When all has been blown up and collected, Saints Row: The Third is a fun romp that doesn't take itself too seriously, made up with memorable extrusions of pop-culture.

Nevertheless, there are two ways to look at Gears of War 3: it's the best of the series; and, it's not a disappointing ending.

Many of Space Marine's shortcomings are somewhat understandable should this (hopefully) be in for a long-run franchise. There might be breakout hits, but Relic's new shooter appears to be focused on getting key features nailed down on its first pass, rather than spreading itself thin with totally useless aspects.

Here and there it's in need of some attention, but as a first attempt from a new studio, at a crowd favorite nonetheless, the groundwork is certainly there to build upon.

Like the grindhouse films it draws inspiration from, Shadows of the Damned might not be for everyone. It's mature sexual content (and immature sexual humor) that's woven together with gore-splattered gameplay set to a unique and refreshing sense of style. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable experience that never flags.

While we won't be seeing Dungeon Siege III on anyone's "Best of the Year" lists, it's still a well-made hack-and-slash game, and one of the better examples of the genre on this generation of consoles.

Though its gameplay is less successful or interesting than its presentation, LA Noire definitely advances the art of digital storytelling.

DA2 is certainly a well-acted and better-looking game by dropping its ported qualities, but without the thoughtful structure and fully realized world like that of Origins, it's one that exists in the hyphenated space of "action-RPG" where the first 5 hours are almost identical to last 30. The demo was a good taste of what Dragon Age 2 could have been, it's just a shame it never goes anywhere beyond that.

Rift looks fantastic, and is a lot of fun.

For fans of Fight Night, everything they know and love about the series is still here, looking and controlling even better. For everyone else, the Champion mode is the game-changer, and it's hard to imagine anyone who is a fan of good storytelling not getting pulled in deep. Clichés or not, Fight Night Champion scores a KO.

Though its story lacks imagination and its one-note pacing cries out for greater variety, Killzone 3 looks fantastic and contains an incredible wealth of detail and excellent action. It plays every bit as good as it looks and a compentent multiplayer component guarantees an extended life beyond the single-player campaign. The story may disappoint you but squaring off against the Helghast is still remarkably satisfying.

Bulletstorm's frantic action and M-rated, blood-drenched gameplay harken back to earlier generations of shooters, but its richly detailed design, outstanding visuals and the innovative Skillshot system mean that the game easily transcends its "return to roots" vibe for an experience that's easily one of this year's best.

As a sequel, de Blob 2 doesn't change much of the formula from the well-received-yet-under-the-radar Wii game, and a greater variety of platforming will be needed to continue to make the franchise a success. For now, however, there's just enough quirkiness and unadulterated playfulness to make it an enjoyable game.

There's a lot to love for longtime franchise fans and new challengers alike with fighting that's excitingly frantic.

As with any newly-minted MMO, the game now is probably not what it will become, and whether there is enough depth and content to sustain the monthly subscription price is an unanswered question. For certain though, fans of the beloved DC comics, action gamers, and MMO veterans will all find something to enjoy in DC Universe Online.

Priced at 15 bucks, Vietnam occupies that middle ground between a full-blown sequel or expansion, and a less ambitious map pack.

Though some cutscenes still use their original assets, making for grainy, pixelated graphics and distorted sound, and you can't switch between series games without completely exiting from the disc, The Sly Collection continues to exhibit why good, older generation titles do well to bundle together in quality remastered editions.

At around 10 dollars, Pigsy's Perfect 10 will remind fans of what they dug in Enslaved, not all that long ago. Clever, entertaining, and generous, I only hope that Ninja Theory continues to create DLC as strong as this.

Acclaimed for their Burnout work, under the Need for Speed banner, Criterion Games shows they can double-dip in a category and succeed with telltale execution.

Though it sold millions of copies on release, and it's an entertaining, entirely competent game, Call of Duty: Black Ops would benefit from a little more ambition and outside-the-killing box thinking.

Gothic games have been bemoaned for their graphical bugs and sloppy code but things are a lot cleaner and tighter this time around. Gone is the open-world of previous titles, replaced by mundane, rote, disappointingly shallow RPG that lives and breathes in an engaging, beautiful, and invitingly realized world. But for an RPG-as in life-just being pretty isn't enough.

Ghost of Sparta may not deviate from the usual God of War experience, but it certainly presents those core concepts which made the series a standard exceptionally well and with nearly untouchable graphical and auditory prowess on the handheld format.

In a time when some are clamoring for long, drawn out stories and unfitting multiplayer options, Vanquish shows how its possible to avoid both and deliver a strong, albeit surprising, performance.

Not every aspect of the game is a masterpiece but Enslaved surprised me in a very good way and most important, made me care about what happened next.

Castlevania: Lord of Shadows succeeds because of it's stellar art direction, beautiful visuals, and tight, polished gameplay. Sure, it cribs, borrows, and steals from other games, but in the end, it still moves a classic in a great, new direction.

