Dead Space 2 is a solid game and in many ways an improvement over the first Dead Space. The problem is, having traded up from small scale survival horror to full-blown action blockbuster, the game and the franchise, lose something.

Still, this is a damn fun title if you're interested in a deep action-RPG, especially if you expected very little after the wildly strange, often severely disappointing first game. And if you can get past the rough parts, it's exciting and addictive in all the ways you probably expect out of a good European RPG.

Still, this is a damn fun title if you're interested in a deep action-RPG, especially if you expected very little after the wildly strange, often severely disappointing first game. And if you can get past the rough parts, it's exciting and addictive in all the ways you probably expect out of a good European RPG.

Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games made in recent years, but it's at least partially because it was built on top of a solid foundation two years before, and this new target audience only gets to scratch the surface of that foundation before being thrust into a war with the Collectors.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is the epitome of what a good spinoff title should be. While fictionally unrelated to the Ace Attorney games, it borrows heavily from the best aspects of that series while adding enough new game mechanics to make for a completely fresh gaming experience.

Microbot is one of the most creative "space" shooters seen in a while.

It'll probably be years again before Polyphony Digital delivers another Gran Turismo, but I think it's pretty clear what they need to work on: treat all the cars with equal love, give players more options to fine-tune the AI, make driving something to be enjoyed rather than endured, improve all aspects of the online functionality, and re-prioritize all those features into something more focused on fun than a back-of-the-box list.

It's a solid add-on, especially if you don't care for the engineer and would just rather have solid FPS gunplay over the high-tech gadgets. It's not perfect, but the launch did go smoothly and it's a blast to play.

For fans of the hit movie trilogy, Back to the Future: It's About Time is exactly what we were hoping for.

Cataclysm is a love letter to fans of World of Warcraft, as it celebrates everything that made the original game so successful while carefully updating the old game to the new standard of play that Blizzard has set.

All in all, pinball is a pastime that probably doesn't make a lot of sense to gamers who never got their hands on a real pinball table - and playing a video game based on it will definitely seem pointless for gamers who never stepped into an arcade at all.

There are some interesting ideas here, but none of them come together well enough for a serious recommendation.

Following the first game's successful expansion of the universe, TFU2's narrative direction is a Death Star-sized let down. Thankfully, its polished gameplay generally overshadows this flaw.

Considering the blahness of the single player mode, it's somewhat surprising that Tron Evolution also has a multiplayer mode where up to ten players can play neonized, light-cycle-accessorized versions of deathmatch or capture the flag. Like the single player, these experiences are less than gripping.

If you're looking for the video game equivalent of War and Peace, look elsewhere; if you're looking for a few hours of unapologetically over the top, gross-out-heavy escapism, Splatterhouse is just the ticket.

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom is a polished and entertaining action adventure.

The immense quality of the track selection in DJ Hero 2 gets you by with a pretty solid score this year, FreeStyle and Activision, but that isn't going to last forever.

The immense quality of the track selection in DJ Hero 2 gets you by with a pretty solid score this year, FreeStyle and Activision, but that isn't going to last forever.

Its elegant simplicity will keep you engaged for hours without shooting, powerups, upgrading, leveling, dialog trees or versus play. The game's artwork delights and its music transports, making for three to four hours of pure gaming bliss.

And, like many of Kinect's titles, photos taken of the players capture all the ridiculousness. Kinect's launch-day racer lacks polish, and serious race fans will want to steer clear of its super-casual approach. However, if you're looking for a Kinect title with a fun, wind-in-your-hair approach to the genre, this one's worth taking for a spin.

The worst part about Vanquish is that it feels like the atmosphere and blend of action has somehow been underused or not capitalized on, mostly because there's just a single player campaign and some challenge rooms that I felt woefully under-skilled to even try and seriously tackle.

Even though there's almost a complete lack of strategy required to race, some wonky visuals on the console editions, and a conspicuous lack of split-screen play, I can still offer a pretty hearty recommendation for nail'd.

All in all, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is an admirable return to form on a franchise that I had felt lost its way since NFS Most Wanted was released five years ago.

With impressive visuals, fantastic online and social functionality, and heart-pounding chases and races at excessive speeds, this is 2010's arcade racer to beat.

