It seems that Madden has finally caught up to the new generation. Madden NFL 10 is a hit, and football fans everywhere will rejoice at what it has to offer.

An excellent fighter for both fighting amateurs and steeled veterans. The numerous tutorials, challenges, and inclusion of the Beginner's Mode will help newcomers, while the deep fighting system will keep fighting fans busy.

Lord of the Rings was already the second best MMO on the market in terms of quality, and Mines of Moria has done nothing to hurt that claim.

Crysis 2 does little to create new material in the genre, though it cobbles together disparate gameplay elements that do create a level of interest that another modern Middle East liberation sim can't.

No matter how you slice it, Soulcalibur IV is a great game--even for those who don't consider themselves hardcore fans of the fighting genre.

Reminds us how interactivity, perspective, and player disempowerment can be highly engaging, and that a slow creep of fear with abrupt spikes of terror is ultimately the essence of the horror experience.

No matter how you slice it, Soulcalibur IV is a great game--even for those who don't consider themselves hardcore fans of the fighting genre.

Chariots of the Dogs is the highlight of the second season thanks to an excellent and interweaving storyline, which patches up several loose-ends and introducing a few new characters.

MvC3 is the same crazy, over-the-top fighting game that fans loved back in 2000, just with a fresh control scheme and a new coat of 3D, hi-res paint. Fighting game fans will fall in love with the "easy to play, hard to master" format.

This is excellent, independent game design - a small, self-contained, and awesome experience, easily justifying the $20 asking price

Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a great game for anyone who enjoys brain-teasers. It can become highly addictive, and is perfect for micro- game sessions. It's a great overall presentation.

Obviously a work of passion, Audiosurf is a game that must not be missed by anyone, especially with an above average interest in music.

In the end, despite a few minor flaws and annoyances, Dead Rising is easily one of the best games of the year, and I haven't had as much fun playing a video game in a long, long time.

NCAA Football 2011 is slowly creeping into elite sports game territory.

A great edition to the Madden series. This is definitely the year to buy if you haven't in a while. Keep in mind if you have to choose, the 360 version is the one to get.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a great amalgamation of the genres and games it combines. It makes sure they all come together effortlessly, but it never really owns the gameplay it borrows. It's a fun game, but not a revolution.

In the end, it's more of the same with some added critters. If you're hankerin' for a batch of Pokemon on the DS, pick it up. If you haven't beaten the other versions, though, you may want to go the cheaper route.

While the barebones gameplay options and lack of flash may make VF5 seem like a stripped title, that couldn't be further from the truth. While we don't get beautiful cinematics, dozens of characters or a bunch of gimmicky modes to keep us busy, we do get the solidest fighter we've had in a very long time, and what may be the best single player mode in any fighter to date.

FFIV DS is a winner. Not only is it the defining iteration of FFIV, it's one of the greatest remakes ever produced and deserves a permanent spot in every DS owner's collection.

Marred by some inconsistent pacing and less-than-engaging action, PoP still manages to deliver a wondrous and open world through which players fight and fly to the game's exciting conclusion.

It may not be as deep or entertaining as the PC counterparts, but it's still one hell of a game, and it will still cause thousands of people to lose out on sleep.

BCR is one of the better remakes of one of the better games of the 8-bit era. If you are looking for a fun platformer with unique and inventive gameplay, I'd recommend picking this one up for 10 bucks.

The controls feel fluid, and show people that you don't need to force gimmicks on us to make it feel real.

The writing is good, the characters are great, and the destructible environment actually plays an integral role in the game, rather than just serving as a claim to place on a sticker to move copies at Wal-Mart.

Bomberman Live is accurately priced at 800 Microsoft Points and is really a must-have for anyone's 360, whether they primarily play online or off.

The Movies takes elements of all our favorite simulation games, most noticeably The Sims and the various Tycoon games, and combines them successfully with simple, user-friendly controls.

Crysis 2 does little to create new material in the genre, though it cobbles together disparate gameplay elements that do create a level of interest that another modern Middle East liberation sim can't.

Viva Piñata is a game that can be enjoyed by children, teenagers or adults. The universal appeal of this game lies with the fact that people generally like animals and nice gardens. What VP does is to combine these elements into an enjoyable experience.

GT Legends outperforms and outclasses other racing titles in almost every way.

Despite shortcomings and trying to fit into impossibly large shoes, RE5 is an undeniably enjoyable game, especially with a friend. RE's age of survival horror is sadly laid to rest, but the 3rd-person action taking its place is still worth playing.

One of the best DS entries you can find in the RPG realm, especially if you enjoy pleasing tactical battles and the charm of the MegaTen series.

Battlefield 3 ships an unbelievable mutliplayer with a short, unoriginal campaign.

Undisputed 2010 builds on the foundation of last year's game, tweaking it where it needed to be and adding other modes and events that re-create the UFC experience to a T. EA has its work cut out for it, because right now there is no better MMA game.

Monster Hunter Tri brings a deep, complex (albeit difficult), single-player game and combines it with a full-featured online component that will keep players engaged for a long time.

