Keep in mind that this guide only covers games that were not released on any console other than the Xbox 360. A multiplatform guide covering these games will be coming soon.
Christmas Buyers Guides
WII | PSP
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-2
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft
The bear and bird are back. Banjo and Kazooie first graced consoles a decade ago in 1998, starring in the Nintendo 64 platform adventure Banjo-Kazooie. Nuts & Bolts steps away from the pair's platforming roots though, adopting a more innovative and unique approach, allowing players to build vehicles out of 1,600 in-game parts.
Our review said: [FULL REVIEW: Coming soon]
Braid
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1
Developer: Johnathon Blow
Publisher: Microsoft
We've seen some brilliant independent games available this year over Xbox Live, and Braid is right at the top of that list. At heart, it's a platform game - but a platform game with a twist. Players are forced to to manipulate time in various ways - such as rewinding the game - in order to solve puzzles and complete the game. Wonderfully unique.
Our review said: Braid transcends genres and brings more ideas and great designs to the table than anything in recent memory. Furthermore, the game has a wonderful unique look and sound that is just as refreshing as it is excellent. So while not everyone will ‘get it’ and it’s heavy cerebral nature takes a certain frame of mind to be played, anyone after something different or something challenging should definitely check Braid out. [FULL REVIEW: 9]
Castle Crashers
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-4
Developer: The Behemoth
Publisher: Microsoft
From the makers of Alien Hominid comes Castle Crashers - an old school, side-scrolling beat 'em up with a tonne of style. It's probably the most simplistic of games on this list, with basic button-bashing being the order of the day - but that doesn't make it any less fun. Easily one of the best games on the Xbox Live Arcade, and well worth checking out if you haven't already done so.
Our review said: Castle Crashers does two things, and it does them well. On one hand, it embodies everything that downloadable content should be. And, on the other, it embodies everything Braid isn't. There's no self-reflective analysis or highly interpretative game mechanics here - it's all scatological humour, cartoon violence, and sheer unadulterated skull-bashing fun. And, most importantly of all, it's polished to a gleaming shine. When taken in conjunction with other downloadable offerings, it's a model of what low-cost gaming should be. [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]
Fable 2
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-2
Developer: Lionhead
Publisher: Microsoft
A lot has been said about Fable 2. A lot of it by Peter Molyneux, to be honest - he even went as far as to give the game 9 out of 10 before its release. Sorry Peter, but not quite. Fable 2 is certainly one of the more unique experiences on the Xbox 360 - players can truly shape their world with their decisions, which fall into two distinct categories: good or bad. Ultimately, the player's experience will depend on how many bugs they counter - if it's not too many, then Fable 2 is absolutely delightful.
Our review said: While some more polish would have been nice, if you can look past the little things, then there’s a lot to love about Fable 2. Watching your hero develop and change throughout the course of the game is genuinely a fascinating experience – one that will see you coming back to the game to give it a second go, possibly even more. While – again – the ever talkative Peter Molyneux and his team at Lionhead haven’t quite managed to fulfill expectations, they have still delivered an incredibly solid product that will engross experienced players and delight newcomers to the gaming scene. [FULL REVIEW: 8]
Gears of War 2
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-8
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Gears of War 2 is a holiday blockbuster, in every sense of the world. There are lots of big men (we'd hate to see the results of a Marcus Fenix drug test), big guns and plenty of explosions. Thankfully though, behind all the bluster is some serious fun, for Gears 2 is one of the best experiences you can have on your Xbox 360 this year.
Our review said: Even though Gears of War 2 is very close follow-up to the original blockbuster, it has made a number of the necessary additions and improvements that make it a better experience overall. The campaign is a wild ride with some amazing sites and sounds, while the multiplayer experience promises to be everything that the original provided and more. While not as ‘new’ as the original, and with what seems to be a disappointing lack of polish, what with the minor glitches that have crept in, there aren’t many other experiences that will come out over this holiday period that will provide the same intensive ride that could only be pulled off by a skilled developer such as Epic. Gears of War 2 is one of the most viscerally enjoyable experiences you're likely to have this holiday season. [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-2
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Microsoft
The first Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved was one of the early releases that defined the Xbox 360 - indeed, many punters wouldn't have bothered with their big white box if not for the seemingly basic 2D neon shooter. Retro Evolved 2 retains everything that made the original game great and then adds some more. Fiendishly addictive and surprisingly deep, this one will have you coming back time and time again in an attempt to beat that high score.
Our review said: Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2 is a game that succeeds on many levels. Not only does it provide a great package of gameplay and game types, but it also manages to live up to the expectations set by its predecessor. As an arcade experience, this new Geometry Wars is definitely near the top of the pile, if not at its peak. [FULL REVIEW: 9]
Infinite Undiscovery
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1
Developer: tri-Ace
Publisher: Square Enix
JRPGs haven't traditionally found a home on the Xbox 360, largely thanks to its western origins. Things have changed this year, with several top notch role players hitting the console. Infinite Undiscovery is one of them. The Engrish title doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but that won't stop RPG fans from lapping this one up.
