Hot Xbox 360 Games

Guitar Hero: World Tour Band Kit (Activision/Red Octane) $199.99

Guitar Hero: World Tour is the latest in the rhythm-based, button-tapping music game series that now, for the first time, coughs up the whole kit and caboodle of fake musicianship: a wireless drum kit controller, a guitar/bass controller (second available separately), a microphone and, of course, the game itself which features nearly a hundred mash-along tunes from Anouk to Zakk Wylde. Rated Teen (13+) for Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes



Gears of War 2 (Microsoft) $59.99

A sequel to last year's runaway smash, Gears of War 2 has the same no-neck soldiers battling alien hordes. Again. More of the same, yes, but the same old excellence, plus the requisite expansion of weaponry, more imaginative action sequences and way more gore across the board. Stupefying cathartic alien evisceration at its finest. Rated Mature (17+) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language



Far Cry 2 (Ubisoft) $59.99

Yet another bedazzling showcase for the graphical power of Xbox 360, Far Cry 2 could be mistaken for an HDTV commercial for an African safari adventure package -- lazy swaying long grass, Lion King vistas, the odd bout of malaria (seriously), and so on -- right up until people start shooting at you and the scenery explodes in your face and you're all like "holy crap!" Rated Mature (17+) for Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language


Call of Duty: World at War (Activision) $59.99

Next in what's often lauded as the best of the hardcore warfare franchises, Call of Duty: World at War revisits it roots of WWII warfare. This go around, you play as two different soldiers on two fronts, an America in the Pacific and a Russki mopping up Nazis. It's wholly traumatic as expected, but World at War's long term fun is found online, where it brings all the role-playing trappings as the previous iteration, Modern Warfare, but keeps it real -- more even-handed, anyway -- with (mostly) just the iron site-flavored weaponry of old on hand. And dogs. Bring on the dogs! Rated Mature (17+) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language


Pure (Disney Interactive) $59.99

Pure is a straight forward, instantly accessible ATV racer that never lets up with the adrenaline-intensive mud mucking, the big air stunts and the more-than occasional face-planting wipeout. While it's easy and addictive from the get-go, Pure is also progressively challenging with unlockable courses and rides aplenty and, most importantly, a wealth of online competitors always ready to take you to school. Rated Everyone (6+) for Mild Violence

Xbox 360 Duds

Baja 1000 The Official Game (Activision)
Floaty, clunky, really bad, officially licensed baja racing, all "bah," no ja.

Rock Revolution (Konami)
Though Konami pretty much invented the music game genre, Rock Revolution pales beside Guitar Hero et al.

Warriors Orochi 2 (Koei)
Koei's superlative hack n' slash Samurai games were cool eight years ago. They're not anymore. Really really not.

Golden Axe: Beast Rider (Sega)
Also known as "how to take a perfectly respected 90s franchise and utterly trash it."

Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball (Gamecock)
Maybe the best goofball game premise ever conceived. Certainly the best goofball game premise ever ruined.

 
 

It's true: Quality kids games are hard to find. Sure, there's lots out there, but few that are both good and genuinely kid-friendly. Fortunately, GamersGate online games portal has an entire section dedicated to quality family fare. Go ahead, check it out!