Metroidvania. Ikaruga. Shadow of the Colossus. All the influences are there, but don't mistake it for those. Outland is a game all its own. It doesn't oversell.

What NBA 2K7 boils down to is entirely based upon the player's desire for realism. For those dying to see the authentic animations in a basketball title on the Xbox 360, 2K7 will suffice.

Devil May Cry 4 has set the bar for how a combat system should be made. I can't stress enough how fun it is to beat the hell out of every enemy encountered. Fans of the action hack and slash genre have a new champion.

Despite the penalties for dying, and the occasional boring quest or tedious running. Guild Wars is an excellently planned and executed MMORPG. It has the mass appeal of NOT costing you money every month.

The combination of wonderful anime-inspired visuals, blood-spattered combat, and loving homages to video games of yesteryear, No More Heroes 2 lampoons and praises our hobby while providing an amazing gaming experience all its own.

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is a winner, and deserves a second Alliance Medal of Honor. May the Force be with you -- always.

It may not be as deep or entertaining as the PC counterparts, but it's still one hell of a game, and it will still cause thousands of people to lose out on sleep.

Spore is yet another wonderful creation from the mind of designer Will Wright. While it may not achieve the level of gaming utopia that many had predicted prior to its release, the final product is still a very enjoyable, engaging, and complete package.

MvC3 is the same crazy, over-the-top fighting game that fans loved back in 2000, just with a fresh control scheme and a new coat of 3D, hi-res paint. Fighting game fans will fall in love with the "easy to play, hard to master" format.

This is still Resident Evil 4. The mechanics are still great, the art and score are still mesmerizing. If you have the $20 to spare and want the convenience of a digital download, it's worth grabbing.

The game looks great and has phenomenal presentation, but the actual meat of the experience is lacking, overall. Multiplayer, co-op, Move support, and bot options earn back what's lost in single-player.

A clever, imaginative, and humorous game from the unlikeliest of inspirations that makes one wonder why something like it had never existed before.

If you're looking for a quick, pick-up-and-play racing game, this is not for you. This game takes patience and attention to detail to play.

A solid mix of story and puzzles make this a perfect game to enjoy in both small chunks and marathon "just-one-more-puzzle" sessions.

Everything about NBA 2K9 blows NBA Live 09 out of the water. If you're a basketball fan, NBA 2K9 is the game to get this season.

Just Cause 2 does what so many other open-world games try to and usually end up missing the target. Its huge world, insane gameplay, and amazing visuals will keep you blowing stuff up into the wee hours of the morning and not even blinking an eye.

Mortal Kombat is BACK. Remember how you felt when you walked through the arcade and saw MK for the first time? That feeling will come shooting back as soon as you put the disc in. FIGHT!

Devil May Cry 4 has set the bar for how a combat system should be made. I can't stress enough how fun it is to beat the hell out of every enemy encountered. Fans of the action hack and slash genre have a new champion.

Bit.Trip Complete gives both casual and hardcore fans enough content to satisfy their needs.

This game is absolutely worth playing if you enjoy action platformers from the early days of the medium.

There's no doubt that Bulletstorm delivers a solid ten hours of fresh, bloody fun, but any more time spent with Grayson and crew seems a confused antithesis of modern first-person shooters.

In the end, Madden NFL 07 is an improvement on the series. With some new running features and an Xbox 360 version worth the price of admission, it seems EA is trying to prove that they still care about improving their game, even without competition.

New Vegas is everything its predecessor was and arguably more, but only if you can put up with a slew of nasty errors.

From a technical standpoint, DEFCON may be an outdated game, especially compared to some of the current powerhouse offerings. But from an artistic point of view, the game,s brilliantly designed and really evokes a certain set of emotions.

Saints Row: The Third is a love letter to gamers who enjoy crazy, over-the-top, and downright absurd action.

Racing fans, rejoice. Your new love is here. WoW for racing fans in both its depth and its presentation, there's no reason why anyone who loves cars, games, or both should miss GT5.

The best Lara Croft game in years. Great local co-op action built on a tested foundation with modern gaming sensibilities layered on top was absolutely the right way to go. Proves that games needn't be huge-budget, cutting-edge releases to be fun.

Players will have a great time with the different character builds, weapons, and multiplayer squad configurations, but will also be served lackluster narrative and mission structure that temper the experience.

EA Sports has done it again. They've found a way to improve their game in ways that you didn't think needed improving, and in the process got that $60 out of your pocket for another year.

Whether looked at as a standalone game or an update to previous Guild Wars titles, Nightfall is a winner. While it isn't particularly innovative and won't win any awards for major technical upgrades, it is a very nice addition to the series, and most importantly, it's simply fun to play.

At its core, this game is very similar to the first adventure, but there are enough improvements to at least make THIS title your new addiction and give you a reason to (finally) set Disgaea on the shelf for a little while.

An excellent team-based online FPS. There's always something to do while in the game so you're never really bored. Presentation, graphics and gameplay are all pluses.

