Video Game Freaks

With realistic animation, and great attention to detail when it comes to physics, Madden NFL 11 for the Xbox 360 is by far the greatest game in the series. (If you disagree, we’ll give you a chance to sound off in the comments.) First, listen to our take. You can read the Madden 11 review at Gamespot, but we’re going to give you the info you need to decide whether or not Madden NFL 11 is the next game you should pick up for your Xbox.

If you’re a sports fan – particularly a football fan – you’re going to love the attention to detail when it comes to the teams and the players. The physics for the ball can be a little wonky at times, but not enough to take away from the game play for most serious football players. There are game play changes from other games in the series, but with a little practice you’re going to get used to them. The artificial intelligence is hopped up quite a bit in this version too, making for a much better single player game experience.

This is probably the best looking game in the series so far. When it comes to graphics and visual appeal, this game is like a real football game almost. For die hard football fans and occasional sports gamers alike, this is a great game to add to your Xbox 360 game library.

If you’ve played Madden NFL 11, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know what you thought of this latest in the series of Madden football games. The Xbox 360 version is a little different than that for other consoles, but those that are familiar with the series – and even newcomers – are going to have very little trouble picking up the game.

If you’re looking for a “real” mob game for the XBOX-360, you’re going to want to take a very, very close look at Mafia II. In it, you will play Vito Scaletta, perhaps not your typical mobster – in a video game or otherwise. According to the review at Gamespot, this is a visually stunning game that is chock full of mob violence. So, it’s not going to be a game for the little kids – or even the older kids with a queasy stomach. Beyond the great graphics, the fulfilling fighting, and the other details in the game, there’s the very tight storyline. That’s right – a mob game for the Xbox 360 with an actual plot. Who woulda thunk it?

In all seriousness, this sequel to Mafia by 2K Games is set for release in late August 2010. It’s a historic game, starting in the year 1945. The game is full of moral questions as you play the son of immigrants who starts off with a small life of crime only to come to be known by the local mafioso. Pretty soon, the stakes are higher than ever before for Vito – aka you, the player.

The voice acting is top notch in the game, really allowing you to get into the story. That said, even though there’s a huge world in the game that you can explore a little, Empire City falls a little flat, especially compared to games like GTA. Still, if you’re looking for an authentic look at the life of immigrants in the mid 20th century, this is a great little diversion. The XBox 360 version has received good reviews around the Internet.

If you’ve played Mafia II, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think about this Mob Game for the Xbox 360.

If you were wanting to try Dungeons and Dragons Online but didn’t want to pay, now’s the time to download and play. There’s FREE unlimited play. The initial download is a bit hefty (around 3 or 4 gigs depending on your choice), but it’s worth the wait. There’s a download helper so if you get stalled, you can quickly start it going again.

Once you download the game, you’re in for quite a treat. If you’re new to MMORPG (massively multi-player online role playing games – what a crappy title!), this is a great way to see what all the fuss is about without plopping down any cash or signing up for a monthly fee. There are some things to consider, however.

Once you start playing, you can spend money on better characters, bonuses, equipment and other things ala carte. So, you don’t need money to start playing, but chances are you’re going to want to plop some money down to really get into the game – especially if you got stuck on Misery’s Peak in the first section of the game. (Visually it’s a STUNNING adventure, but it’s a bit tedious and confusing after a while. Still, that might accurately reflect what that adventure would be like.)

In any case, if you’re wanting to try Dungeons and Dragons Online (DDO), now is the time. With it being free to play, you can at least start a character and see what the fuss is about for yourself. There’s a good chance you’re going to become hooked – especially if you played D&D as a kid – but there’s nothing wrong with a little hack and slash dungeon romp every now and then.

If you want to check out what other people think, there’s always the DDO Forums. They’re also a great place to get hints and tips if you’re new to D&D and new to DDO.

If you have played this game – and love it – let us know by leaving a comment below.