As a sequel to Microsoft's original-Xbox attempt at adding "edginess" to the basic concept of a minigame collection (AKA "Party Games"), Fuzion Frenzy 2 for the Xbox 360 has several things in common with the original Fuzion Frenzy. Most notably, about half of it is pretty lame.

Naturally, some of the better minigames of the original return triumphantly, like the Sumo wrestling in big balls and the Tron-like light-cycles stuff, while some brand new minigames debut, like tank battles and flamethrower Vs. ice cube challenges. They all clump together under the single "Fuzion" banner, again with half-and-half results.

Though Nintendo has found resounding success with the come-one, come-all minigame formula as exemplified by the long-running Mario Party franchise, Microsoft's dodgy mimicry of it missed the point back then and continues to miss it in this sequel.

As it turns out, there's a fine line between edginess and eyesore, sloppy and frenzy are not synonymous, and if you're going to call yourself a "family" game you need to endear the entire family, not just the Xbox devotees within it who suck up eyecandy and spew out HD accolades like good little grass roots publicists.

Furthermore, to be inviting to the masses, best to keep it simple, not too wrapped up in self-congratulatory graphical sumptuousness drowning out the view of the actual players; avoid the explosive, real-time lighting and stunning 3D speared dead by way-too-bright and the last three shades of dark, whack camera angles and dumbfounding perspective issues.

It's not all bad, however. As mentioned, most everyone will likely like about half of what Fuzion Frenzy 2 has to offer... but you have to pay (way too much) for all if it.