Back to the point though, Splatterhouse is actually more satisfying than the original games, even with all of the game's problems. In that way it's a successful reboot.

Black Ops is a must have for any fan of first person shooters.

Vanquish is a complete action package and like any other spectacle on this scale -- movies, books, TV shows -- it's crazy fun, even if it doesn't stay with you beyond turning off your 360.

Evolution's cool parkour sensibility, where acrobatics and wall-running are the order of the day, is hampered by its tendency to lead "Anon" to his death repeatedly.

All in all, NHL 11 is a excellent upgrade over NHL 10 fixing a lot of those issues that we've had with the previous games. Perfect? No, but getting pretty darn close.

Simply put, this is one of the best titles of the year, and marks not only a proper return of the Castlevania series for consoles, but a starting point that future games would do well to follow.

Despite some schizophrenic and disagreeable at times controls, with a few new console-centric additions to the already excellent life simulation gameplay, The Sims 3 does a great job of retaining the awesome aura of the PC game while appealing to the console gaming crowd.

Blood Stone is a solid Bond title and an improvement over Quantum of Solace, but at the same time, it lacks any real substance. The short campaign and lackluster multiplayer make this title more worthy of a possible rental than a purchase.

Undead Nightmare, as a single-player upgrade, is an exceptional bargain for the amount of new gameplay that it provides. But including the highly entertaining Undead Overrun multiplayer mayhem makes this a cannot-miss DLC purchase for Red Dead Redemption gamers.

While the story mode has its moments, the toy box offers ridiculous amounts of customization along with hours of varied open ended gameplay.

No lying, with all the new multiplayer modes packed into it along with everything else it includes, RDR gamers definitely will not feel cheated in the least if they download this DLC.

If you're looking for a lengthy portable game that will take you around 35+ hours with a lot of customization, then Valkyria Chronicles II will not disappoint. You will not regret a purchase and hopefully this series starts to pick-up a larger fan base.

NBA Jam is good for you. Find it, play it, love it.

There's a lot to see and do in Dead Rising 2, even after the credits roll. Loads of nooks and crannies to explore and strategies to develop. Money well spent!

As the only game franchise that my wife actually wants to play, I have no problem giving the Unwound Future a massive stamp of approval.

Did I thoroughly enjoy Halo: Reach? Yes, very much so. Will I ever watch a cut scene from this game ever again? No. Will this game continue to remain in high play rotation on my Xbox? Very yes.

NHL Slapshot does a great job playing to the strengths of the Wii, which makes for an accessible experience and smooth on-ice action.

I really liked playing Spider-Man: Shattered Dimension because every level seemed to have something different to do, and failing that, at least it always looked radically different from level to level.

If you love story driven games, then I recommend Mafia II, just don't expect to get the same amount of replay value as similar games already out on the market.

In the end, Mafia II has the makings of a quicker and darker paced GTA clone that is unfortunately short of greatness due to its forced driving and overall sterile setting.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days doesn't evolve the third-person shooter genre in any way.

But even though it's certainly not as huge as the second DLC, gamers looking for some new Red Dead Redemption gameplay with an expanded map of locations for gun-a-blazing enjoyment (and a great new weapon) should saddle up with the Legends and Killers Pack.

But LIMBO is easily among the best XBLA titles of the year that anybody who plays it won't soon forget for its magnificent art design, tough puzzles and dismally sad story.

If you are a fan of Tetris or Bejeweled and are looking for something a bit meatier, give this one a try.

While the character advancement scheme and tactical battle maps are improvements worth keeping, they feel almost wasted on unworthy antagonists in the service of a wretched storyline.

Dragon Quest IX doesn't do much to break new ground in the genre, but adheres quite closely to elements that have helped define the series over the years. Thankfully it does this very well, providing an entertaining experience well worth spending some time with.

For all it's faults, Blacklight certainly has the potential to be a great little game. If it can overcome the shortcomings of its design by adding on to it, and if it can get a much larger and more active player base, it could be a viable contender to Modern Warfare 2. Until that happens, however, it's not quite good enough to outright recommend, nor bad enough to outright dismiss.

While somewhat mysteriously a new developer was employed for the if-it-ain't-broke-don't fix-it Crackdown 2, thankfully all of the volatile fun that made the original game such fun for the orb-collecting Xbox 360 denizens makes the return trip to Pacific City.