25 to Life (Xbox)

The plot of 25 TO LIFE features interlocking stories involving a family-man criminal attempting to go straight, a violent drug dealer, and the police (both crooked and upstanding) who try to stop them. Each of the 12 story chapters consists of a march along a linear path gunning down pretty much everyone in sight. With an assortment of guns and explosives, players blow away police, thugs, and civilians, spraying blood against walls and bits of brains on the ground.

The online action is more engaging than the single-player game: Gamers participate in 16-player, team-based matches, and can customize their characters with scores of unlockable clothing and appearance options. The action includes such staples as death match- and capture-the-flag-type play.

The game's levels are short, repetitive, and ugly. The single-player game offers little surprise or excitement, just shoot, shoot, shoot. Spray-paint a wall, use a body as a human shield, and shoot, shoot, shoot. It's non-stop tedious gameplay.

Characters swear profusely -- in English and Spanish -- in the dialogue, and the soundtrack of licensed songs is filled with profane boasting. In the end, 25 to Life is overly gritty and badly executed. Even adult players should skip this one.