Our review said: [FULL REVIEW: Coming soon]
Left 4 Dead
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-4
Developer: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Grr, zombies, grr. If you aren't a fan of flesh-eating monsters, then you're best avoiding this one. For the vast majority of us though, Left 4 Dead is a fantastic and utterly terrifying slice of bloodshed. With a few friends and the help of Xbox Live, Left 4 Dead is one of the best co-operative games you will ever play - teamwork is essential if you don't want to die. People looking to play alone are best looking elsewhere, though.
Our review said: For all of its single-player shortcomings, you'll find that the fast-paced thrills of co-op action in Left 4 Dead are second to none. Do yourself a favour: grab a few friends, turn the lights off, turn the sound up and experience the atmosphere of Left 4 Dead. [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]
Lips
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-2
Developer: iNiS
Publisher: Microsoft
Lips is the Xbox 360's answer to the PlayStation's impossibly successful Singstar series. Players pick up a microphone and then proceed to belt out some classic tunes, preferably in sync with other players. It becomes a whole lot more interesting when players are intoxicated too.
Our review said: [FULL REVIEW: Coming soon]
Lost Odyssey
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1
Developer: Mistwalker
Publisher: Microsoft
Despite the lack of JRPGs on the Xbox 360, Lost Odyssey has struck a chord with 360 owners. The slow burning story is the definition of epic and will satisfy even the most hardened of JRPG fans. If you don't like cut scenes though, you're probably better off having a look at the other games on this list.
Our review said: While there is no denying that Lost Odyssey has some inherent flaws from a genre that refuses to reinvent itself, these issues pale next to the compelling story. RPG fans who stick with it will find that the many hours they put in are well worth it once the ending scene is reached. Given the technical and inherent design flaws, the game falls short of masterpiece status and it probably won’t ‘save’ the JRPG genre, but it’s certainly given us an experience that will stick for some time. [FULL REVIEW: 8]
Ninja Gaiden 2
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Microsoft
Let's get one thing straight - Ninja Gaiden 2 is not the game you should be buying your primary school child for Christmas. This game has more gore than the entire Friday the 13th series put together. Well, almost, anyway. Blood flows like beer at a test match, so you better make sure you have a strong stomach for this action romp.
Our review said: In what has to be one of the most unlikely comparisons ever made, dismembering ninjas, slaughtering fiends from hell, and taking on gun-toting battlebots has never felt so much like ballet. When one more hit will kill and there's still eight ninjas and three dragons facing you down, things can seem hopelessly frustrating. It's at times like this that one really achieves that true sense of flow, pirouetting from enemy to enemy, sending limbs arcing and shurikens flying, spinning in a maelstrom of fury, until finally there's only you remaining, standing in silence at the centre of an apocalypse. It's a powerful feeling, one still unmatched by many games, one that has to be experienced to understand. [/i] [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]
Rez HD
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Microsoft
Rez was first released on the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2, and quickly developed a cult following thanks to its individuality. Few games look like Rez, with its wire frame graphics. Few games sound like Rez, with its trance beats slowly building throughout the course of a level. Unfortunately, the game was discontinued. On the plus side, it's now up for grabs on Xbox Live, complete with shiny HD graphics. You'd be mad not to give it a go.
Our review said: for those with an open mind and/or an affinity for shooters or techno and electric music, they’ll thoroughly enjoy a remarkable experience. Furthermore, even if shooters are all the rage on the Live Arcade, there’s just nothing that comes close to what Rez has to offer. Even if you don’t buy it, it’s worth checking out. [FULL REVIEW: 8.5]
Too Human
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1
Developer: Sillicon Knights
Publisher: Microsoft
After a decade on the making, across several different platforms, Silicon Knight's action/RPG/adventure game, Too Human, finally saw a release in 2008. While the result was, as you would expect, a disappointment, there is still plenty to enjoy in Too Human. Be it the Norse mythology, intriguing control decision or the promise of future - hopefully refined - sequels, most players will find something to enjoy.
Our review said: Too Human is ultimately a game which attempts to bestride the generic boundaries of action titles and RPGs and mesh rich Norse mythology with a cyberpunk aesthetic, and as such cannot be faulted for a lack of ambition. The problem is that Too Human never transcends its origins to become more than the sum of its parts. Oddball controls, an unsatisfying story, and a general lack of polish leave the game soliciting little more than a casual "...it's fairly good" reaction. So while far from a flop or disaster, Silicon Knight's magnum opus will probably be remembered as a game which reached for the stars and almost succeeded - which is not too bad an epitaph, all things considered. [FULL REVIEW: 6.5]
Viva Piñata Trouble in Paradise
Release Date: Out now
Players: 1-4
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft
As one might guess, Viva Piñata Trouble in Paradise is a sequel to 2006's oddly-successful Viva Piñata. Players are given control of a garden, where they attempt to make it as pretty as possible in order to attract piñatas to the scene. Things haven't changed a lot in this sequel, but that doesn't take anything away from its charm. There are new items and toys for the piñatas to mess around with, along with a greatly revised multiplayer mode that now supports up to four people.
Our review said: [FULL REVIEW: Coming soon]
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