Cubixx HD is probably a great game for people who like a challenge because as you get closer to the 50th level you have many more enemies on screen and tons of laser chasers following you so you really have to think on your toes or fingers, whatever the case may be. At the low price of 9.99 on PSN it's not at all expensive, but just not the sort of game I would pay that much for.

FIFA Soccer 12 is remarkable. It is addictive. It is fun. It is the closest a videogame has ever come to the real thing and it easily gets my vote for sports game of the year.

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures is definitely a unique experience that is perfect for families and is sure to be the hot item this year if it takes off like I think it will. The game is fun though a little easy at times, but given the target market, that's to be expected.

Overall, I strongly recommend Hector: Badge of Carnage to anyone who doesn't mind their comedy getting a little bit filthy.

If you're looking for more of what Dragon Age II had to offer, or you just like Felicia Day, Mark of the Assassin is a pretty decent buy. It'll only last you about three hours, but compared to the average movie ticket, it's not an awful deal. I can't recommend it without reservation, but at the very least, I can assure you I had a better time than I did in Legacy.

I enjoyed Men of War: Vietnam a lot more than I initially thought I would. The game design favors action and strategy over resource management, and the level of difficulty, while daunting for most, was a refreshing change from the more casual military offerings out there these days.

Rock of Ages is one of the cleverest PC titles I've played this year, and for only $10 on Steam, you really can't go wrong. I loved the arcade approach to tower defense and especially all the hilarious animated skits between chapters. Whether you play on PC or console, make sure to play Rock of Ages. It's great fun for the entire family.

Camping Mama's not a terrible game, and might make for a fun distraction for kids on the road, but the lack of replay value, simplistic minigames, and the animals dragging down the exploration make it hard to recommend.

Casual racers need not apply. Even when you try to dumb down the game with options and settings F1 2011 will prove too taxing for all but the most serious F1 racing fans. Bring a good sound system, a comfortable chair, and a reliable racing wheel to the table and prepare for the ultimate F1 racing experience you can have without leaving the house…or the country.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a linear action-brawler, and at some basic levels of design no more ambitious than your standard God of War game.

Bodycount is fun enough but seems to come off more as a late summer diversion; something to keep you busy until a "real FPS" game arrives. It has its moments, along with an awkward control scheme and a glitched grenade system, but Bodycount sadly ends up being just another disposable FPS, released at the wrong time, and destined for the budget bin.

FIFA Soccer 12 is remarkable. It is addictive. It is fun. It is the closest a videogame has ever come to the real thing and it easily gets my vote for sports game of the year.

Ultimately, Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is a joy to play and a surprising treat that is destined to be the most talked-about game of the holiday season.

X-Men: Destiny is a budget-priced offering wrapped in a full-priced package. By no means is it worth the $49.99 MSRP – which is a real shame given the excellent source material Silicon Nights had to work with.

All told, X-Men Destiny is both a damn shame and a massive waste of potential.

RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012 has a lot to offer those that have a diehard passion for trains of all types. It definitely adds some new features to the series that they will appreciate.

I have to say that I highly enjoyed Dark Souls. I'm a huge RPG fan and this is one of the truly exceptional pieces of hardcore gaming available for the console. This is not a game for everyone as it can be quite brutal and demands a lot of time to fully enjoy it.

Ace Combat has finally returned and it's awesome.

If you're looking for ultimate detail and resolution and perfect framerate then stick with your PC version of Crysis, but if you don't play PC games, or your PC was never able to play Crysis in the first place then the 360 version of Crysis is a fantastic port that uses their latest engine to deliver great graphics and sound and superior controls, all for only $20 in the On-Demand store.

Despite having no real online or real-time multiplayer, Burnout Crash is totally addicting and lends itself perfectly to that "just one more time" mentality that kept me up one night until sunrise.

I literally had to force myself to play this game, grumbling throughout the first 2-3 stages, but eventually the Castlevania-style gameplay and unique stylized graphics overcame my shattered expectations and I started to appreciate the game for what it is – a kick-ass, old-school platformer that will deliver hours of challenging fun regardless of its title.

Despite its nods to other genres, Rage is a solid FPS. It might not quite hearken back to the oldest days of id, but it points towards something even better. I just hope that it won't take them eight more years to make their next game.

