An addictive game that falls short of true success due to one major flaw.

N+ is a platformer on the Xbox Live Arcade, and it is just that. You run and jump and do nothing more. However, this is a more pleasing game than most cheap Mario knockoffs that are released every month by the barrelfull. The singleplayer is simplistic fun, with your ninja jumping off of walls, dodging rockets, and gracefully avoiding mines and enemies. The level editor is great fun (with the only notable flaw being the lack of an ability to play the levels of friends), and the multiplayer is fun for you and friends alike. The only drawback to this game is the difficulty. Some of the levels are pure evil, such as Master Control. While this will never keep you from playing is again, a little balance would have been nice. However, $10 is more than a fair price to pay for an excellent game that has endless replay value.

A truely innovative game that raises the bar for simulated combat.

Battlefield: Bad Company may seem like a simplistic knock-off of Call of Duty 4 at first. Soldiers run around a country, killing baddies and blowing stuff up. Then, you realize it is different: you blow everything up.

Story:
You control Private Preston Marlow, an Army recruit who is found guilty of undermining the Army's progress (in this case, by crashing a helicopter) and is sentenced to fight with Bad Company, a group of soldiers who have all slowed the Army's progress in Russia. The characters are all well-presented, with the squad being a great aspect of Battlefield's first true story-based game. The story also holds up well, with several twists and turns that bring back memories of Three Kings and several other war movies. The real draw to this game, however, is the destruction.

Gameplay:
This is a game where anything goes. Walls, floors, trees, and even the ground can be altered using explosives in the forms of grenade launchers, artillery, one of the many vehicles that are presented throughout the game, and much more. Destruction isn't just a gimmick, it is the game itself. Everything is based around deforming the environment in order to gain the upper hand. The only noticeable flaw with the gameplay is the AI, which is incredibly bad, but you won't notice it mess up when there is a cloud of debris blocking your vision.

Graphics:
The graphics in Bad Company are impressive to the utmost extent of the word. Sweeping vistas and polished environments are the main draw here. These graphics are arguably better than those demonstrated in Call of Duty 4. Not only that, but the water effects are the best I have ever seen in a game. Some people may be put off by an old-timey filter that is not able to be turned off, but it is a minor qualm.

Sound:
Almost no games pay attention to sound, instead choosing to take the easy way out. Bad Company is not one of those games. Hearing a bullet whiz past your head or a shotgun blast punch through a thin wall is an experience you are not likely to forget. The voice acting and dialogue are also excellent and bring the characters to life before your eyes.

Multiplayer:
Battlefield would not be complete without multiplayer, and the multiplayer here is a great addition and is sure to keep you coming back to the game for months to come. Gold Rush is a Search and Destroy-esque gametype that has an attacking team attempting to destroy two gold crates and a defending team trying to kill off the attackers. Conquest mode is also back, and it is probably the best territorial mode I have ever seen in a game.

Overall:
If you own a 360 or PS3, Bad Company is a must-buy that not only changes the landscape of shooting games, but nukes it to bits. If you are looking for a game that transcends genres, Bioshock is a better buy. However, if you are looking for a fun experience that you want to play for months on end, buy this right now.

Awesome

You know gamepro I just spent an hour writing a badass review for this and your site screwed me by not putting it up! What the Hell!

Awesome. A masterpiece.

To be honest, this is the best game I have ever played, hands down. There is just nothing bad to say about this, it is just so freakin' good! But let's break it down so you can fully absorbe the greatness. The gameplay is top-notch in single-player and multi-player. The single player follows the Master Chief, who I have to admit is not the most original character around. Think Robocop mixed with the Terminator... with REALLY FREAKIN' BIG GUNS!!!!! Anyway, the story is spectacular, and I can't give it away for anything. The multiplayer is an equally great experience, with a perfectly rounded co-op mode, some awesome, some lackluster arenas, and great gameplay mechanics. The maps range from a snow-covered wasteland, a box canyon, a hydrodam, and my personal favorite, an undescribably cool map called Boarding Action. This game would suck without good weapons, but it delivers. There are such old standbys such as the pistol, rocket launcher, shotgun, machine gun, and sniper rifle, but there are more. The needler is pretty cool (as the name suggests, the needles imbed themselves in enemies and explode) as is the plasme grenade. The vehicles are also well-balanced, ranging from tanks to aircraft to jeeps to what I can only describe as a flying motorcycle. The graphics are pretty outstanding for an Xbox launch title, showcasing canyons, mountains, alien and human ships, and some nicely done character models all extremely detailed and interactive. The sound is top-notch, with good weapon effects, voice acting, and sound effects. The music sets the stage for both epic battles, races against time, spectacular seiges, and even well-paced horrific encounters with an enemy that beats the hell out of half-life's headcrabs. Halo is overall an extremely good game that should not be missed. Pick this up now. Like, right now.

The biggest game in history

This is one of the best game I have ever played. It is not perfect, but it is still pretty damn awesome. Let's start with the bad to end with the good. The campaign is undoubtably the low part of this package. Voice acting is fine, but a flaw with the characters is that the animations are a bit exagerated. Sgt. Johnson should not be jumping three feet into the air just to stand up. Also, the graphics are okay, but not up to par with Gears of War or Mass Effect. The AI can be stupid sometimes. The story is craptacular. It starts off... nowhere. But, not all is wrong. The particle effects are amazing, the multiplayer, both co-op and versus, is awesome. The weapons have been vastly improved, now including the Gravity Hammer and Spartan Laser along with others. Although Halo Combat Evolved had the best story and single player, Halo 3 is a vast improvement over the disappointing Halo 2 and a welcome addition to the series.