Bungie's Marathon: Durandal finally hit Xbox Live Arcade. The PC port retains the action from the original while introducing a nauseating frame rate.

Players can approach the game in two ways. They can tackle its multi-layered single-player campaign, and for those seeking more immediate action can give multiplayer a try, facing off against three others in split-screen offline or going through Xbox Live to challenge seven other players in combat. Both of these modes work effectively, meshing together for the true Marathon experience.

The gameplay feels reminiscent of id's classic, Doom. Players move around a series of well-rendered levels, shooting enemies as they wander to and fro while snagging crucial ammunition and other items. However, Marathon offers some extra strategy on the side, requiring the deactivation of equipment or the placing of precious microchips on certain panels. The movement feels loose at times, forcing the player to wander off a ledge when all they wanted to do was stop. However, it still operates acceptably, particularly with the "quick look" functions and heavier-powered weapons in the game. Not to mention the dual shotguns rock.

Graphically, Marathon: Durandal looks decidedly retro, with poorly animated enemies and cool-looking weapon effects. Launching a rocket creates a disjointed smoke effect that looks silly, but still very cool. At the same time, the game runs at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second. This might sound like a positive but it actually hinders the game. Marathon moves a little too fast, resulting in unintended motion sickness.

Developer Freeverse did a good job bringing Marathon: Durandal to the modern gaming scene. Yeah, the enemies could've been smarter (sometimes they just wander into the line of fire) and the whole motion sickness thing could've been avoided with just a little bit of tweaking. However, the game remains strong, particularly with the multiplayer options and the deep single-player campaign. Check it out, but don't forget to have a plastic bag nearby. Just in case.