METAL ARMS: GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM
Platform: Xbox
Backward-Compatible: Yes
Price: $7 used, $16 new

Master Chief. Marcus Fenix. Glitch? His name may not carry the same weight as these other gun-toting icons, but his adventure in Metal Arms: Glitch in the System is no less deep or challenging for a lighthearted shooter that features cutesy robots and a sophomoric sense of humor.

The core gameplay of Metal Arms is good old run-and-gun action, which, thanks to some jarring sound effects and stylish character animations, is actually pretty intense. Missions typically take place in large, semi-destructible environments and pit Glitch against a wide variety of enemies who comically scream in terror and spastically fall to pieces when attacked. Despite their goofy portrayal, however, your foes are amazingly tenacious, which forces you to strategize and maximize the upgradeable weapons to survive. Some interesting platformer elements, such as the ability to hijack other bots, add further depth to the game.

All this — combined with stellar voice acting, some genuinely funny dialogue, and a thin but entertaining story — makes Metal Arms well worth the $7 you’ll pay for a used copy on Amazon Marketplace.