It controls like a dream, has a catchy soundtrack that is enhanced by the gameplay, and is just flat-out fun to play.

The bottom line here is that Assassin’s Creed 2 is one of the best games of this year or any other, period. The first game was great in its own right and this one is better in almost every way. Even the finale is brilliant in how it provides a satisfying conclusion to this chapter while dropping huge bombshells that demand the series continue. This is a gamer’s game from start to finish, and if you don’t like it you might need to consider a new hobby.

The bottom line here is that Assassin’s Creed 2 is one of the best games of this year or any other, period. The first game was great in its own right and this one is better in almost every way. Even the finale is brilliant in how it provides a satisfying conclusion to this chapter while dropping huge bombshells that demand the series continue. This is a gamer’s game from start to finish, and if you don’t like it you might need to consider a new hobby.

Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles is a fun game despite its short length. It doesn’t come anywhere near the scare or gameplay calibre of Resident Evil 5, but the visuals and replay value of this title are decent.

L4D2 may be more of the same, but in a thoroughly pleasing sense.

L4D2 may be more of the same, but in a thoroughly pleasing sense.

NCAA Basketball 10 is a very good game of basketball. Gameplay is engaging and fun, the college atmosphere is alive and intense, and Dynasty mode will still keep you busy for hours. But if you already have NBA Live 10, it will be hard to justify a purchase. The omission of any type of career mode is a real shame, and you won’t be able to shake the feeling that this is NBA Live with a fresh coat of paint. For any college basketball fan that does not own NBA Live 10, I can recommend this game without hesitation.

NCAA Basketball 10 is a very good game of basketball. Gameplay is engaging and fun, the college atmosphere is alive and intense, and Dynasty mode will still keep you busy for hours. But if you already have NBA Live 10, it will be hard to justify a purchase. The omission of any type of career mode is a real shame, and you won’t be able to shake the feeling that this is NBA Live with a fresh coat of paint. For any college basketball fan that does not own NBA Live 10, I can recommend this game without hesitation.

There was a lot of hype leading up to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and for the most part the sequel lives up to it’s billing.

There was a lot of hype leading up to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and for the most part the sequel lives up to it’s billing.

The bottom line is that for all its promise and potential, Dragon Age: Origins is a game that never comes together to be anything but a mediocre game with an interesting premise and a lot of issues.

The bottom line is that for all its promise and potential, Dragon Age: Origins is a game that never comes together to be anything but a mediocre game with an interesting premise and a lot of issues.

I’ve played worse Star Wars games, way worse, but I’ve also played better ones. This one falls solidly in the middle of the pack.

Nobody makes DLC like the team at Rockstar and The Ballad of Gay Tony is no exception. Like The Lost and Damned before it, The Ballad of Gay Tony offers up an 8-10 hour campaign for only $20. That is amazing value.

DJ Hero doesn’t stray too far from the formula that made Guitar Hero and Rock Band into household names, but it has a fresh quality about it that the former titles expended long ago.

DJ Hero doesn’t stray too far from the formula that made Guitar Hero and Rock Band into household names, but it has a fresh quality about it that the former titles expended long ago.

In the meantime, if scratching vinyl appeals to you, or you enjoy this style of music, you should absolutely give DJ Hero a spin.

In the end, Forza Motorsport 3 succeeds at offering up the best entry in the series to date. It should please everyone who plays it and beyond just making sim racing fans happy, the increased emphasis on user-friendly gameplay makes it an easy recommendation for anyone who is usually intimidated by sim racers. There’s a lot to do here, much of it is quite awesome, and this is definitely a game worth playing for racing game fans of any experience level.

A Crack in Time is essentially safe. It's a Ratchet & Clank game, which means it has high production values, a good sense of humor, a high number of explosions, accessible gameplay, and much of the same stuff you're used to from the games that have come before it. You can't really go wrong with it; it's a consistently excellent series, with only a few slight issues here and there.

Torchlight is proof positive that it’s often the simplest games that can be the most addictive.

After bringing the series closer to its roots in Tekken 5, Namco has continued that trend with Tekken 6 and the end result is a game sure to please fighting fans of any experience level.

The bottom line here is that as true hybrid games go, Borderlands is as great a success as there has ever been.

The bottom line here is that as true hybrid games go, Borderlands is as great a success as there has ever been.

The bottom line here is that as true hybrid games go, Borderlands is as great a success as there has ever been.

Overall, Tropico 3 is a fine city management game, provided that you don't mind that it's essentially just Tropico with a modern game engine.

Aside from some lingering issues with the gameplay and horrendous online issues, it’s a well-crafted game that should satisfy fans of the series, and bring back those who have lost faith in it in the past.

Aside from some lingering issues with the gameplay and horrendous online issues, it’s a well-crafted game that should satisfy fans of the series, and bring back those who have lost faith in it in the past.

Despite the few glitches, and the complete neglect of international play, FIFA has the best game play of any soccer game to date.