Midway's latest attempt to revive the hack-n-slash genre, popularized in the 80s by the original Gauntlet, walks a thin line. You could argue that Seven Sorrows pays proper homage by sticking to the decades old formula, but the decision to exclude any real innovation may lead to a rather bland experience. There's mindless, late night fun to be had with Live pals, but if you're counting quarters, you're better off revisiting the original on XBL Arcade.

What the critics say:

• Team Xbox (80/100) - "You may want to give it a rent first…"

• IGN (70/100) - "Hack and slash was awesome in the '80s, when the best game out was Pac-Man. While there is a certain satisfaction to be had at unleashing 50-hit combos in Seven Sorrows, many people will find the game just too shallow in this day and age."

• GameSpot (52/100) - "Seven Sorrows is an attempt to revive an old game, but instead it just seems really old itself. Those looking for some good hack-and-slash action could find a much better, deeper, more memorable experience in countless other games out there."

[via Metacritic; also available for PS2]