Despite flaws, UFC 09 is a fine fighting game that has carved out its own place in the genre with a mixed martial arts control system that is almost as well-rounded as the modern day warriors it emulates.

Child of Eden is a complicated, narcissistic, firecracker techno concerto. It's short and its simplicity packs a punch.

This is still Resident Evil 4. The mechanics are still great, the art and score are still mesmerizing. If you have the $20 to spare and want the convenience of a digital download, it's worth grabbing.

Vanquish is a pure action game at its finest. It's all-killer-no-filler approach makes it the perfect type of game to enjoy amidst the holiday rush of major releases. Sure, it's short and not that original, but it's fun and satisfying

Vanquish is a pure action game at its finest. It's all-killer-no-filler approach makes it the perfect type of game to enjoy amidst the holiday rush of major releases. Sure, it's short and not that original, but it's fun and satisfying.

Basically, Star Wars Battlefront II improves on every aspect of the original Battlefront. Playable hero characters are the flashiest and most memorable improvement, but the new combat modes and troop types help make this a vast enhancement over the first title in the series.

Puzzle Quest is just plain great. If you own a PSP, you need Puzzle Quest.

There's no doubt that Bulletstorm delivers a solid ten hours of fresh, bloody fun, but any more time spent with Grayson and crew seems a confused antithesis of modern first-person shooters.

A triumph in minimalism.

There's nothing else like it.

A great game. Some annoying shortcomings keep it from being a leap from the series, but it definitely stands on its own as a great addition to the Halo franchise.

An excellent concept and story is essentially bogged down by at-times confusing and slow-paced gameplay. Story fiends will eat it up, but the casual crowd might be turned off.

Not only is PixelJunk Monsters the best game available on the PSN, but it's easily the best tower defense game yet. If you loved Desktop Tower Defense, you'll absolutely love PixelJunk Monsters.

DiRT is a great rally racer for anyone who enjoys the thrill of this sport. It is also an excellent racer at its core, and thanks to an amazingly deep damage system and graphical appeal, you should definitely sink your teeth into DiRT.

Despite shortcomings and trying to fit into impossibly large shoes, RE5 is an undeniably enjoyable game, especially with a friend. RE's age of survival horror is sadly laid to rest, but the 3rd-person action taking its place is still worth playing.

The game encapsulates everything that made the franchise great in the late 80s and early 90s and recycles it for the current generation. Mega Man 9 is a worthy addition to any gamer's digital library.

EA Sports has done it again. They've found a way to improve their game in ways that you didn't think needed improving, and in the process got that $60 out of your pocket for another year.

The bottom line is this: Tomb Raider Anniversary is a great game. It's perfect for any Tomb Raider fans or just fans of the action/adventure genre alone.

Stir up a fast-paced, strategic battle system, some awe-inspiring sounds and visuals, and a unique story told through a frustratingly linear adventure, and you get Final Fantasy 13.

Players will have a great time with the different character builds, weapons, and multiplayer squad configurations, but will also be served lackluster narrative and mission structure that temper the experience.

Despite the repetitive nature of the core game, being able to scale rooftops and blow everything to smithereens is more than enough to compensate for these problems.

Despite flaws, UFC 09 is a fine fighting game that has carved out its own place in the genre with a mixed martial arts control system that is almost as well-rounded as the modern day warriors it emulates.

Madden 09 is the best Madden of this generation. It's the first of the series which feels like it actually belongs on these consoles, and wasn't just ported with prettier graphics.

Just Cause 2 does what so many other open-world games try to and usually end up missing the target. Its huge world, insane gameplay, and amazing visuals will keep you blowing stuff up into the wee hours of the morning and not even blinking an eye.

Resistance 3 should not be overshadowed by any other game this holiday season as it gives a unique and action-packed adventure from beginning to end.

While this may be a short-lived journey with the world's most notorious pie-thief, it's impossible not to find the experience endearing, fun, challenging, and rewarding. This is an XBLA download that is well worth its weight in pie.

From a perspective outside the nitpicking, it's a really fun game; it's scary, fast, brutal, and very well executed. Despite its shortcomings, it's still definitely worth playing. It's not perfect, but it's damn close at times.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a great amalgamation of the genres and games it combines. It makes sure they all come together effortlessly, but it never really owns the gameplay it borrows. It's a fun game, but not a revolution.

The game is solid for fans and non-fans alike. The voice acting, sound, video, and graphics are downright amazing for the PSP. The battle system was unique, but really got old fast, with little to keep a player engaged. Of course the story is great.

Darksiders is a triumph in game design, a platform to build upon, and something everyone who truly loves video games should try, because you'll likely love it.

When it's all said and done, this is the best Pac-Man game on XBLA. The flashy, neon graphics and increased speed make it unlike any Pac experience yet. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first Pac-Man game released on XBLA, meaning a lot of people just won't be willing to pay another 10 bucks to get the same game again.

Another outstanding title from Level 5 games. If you like RPGs, get this game now.