IGN

In a climate where so many current games go gentle on their players, offering easy achievements (and, indeed, Achievements) in the name of entertainment, one that requires hours of concentrated practice is a relative one-off. It’s a one-off that mostly succeeds, but by concentrating only on function and never on form, it denies itself greatness.

Lost Odyssey creates several memorable characters and a somber setting that should please those sick of JRPGs that seem made for 10-year-olds. There are quite a few things that go wrong -- from the bad stealth portion to performance issues -- but none of it kept me from enjoying the overall adventure. It may not be in the same class as Mass Effect, but for a system in desperate need for more quality RPGs, Lost Odyssey fits nicely into the 360 library.

In doing so, you'll discover that Devil May Cry 4 is a game that actually does deliver a genuine, honest-to-goodness, chest-fluttering surge of adrenaline. In that respect it's the ultimate action game, blessed with its own inimitably strange sense of style. It's polished and slick, it's got gargantuan-sized gods, near-musical interludes, and infernal, flaming bosses. It's nothing short of brilliant.

It's obviously trying to bring in new players by not being overly complex, but its depth is hurt because of it. Spend 40 bucks on Culdcept Saga if you're desperate for a card game but don't want to deal with the real thing (or you have no real friends) or if you've ever been interested in what these games are like, otherwise you won't want to bother.

Should you decide to dive in, be prepared for an engaging ride through a Lovecraftian gauntlet of horrors, enjoyable puzzles, eerie ambient tracks, and an immersive, disquieting atmosphere. While much of Black Plague and the Penumbra games in general isn't wholly novel and shrouded in a cloud of low production values, it is most definitely refreshing.

There's no doubt that Turok can be fun, but ultimately, the feeling of satisfaction that comes with slitting a raptor's throat or pulling off a headshot with your bow is lost in the shuffle of swarming enemies, less than stellar visuals and a story that disappears. Do I recommend Turok for folks just looking for a game to run through with two shotguns in hand? Yes, but I wouldn't expect to walk away from playing with your mind blown.

Shadowgrounds Survivor isn't anywhere close to as difficult as the top-down shooters of yore, but it's an excellent throwback title to a type of gameplay that doesn't require 600 hours of dedication to get to the good part, memorization of unnecessarily complicated technology trees, or the need to page through thousands of lines of dialogue options to get anything accomplished. It's simple, enjoyable, pretty, and perhaps best of all, it's cheap.

Burnout Paradise has its share of flaws, but it's also incredibly fun. The change to an open world brought its share of issues, like having to use the map as a crutch to get around for a while, but it also allows for freedom unseen in any recent racing game. Most importantly though, Criterion has once again delivered a racing experience that can best be described as controlled chaos, one where even crashing is immensely rewarding. If you're even a remote fan of racing games, be sure to check this out.

It may be multiplayer only, it may not have bots, and it may have a steep learning curve, but Warhawk lives up to its billing: a AAA experience that is an adrenaline rush for online fans. Large worlds, balanced combat mechanics and impressively deep server mechanics help this fast paced game soar.

Universe at War is a great, well-balanced design that's marred by a predictable sci-fi concept and a disappointing campaign. The individual factions have remarkably inventive and flexible strengths that allow for tremendous variety in terms of tactics. That they could all be so different and still remain relatively well balanced is a testament to the time and attention that Petroglyph spent on this game.