XBox Action and Adventure Games

Marketing Information:

Halo 2 is the sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo: Combat Evolved. In Halo 2, the saga continues as Master Chief a genetically enhanced super-soldier is the only thing standing between the relentless Covenant and the destruction of all humankind.

Product Information

Software Sub Type: First Person Shooter

Software Name: Halo 2 - Complete Product

Features & Benefits:

Single-player:

Be the hero. Take on the Covenant on your own and live firsthand the epic saga of the Master Chief. Wield dual weapons. Use previously undiscovered Covenant arms. Drive vehicles and pilot aircraft. Battle intelligent enemy A.I., and all-new alien opponents.

Cooperative play:

Team up with a friend and save humankind together.

Xbox Live multiplayer:

Improving upon the original Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 is Xbox Live-enabled, allowing up to 16 gamers to play against people around the world.

Halo 2 redefines the social experience of online gaming. New technology lets groups of friends stick together, find games, and meet new opponents.

Players can split into multiple teams, form clans, or go head-to-head against new friends or old enemies.

Players can personalize Covenant Elite or Human Spartan armor with custom colors and emblems to enhance battlefield recognition.

Players can visit Bungie.net for additional game enhancements, including in-depth statistics and worldwide rankings.

Game Rating: ESRB - M - (Mature) - Blood and Gore, Language, Violence

Platform Support: Xbox

License Information

License Type: Complete Product

License Pricing: Standard

License Quantity: 1 User

Miscellaneous

Compatibility:

System Link 2-16

Dolby 5.1 Surround

Halo 2 is one of those rare video games that garnishes attention from regular folk who wouldn't know which direction to point a game controller. With more than 1.5 million pre-orders and a massive release party in Times Square, the game enjoys the sort of buzz, and sales, generally reserved for boy wizards. But does it merit the hype?

Opening Scene

Halo 2 opens with a cut scene in the Covenant Holy City of High Charity. Much has happened since Master Chief (that's you) created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do for his failures. This first cut scene is long, but the lush graphics, orchestral sound, and polished voice talent for both this and other cut scenes as well as the game itself put most animated television shows to shame.

Much has happened since Master Chief created so much havoc for the Covenant in the first Halo, and the Arbiter has much atoning to do.

In the end, though, Halo 2 is unabashedly a first-person shooter. It has a Mature rating and is not meant for kids. Gameplay is constant and intense. No sooner is one bunch of aliens taken care of than another descends. The controls are identical to the first game so those familiar with it will be up and blasting in no time. And the sound and graphics have been beefed up so that Halo 2 is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful console games available.

Opening Fire

Most of the weapons from the first game return, although strangely the MA5B Assault Rifle (the default weapon in the first game) is not available. There is a single melee weapon known as the Covenant Sword, but the controls for it are the same as that for all the shooter weapons, making it difficult to direct. Also, for a new twist, you can hold two of the smaller guns at the same time and shoot double-fisted.

As for vehicles, the old favorites are back and joined by a few new, mostly Covenant wheeled monsters. Some improvements have been made to the AI so that the nonplayer characters can drive without running into too many obstacles while you man the turret. This improved AI also has enemies ducking for cover, and the banter from both the Marines and the bad guys has undergone massive improvements so that it no longer sounds quite so repetitive.

On Your Own

The most significant change in the single-player game is with Master Chief's much-touted defensive suit. At the beginning of the game, he is told that the suit has been upgraded, but it's really undergone a severe downgrade. In Halo 2, the player has only one lifeline. Unlike in the first game, there is basically no defensive shield on the suit, making gameplay tougher. It can often take multiple--sometimes a maddening number--attempts to make it through thorny parts of the game.

Or with a Friend

Finally, no review of a Halo game is complete without mentioning multiplayer. One of the main reasons to buy Halo 2 is the ability to play through Xbox Live, a feature not included in the first game, which was among the original releases for the Xbox. Multiplayer for Halo 2 uses all of the same weapons and vehicles as in the single-player game, and the types of games available in Halo (King of the Hill, Slayer, Capture the Flag) return with a host of new maps. Multiplayer Halo 2 offers customizable profiles, control layout, and screens as well as a voice proximity feature, where you can talk with other players via an Xbox Communicator so that those closer to you sound louder than those farther away. Players can also create both permanent clans and temporary parties in the Xbox Live world. Undoubtedly, this multiplayer feature alone ensures that Halo 2 will remain a top-selling game for years to come. --David Morel

Pros:

