Issue 80: November 2010

Kinectimals (X360)
Developer: Microsoft
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Simulator
5/10



Dance Central (X360)
Developer: Harmonix / MTV Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Music / Rhythm
8/10



Kinect Sports (X360)
Developer: Microsoft
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Sports / Party
5/10



Fighters Uncaged (X360)
Developer: AMA Studios
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Fighting
4/10



Kinect Joyride (X360)
Developer: Microsoft
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Racing / Party
4/10



Call of Duty: Black Ops (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Treyarch
Publisher: Activision
Genre: Shooter / Action
9/10
Summary: The singleplayer component offers up a thriller-like story with a tighter direction than spandex, while the multiplayer component introduces several lovely news. Masterful, Treyarch.



Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Criterion
Publisher: EA
Genre: Racing
8/10
Summary: Hot Pursuit gives you a big dose of accessible arcade racing for the one who wants to torment luxury rides in beautiful country resorts. The career mode is barely good enough, but the game completely shines through online with its addictive missions, perfect setup and well-done social functions. Sure, this feels more like Burnout than Need for Speed, but I only see that as something positive.



Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action
8/10
Summary: Some smaller bugs and Ezio's terrible accent can't change the fact that Brotherhood is a big-scale adventure stuffed with good action and stunning acrobatics. The online mode is a really successful newcomer too.



Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom (PS3, X360)
Developer: Game Republic
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Genre: Action / Adventure
7/10
Summary: Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom is a cousy action adventure that covers a pretty big genre hole for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Now we're hoping for a sequel with a little faster pacing and even more difficult cooperation puzzles.



Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Lucasarts
Publisher: Lucasarts
Genre: Action
5/10
Summary: Do over, do right, Lucasarts. Only three leveltypes, invisible walls and both a short and pointless story. You can do better.



Rock Band 3 (PS3, Wii, X360)
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: MTV Games
Genre: Music / Rhythm
10/10
Summary: The level of ambition and the entertainment value speaks clearly; Rock Band 3 is genre perfection. No matter if you're singing three-vocal harmonies or banging drums on the Easy-level, Harmonix's game shines from brilliance.



God of War: Ghost of Sparta (PSP)
Developer: Ready at Dawn
Publisher: Sony
Genre: Action
8/10
Summary: So much rage packed into such a small package. God of War: Ghost of Sparta shows yet another aspect of the extremely tormented anti hero Kratos and lets us crush a little bit more of the Greek mythology gods.



Fable III (X360)
Developer: Lionhead
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Action / RPG
8/10
Summary: Original, comedic, atmospheric and incredibly charming. Fable III will not disappoint any role-playing fans.



Time Crisis: Razing Storm (PS3)
Developer: Namco Bandai
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Genre: Action / Shooter
4/10



The Shoot (PS3)
Developer: Cohort Studios
Publisher: Sony
Genre: Action / Shooter
6/10



Shaun White Skateboarding (PS3, X360)
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Extreme Sports / Action
5/10



The Sims 3 Console (PS3, Wii, X360)
Developer: EA
Publisher: EA
Genre: Simulator
8/10



GoldenEye 007 (Wii)
Developer: Eurocom
Publisher: Activision
Genre: Shooter / Action
6/10
Summary: Even if the developers have peeked more than a little at Rare's old game and include several homages to the original, GoldenEye 007 for the Wii is never more than a bleak copycat.



Arcania: Gothic 4 (PC, X360)
Developer: Spellbound
Publisher: Dreamcatcher
Genre: RPG
6/10



WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2011 (PS2, PS3, Wii, PSP, X360)
Developer: Yuke's
Publisher: THQ
Genre: Fighting / Sports
6/10



The Fight: Lights Out (PS3)
Developer: Coldwood
Publisher: Sony
Genre: Fighting
3/10



LEGO Universe (PC)
Developer: Netdevil
Publisher: Warner
Genre: MMORPG
5/10



James Bond 007: Blood Stone (PS3, X360)
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Activision
Genre: Shooter / Action
5/10
Summary: The last four missions outshines the first four, but even so it doesn't save Bond from a weak five and Bizarre's latest becomes one of the year's biggest disappointments. Unfortunately...



Super Meat Boy (X360)
Genre: Action / Platformer
9/10



Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare (PS3, X360)
Developer: Rockstar San Diego
Publisher: Rockstar / Take Two
Genre: Action / Adventure
9/10



DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue (PS3, X360)
Genre: Action
7/10