Black Ops does well, mostly due to the sheer amount of exciting and fun multiplayer content, but I've got some serious concerns over where Call of Duty is headed.

Black Ops does well, mostly due to the sheer amount of exciting and fun multiplayer content, but I've got some serious concerns over where Call of Duty is headed.

Black Ops does well, mostly due to the sheer amount of exciting and fun multiplayer content, but I've got some serious concerns over where Call of Duty is headed.

If you're craving the kind of expertly crafted platforming only Nintendo seems to able to produce, as well as one of the year's best Wii offerings, you'll find DKCR as appealing as a ripe banana.

If you're new to Ubisoft's stealthy series, I recommend starting with AC2; however, if you've already bloodied Ezio's blades, you'll want to begin building your army of assassins in Brotherhood.

Even though there's almost a complete lack of strategy required to race, some wonky visuals on the console editions, and a conspicuous lack of split-screen play, I can still offer a pretty hearty recommendation for nail'd.

Everything from poorly-executed multiplayer modes that no one cares for, to the formulaic and dull shooting, to the car sequences that will get you excited for far too short of a time - Blood Stone is better than mediocre, but the only thing it really excels at is the Bond atmosphere and style. And that's simply not enough to carry a video game, especially one that its publisher left out to pasture.

There are a ton of new features as well as dozens of little changes that tweak the formula further and get that much closer to perfecting everything the SvR series has tried to do over the years.

There are a ton of new features as well as dozens of little changes that tweak the formula further and get that much closer to perfecting everything the SvR series has tried to do over the years.

For ten bucks, it offers an excuse to revisit one of the year's absolute best games and kill zombies.

The Ball is good effort with some interesting ideas. Unfortunately, the good things are undermined by some questionable combat mechanics, a bothersome, half-obstructed first person point of view and a half-baked story concept.

Rock Band 3 is a knockout in just about every way it can be. If you enjoyed anything from Harmonix in the past, you owe it to yourself to rush out and buy this.

Rock Band 3 is a knockout in just about every way it can be. If you enjoyed anything from Harmonix in the past, you owe it to yourself to rush out and buy this.

The game's simple control scheme fix eliminates the frustration, fulfilling the promise of the first title and makingSuper Scribblenauts one of the most fun, addictive DS games available for both the 10+ crowd and beyond.

Dead Space: Ignition isn't a great game or even a good one.

I really had hope for Medal of Honor and I was excited at the prospect of Call of Duty getting some competition, but I think we'll have to wait for the ex-Infinity Ward guys to be the ones to do it. Simply put, Medal of Honor is kind of a mess, and the whole is worth less than the sum of its component pieces.

Still, the art, design, and action go at least some of the way towards making this game worth your money, so if you've blasted your way through all of those and are yearning for more, then you should definitely check out the Shank demo on XBLA or PSN.

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future is far and away the best of this one-of-a-kind series.

As an experience, it might go down as a near-cult classic, sometimes mentioned in the same breath as Shadow of the Colossus or Beyond Good and Evil, but I doubt many people would put Enslaved on the same level.

With a hugely expanded perk system, new traits you can use to give your character both an advantage and a disadvantage, warring factions to join or make enemies out of, plenty of new features to dig into, and better dialogue, Fallout: New Vegas is better than Fallout 3 in many ways.

With a hugely expanded perk system, new traits you can use to give your character both an advantage and a disadvantage, warring factions to join or make enemies out of, plenty of new features to dig into, and better dialogue, Fallout: New Vegas is better than Fallout 3 in many ways.

With a hugely expanded perk system, new traits you can use to give your character both an advantage and a disadvantage, warring factions to join or make enemies out of, plenty of new features to dig into, and better dialogue, Fallout: New Vegas is better than Fallout 3 in many ways.

I really had hope for Medal of Honor and I was excited at the prospect of Call of Duty getting some competition, but I think we'll have to wait for the ex-Infinity Ward guys to be the ones to do it. Simply put, Medal of Honor is kind of a mess, and the whole is worth less than the sum of its component pieces.

