"CASTLEVANIA: HARMONY OF DESPAIR"
(360, $15, Teen)
Side-scrolling Castlevania games, in which you usually play as a whip-wielding, dagger-tossing hero who bowls through undead creatures of the night, are always a riot. Thus, I had high hopes for "Harmony of Despair," which offers six-player online multiplayer. But it's about as uninspired as a game of its ilk can be.
The game plays like a somewhat hollow all-star tribute to past entries in the series, especially the excellent DS games. You pick one of several characters from the series' past and commence grinding your way to better weapons and gear, slaughtering evil minions as you accumulate money and experience.
The game becomes a redundant slog, often presenting you with challenges that are either too easy or maddeningly difficult due to muddled design. It's great to have the chance to get together with friends to play what has been largely a solo affair, but you'll need to find pals with a high tolerance for a stiff, clunky game.
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"MADDEN NFL 11"
(360, PS3, $60, Everyone)
One of the most oppressive negatives plaguing "Madden" games over the years has been the grim formality of play selection. The laborious interface stretched games to unreasonable lengths and made it so tedious to vary play selection that contests often devolved into dull rehashes of the same two or three plays over and over again.
The new "Madden" cleverly eliminates the problem by handling play calling for you. You take the call from an offensive or defensive coordinator, accompanied by verbal and written instructions of what to look out for, then execute it the best you can. The mode is optional, but it's highly recommended because it speeds up games and generally makes you a smarter player, with greater chance of success.
Another wise move eliminated the turbo button, causing players to accelerate and slow down naturally, depending on the situation. "Madden NFL 11" is probably the most accessible game in the series in more than a decade, although hard-core players may be turned off by the leveling of the playing field.
Also available on Wii, PSP and PS2.
"MONDAY NIGHT COMBAT"
(360, $15, Teen)
A lighthearted, oddball satire of the "Monday Night Football" spectacle, the multiplayer-focused shooter is set in a future in which crowds gather to watch armored, gunslinging gladiators duke it out with hordes of robots.
There are two modes to choose from. The first is a hybrid of capture the flag and dodgeball, in which you work with others to battle against a team of human opponents, clearing the way for your own robots to capture a ball that helps you earn a victory.
There's also a tower defense game, dubbed Blitz, in which you and your teammates face off against invading waves of robots that swarm in waves toward your ball. As you rack up kills, you get money you can use to upgrade your weapons and armor or build turrets that fend off the foes.
"Monday Night Combat" is a thrilling, joyous experience and well worth the $15.
