, "I think I need to get a [expletive] 360." © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Kameo		Grade: C
	Publisher: Microsoft (2005) Reviewed: 2007/2/25 Rating: Teen (animated blood, violence)

It has a loyal base of fans, but I found Kameo to be about average in terms of action-adventures. The first stage is a "trial by fire" of sorts, as you're tossed into burning castle against an army of trolls. Kameo is a hottie elf decked out in a green mini-skirt, but by fiddling with the controls you can switch between her various "elemental forms", each of which offers its own set of powers. You can transform into a Venus Flytrap with a killer uppercut, a rolling boulder, a climbing yeti, or a fire-breathing dragon, just to name a few. That's the whole gimmick behind Kameo, and it's not a bad one. The main (A/B/X/Y) buttons are used to toggle your form, and the trigger buttons let you perform attacks and special moves. Kameo's graphics are surprisingly good - far better than the "demo stage" I tried out at the local Best Buy. At the center of the game is an enchanted kingdom that's so amazing to behold all I could do was stare in awe. The rolling green meadows, transparent waterfalls, and ornately crafted purple bridges look like something out of a dream. The forest, caves, and towns that make up most of the stages aren't nearly as detailed, but the scenery is always clean and well defined. Likewise, the various elemental forms you assume come to life with character and imagination. The dragon "Ash" looks especially impressive, and the way the light reflects off of his scales is amazing. Kameo also features a superb orchestrated musical score that makes the game feel more epic than it is. The gameplay involves fighting monsters and solving puzzles using combinations of your elemental abilities. You'll use the plant to burrow under gates, the boulder to roll over ramps, and the dragon to light torches. Sometimes you need to employ the talents of multiple elementals in rapid succession, and this can be problematic because the game doesn't always let you to switch quickly. Another issue is the trigger controls. Using one or the other is no problem, but it's sometimes hard to execute moves that require pulling both triggers at once - especially in the heat of battle. When trying to execute Kameo's jump-kick, I often inadvertently caused her to jump (right trigger) or hover (left trigger) instead, which was frustrating. The camerawork is decent overall, but I found it to be absolutely abysmal during the "shadow demon" battles, where the "negative exposure" visuals make it tough to tell what's going on in the first place. In general however, Kameo is pretty easy to play, and you can always consult a "Wotnot" talking book for advice by pressing the Start button. A two-player split-screen mode is also available. Kameo has nice production values and is well constructed, but I found its gameplay to be very predictable and not particularly memorable. As a bargain-priced title however, you might just find Kameo worth your while. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

King Kong		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Ubisoft (2005) Reviewed: 2006/4/2 Rating: Teen (blood, violence)

No other epic adventure blurs the line between video game and cinema like King Kong. The visuals are truly cutting-edge, with zero pixelation, a consistently smooth frame-rate, and incredible animation. From Kong's shiny fur coat to Naomi Watt's smooth skin complexion, the textures are also amazing. As you traverse stormy ocean waters, flame-lit ruins, damp caverns, murky swamps, and vertigo-inducing cliffs, you'll be completely immersed in your ominous surroundings. A first-rate orchestrated music score is complimented by expert voice acting (by the original cast), crisp sounds effects, and Kong's occasional earth-shaking roar. The first-person shooting action is satisfying and forgiving, with sniping playing a major role. Should you deplete your ammo supply (and you will), there's always a spear or sharp bone nearby that can be used to impale attackers. King Kong adds a number of innovations, including the ability to clear brush by setting it on fire, trade weapons with companions, and distract creatures by throwing baited spears. In certain scenes, you yourself must serve as bait for a rampaging "V-Rex" in order to buy time for your friends. But easily the most memorable stage is one where you careen down rapids on a raft with a pair of V-Rexes in hot pursuit on the riverbanks - it's not a scene I'll not soon forget. Dinosaurs dominate the game, and you'll contend with leaping raptors, stampeding Brontosaurus, and fearsome V-Rexes. Swamps are brimming with hideous underwater creatures, and the sound of scurrying giant millipede will make your skin crawl as you slosh through water-filled caves. The action is always intense, and sometimes relentlessly so. When I wasn't having a good time, it was only because I was scared to death! In one scene I found myself taking refuge from a V-Rex in some stone ruins, but just when I thought I could rest, the beast began demolishing it, and I just barely escaped as it came crashing down. While primarily a first-person shooter, the are also several opportunities to wreak havoc as the ape himself. As Kong, you can break through walls, swing from trees, climb cliffs, and wrestle dinosaurs. While these stages feel scripted, the simple controls make for a good time nevertheless. The B button allows Kong to pull off small creatures that latch onto him, and tapping A initiates a finishing move. When these gargantuan creatures lumber around and crash into each other, they convey a true sense of size and mass. The game also succeeds without the use of artificial constructs such as cut scenes, tutorials, screen indicators, maps, and recycled stage designs. Your companions carry on conversations, fight by your side, and keep you on course. The difficulty is perfectly tuned, and seems to adjust dynamically. Objectives are readily apparent, and even after losing a life, you always pick up very close to where you left off. The control scheme is so intuitive that I didn't even look at the manual. Stages are ideal in length, with minimal load times. While King Kong is nearly a perfect game, there is the occasional glitch of a creature becoming stuck in the scenery. Gamers with an aversion to first-person action may want to pass on this game, because the dark, rainy environments and frantic action can make it hard to get your bearings. Finally, after completing this harrowing journey it's unlikely you'll want to replay this game anytime soon, although it is possible to play individual stages for score. King Kong is one of the most immersive and memorable games I've experienced. Brilliant on the 360, I hear it's nearly as impressive on the Xbox, PS2, and Gamecube. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy		Grade: B
	Publisher: LucasArts (2006) Reviewed: 2007/6/19 Rating: Everyone

