essentially, Madden 07 serves as a wake-up call for gamers. Developers aren't going to devote much effort to those older platforms anymore. It's time to put your preferred next-gen console on that Christmas list.
XYANIDE BY PLAYLOGIC INTERNATIONAL (3 1/2 stars)
Platform: Xbox.
Rated: T.
It sounds like either an insecticide or an antidepressant, but Xyanide is a fun and frantic arcade-style shoot-'em-up, much in the tradition of Gradius and Geometry Wars. As such, its thumb-punishing difficulty will scare away anyone who prefers to blink occasionally when playing video games. The last few levels are cleverly designed and gorgeous, making the game more than worth its budget price ... if you can get that far.
TENCHU: DARK SECRET BY NINTENDO (2 stars)
Platform: Nintendo DS.
Rated: T.
"It is no victory to vanquish the weak." Those were the famous words of warrior-philosopher Sun Tzu ... or maybe just something I read in a fortune cookie. either way, it sums up the gameplay of the latest Tenchu, where every level can be beaten in five minutes, whether you're shrewd and stealthy or loud and inept. Sun Tzu actually said, "To win without fighting is best." He's right—don't play this, and you've already won.
PAYOUT POKER & CASINO BY NAMCO (3 stars)
Platform: PlayStation Portable.
Rated: T.
Not content to blend in with the myriad other video games cashing in on the trendiness of poker, Payout attempts to deepen the gambling package with slot machines and other Vegas vices. The trouble is that these other games are luck-based. On the casino floor, they manage to be fun because they pay off every so often. But since your PSP isn't likely to start dispensing nickels anytime soon, the game's only real draw is the poker.