• Lush graphics and orchestral sound
• Constant, thumping shoot-'em-up action
• Multiplayer available through Xbox live

Cons:

• Suit downgrade makes single-player often overly difficult
• Get ready for some bleary-eyed mornings

Bent on humankind's extermination, a powerful fellowship of alien races known as the Covenant is wiping out the Earth's fledgling interstellar empire. You and the other surviving defenders of a devastated colony-world make a desperate attempt to lure the alien fleet away from Earth. Shot down and marooned on the ancient ring-world, Halo, you begin a guerilla-war against the Covenant. Fight for humanity against an alien onslaught as you race to uncover the mysteries of Halo.
Halo takes you deep into the future, with the fate of planet Earth hanging on your shooting skills. After a massive battle, only one ship is left and its crew is stranded on an abandoned space station. You must do whatever it takes to keep the Covenant from reaching Earth.

Experience the ultimate Halo challenge with all-new online multiplayer for up to 16 players. Take on the world in any of the 15 multiplayer maps including 6 brand new maps never before seen. Unleash destruction with incredible weapons and vehicles including brand new armaments for intense online multiplayer games. Voted Game Of The Year by IGN.com, Electonic Gaming Monthly, and Xbox Magazine.

More often than not, when a game is in development for more than three years, it does not live up to the hype. Bungie's Halo is the exception. Not only does it meet expectations, it greatly exceeds them. This sci-fi first-person shooter is a nearly perfect blend of gameplay, graphics, and sound.

The story revolves around the conflict between humans and an alien race known as the Covenant. The aliens have discovered a powerful artifact--on the ring-shaped planet called Halo--that will shift the balance of power, and it's up to the player to stop them. In addition to several first-person-shooter levels, the game offers numerous opportunities to engage in vehicular combat. Both the enemy and allied artificial intelligence are extremely impressive. Enemies will use the terrain and layout to put you in tight spots. Allies will know when to cover and aid you. For instance, if you hop into a jeep, an ally will know to jump in and man the turret on the back of it.

The graphics are exquisitely detailed, but only move at 30 frames per second rather than 60. The sound effects and voice acting are superb. The level design is among the best ever; most of the game is engaging and challenging without being frustrating. There's also high replay value thanks to the built-in single-player, cooperative, and deathmatch modes.

Much like the outstanding GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64, Halo raises the bar for console first-person shooters. All console action games will be measured against Halo for years to come. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Outstanding game design
• High replay value
• Impressive AI

Cons:

• Several maps are used multiple times
• Save functions could have been better implemented
• Graphics move at 30 frames per second, not 60

This action shooter takes place on a mysterious alien world. It offers a combination of team-based first-person-shooter gameplay (reminiscent of Tribes) and third-person vehicle combat elements. Gameplay kicks off with the player heading down to the planet's surface in a troop carrier, à la Aliens. As the player and fellow marines exit, the remaining troopers form a flank in reaction to an oncoming onslaught of human and alien enemies.

It's this smart AI system that makes for a noticeably unique gameplay feel. Another very nice feature is the seamless transition into vehicular elements. As you venture through mission objectives, a variety of enemy flyers and on-ground buggies are yours for the taking. Come across a vehicle and the camera will pull back to a third-person view as you strap in and motor through crossfire. A co-op mode allows a friend to join you in the single-player missions. For chaotic fighting action, up to four players can duel in split-screen deathmatch mode or link systems for LAN play. However you choose to hero your way through Halo: Combat Evolved, the action should break in your new Xbox in explosive style.

Star Wars Battlefront II adds all-new space combat, playable Jedi characters, and never-before-seen environments straight out of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Fans of the original Star Wars Battlefront will also enjoy an all-new single-player experience that takes players through an epic, story-based saga centering on Darth Vader's elite 501st Legion of Stormtroopers where every action the player takes impacts the battlefront and, ultimately, the fate of the Star Wars galaxy. The game features an all-new single-player experience that takes players through an epic, story-based saga where every action the player takes impacts the battlefront and, ultimately, the fate of the Star Wars galaxy. The sequel features improved flight control, complex space combat that allows players to board enemy capital ships and battle to take over flying command posts or sabotage the ship to be used against the other faction, increased total online player numbers, and memorable multiplayer encounters in 12 new locations. All-new classic trilogy locations including the Death Star interior, classic space battles and the fight aboard the Tantive IV, Princess Leia's blockade runner Online Play capable (monthly fee may be required)

