Xbox 360 Fall 2007 Video Game Preview
By Otter, published Sep 13, 2007
At this year's E3, Microsoft claimed that the Xbox 360 would have the greatest fall lineup ever assembled. With such a bold statement, it's good to know that they have the games to back it up. Although being the best fall lineup ever may be up to the eye of the beholder, there is no denying that the Xbox 360 makes a strong case.
5. Virtua Fighter 5
Publisher: Sega, Developer: Sega-AM2, Release Date: October 30, 2007, ESRB Rating: T
Virtua Fighter 5 is one of the best, if not the best, 3D fighters ever made. The best aspect about Virtua Fighter 5 is that it is balanced to the nth degree. There are no cheap characters; basically, any of the 17 characters can win a match. Virtua Fighter 5 for the 360 is shaping up to be the best installment yet with an updated version of the game and the inclusion of the ever so addicting online mode.
4. Half-Life 2: The Orange Box
Publisher: EA Games, Developer: Valve Software, Release Date: October 9, 2007, ESRB Rating: M
Half-Life 2: The Orange Box is one of the greatest video game compilations ever conceived. For the price of a regular next-generation game ($59.99), you get the original masterpiece in Half-Life 2, the two expansion packs in Half-Life 2: Episode 1 and Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal (a puzzle game using the Half-Life 2 engine) and Team Fortress 2 (an excellent multiplayer game). How's that for value?
3. Assassin's Creed
Publisher: Ubisoft, Developer: Ubisoft, Release Date: November, 2007, ESRB Rating: NA
From the developer and publisher of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" comes what may the next big video game franchise. In Assassin's Creed, you have to hide within the crowded streets and scale various buildings in order accomplish your assassination assignments. No other game is as ambitious as Assassin's Creed with its complicated crowd A.I. system and "go anywhere" level design.
2. Mass Effect
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios, Developer: Bioware, Release Date: November, 2007, ESRB Rating: M
Mass Effect has an impressive pedigree. The developer, Bioware, created the excellent Jade Empire and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Like Bioware's other RPGs, expect Mass Effect to have an intriguing story with some amazing dialogue scenes, a deep combat system (it looks to redefine the action-RPG genre by mixing the shooting genre with RPG and strategic elements) and a huge world (an entire galaxy to be exact) to explore. Oh, and Mass Effect looks absolutely incredible.
1. Halo 3
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios, Developer: Bungie Software, Release Date: August 21, 2007, ESRB Rating: M
Halo 3 needs no introduction. It will be the last game to the ultra popular franchise. Halo 3 has a lot of new content including the ability to alter the existing maps, record your game and share both of them online. Four-player campaign cooperative mode will be present as well. With both campaign and multiplayer modes being heavily updated, Halo 3 looks to be the biggest and greatest Halo yet.
Read a Video Game Preview by Daniel Kaufman