That said, NHL 12 is a serviceable hockey game with excellent presentation value. I wish it were a bit faster and more fluid, but the increased control that comes with slower gameplay is nice as well. Owners of NHL 11 may want to skip this year's offering because the changes are not all that much different from last year's model – but if you were one of those clamoring fans asking for goalie fights, then your prayers have been answered.

If you were to pick SkyDrift apart you would be hard pressed to find any individual gameplay elements that have not been seen before – but as an entire package SkyDrift is a surprisingly fun and unique take on the racing genre and worth every penny of its $15 cost.

Sadly, The Gunstringer is rather short, clocking in at around 5-8 hours depending on your skill and dedication. There are plenty of reasons to replay the game, chapter modifiers, optional commentary tracks, and a host of unlockable bonuses, so you won't stop playing even after you've won.

This is virtual reality without the goggles and the gloves, and if you own a Kinect you should at least experience it once.

The level of challenge and degree of difficulty ramps up smoothly over the course of the game, and all passage of time will slip by, as you become immersed and even hypnotized by the dazzling graphics and stunning music in Child of Eden; one of the most original games I've ever played this year on the PS3 and certainly a perfect fit for the PS Move.

Rotastic is simply not worth the 800 Microsoft points it'd take you to buy it. With graphics, presentation, and gameplay comparable to a $1 game on a mobile phone, and with some of the most amazing, creative, beautiful games ever to grace the Xbox Live Marketplace available for 1200 points, there's no way this game is possibly worth what they're charging.

Nippon Ichi did a great job at creating a classic world with good old fashioned gameplay.

Whether you're a die-hard Spidey fan or just looking for the next great action-fighting game, Edge of Time excels in every aspect of game design with solid combat, fun navigational puzzles, and one of the best cinematic presentations of any Spider-Man game to date.

Whether you're a die-hard Spidey fan or just looking for the next great action-fighting game, Edge of Time excels in every aspect of game design with solid combat, fun navigational puzzles, and one of the best cinematic presentations of any Spider-Man game to date.

Rage looks like a launch title for whatever system Xbox is planning for us next. I still can't believe my six year old Xbox 360 is capable of delivering the graphics and the gameplay I've been enjoying for the past week. Rage is much more than just the best FPS experience I've had in 2011; it is a pivotal and redefining moment for the future of game design that will push your console further than anyone though it could go. You don't want to miss this.

As I said before, it may not be perfect, but it's a step in the right direction for the genre. It'll be interesting to see what improvements come to the game as the minor bugs are ironed out. And even more interesting will be where we go next, now that Nuclear Dawn has shown us what a game is capable of doing.

Overall, the amount of different play modes both online and offline are staggering. There is something for just about everyone and when you get tired of one mode there is something different to explore.

For the low price of $10 though I can look past the issues with Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and play it even as is just for the pure bloody fun it was. If you want to relive your childhood then this is one of the arcade packs I suggest you buy before any other because let's face, everyone wanted to be Liu kang or Sub-Zero at one point or another, and this is as close as you're going to get. Not counting the brand new versions with HD graphics and killer X-Ray moves.

I stopped having "true fun" about halfway through X-Men: Destiny and sadly finished out of obligation and a curiosity to see how the story would unfold. Hopefully, if you're a bigger fan of the X-Men franchise than I am you'll have a better time. Casual gamers should probably skip – this is one for true X-Men aficionados.

I stopped having "true fun" about halfway through X-Men: Destiny and sadly finished out of obligation and a curiosity to see how the story would unfold. Hopefully, if you're a bigger fan of the X-Men franchise than I am you'll have a better time. Casual gamers should probably skip – this is one for true X-Men aficionados.

Until then, Driver: San Francisco is without a doubt, one of the most entertaining, innovative, and challenging racing games you can play on your console or PC.

My biggest complaints with Kill Team are the length – it's needs to be about twice as long, and the local-only co-op mode that doesn't allowed the second player to log in with their gamer profile. This means that only the primary player earns achievements. Despite these two glaring flaws, Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team is a total blast for as long as it lasts, and one of the best co-op experiences I've had on XBLA ever.

It is definitely a more personal experience than Killzone 3 or even past Resistance games, with a more focused story and linear mission path featuring higher stakes - fighting for family, friends, and the entire world.

There are enough new changes, small and refined as they are, to recommend this game to the yearly throng of loyal fans who are likely going to buy Madden NFL 12 regardless of what I say. For everyone else, I'd wait until next year and see what happens.