Chaos has erupted throughout the galaxy. You ve been chosen to lead a team of elite Republic commandosstraight into harm s way. You ll have no time for setting up complicated commands and maneuvers. At your fingertips is one touch control of the most lethal weapon in the galaxy your squad. The only backup you have is each other. There is no room for error or fear. You ll need all your skills and training. You are considered the very best. Now prove it.FEATURES: Innovative squad-based action featuring an intuitive and straight forward One Touch Squad Control system. You are the elite-of-the-elite in the uncompromising world of the Star Wars military. As a special squad unitin the Republic's Clone Army you'll engage in fierce firefights and intense action. Take a sneak peek at Star Wars: Episode III content including key locations new enemies including General Grievous and more. Embark on over a dozen single player missions that take you through a wide variety of military objectives. Encounter highly intelligent and varied enemies both new and original to the Star Wars universe. Explore unique alien locations including: the hostile planet of Geonosis the interior of a Separatist battle-ship a disabled Republic assault ship and the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk.MULTIPLAYER FEATURES: Out of the box Internet play with up to 16 players online or via Xbox Live. Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. Voice Communication enabled. Both multiplayer split screen and System Link capability for Xbox.Format: XBOX Genre: SPORTS/GAMES Rating: T - Teen UPC: 023272325756 Manufacturer No: 32575

Halo 2 Limited Edition continues the story of Master Chief, the heroic super-soldier who defied the invading alien Covenant and survived. The Covenant leaders within Halo are angry at this unheard of event. To save face, they launch an invasion of our planet. Earth's defenses are breached, and we're all in danger -- unless Master Chief can lead a small military squad to victory against Covenant forces, in all-out guerilla warfare! Special Limited Edition includes DVD with behind the scenes making of footage, deleted characters and cinematics, art gallery, developer commentary and more Comes in special edition tin case

Mortal Kombat®: Deception™ delivers the deepest fighting game ever with the lethal intensity that helped establish the Mortal Kombat® franchise as the ultimate fighting game of all time! With unlimited competition online multiple fatalities per character multi-tiered interactivebackgrounds and extensive new game modes Mortal Kombat®: Deception™ is set to revolutionize the fighting game genre once again. Online for the First Time Ever: Mortal Kombat®: Deception™ supports online play for Playstation®2 and Xbox Live with online matches and tournaments as well as onlinecapabilities for Puzzle Kombat and Chess Kombat game modes. Unique Kombat Features: With two fatalities per character newly instituted death traps stage fatalities and interactive Kombat backgrounds this game will take the Mortal Kombat® series to an all-new level of pain. New Konquest Mode: A completely redesigned single player Konquest mode provides an entirely fresh experience and a strong RPG gameplay element by adding the likes of Direct Player Control worlds populated by NPC (Non-Player-Controlled) characters unique hidden features and a"real time" clock representing the equivalent of a 24-hour day. New Chess Kombat Mode: In this all-new feature players will be able to partake in a game of chess-like strategy but with a fun (and of course bloody) Mortal Kombat® twist. New Puzzle Kombat Mode: With ties to the likes of your favorite puzzle video games of past Puzzle Kombat includes over 10 Mortal Kombat® characters each with a super-move to trigger against opponents. New Mix of Favorite Warriors: Featuring many new fighters and the return of choice warriors such as Baraka Mileena Noob Saibot Scorpion Sub-Zero Raiden Tonya and more.Format: XBOX Genre: SPORTS/GAMES/FIGHTING Rating: M - Mature Age: 17+ UPC: 031719300464 Manufacturer No: 30046

Test your fighting skills against a vast community of gamers in the first 3-D online fighting game to date. Tecmo's esteemed development group Team Ninja has created the ultimate Dead or Alive fighting experience by coupling the original version of Dead or Alive™ with a completely redesigned Dead or Alive™ 2 on Xbox. Both games will be Xbox™ Live multi-player compatible enabling you to fight with players all over the country.And that is only the beginning! With a multiple assortment of special features included in the collection such as a variety of new costumes many new battle stages and interactive environments a new opening movie and unique 2-disc set packaging with inclusion of collectible trading cards Dead or Alive Ultimate will be the game of choice for fighting fans everywhere when it launches late Summer 2004.Format: XBOX Genre: SPORTS/GAMES/FIGHTING Rating: NR UPC: 018946010342 Manufacturer No: TCM1034

Praised for brilliant scripts and open-ended gameplay, vilified for unapologetic violence and mature themes, Grand Theft Auto has deservedly become one of the most popular game franchises in history. This double pack contains the full versions of both Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto III: Vice City, enhanced for Xbox. Xbox gamers can rejoice that the grand king of video games--The Sopranos with a gamepad--is finally available on the big black box.

