Halo Wars

About This Game: A strategy game based on the Halo universe, Halo Wars immerses you in an early period of the storied Halo universe, allowing you to experience events leading up to the first Halo title. With the guidance of Serina, a spirited artificial intelligence (A.I.) persona, direct legions of UNSC soldiers, Warthogs, Scorpions, and more, each group having its own strengths and uses in battle. Adventurous commanders can also call upon ancient Forerunner technology, if they are fortunate enough to find it hidden throughout the battlefield.

In campaign mode, command the armies of the UNSC warship Spirit of Fire, with familiar and new UNSC units in its initial encounters against the Covenant, an alien coalition threatening to obliterate mankind. Covenant forces are also waiting for you to lead them into battle in multiplayer skirmishes via the New Xbox Experience. Call upon an arsenal of new and familiar Covenant units such as Grunts, Elites, Ghosts, and even Scarabs to defeat foes on the battlefield.

Game Genre: Real-Time Strategy

Content Rating: T for Mild Blood, Mild Language, Violence

Game Features: Players (1)

Online Features: Versus Multiplayer (6 players), Co-Op Multiplayer (2 players), Leaderboards, Voice

Available Consoles: XBOX 360

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Ensemble Studios

Official Website: www.halowars.com/

FASTERCHILD's Review: This is an interesting twist on the well known brand of Halo that we're all used too. When it was first being promoted and advertised I thought it was going to be a game that could only be played online with matches that were 50 players vs 50 players or something like that. I was really excited about it!

When I finally got around to playing it, I was pretty disappointed. It's pretty much exactly like Age of Empires, which I liked when I was a little younger, but when it comes to Halo I can only think of first person shooters. So, I am not sure if I only hated it because I thought it was going to be something completely different, or if the Halo branding doesn't fit this game at all. I guess that's really for you to decide. I think it is important for you to know that this game is nothing like the other Halo's.

Burnout Paradise

About This Game: Burnout Paradise is set in an open world called Paradise City that's packed with car-based action. It's the perfect place to hang out with your friends. You can seamlessly connect to their games, choose from 4 great online game modes or take on 490 challenges together.

And most important of all - Burnout Paradise is the game that's always changing. This year, it's been transformed through downloadable content. First the FREE Cagney Pack loaded with new online modes and game , then a whole new FREE game featuring motorcycles called Burnout Bikes and most recently for PlayStation 3 owners - Trophy support.

And that's just the start! Over the coming months, there'll be even more amazing content available to transform your Paradise City experience.

Game Genre: Racing - Action-Oriented

Content Rating: Everyone 10+ for Violence and Language

Game Features: Players (1), 2MB to save game, HDTV 720p/1080i/1080p, in-game Dolby Digital, wheel, Xbox LIVE Vision

Online Features: Online Multiplayer 2-8, Co-op 2-8, Leaderboards, Voice

Available Consoles: XBOX 360, Playstation 3

Companies Involved: EA Games, Criterion Games

Official Website: www.burnout.ea.com

Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box for PC

Burnout Paradise for XBOX 360

Burnout Paradise for PS3

FASTERCHILD's Review: I am a huge fan of Burnout Revenge which I used to play at a friends house all the time on their modded Xbox. I was extremely excited when I found Burnout Paradise for Xbox 360. So much so that I had to buy it right then and there. I ran home, popped it into the console, and started my adventure in Paradise. I was completely dissapointed!!

When you compare Paradise to Revenge, Paradise doesn't stack up. Even though they are essentially the same game I personally like the way that Revenge is set up. For instance, in Burnout Revenge all your missions are set up for you in a menu type style. In Paradise, you have to drive around forever looking for street intersections that have missions labelled to them. All I want to do is race, take out other drivers, and crash my car. I don't want to drive around all over the place hoping to find a good mission.

Another problem with Burnout Paradise is loading time. Everytime you go to your junk yard to pick up a different car it takes a million years! Also, they have to show you all the new cars you picked up on the way like a showcase. But, nothing really special happens when they showcase the new cars. You pretty much just stare at your new car for about 5 minutes while you get red in the face.

There are some cool features in Burnout Paradise despite all the bad things. For example, they have a feature called "Show Time" that is pretty entertaining. You can use "Show Time" at any point in the game and will get you out of missions you don't want to do anymore. This feature allows you to forever crash your car, basically. If you're playing on an Xbox 360 you press both the LB and RB buttons. Your car will start to flip all over the place and you can control where the car goes by using your joystick. When you start loosing momentum hit the A button and your car will boost back into action. The point of "Show Time" is to hit as many other cars as possible and get the high score for that road. Oh yea, and try to hit as many busses as possible. They give you multipliers on your score. Trust me, it's pretty fun to ruin everyone elses cars for a couple hours.

All in all, I guess this game was alright. I wouldn't suggest running out and buying it as fast as you can though. It's not so bad that I would return it, but it's not so good that I have to have it.