For now, if you just can't get enough of Star Power lightning effects, checking your hit/miss percentage on the second guitar solo of a given song, heavy metal album cover-style art and design, and the Guitar Hero way of doing everything, then you won't have a problem jumping into Warriors of Rock. But if you want a wider range of tracks to pick from, new control schemes that more closely resemble playing real music, and a different range of features to go alongside it all, you're better off keeping your money and waiting for Rock Band 3 to be released in a couple of weeks.

If you missed Darksiders the first time or if you just stick only to PC gaming, then this one's worth a shot.

Having had my DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue experience so painfully truncated by the aforementioned bug, it's hard to comment fully on the game. It is possible however, to say that going by the entertaining action/RPG elements and the unparalleled humor of the game to that point, that Ron Gilbert's still "got it". Still, a bug that prevents players from finishing the game (and that as yet has no known fix) just can't be overlooked.

While the torch has been passed to fledgling studio 343 Productions for future Halo content and games, Bungie's final effort in this universe still stands as a fantastic final chapter to a gaming dynasty that's lasted most of a decade.

The game's a blast just like it was on the home consoles, and while the graphics will make you think you have glaucoma and other parts had to be removed to get everything else to fit, it's an acceptable trade-off to be able to sink in an arm-in guillotine choke on Brock Lesnar when you're waiting for your special ladyfriend at the grocery store.

Even if you're not a huge comic book or Spider-Man fan, you could do a hell of a lot worse than to grab Shattered Dimensions and play through it before the "real" fall season of game releases starts.

Even if you're not a huge comic book or Spider-Man fan, you could do a hell of a lot worse than to grab Shattered Dimensions and play through it before the "real" fall season of game releases starts.

It's hard to completely fault the developers for their flaws because they've clearly made some admirably bold decisions to evolve a franchise that's near and dear to so many. And while it falls a bit short, Other M works as both a Metroid game and Wii title that should please old school fans, while attracting newcomers to a series that deserves a mainstream audience.

That said, if you're a fan of this franchise who plans on buying the sequel, there's plenty here to sink your chainsaw-outfitted kayak paddle into. And, at just five bucks, the dead zombie to dollar ratio can't be beat, especially in this economy.

For the most part, The City That Dares Not Sleep is entertaining and fun. The only down side is that in comparison to the previous episodes in the series, it feels a bit shallow and short.

At $19.99, Worms Reloaded is a solid entertainment value-especially for those of us who love the smell of banana bomb in the morning.

If you're looking to blow up city blocks with a rocket launcher, Mafia II may not be your cup of cappuccino. However, if, like me, you're hoping HBO's upcoming Boardwalk Empire fills the gaping Soprano-less void in your life, Mafia II's ready to fit you for a nice pair of cement shoes.

If you're looking to blow up city blocks with a rocket launcher, Mafia II may not be your cup of cappuccino. However, if, like me, you're hoping HBO's upcoming Boardwalk Empire fills the gaping Soprano-less void in your life, Mafia II's ready to fit you for a nice pair of cement shoes.

I can't say I disagree; while this game serves up some very unique and gritty visuals, the story and action just don't come together like they should.

I can't say I disagree; while this game serves up some very unique and gritty visuals, the story and action just don't come together like they should.

I'd recommend Harmony of Despair only to the savviest of Castlevania fans, as they'll probably stick with the multi-player long enough to appreciate its moderate value and admirable, but flawed evolution of the classic formula.

Starcraft II is far from being the most ambitious or original RTS game this decade (or even of the last five years), but it's tough to deny that it's probably the most accessible and polished - and the online community and mod-making features will help it to be the most long-lasting.

Movie games have a generally shady reputation and as a result, rarely get a fair shake with the gaming public. Sadly, Clash of the Titans: The Videogame, while much more polished and ambitious than most movie-based titles, is still unable to buck the trend.

If you're looking for a game that will stick with you-and maybe even pop up in your nightmares- LIMBO is waiting to consume you.

Alley of the Dolls represents a still-funny but less creative chapter in the series that for some will feel more like a stepping-stone to the finale than a worthwhile chapter in itself.

Thankfully, a year ago the Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition reassured us that our fortune-hunting flashbacks were in good hands and now Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge Special Edition sends any fears we might have had left straight to Davey Jones' locker.

This sequel doesn't innovate in as many ways as it probably should have, but it does still wind up executing a pretty decent formula that serves up more of the same - plus just a little bit extra.