Grand Theft Auto
With Grand Theft Auto III Rockstar proves that not all developers are concerned with toning down the violence in their games. This sequel is even more bloody, violent, and sadistic than its popular predecessors, offering up an enormous 3-D city in which nearly any criminal act is possible. Players are free to steal cars, beat up the local population for their money (or weapons), make time with prostitutes, or simply roam to their heart's content. Those seeking more structure can embark on dozens of missions driven by a genuinely interesting crime-story plot or steal cars that let them play minigames. Nab a cop car and you can go on vigilante missions. Grab a cab and you can play a deadly version of Crazy Taxi. Take a fire truck and you can earn money putting out fires. The minigames are a good way to unwind after a particularly difficult mission. With so much to do, the game just never gets boring.

As you'd expect, there are consequences for criminality. As your random acts of mayhem mount up the police start hounding you, eventually calling in SWAT trucks, the FBI, and even the army if you continue down the path of destruction. Shaking these pursuers is easily the most fun part of the game, especially when a bunch of friends are packed in the room to witness your narrow escapes.

Grand Theft Auto III is fine-tuned to near perfection in every category. All the vehicles, from slick sports cars to lumbering dump trucks, handle exactly as you'd expect and smash apart realistically when abused. The three islands in the game are rendered in terrific detail considering their size, and are packed with traffic, pedestrians, and hidden jumps. The audio is equally amazing. Pedestrians talk, cops scream at you, and you can tune in nine different radio stations whenever you are in a car. It all adds up to a monumental achievement: the rare console game for adults that manages to get everything right.--T. Byrl Baker

Grand Theft Auto III: Vice City
How big is this game? Even publicists for other games end up talking about Vice City when they call our office, babbling in the same helplessly intoxicated way that afflicts everyone who plays it. The achievement of Vice City (which, as everyone knows by now, is set in the 1980s and offers an all-new, Miami Vice-inspired story) is not only that it manages to live up to an absurd level of expectation, but that it takes the game places that fans of its predecessor Grand Theft Auto III never dreamed of, and that it achieves this astonishing level of innovation without losing anything that made GTA3 the bestselling PS2 game of all time.

After a brilliant homage to the era of the Commodore 64 in the opening credits, the first thing you'll notice is the improved graphics, which are smoother and more detailed, and--with effects like neon lights reflected on rain-slick streets, and intense Florida sunlight--have a lush, tropical look that immediately gives you a strong sense of place. The architecture is more fabulous by tenfold, with art deco buildings, high-rise hotels, and believably seedy back alleys. The control scheme is essentially the same as in GTA3, but the cars handle much better, and in pedestrian mode there is a new crouch move. You will have access to fast, great-handling cars right away, as opposed to GTA3 which made you unlock the second island before you could get your hands on any respectable wheels. This game has such riches to offer that there is no need to be chintzy with the vehicles.

Cops are more vigilant this time--minor offenses like whacking innocent bystanders will more often than not get you a two-star wanted level--and are harder to elude (though they still can't seem to climb stairs or negotiate sharp turns). So while free-roaming exploration is as fun as ever, there is more incentive to perform the missions instead of randomly raising hell. Not that that's a bad thing: even lazy criminals like myself (in GTA3, I would rather toss hand grenades into traffic than follow orders from some rude Mafia boss) will be quickly caught up in the vivid characters and hilarious, fascinating story, in which you play an acid-washed-jeans-wearing thug named Tommy Vercetti. Where in GTA3 missions were blocky, schematic affairs only nominally connected to the story, this time tasks move the story briskly along and deftly blend cinematics and game action. For example, there is a scene of a character throwing Tommy a gun, at which point you are suddenly thrown back into the action and must make an instant decision about whom to trust and what to do.

There are more, and more detailed, indoor environments, including a hotel, police station, and mall (a slight downside to this is that some of the more elaborate indoor environments require load times). The layout of the city, with tons of backyards, narrow alleys, and fire escapes, encourages creativity when eluding pursuit, as does greater access to rooftops. Get your motorcycle up the fire escape and a whole new world of action is possible, including... well, use your imagination.

