The atmosphere is great, the control awesome, the challenge solid, and the eye-candy sweet.

Since Deadly Shadows shares the same engine as "Deus Ex: Invisible War," you get the same gorgeous visuals, amazing lighting and incredible physics.

Has it all: fun, adventure, good-looking graphics, awesome sound, quirkiness, challenge, and an innovative inventory system. It's not as open as it could be and the constantly respawning bad guys are likely to grate on some nerves, but that's not enough to bring it down.

All in all, Bulletstorm was a super pick up for me and I enjoyed playing it more than most FPS games in the last few years. Definitely looking forward to a sequel if it comes out.

While the single player campaign isn’t a drastic improvement over previous versions of the series, the multiplayer goes the distance, providing one of the best experiences available on Xbox Live.

In the end, Mario Kart Wii aims for a high level of fun and depending on how new you are to the franchise; it actually manages to do that. There's plenty of room for improvement though.

Black Rock Studios' last title was Pure, an ATV racer that dealt out a phenomenal amount of vertical experience. Lots of tricks and crazy stunts. It has remained in rotation at my house thanks to a 10-year old that has long since eclipsed my own skills at the game. And it looks like the studios' follow-up, Split/Second, will finally take Pure's place in that rotation.

Dragon's Crown is a throw-back game that borrows heavily from side scrolling beat-'em-ups. The end result is a modernized interpretation of a classic genre.

There are plenty of hijinks and hilarity to be found during Ice Station Santa in the unraveling of the Santa legend, Sam and Max style.

Not only is it an intriguing game, it’s also fun. It’s like a good book – one that you’ll want to return to again and again.

It probably won't remain in rotation simply because playing it requires too much of a time footprint to make it a great portable game. As a portable port of a great console game, however, it is a solid first effort.

The save system is crummy.

Hell, it’s even fun at times.

Even with that raised expectation, C&C 3: Tiberium Wars more than meets my stringent standards for the franchise, and Electronic Arts’ EA Los Angeles team proves once again their skill at designing an excellent RTS title for the Xbox 360.

The days when the new Tony Hawk games were one of the highlights of the year are gone, but THUG 2 still offers plenty of joy for gamers that haven't left the genre behind.

It’s similar enough to Red Alert 2 to feel really comfortable and though there’s been a lot of extra things added to the toy box (and not all of them work), it’s still fun.

The gameplay is fairly solid, if a little elementary and repetitive, but does offer enough of a challenge in its specific career goals as to offer most gamers at least a little diversion from some of the more deserving holiday titles.

With the solid on-court graphical presentation, fast-paced gameplay and variety of game modes, many may actually see it on even par with "NBA 2K3."

As an opening act, A New Day did what it was supposed to: get me interested in the next episode even if the overall universe of Walking Dead completely depresses me. It's not that there's no happy ending; it's that there's not even real respite from the horror of what's going on. And that's exactly what happens at the end of the first episode.

The last great game of 2003 you've never heard of.

Overall great stuff and it makes you wonder how EA will improve upon this… maybe they should start with improving the corner kicks.

The game is not perfect but it's extremely well done overall.

With diverse stories and settings, great animations and overall visuals, and strong point & click gameplay along with hilariously smart-ass ribaldry that’s becoming the developer’s trademark, 8-Bit Is Enough is a satisfying series conclusion.

If you can deal with the control scheme issues and the quirkiness of the game, you will enjoy playing MotorStorm: Pacific Rim if you can’t, you probably will have a good bout of controller tossing after you get screwed out of a race by some nonsensical bull.

It warms my heart that SSX has finally made a full-on next-gen appearance and warmer still that it's so much fun to play. There's definitely some nostalgia playing into my opinion of SSX -- the original was one of the first games that The Armchair Empire received for review -- but even taking that out, I'd still say SSX is a damn fine title and definitely worth your time and attention.

Metro: Last Light is, at the end of it all, a solid game.

For hardcore strategy gamers Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth is a visual and aural feast but low on actual strategy since battles almost always descend into attrition.

There are a number of nagging issues I have with the online mode. First and foremost there are no basic features like friend lists or clan support.

My major complaints come down to 3 of the 5 members of your bridge crew (all of the male members… hmm…) who seem to be unable to perform any duties -- you have to push them out of the way and do it yourself.

It’s accessible, it’s fun, the graphics and sound are well done, has the crowd is the best out there, and has enough options and stats to mollify even the most rabid fan of “real” hockey.

Overall, I really like this game, but the difficulty really puts me in a tight spot - no matter how fun the game is to begin with, it loses appeal quickly as the game becomes insane.