All told, Tropico 4 is a good game. While it might not have revolutionized the series, it does a good job of fleshing out some of the options that Tropico 3 lacked.

Overall, I strongly recommend Hector: Badge of Carnage to anyone who doesn't mind the comedy, and for those who were on the fence about continuing the series after the first episode, episode two does not disappoint.

If you're a fan of the Warhammer 40k machine or just looking for some good old fashioned action then look no further than Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine for PC.

If you were looking for the next out of this world action-RPG, The Baconing should be your next purchase, only costing about 15$ with its amazing characters and wacky humor I found this to be one of the better Deathspank games I have played.

Street Fighter III: Third Strike - Online Edition is not a game for everyone. This is for the die-hard Street Fighter gamers that are looking to relive their childhood and to improve their skills by fighting real opponents and move up in the online leaderboards.

In the end, both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are must-have games for any gamer; from the newbies to the serious collectors. The fact that Sony saw fit to re-release these two epic masterpieces on one disc and at a bargain price, is simply a bonus. Get out and get this colossal pairing before Sony takes them out of print.

In short, if you liked The Sims Medieval, you're likely to find Pirates & Nobles pretty fun, too-as long as you keep in mind that it's an adventure pack, not an honest-to-goodness expansion. Hopefully, they'll iron out the bugs in upcoming patches, and maybe we'll eventually have the interactive swashbuckling action many of us were looking forward to. In the meantime, this quest pack will do.

If you're looking for an awesome co-op experience then Crimson Alliance is a must have.

All told, Space Marine is a very well-made game, and perhaps the first that truly lives up to THQ's promise of blockbuster-quality cinematic games.

Overall, I would say that if you are a fan of explosive, blockbuster-style gameplay with a lot of blood, guts, and glory, then this is most definitely your game. Even if the gameplay was linear, I was most satisfied by the blood of my enemies, which covered my armor and dripped, like so much wine, from my sword.

The God of War: Origins Collection has recaptured that magic that I fell in love with nearly six years ago. This is an addition to your PS3 collection that any God of War fan can't be without.

With all sorts of fun score challenges, bonus fruits, combo rewards, and that big red fruit at the end of each session where you get to go crazy, Fruit Ninja Kinect is a great way to liven up any party or gaming night. And if you have younger kids; they are going to go Fruit Ninja crazy for this game. It's a bit over-priced, but still a worthy addition to your XBLA collection.

An amazing game, the likes of which we haven't seen in over ten years. If you're at all interested in cyberpunk, transhumanism, action, stealth, exploration, conspiracy theories, roleplaying, futurism, or old-school PC gaming, pick up Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Human Revolution surpasses the original in every way possible and redefines the Action-RPG for a new generation of gamers and game designers.

Still, if you aren't normally a fan of a style of play that involves pushing yourself to your limits and beating your old scores, you may want to consider Two Tribes' other offerings over this, especially Toki Tori.

Bastion is one of the most original titles I've played in quite some time. From the charming graphics to the smooth vibes of the narrator perfectly blended with a magical soundtrack, and the 10-12 hours of action-packed exploration and combat, Bastion is like kicking back with your favorite interactive storybook.

Given the relatively short game length (even for an XBLA title) and little incentive for replay, I think 800 points would have been a much fairer asking price. Regardless, this is one XBLA title you don't want to miss.

As long as you know this game has nothing to do with the Wild West and don't mind playing just another mindless FPS game with a vulgar script it's probably worth a rental, or possibly a budget purchase if you have some really low standards.

For fans of the films, you can hardly go wrong with the Back to the Future adventure games. If you've already bought the first, then you know the kind of quality you're in for. If you've waited to see if the entire series holds together, well, it does. Either way, it still holds up, and if you want to play through it all in one go, now's the time.

For the price, it's not a bad addition, but as a fan of the game's narrative and someone who followed the 'press A until you're done' method of combat, there wasn't much for me. Fans of dungeons and battles will, of course, vary, so whether Legacy is worth your dollar depends very much on what parts of the game you enjoyed.

If you are looking for a challenging puzzle game that blends in cool anime, amazing social dynamics, moral choices, and one hell of a crazy-ass story with a twisted ending (eight of them) then look no further than Catherine.

If you want something unique, look no further than Catherine.

This is mobile entertainment at its best.

