Shadow Complex (Xbox 360)

SHADOW COMPLEX follows two hikers, Jason and Claire, as they stumble upon a mysterious military base during a day trip. Claire wanders off and is eventually captured by soldiers of the base. As Jason, players must infiltrate the facility and rescue her. While exploring the base, using armor, weapons, and other gadgets to aid him, Jason learns the military group is planning an attack on San Francisco, which he attempts to thwart.

The game is a wonderful combination of classic side-scrolling, exploration, and explosive action. The environment is huge, and littered with tons of hidden objects such as armor or weapon upgrades, giving players plenty of incentive to explore. Navigating is entertaining as well, as players must make huge leaps or traverse vents to find new rooms.

Combat is very gratifying, particularly once you maximize the weapon and armor upgrades that turn you into a super-powered hero.  Although the game takes place on a two-dimensional plane, it delivers gorgeous 3D graphics. Plumes of smoke appear after explosions, while rooms inside the base boast intricate details. The game lasts roughly 6-7 hours, but players can also tackle the Proving Grounds, a series of timed challenges. Results are then posted to online leaderboards highlighting the best scores and times. Overall, Shadow Complex is arguably one of Xbox Live's best downloadable games.

Online interaction: Online interaction is limited to leaderboards players can view to compare their scores and times in campaign mode against other players around the world.