Broken Age - Act I snaps closed just as things are heating up with a twist that I thought I'd figured out but then there's another twist that has me anxious for Part II. I haven't felt this kind of anticipation since LOST — I need to see what happens next!

The whole package is really put together with an eye on keeping it entirely consistent with its big brother counterparts, right down to the photo interludes between major operations.

Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds should easily meet the expectation of fans, even if it doesn’t really change the basics of the game. It’s the best looking iteration of the series and it’s just a relaxing way to wind down the day.

Although there are multiplayer options included, just as with Doom 3, you can tell that the focus was definitely on the single player aspect of the game. While the storyline isn't exactly gripping, the gameplay is.

Technical hiccups side, Project 8 is as solid as it ever was, and Neversoft is slowly but surely improving the formula without diluting it.

At this moment in time, Battlefield 4 is less of a work in progress than it was at launch. It's enjoyable for long stretches, which is a lot more than I could say for it a few weeks ago. It has yet to reach its final form but at least Battlefield 4 isn't a train wreck any longer (at least on PC).

No matter how you tee it up, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 is simply the best golfing game available today.

It's all there, it's just not all that different than NHL 13.

In long stretches, Painkiller can become repetitive. (By long stretches, I mean two or more hours.)

Touched! has enough thrills and weirdness to keep you playing.

On the Easy difficulty settings you might get an equivalent challenge against a patient recovering from a massive coronary or an unplugged controller.

It comes onto the handheld relatively intact, and the controls are solid, providing a fun, but certainly not perfect, experience.

Technically Jedi Starfighter is Starfighter’s recently paroled big brother, of the same gene pool yet just a little cooler.

While TSBO isn’t a major overhaul to the original Sims (more of a "console expansion" if you will), it does however provide enjoyable game play coupled with never ending fun.

It looks great, plays great, and with the addition of a franchise and season mode, gives you plenty of incentive to keep playing.

The sound design is simply amazing! If you’ve got a decent sound system, Frontline will rattle your bones and quicken your pulse.

The band playing the classic school fight songs, the cheering of the crowd and realistically rendered stadiums combine with the smooth animations that the 60 frames-per second NCAA Football 08 delivers for a magnificent gaming experience, including a perfect balance of solid running and passing controls.

A nice, neon-enhanced glow sharpens the graphical package, and the colorful costumes of many of the game's characters alleviate the rather dull environmental visuals, above and below ground.

TC3 will do what many other light gun games cannot. Convert fans to the genre. I'm a living example.

It's fast action, and unique, varied game play makes this game a blast and a half.

As in-depth as you need or as simple as you want. And with the multiple modes, great course selection, and unlockables, you'll be playing for a while.

Combined with the incredible sense of speed offered by the game, Midnight Club 2 will leave you craving more, and you will likely be up until the early hours of the morning trying to beat those pesky French sisters in Paris.

Once you become intimately familiar with the levels, Hitman becomes a lot of fun, and the game is practically made for infinite replayability. The problem is, getting to that point is so messy that it's more confusing than fun.

War has never been so compact and accessible.

I was hoping for a revolution, but instead, I found an excellent evolution.

These puzzles thankfully improve on the last episode's heavily unbalanced array of mostly bewildering conundrums. And after a not-so-funny fourth episode, the fifth raises its rib-ticklers to previous levels of hilarity.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition covers some traditional action game territory for sure but there are some memorable moments that make it worth a look if combo-based combat and exploration is your thing.

It’s definitely shorter than the first episode, but more than makes up for it with way more witty banter and thoroughly enjoyable gameplay with more satisfying puzzles than in the first episode.

At the end of all things, Darksiders II is a deeply middling sort of game. Too much to be a mere expansion pack, too little to be a full blown sequel.

It might have come a little late to the table, but College Sports 2K7 is definitely worth taking a look at.

The defense and prosecuting attorneys aren't merely suits with expensive educations, they're presented as warriors fated to opposing sides due to their professions.

Even though Luigi plays a central role in Dream Team, I'm remain unconvinced that he'll ever get the respect he deserves. He possesses a very special power -- to open portals to Dream Land -- that Mario will never posses, but Luigi still gets short shrift. Even at the end of this lengthy and great adventure, Luigi remains in the shadow of his brother. It's a video game travesty that has gone on far too long and will be repeated time and again, unfortunately.

An undeniable solid gaming experience that should be in the library of hardcore strategy fans. Any failings are mostly made up for in Empire’s shear depth.

Between the somewhat overly complicated nature of the game and the slow, dull battles there just wasn't a lot to get excited about in the game.