Puzzle Agent 2 definitely was a fun experience though I felt that it was over way too fast. Don't get me wrong; I actually really enjoyed the experience and for $10 dollars the price can't be beat. I definitely would look forward to another sequel. Puzzle Agent 2 has the right blend of suspense, puzzle solving, and Minnesota charm; don't you know.

Puzzle Dimension is a highly enjoyable experience that is remarkably beautiful and totally engaging with its challenging puzzles. The puzzle designs are ingenious and sometimes frustrating, but once you solve them its instant gratification. This is Doctor Entertainment's first release and if their next one is as stunning as Puzzle Dimension I will definitely be on the bandwagon. I highly recommend picking up Puzzle Dimension for some pure fun in a dimension all its own.

When put against some of the other excellent Summer of Arcade games, From Dust isn't for everyone. It's a fully unique experience, with a pace and style that might turn some people off. But for people willing to play a more meditative game, a god game without much building or even very terrific amounts of power, and people who're interested in games as art, From Dust is a beautiful experience and one of the best ways to spend $15 in Microsoft Spacebucks.

Limbo will assault your senses and challenge your intellect with one of the best puzzle-adventure games I've ever played on any system.

It may feel like a minor upgrade, but NCAA Football 12 really adds the eye candy graphics to make it compete with other sports games this year. NCAA Football 12 takes us to the next level of depth and authenticity with new Game Day traditions, improved Road to Glory mode, and a ton of little detail improvements that make it a real joy for any college football fan to play. All that's missing is the tailgate party.

Mario Kart finally gets some next-gen competition. Cars 2 delivers a fast, fun, challenging, and completely family-friendly (and family focused) racing game. It might look like a kiddie game on the outside, but there is some serious racing and some serious fun lurking under the hood for anybody who wants to play as their favorite animated automobile. Cars 2 is one wild ride!

Scary or not, F.E.A.R. 3 is an excellent FPS that delivers on all fronts – an excellent single player experience, drop-in campaign-based co-op, multiplayer player vs. bot co-op, and even player vs. player competitive fun – and it does it all in a unique and refreshing manner.

F.E.A.R. 3 is a fantastic FPS game that blends exciting combat with plenty of scares and non-stop suspense.

If you are looking for something to keep you going until Diablo III or Skyrim arrives then Dungeon Siege III might be the RPG filler you are looking for this summer. Personally, I found it an insult to the Dungeon Siege name, lacking any semblance to the previous games in the franchise. Perhaps if they had changed the name they could have avoided comparisons and disappointment, but alas, this is what we got and if you're like me, you probably won't like it.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Stealth Force Edition should be avoided entirely.

For only 1200 MS Points ($15) you are going to experience one of the more original XBLA titles I've played on the Xbox 360 in quite some time. From the charming graphics to the smooth vibes of the narrator perfectly blended with a magical soundtrack, and the 10-12 hours of action-packed exploration and combat, Bastion is a great way to kick off the Summer of Arcade.

If you're a fan of Gundam and some good old fashioned Dynasty Warriors action I definitely recommend buying Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3.

The game has its own circle of fans and I'm glad that the developers have made it even better with every new addition and will continue to do so. Priced decently at 59.99$ I can see any fan paying for this without a problem but can't imagine too many gamers picking it up if they haven't heard of it before. This is one hack-and-slash game that I won't be putting down anytime soon.

For 800ms points ($10), Shuggy might seem like it is a tad overpriced based simply on the screenshots, but I encourage gamers to give the demo a trial run to see if the unique gameplay is as appealing to them as it i to me. Considering the game has over 100 levels and even supports local co-op play, $10 goes a long way.

This is not a game worth buying for anything other than the amusing oddity of having a Harry Potter-themed cover shooter. It's a short game, but it still doesn't have the variety in environments that a shooter needs to avoid becoming unacceptably repetitive.

So if you have an hour to kill and want to seriously put the hurt on some space zombies I would recommend D.A.R.K for you.

It's cool to see how the character models and graphics have changed through the years, and makes the entire series feel less like a movie game cash-in, and more like a separate journey for Harry that went alongside the films and books. It was touching in an odd way and a nice farewell to the game franchise. After all is said and done though, I'm still glad to see it end. It's still a way to sell a video game with Daniel Radcliffe on the cover, and unfortunately no touching montage is going to change that.