The first Lego Star Wars met with a very warm reception from gamers, and this second edition is just as good if not better. This whimsical platformer has an old-school vibe to it, with simple gameplay, crisp controls, and charming, blocky graphics (intentionally blocky in this case). The game recreates the events of the original trilogy, but a few liberties have been taken. The story has been simplified, additional humor has been incorporated, and Mark Hamill's acting is much improved (sorry, I couldn't resist). Each stage is a nice combination of combat, exploration, and simple puzzles. There are a lot of items to collect, but gathering them up never feels tedious - partially because they gravitate towards you as you approach them. The environments are highly destructible, and the explosion effects are satisfying. It's also fun to unlock dozens of new controllable characters as the story progresses. You're not likely to get stuck in this game (at least not for long), because key items tend to glow, usually making it obvious what you need to do next. Heavy emphasis is placed on teamwork, so you'll often need to switch between characters in order to perform tasks like operating machinery, opening doors, or grappling to higher ledges. The two-player co-op mode is enjoyable, although the camera is sometimes an issue. One great new feature is the ability to construct things out of mounds of loose Legos by simply holding in the B button. The dramatic soundtrack is outstanding, with music taken directly from the films. So what's not to like? Well, the Hoth stages were disappointing with their closed-in snowspeeder stages and squirrelly controls. As you accumulate a group of characters in a stage, switching between them is problematic as they tend to bumble into each other. Finally, Luke's lightsaber isn't nearly as effective as it should be - he should be slicing through these guys like melted butter! Still, if you enjoyed the first game or you're just looking for a light-hearted platformer, Lego Star Wars II is a real treat. NOTE: The original Lego Star Wars game review is available in the Xbox section. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition		Grade: B
	Publisher: Capcom (2007) Reviewed: 2007/2/11 Rating: Teen (animated blood, mild language, violence)

I'm not sure what critics who panned Lost Planet were expecting, but this game delivered exactly what I was looking for: Large scale battles in expansive, snow-covered environments! The premise is familiar: Boy meets girl, girl meets boy, humans colonize bug-infested ice planet, boy is eaten by giant snow-worm. Playing the role of a soldier with only fragments of memory, you'll face off against snow pirates, mech robots, and enormous bugs with glowing orange "thermal cores". The graphics are sensational. The snowy terrain features fantastic city ruins, vast snowy plains, and majestic rivers of ice floes. Less impressive are the generic interior cave locations. Lost Planet is mainly a third-person shooter, with some weapons so large they need to be dragged along the ground! The rampaging bugs are awesome, and each variety exhibits a unique set of attacks. Some will attempt to steam-roll you, and others use their oversized front legs to pound you into oblivion. The glowing thermal cores give away their weak spots, but those spots aren't always easy to hit! Once dead, the bugs freeze solid, so your next shot shatters their carcass into a thousand pieces (sweet). High-jumping mechs also play a role in the action, and you'll man them as often as you'll battle them. I love the vibration effects of these things stomping in the snow. Unfortunately, the controls for these mechanical beasts are less than responsive, which is frustrating when you're getting pounded non-stop by rockets. Much has been made of the game's explosion effects, and they are in fact probably the best I've seen. Still, all that smoke and fire tends to obfuscate your vision, making it difficult to tell what's going on. Lost Planet incorporates a few other interesting elements like grappling hooks that pull you up to high ledges, and data posts that recharge your thermal energy and point you in the right direction. The main problem with the game is its wildly uneven difficulty. Some bosses are so relentlessly hard that you'll want to set the difficult to easy just to avoid the inevitable frustration. It doesn't help that the collision detection is spotty when facing some of these behemoths. And where's the split-screen action? Sorry, but if you want to play multi-player, you'll need to go on-line. Another issue is how you can only save after each mission. Call it frustrating, call it uneven, but you can't deny that Lost Planet is an exciting shooter. The non-stop action and sweeping musical score really got my blood pumping, and I couldn't wait to see what each new mission had in store. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player