IGN: Game of the Month: November 2007
Game of the Month: November 2007
Give thanks for a month of fantastic gaming.
November 30, 2007 - At the end of each month, the IGN Xbox team likes to toss every recently released game on the floor, put on blind folds, and take a ball hammer to the small pile of games we've reviewed. Whichever game has the guts to stay in one piece wins the Game of the Month honors. Shoddy craftsmanship is not tolerated around these parts.
Ok, so maybe our selection process is a bit more rigorous and involves things like using our brains. Since most reviews are only looked at by a single person, score alone isn't enough to win the honors. Our pick for Game of the Month is the title that shines bright enough to blind each and every editor with its sparkle. This is the game that we all can agree on and agreement is not something we come to often. If you're looking for a single game to play that was released this month, this is where to look.
Historically November has been the month that publishers choose to unleash their big holiday titles, and while Halo 3 did ship a bit earlier than many had predicted that doesn't mean that there weren't plenty of stellar releases to give thanks for. The month began with a bang, the biggest bang of the 30-day spread in fact, with Call of Duty 4. Later came the fantastic follow up to BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire, Mass Effect, an RPG unlike anything else that we've seen on Xbox 360. Then came Rock Band, a party game the likes of which console owners have never experienced, and Assassin's Creed a hot point of contention that some people are loving and others, well, not so much. It was a tough decision to be sure, but once the dust settled on the month of November it was clear that Call of Duty 4 will reside in more 360s in the coming months than the rest.
Why We Picked It:
There's one word that perfectly sums up the experience of playing through Infinity Ward's third (COD3 was actually made by Treyarch) installment in the Call of Duty franchise: intense. We've never been a part of a solo or multiplayer game that contained more moments of sheer adrenaline pumping action as what you can find in Call of Duty 4. You have no time to think, only to react to what the skilled AI is doing on the battlefield. For a real challenge -- and this is the only way that true gamers play -- ratchet it up to veteran difficulty, but only if you're prepared to spend the majority of your time on the ground, sans heartbeat. Though the single-player campaign is short, it's still an incredibly sweet eight hours that is supplemented wonderfully by a supremely crafted multiplayer offering that continues to expand as you play and excel in matches. For one of the best first-person shooter experiences on any console be sure to gobble up (Get it, because it's Thanksgiving? Duh!) a copy of Call of Duty 4.
Runner Up: Mass Effect
Developed by BioWare
Published by Microsoft
Reader's Game of the Month: Call of Duty 4
Developed by Infinity Ward
Published by Activision
Reader Review Quote: "Let me start by thanking Infinity Ward for returning as the developer of the Call of Duty series. I thought COD3 was a bit of a letdown in a sense. The game just didn't feel as smooth as COD2. Infinity Ward had a lot to do with that. Treyarch just didn't hit like Infinity Ward did. But my goodness is Call of Duty 4 back and better then ever with Infinity Ward. I have never gotten into a game as much as I have with COD4. The realism and sense of being there is unlike any gaming experience I have ever been a part of. It's almost as if I had joined the military or something. It's so incredibly intense and realistic." (Read the full review submitted by Tbones1331.
XBLA Game of the Month: Undertow
Developed by Chair Entertainment
Published by Chair Entertainment
Why We Picked It: "Undertow is a perfect fit for the Xbox Live Arcade. It's fast, fun, attractive and can support 16 players online. The concept is distilled down to the basics, letting the idea and its execution speak for themselves. At 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD), this is a game that offers enough fun to support the price tag. Grab a few friends and dive in, the water's fine." -- Erik Brudvig, Editor IGN Xbox Team