If you love those old 50's and 60's movies with aliens or giant insects then Earth Defense Force: Alien Armageddon has an endless supply of both, mixed with exciting gameplay, and even a bit of thoughtful strategy when it comes to choosing your class, customizing their weapons, and prioritizing your targets. Play it alone or play it with friends…just make sure you play it.

The biggest thing lacking though is structure. There are no tournaments or event series for you to compete in. Every race is a single race and it just gets so boring to the casual race fan. All of these annoying gameplay issues plus the horrible so-called HD graphics really makes it hard for me to recommend this game to any but the most faithful fans of the franchise. There are brief moments of fun, but with all the other racing games out there you might want to look at one of those before buying or even renting this one.

Dungeon Siege III might not be the best dungeon crawler ever to have graces the world of gaming – but it is a very accessible introduction for those who might be new to the genre.

Frustrating at times, but totally original and completely hilarious throughout, Shadows of the Damned is one of the cleverest, naughtiest, most brilliantly constructed games I've played this year.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River isn't the most accessible military FPS game out there, but it certainly is one of the most realistic you'll find on the console if you're up for the challenge. Obviously, sim purists will want to play on the PC where sharper graphics and finer mouse controls will prevail, but mission for mission, and for overall gameplay, both solo and co-op, Red River is a great ride for those with the tactical precision and patience to play.

The level of challenge and degree of difficulty ramps up smoothly over the course of the game, and all passage of time will slip by, as you become immersed and even hypnotized by the dazzling graphics and stunning music in Child of Eden; one of the most original games I've ever played on the Xbox 360, with or without the Kinect.

Combined with the first, the Infamous saga is some of the best action gaming you can experience, and it's exclusive to the PS3.

Finally, adding some longevity to the game, Under Siege includes a fairly powerful level editor that's at least on par with most PC games. While the game's light on actual strategy and heavy on micromanagement and instant to instant tactics, it's still not a bad choice for people looking for quick, RTS-style skirmishes on the PS3.

The PC version is definitely preferred over the console versions with better graphics, shorter load times, and a $10 savings off the retail price. Play with a controller and you'll be playing the 360 version that all Xbox owners wish they could be playing.

The PC version is definitely preferred over the console versions with better graphics, shorter load times, and a $10 savings off the retail price. Play with a controller and you'll be playing the 360 version that all Xbox owners wish they could be playing.

Expect 15-20 hours of gameplay just to get through the game and that's not including any replays for secrets, alternate paths, or checking out any of the secrets or unlocks. The 3rd Birthday rivals a lot of console action-RPG's these days, and while it probably would have played better and received a wider audience on the PS3, I have to commend Square Enix for publishing a fantastic sequel and an exceptional gameplay experience on the PSP that any fan of the genre or the series should definitely check out.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is one of the finest examples of how great an RPG can be.

Generations goes for the typical expansion suggested retail price of $39.99 and may be hit or miss for you, depending on what you like about The Sims 3 and whether you'd appreciate the more understated improvements of this expansion pack.

Treasure Seeker: Follow the Ghosts is a must-have game for any fans of the series and a should-have for anyone with a taste for puzzles solving. With exceptional visuals and engaging touch-screen gameplay this is one of those games that can offer a challenge to those who think they can handle it and also make for a perfect casual gaming experience.

Despite the disappointing graphics and the frustrating gameplay I have to admit I still had some fun with Hunted: The Demon's Forge, both playing alone and cooperatively. The splitscreen sucks but I guess those without Internet still deserve their chance to play with a friend, and at least you only need one copy of the game. Considering we don't have any Army of Two or Kane and Lynch titles coming out this year, Hunted may be your only alternative for true two-player co-op gameplay. If you can get past the design issues there is a good time to be had, but I'd still probably rent or at least wait for the price to drop.

DiRT 3 is the best rally game I've played to date, both in realistic handling and performance and especially in its visual and audio presentation, which can only be described as perfection. A lengthy solo career and some amazingly fun and addictive multiplayer await anyone who dares climb behind the wheel of any of the powerful off-road vehicles you can drive in DiRT 3. No true race fan should miss this game.

I am a diehard Transformers fan ever since the original G1 series and I can't believe such a staple of the series is missing. With the lack of features, average graphics, acceptable sound, and a completion time of less than 7 hours, I'd say Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Stealth Force Edition is a budget title at best but nothing an avid gamer or hardcore fan would take seriously, especially with the 50$ price tag.