This overview barely scratches the surface of the Vice City experience, its colorful explosion of music, clothes, combat, and brilliant voice acting, not to mention the plot twist midway through the game that changes the very nature of the game itself. Though it was the outrageous, amoral violence that got all the press, the essential genius of GTA3 was its intoxicating blend of script and open-ended action. In Vice City this is--to use a cliché that is for once apropos--taken to a whole new level.--David Stoesz

Pros:

• Open-ended gameplay; player can chose to be relatively law-abiding or engage in wanton virtual destruction
• Varied missions
• Brilliant scripts with Hollywood voice acting
• Rocking sound track (also available in our Music store)
• Xbox-enhanced graphics

Cons:

• As the The Sopranos of games, GTA 3 draws unwanted attention from overzealous legislators
• No multiplayer

The infamous GTA series doubles up and delivers twice the car-stealing, hood-capping, trash-talking larcenous adventures. Includes Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Scarface: The World Is Yours takes you into a complicated world of excess and greed. You'll become Tony Montana, one of the most ruthless gangsters ever depicted on film. The original screenwriter has created an all-new storyline that authentically recreates the historical time period of the film, and gives you the chance to live out the events of the film -- or change them and create a new life story for the famous gangster.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy gives you the chance to follow an ancient and powerful tradition from long ago, in a galaxy far away!

Splinter Cell takes you into the world of Sam Fisher, a top-secret specialist agent who goes where no one dares, unseen and unheard. High-tech espionage doesn't get more realistic or deadly!

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell grants players access to the highest echelons of national security, where shadowy operatives have the freedom to do whatever it takes to safeguard America. The player controls Sam Fisher, a field operative of a secretive black-ops NSA subagency called Third Echelon. Sam Fisher is geared up to infiltrate high-security strongholds, seize critical intelligence, destroy threatening data, and neutralize the enemy--all without leaving a trace.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory takes you back into the shadowy world of Sam Fisher, a special agent on the front lines of the information war. It's 2008 when we return to the intrigues of the new warfare; The Japanese economy has collapsed and evidence indicates that it was due to a virus originating from South Korea. The Japanese request American assistance - and Sam Fsher is sent deep into hostile territory, to collect critical intelligence just inches from his worst enemies.

Sam Fisher is back for more espionage and intrigue in Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. All the nail biting about whether to go in "hot" with guns blazing, or to use stealth is back in this new version, plus some amazing improvements. Chaos Theory ups the ante with vastly improved graphics, totally open level design, and coop gameplay.

Fresh from the East Timor operations, Fisher is now put on the front lines of information warfare. The year is 2008 and the world is suffering from citywide blackouts, stock exchange sabotage, and electronic hijacking of national defense systems. The stakes are high and Fisher, as the NSA's most elite black-ops agent, is inserted in operations to aggressively gather intelligence. A wide range of missions call on a lethal mixture of weapons and close range combat. While Chaos Theory demands the same agility and athleticism required in previous Splinter Cell incarnations, some new weapons, gadgets and moves are available, such as the prototype Land Warrior rifle, and the stealthy, but oh-so-deadly inverted neck break.

In addition to an improved graphics engine, physics are enhanced, too. Enhancements like rag doll physics, particle effects, and realistic interaction with the environment make the Splinter Cell experience more immersive than ever. Just as judging your environment was crucial in past Splinter Cell games, Chaos Theory demands that you understand the delicate balance between light and shadow to stay alive.

Chaos Theory offers great replayability in single player mode, thanks to its vast, open level design. There's always more than one way to achieve your objectives. At the beginning of each mission you are given your objectives, but you must choose how to go about completing them. Decisions about stealth versus conflict are yours to make, too. Should you enter a mission with non-lethal weaponry, a host of guns and ammo, or a little bit of both? You decide.

The Splinter Cell franchise is known for its tense, stealth-driven multi-player modes, and Chaos Theory is no exception. This version adds unique cooperative modes where you and your teammates must complete infiltration missions. Try to keep each other alive. Try to thrive in the dark and strike when the moment is right.

Soul Calibur II returns you to the incredible quest of the world's greatest warriors, battling to claim the ultimate sword!

Ninja Gaiden - the classic 2D action series has returned with bleeding-edge graphics, intense fighting action and thrilling gameplay! You take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a young ninja who survives the massacre of his family. The Vigor Empire is responsible for their deaths, and he'll use his ninja skills to make them pay. Experience even more combat action as you go online for multiplayer ninja battles Also includes the 3 original NES Ninja Gaiden games 5.1 Dolby Digital sound and 480p widescreen support

Red Dead Revolver takes you back to a time before you could spray opponents with gunfire and watch them fall. In this Old West shooter, a quick draw and a sharp eye are your best weapons, as you live out a classic tale of revenge. Great 4-person multiplayer deathmatch game for even wilder shootouts, in the Wild West!