If you liked the Sims, Bustin’ Out is a great addition. Much of the series’ originality has lost its shine, but the mechanics and playability remain extremely good even though there’s not much in the way of plot.

And besides all the above, Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is fun. No matter how many times I died, either by my own misstep or some surprise awaiting my entry into a room, I kept on playing even when I was stumped on a puzzle or figuring out how to get out of a room alive.

It won't appeal as much to fans of the Mario Golf/Outlaw Golf/Hot Shots arcade-style golf game, but if you're looking to play "real" golf on a console, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 clubs the competition off the tee.

But with a great new graphical presentation and the immensely upgraded gameplay interface that really improves the gameplay, the first episode of the third Sam & Max season is an entirely unexpected gaming treat.

SSX is a great reboot of the series. While the game has some shortcomings, it does provide an amazing adrenaline rush and sense of speed you rarely experience in other titles.

While these elements may keep Just Cause 2 from toppling the "GTA government for sandbox supremacy," its explosive presence is one that must not be ignored.

The shooting is good and the driving/car combat/racing aspects offer a lot of potential to fill out the world even more. As is, Rage is still recommended.

Once it drops in price a bit, go ahead and add another point or two to the score, because it’s really a victim of poor pricing than poor gameplay.

Playing this collection on the big screen TV has left me wanting for more.

After some initial frustration, which I'll admit was high, it's really a game worth playing for the epic feel and chaos of open-field warfare.

The game should last an average player quite a while with plenty of hidden secrets and bonuses for completion.

Bustin’ Out adds nothing but positive reinforcement to the Sims legacy.

Almost like you're careening down the hills of San Francisco's city streets in a car with its power steering out of commission.

Despite the lack of supplements, Star Fox 64 still remains one of Nintendo's finest and most action-packed experiences; No two stages are alike, and the amount of alternate pathways and outcomes (like an ally from one stage coming to assist you in the next) allow for much replaying and experimenting for those who haven't mastered every nook and cranny.

Four turns out to be the funniest episode yet, with a great spy-spoof story serving as the gameplay background.

No matter if you are a fan of the old-school classic GoldenEye or playing for the very first time, the Wii has its best FPS to date in GoldenEye 007.

The execution of NID is spot on – you can't fault it for any control issues or presentation – and it's totally inoffensive and suitable for kids.

Beautiful and bountifully bloody, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is thoroughly enjoyable hack & slash entertainment at its finest, with plenty of crimson-colored co-op craziness to extend the gameplay hours even more.

A great game that any fan of shooters or third person games would enjoy.

Never taking itself completely seriously despite the seriously challenging gameplay at times, Aaaaa! is a great indie game that goes outside the mainstream gaming genre, possessing a “now for something completely different” attitude with matching Monty Python-esque humor.

While there’s plenty of new items that fit into the consumer demographics of the college-age Sims such as mp3 players and cell phones, and chances to experience full-blown Animal House-style college days, it’s hard to take advantage of those chances because if you’re serious about getting a Sim college degree, you really have to focus on schoolwork.

If you pick-up Mario vs. Donkey Kong expecting a classic Mario title, you’ll be sorely disappointed, not to mention frustrated. However, if you like puzzle games like "The Lost Vikings," MvDK should be right up your alley.

While it may not be the sharpest blade from the forge, Muramasa: The Demon Blade is still a finely crafted work of art.

Despite that engine tune-up that does improve some of the realism through the player physics, Madden NFL 13 plays relatively the same as its close predecessors.

On the normal difficulty setting most veterans of the genre are bound to find the game too easy.

This is a phenomenal achievement on virtually every level.

It’s enjoyable, but because of the top-heavy resource management it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

A great WWII experience as well as an exceptional game. The lack of multiplayer and a few discrepancies keep SWON from being a spectacular game but it still is exceptional.

While the game isn't terrible, it is a bit of a let down. With all of the sci-fi qualities that could have been implemented, it is a shade disappointing to see that the story didn't go as far as it could have.

As good a version of Bomberman as there ever has been, complete with a fairly interesting single-player adventure and plenty of variations for the multiplayer side of things.

Enough modernization to upgrade the old-school point & click adventure experience evenly mixed with the same amazing storytelling, humor and problem-solving challenges that the genre was known for make this a triumphant return for both point & click adventures and the zany duo of Sam & Max.

A great game that seems to be missing something, all of the great characters that we love to use.

Perfect Dark Zero's first-person shooter competition on the 360 is "Quake 4" and "Call of Duty 2" and it falls directly between the two.