It’s August, which means that Madden has hit shelves once again. All of our girlfriends and wives despise this month. But thus far, the reviews for the new Madden have been 50/50. Some love it, while others hate it. If you are one of the 50 percent who aren’t in love with the game or are just not a fan of the sports gaming genre, Xbox Live’s Monday Night Combat is just the game for you.

The latest edition to the “Summer of Arcade” offering on Xbox Live is a class based shooter set on a television game show from Uber Entertainment. It’s a big bowl of shoot ‘em up fun that comes at a small price. Players engage in shootouts with robots and/or other players as they protect their “Moneyball” (which is very literal). The winner gets a hefty cash prize, while the losers just get shot in the face. Its humorous elements and over the top announcer make Monday Night Combat one of the sleeper hits of the summer. Most of the time, multiplayer shooters are extremely serious, but this one’s downright silly…and that’s a good thing.

There are two game modes to try. “Blitz” is the cooperative mode where up to four players protect their “Moneyball” from waves of robots. Aiding you in your defense are defense turrets you can build to your liking. For every kill, you earn cash you can spend on upgrading your turrets or your own abilities. How you upgrade decides whether you win or lose and it’s that strategic element that keeps the game engaging.

“Crossfire” is where two teams of six attempt to capture the opposing team’s “Moneyball.” It’s similar to “Blitz” in tower defense and protection, but now you have players running around trying to shoot you and your bots. It’s quite different than your usual “Team Deathmatch” and very refreshing to have a goal other than shooting your opponent.

The classes all have their strengths and weaknesses. Gunner and Tank are the heavy artillery, but aren’t very nimble. Assassin and Sniper move about swiftly but don’t pack the punch of the bigger guys. Assault is well balanced while Support is your team medic and hacker. It’s fun to mix and match the classes and power up with all the loot you make from blasting bots and other players.

The fun factor is great. Even though it’s a very tried and true formula, the fact that it’s a little more jovial makes this game one to play while everyone goes crazy of Madden. And for only 1200 Xbox credits ($15) it’s more than worth the price.

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