Shenmue II takes you on a wild ride through a completely interactive game world, as you uncover a strange mystery!

The wait is over. After five years of development, Lead Programmer John Carmack and the id Software team have put together a revolutionary visual experience. If your PC has the juice to set this game loose and you have a thirst for first-person shooter action, you're in for a treat. Although Doom 3 is not perfect, the 3D graphics engine upon which it is built sets a new, jaw-dropping standard that makes this game a must-have.

Hell on Mars
Your character is a low-ranking Marine on a routine rotation to the Mars Research Facility of the United Aerospace Corporation (UAC). That's pretty much all the backstory you need. Doom 3 is a bit skimpy in the storyline department, but rich plotting and character development have never been the focus of the Doom franchise. Action is the name of the game here, and we found plenty. After a few minutes of wandering through the facility, listening to rumors about impending catastrophe from the staff (remember Half-Life?), it was time to start shooting. We fought our way through dark, lavishly detailed environments until finally doing battle with pure evil in the depths of hell. Although the game offers no opportunities to explore the Martian setting apart from the linear corridors of the research facility, good level design and well-crafted sound effects succeeded at scaring the living heck out of us all the way through.

Fearsome monsters. Dimly lit environments. The perfect recipe for horror.

Creature Discomforts
Groaning zombies and the sudden leaping attack of an eleven-eyed Imp are just the beginning of the horror and anxiety in Doom 3. Floating Cacodemons attack from above with a mouthful of teeth... ethereal Revenants fire flesh-seeking missiles with deadly accuracy... a swarm of spider-like Trites skitter down the corridor, hungry for blood. Although the enemy AI in Doom 3 is less crafty than we would have liked, the incredible variety of enemies--each with a unique style of attack--outweighs this shortcoming somewhat.

Guns, Guns, Guns
While there are many powerful weapons in the game, they are designed to force players to anticipate and plan for firefights. For instance, we liked wielding the chaingun to shred enemies at longer ranges, but the weapon devours ammo and using it on close-range targets was a waste of bullets. We quickly learned to switch to the shotgun or the chainsaw to dispatch foes at close range.

One piece of hardware, the flashlight, was a point of both salvation and frustration for us. Doom 3 is a dark game and many enemies know how to take advantage of it. You'll often find yourself switching back and forth between your weapons and your flashlight just to see what's lurking ahead. This problem might easily be solved by duct-taping the flashlight to your equipped weapon, but, alas, we found no duct tape on Mars.

Looking Good
Doom 3 looks incredible. Every room is exquisitely detailed, from the shimmer of the air near a heat source to the texture of a hamburger sitting on the counter of the company mess hall. Id obviously went all out designing every creature in the game and their realism makes them all the more horrifying. The eye candy does come at a price, though, and we were forced to play at fairly low resolution even on a Pentium IV 2.8 GHz and an ATI Radeon 9500. Even so, gameplay was smooth as silk. For higher resolutions (1024 x 768 and above) the latest generation of ATI or Nvidia cards is suggested. --Joshua Gunn

Pros

• Stunning display of graphics technology
• Strong level design with lots of spookiness
• Rich variety of enemies
• Plenty of hours of single-player gameplay

Cons

• Thin storyline
• Stiff system requirements
• No headlamps or gun-mounted lighting in the 22nd century
• Fairly basic multiplayer options

ONE OF THE SCARIEST GAMES EVER MADE, RATED M

In the tradition of Jedi Knight, rebel agent Kyle Katarn returns in thrilling first-person action. Several years have passed since Kyle avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. When a new and menacing threat to the galaxy emerges, Kyle knows he must reclaim his past in order to save his future. You assume the role of Kyle and employ a unique mix of weapons, Force powers, and your lightsaber in both solo and multiplayer modes.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon celebrates the best-selling fighting game by giving you the most complete roster ever. Choose from more than 50 fighters from the entire Mortal Kombat universe - past, present and future. From Liu Kang to Shang Tsung to Shao Kahn, they're all here -- along with an incredible new Kreate-A-Fighter and Kreate-A-Fatality modes. With more playable fighters than any other Mortal Kombat game to date, it's the most complete, intense and lethal fighting experience ever!

Call Of Duty: Finest Hour leads you back into the World War, where you will experience epic battlefield moments in the war's most legendary conflicts. Fight alongside ordinary men who fought and died for freedom and changed the world.

