Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Hudson Soft
System: Xbox 360
Genre: Party game
Release date: Available now
Review by: Andrew Clark

Fuzion Frenzy 2 is the sequel to perhaps the most family friendly launch title for the original Xbox. Back in 2001, if you had friends with which to play, and you weren’t already engrossed in Halo, FF was the choice for multiplayer action. The colorful graphics, simple controls and wealth of addictive mini-games did an impressive job of showing what the fledgling Microsoft console was capable of, earning it impressive scores from reviewers, plus the affections of its players. It was a milestone for the genre, one which warranted a follow-up, this time on the Xbox 360.

This sequel starts with hard times having fallen on the beloved tournament franchise. What was once regularly broadcast around the globe has now been silenced, banned and otherwise black bagged from the public eye. Why, do you ask? Because of a bunch of poor sports. Yep, the players themselves ruined it for everyone due to their overly zealous competitive nature, a nature which was outrageous enough for the leaders of Earth to take notice.

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Publisher: Midway
Developer: nFusion
System: Xbox 360
Genre: First person shooter
Release date: Available now
Review by: Andrew Clark

World War II and video games fit together so well, it’s no wonder it’s become a genre unto itself. Offerings such as the groundbreaking Battlefield 1942, Medal of Honor and Call of Duty dug their own trenches, laying the groundwork for a generous amount of sequels, spin-offs and ports to almost every platform imaginable. But with so much market saturation, how can someone fathom taking another trip to the front? Does the Unreal Engine 3-powered Hour of Victory have what it takes to stand up to its heavy handed competition? Or have we been here before?

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Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: FASA Studio
System: Xbox 360
Genre: First Person Shooter
Release date: Available now
Review by: Andrew Clark

It’s anyone’s guess as to how a first person shooter can come up with anything original these days. With interesting elements like toilet throwing and time manipulation available to FPS aficionados, the gamut feels like it’s been run. That is unless you count Shadowrun, the first person re-imagining of the table-top cyberpunk classic, a team-based shooter that not only encourages cheating, but rewards one for doing so.

It’s 2031, and magic has become a staple on Earth after its return 20 years ago. There are two sides vying for dominance over Santos, Brazil, a South American city where the highest concentration of magic is located. The RNA, a multinational super-corporation, sees the magic as an economic tool, one that could be researched and used for gain; while the other side, the rebellious Lineage, would much rather the forces be made available to everyone for free. Naturally, the two sides disagree and to want to fight about it, yet it’s how you fight that sets this game apart from chucking a commode at someone’s cranium.

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