A game that can just as easily be played all day or for only an hour, is a solid, if somewhat safe addition to the franchise.

As well-built as Singularity is, it does follow a lot of the hallmarks of your standard six-to-eight-hour FPS, which may feel just a little too familiar for today's jaded gamer.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is the most fun you'll have with a LEGO game.

APB is a collection of seemingly solid ideas that disappointingly, just doesn't gel.

Developer High Moon Studios have done a great job with Transformers: War for Cybertron. It's not just about finally making a game worthy of the franchise, but it's about capturing the fun of the show, from back when we were kids, in a way that the recent movie-based games could never really hope to do.

Secret Files: Tunguska is a strong PC adventure game that's made a very successful transition to the Wii.

Alpha Protocol suffers from a lack of focus and its insistence on eccentricities over basic, solid action.

Alpha Protocol suffers from a lack of focus and its insistence on eccentricities over basic, solid action.

If you are in the need to go into a game and slaughter creatures in a mindless fashion, then Doom II is definitely for you. Do not expect top of the line graphics or high quality music, but you can expect a lot of killing and being killed as you play your way through the slaughterhouse called Doom II again.

UFC 2010 is an absolute knockout of a game and despite a few minor disappointments, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to pretty much anyone that's even remotely interested.

UFC 2010 is an absolute knockout of a game and despite a few minor disappointments, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to pretty much anyone that's even remotely interested.

Sky-high production values, Rockstar's signature style, and variety-packed gameplay that actually feels natural to the story and setting make this an easy Game of the Year contender.

Despite a few cracks and issues in the online play and a couple of missing features that would have improved the experience, SKATE 3 is still a fantastic sequel that really improves on the accessibility and style.

While the first game offered a frustrating gaming experience that frankly defeated many gamers, DII has solved all of the previous reasons for criticism, providing a true horror gaming experience unmarred by mechanical flubs.

Ultimately, Nier is more remarkable for the things it does wrong than for the things it does right.

If you're a huge fan of SFIV and would like to see more, this one's a must-have.

With some new social features, online play, or even some adjustments that more closely tie in the arrangement of enemies with the pace of the music, Beat Hazard's value could ascend well beyond the $10 asking price.

If you’re into old school games—and if you’re not, you’re probably not even reading this review—you will find yourself getting into the level design here, slowly making your way through each stage, besting all the little challenges you encounter until that proud moment you can make it all the way through to a boss encounter in one life, if you’ve been hit at all.

Just Cause 2 is an amazingly fun game, and while it's not the most well-rounded package, it delivers massive amounts of entertainment in ways that no one's really quite done before.

If you’re the patient type, MotoGP has a lot to offer, especially if you like the idea of hurtling down a straightaway at insane speeds in a two-wheeled deathmobile from the comfort of your couch. Just be prepared to grind to see your work bear fruit and get used to the idea of a pretty straightforward approach.

Metro 2033 lacks some of the polish we're used to seeing in AAA FPS efforts such as Modern Warfare 2. However, considering it pretty much came out of nowhere, it stands as a decent first effort in what I hope will be a continuing franchise.

It is familiar, despite its amazing additions and PS3 paint job, but if you loved the previous games, this one will rank as your new favorite.

Even with its problems, Bad Company 2 on the PC is the real deal, and it's definitely worth the money for anyone that has been a fan of Battlefield games in the past.

Supreme Commander 2 is the best game GPG has released in the last couple of years, but for us fans of Chris Taylor's best releases, it's just not quite enough.

If you've been looking for a good reason to re-enter Pandora and start looting and shooting again, spending ten bucks on The Secret Armory of General Knoxx is about as good a reason as you're likely to find.

Missteps or not, Heavy Rain’s legitimacy to the medium is a commentary against the often too-myopic approaches to game design—a quality that should be both recognized and lauded.

The Art of Murder: Cards of Destiny is a flawed, but entertaining adventure game.

Developers like Bethesda and Bioware seem to have found something that works with console RPG fans the best, and if Risen was an experiment to see if they can be pushed further in the direction of discovering the game all by themselves, I think we can call this one a failure.

Deadly Premonition, while lacking in the aesthetic aspect, is a surprisingly entertaining game.