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction is a revolutionary third person action-shooter game, set in the near future and inspired by real world events. A military leader stages a coup just as North and South Korea are preparing to unify, turning that region's political situation into violent chaos. As diplomacy fails, this new dictator threatens the world with nuclear war. The world's nations put an unprecedented $100,000,000 reward on him and his advisors. You've decided to claim that bounty.

In Call Of Duty 2: The Big Red One, you'll experience the adrenaline rush and harsh realities of war as never before. The cinematic intensity of Call of Duty returns with more complete gameplay -- get to know your squadmates, and fight alongside them through an epic story of the most harrowing moments of WWII. As a part of America's most decorated and heroic fighting unit, The Big Red One, you'll work together with your squad to accomplish a variety of combat missions spanning North Africa, Italy, and Nazi-occupied Western Europe. Charge into battle together as Allied and Axis planes duel overhead, artillery explosions shake the ground and choke the air, and bullets and shrapnel streak past you and your squadmates. Experience war-torn Europe and Africa, from the blistering desert expanses of Tunisia and Libya to the beautiful yet deadly countrysides of Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany. Live a soldier's story, deeper than any you've experienced before! Intense Axis vs. Allies team-based multiplayer action

Counter-Strike has become the world's most popular online PC shooter game. Now the thrills and danger of urban guerilla combat comes to your Xbox! Downloadable content and new maps for extended gameplay

The Thing takes you on a new mission full of terrifying and shocking confrontations with an enemy no human has faced before!

Based on the same elements that made the movie so enjoyable--fear, suspense, and the possibility that your teammate might be infected--The Thing lets players creep into action with the help of several nonplayer characters (NPCs), whom you use to protect and aid your group. Using a core team of engineers, medics, and soldiers, players must manage the level of trust in, and fear of, you that these characters experience. They react to your actions and might betray you if they think you are the Thing. Conversely, you must constantly monitor which one of them might be infected. Other characters must trust you, but if they fear you, actions as drastic as coercion are necessary. For example, if a soldier doesn't have confidence in you, you may have to put your gun to his head to convince him you're not the Thing... and for his sake, he'd better believe.

Manhunt highlights the sick and gruesome world of cold-blooded murderers. It's an intense, violent gaming experience, capturing the dark side of humanity more accurately than any game before. NOTE - This game has accurate & realistic depictions of violence and murder. It is not recommended for sensitive or younger game players.

This is the game Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the Xbox. This game may not come with the original case and instructions. We stand by our products and offer a 60 day guarantee. If a game does not work within 60 days from the time you receive it we will gladly exchange it for you.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the first third-person action-adventure game based on the international hit TV series. Players take on the role of Buffy Summers, a 17-year-old high-school student who must balance adolescent growing pains with the responsibility of being the Chosen One. As the slayer, Buffy eliminates vampires and other demonic creatures that threaten the world's existence. It's up to you to save the human race from being "drained" during this devilish time.

Fortunately, Buffy is not alone. Her friends help her solve mysteries and watch her back. Fans of the series will recognize the voices of favorite characters including Angel, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Spike, the Master, and Giles.

Players fight a range of enemies including Spike, the Master, Drusilla, demons, zombies, and other supernatural creatures that threaten mankind. All of Buffy's favorite haunts are richly detailed: Sunnydale High School, the cemetery, the Bronze nightclub, and the library, which is the portal that sits atop the Hellmouth. Special supernatural effects such as morphing creatures, eldritch explosions, dynamic fogging, and arcane spell casting enhance the dark, mythical setting of the game. An intelligent combat system allows enemies to perform counterattacks and learn from character's fighting techniques.

Jade Empire is a new kind of role-playing adventure, set in a mythical, medieval China. You are a young martial artist, studying under your master's watchful eye and developing your mystical powers. When danger threatens from the ruling authorities, you must travel across the world and learn the secret martial styles & techniques. Use them to defeat the most powerful enemies and carve a place for yourself in the Jade Empire. Limited Edition features: Bonus content, extra characters, additional combat techniques, "making of" video and playable demos of upcoming games.

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee puts you in charge of Munch -- an unlikely hero, even for the Oddworld games!

Abe, the strange Mudokon, is back with his powers to possess enemies and lead other Mudokons. This time he's joined by a Gabbit named Munch, an amphibious creature that can communicate with Fuzzles and shoot electric beams. They are definitely two of the weirdest characters in gaming, but they ooze personality, partially because of their design and mainly because of the outstanding voice acting provided by Lorne Lanning, president of Oddworld Inhabitants. Although the characters are cute, in a peculiar way, the game's dark humor gives them an edge.

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is primarily a puzzle game, with some action and adventure thrown in. The puzzles are great brainteasers that require players to use the special abilities of the two characters, know when to switch between them, and know when to guzzle performance-enhancing SoBe beverages. Several of the game's best puzzles get the player so caught up in their conventions that they overlook much simpler solutions.

This curious world seems totally believable through the power of Xbox. The mountains, water, caves, and factories in this foreign world are extremely detailed and lifelike. The in-game cutscenes are comparable to Pixar movies. Although the Oddworld games for the PlayStation had spot-on personality and gameplay, the Xbox has truly brought the developers' visions to life.

Oddworld Inhabitants has crafted a captivating experience that's imaginative, clever, and beautiful. Simply put, this is a must-have Xbox title. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Unmatched uniqueness and personality
• Awe-striking cutscenes
• Addictive brainteasers

Cons:

• Might not have enough action for impatient gamers
• Quite possibly, too strange for some

The power-packing Xbox hardware delivers the third Oddworld title in one of the most brilliantly realized settings to grace any gaming system. Blending unique gameplay, humorous characters and interactions, and the aforementioned graphics, Munch's Oddysee simply feels unlike any other game in the 2001 console gaming lineup. Players control two characters in the game: Munch, a wheelchair-bound hero, and Abe, a character some gamers will recognize from previous Oddworld games. Their goal is to find and free the Mudokon queen, keeper of the remaining eggs of an endangered species.

Both characters feature unique talents that, via a tag-team style of play, propel the player through the game. For instance, Abe can climb and jump to reach new areas, as well as temporarily possess an enemy's soul via a chant. The web-footed Munch can swim to new areas and, when on the roll in his wheelchair, use his sonar plug to control machinery remotely. Saving an entire race also requires a coordinated effort on everyone's part. To get the job done quickly, players can deliver verbal commands to kinsmen. They'll gladly greet you (in a witty manner), then gang up on a mean-spirited enemy or accomplish difficult tasks for you. As with the rest of the game world, the finely detailed characters and environments, as well as a refreshing charm, draw you into an experience with the quality of a Pixar film. Prepare for gaming to get very odd indeed.

The latest installment in the James Bond series, 007: NightFire is a worthy sequel to 2001's outstanding Agent Under Fire. The game retains the overall look of its predecessor--including some familiar recurring characters and gadgets--but is designed to feel more like an actual Bond movie than a video game. After the familiar gun-barrel opening shot, you're introduced to the game via a precredits action sequence through the streets of Paris that leads into an original theme song with corresponding surreal imagery.

The pacing of the game is natural, with each objective leading smoothly to the next. You even get to holster your PPK, don a tuxedo, and infiltrate a cocktail party at your adversary's mansion, making small talk with his henchmen, flirting with female party guests, and eavesdropping on secret conversations. Of course, within minutes you'll be shooting your way out of the place to make a daring escape in true 007 fashion, complete with Bond's trademark one-liners. The story line combines espionage, action, and innuendo in just the right proportions to evoke a real Bond-movie atmosphere.

The game's overall playability is improved by some nice attention to detail, not the least of which is the addition of smarter and less predictable villains (they can hear you coming, they communicate with each other, and they're better at finding cover and sneaking up behind you). You also have more tactical options (there are many ways to reach each objective, so the game is highly replayable) as well as a better arsenal of gadgets and weapons. And best of all, the multiplayer mode incorporates classic characters from many Bond movies. More than any other 007 game to date, NightFire was designed with the die-hard Bond fan clearly in mind. --Maile Bohlmann

Pros:

• Well-developed story line
• Authentic Bond-movie atmosphere
• Great graphics, sound, and music
• Smart, crafty villains
• Wide range of controller settings

Cons:

• Precredits action sequence is far too easy
• They still don't have Bond's voice quite right (Maxwell Caulfield?!)
• Fans of nonstop action might not appreciate the extended cutscenes

Note: This review refers to the PlayStation2 version of this game.

007: Nightfire challenges you to reach new heights and depths as the world-renowned superspy!

Medal of Honor: European Assault takes you Europe in 1942, when the Nazi war machine is trampling a continent. It's a desperate time for the Allies, so the US creates a new office to handle things: The Office of Strategic Services(OSS). You are US Army Lieutenant William Holt, hand-picked to be the first field operative of the new agency. Become the driving force in the struggle to liberate Europe - the choices you make before and during the heat of battle will define your legacy as a hero. Challenge your friends in 9 gameplay modes and 16 maps