As a Halo game it rivals the nostalgia Combat Evolved instilled in us nearly a decade ago due to fully realized online multiplayer components and customizability; as a shooter, however, it feels almost as dated in so much there's little separating the core experience from past iterations.

The game's a bit muddled in terms of strengths and weaknesses, but if you're in the mood for a playable story where your characters aren't overblown stereotypes and you can invest in your protagonist, it's easy to sink a few hours into the follow-up to one of 2002's greatest hits.

The company's philosophy-demonstrated again with StarCraft II-is that innovation and experimentation are less important than taking what's already successful and bringing it to near perfection.

What we've got with DeathSpank is really a pretty sweet deal: a lot of triple-A game for a budget price.

Make time for LeChuck's Revenge because, even after nearly 20 years, it's still funnier, more clever, and well-written than the vast majority of "blockbusters" lining the digital shelves.

If you've got a powerful computer, a fair bit of OCD when it comes to military realism, and a lot of time and patience, then Bohemia's ArmA II: Operation Arrowhead will scratch your itch in ways that Modern Warfare or Battlefield: Bad Company can't.

At around ten dollars, Risk: Factions provides a lot of gameplay and another motivation for ditching the tabletop for the console.

While its story sometimes lurches and lunges, and its gameplay mechanics can be quirky, Tranformers: War for Cybertron is, somewhat surprisingly, probably the best reboot of the classic cartoon.

Simple, addictive and fun, with just enough complexity to keep things interesting, Puzzle Quest 2 is a "casual game" winner.

I wouldn't go so far as to call Rock Band: Green Day a ripoff, because the set list is deep and certainly catches the spirit and energy of the band. But the total lack of innovation and the minimalistic presentation-at least compared to the visual and musical feast of The Beatles: Rock Band-makes this feel like a generous helping of DLC rather than a stand-alone game.

One of the most expensive games ever made, it is clear from the attention to detail, lavish visuals, outstanding acting, and rich story that the money was well spent. Red Dead Redemption is the best Western game ever made, and certainly one of the top games of this year.

More than anything, Heavy Rain is further proof that games have truly come of age and are a viable platform for telling stories that will haunt your dreams and color your days.

In the end, BioShock 2 is a product more corporate than passionate.

While it ultimately may be more evolutionary than revolutionary, Mass Effect 2 still sets a new, almost impossibly high benchmark for future games.

Ultimately, it may be a strong package from a technical standpoint, but one that isn't as well rounded or robust as it should be. Playing with 127 allies across a gigantic map is impressive, but its novelty is subject to wear thin without as-unique extra content to back it up.

When all is said and done, a playthrough of Return to Ostagar moves quickly with plenty of enemies to dispatch. Though it's a short ride, it's a sweet one that is a welcome reason to pick the game up again if you've finished the main story, and is certainly worth the money. Though, if you're still somewhere in the middle of the tale, even better: Return to Ostagar will also help to set up the rest of your journey through Dragon Age.

It may not be the most compelling shooter, but it can be an entertaining adventure with a dedicated friend.

As you battle through the four Guardians and work out mild puzzle segments, Darksiders unveils itself as a franchise-worthy title.

As you battle through the four Guardians and work out mild puzzle segments, Darksiders unveils itself as a franchise-worthy title.

Its crazy-quilt story is balanced by stellar gameplay and visuals that sometimes clutter the screen, but usually do so with style and beauty. Bayonetta might not be the kind of girl you bring home to meet you mother, but she's a lot of fun to hang out with, flaws and all.

All in all, MX vs. ATV: Reflex is a solid entry in need of expansion: the bare-boned framework is there for what can be a stellar franchise in its genre.

All in all, MX vs. ATV: Reflex is a solid entry in need of expansion: the bare-boned framework is there for what can be a stellar franchise in its genre.

LittleBigPlanet was a stepping stone for console-based, user-created content with gameplay options that were on par with its creative offering. While the PSP release of the game may not be a direct port in terms of being a multiplayer social event, the essence of Media Molecule's “Play, Create and Share” mantra remains intact.

It may be the gaming equivalent of upgrading from DVD to Blu-ray Discs since the core gameplay remains untouched, but whether you've played either of the God of War games or not, this two-for is the way to experience the classics.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was a powerful entry into the first-person genre and an example of how linear gameplay could be exciting.

NITRO's point-based structure and pick-up-and-play gameplay caters well to those looking for quick spurts of action, but it's unlikely to see an intense cross-pollination from those in need of in-depth racing sessions on the Wii.

It may not be a ballad in the classical sense, but you're likely to find yourself singing praises for The Ballad of Gay Tony.

DJ Hero might not evoke such social activity, and it does have some lacking qualities, but with character and attitude throughout, and an impressive list of entertaining music, the game is a fun distraction from plastic guitars and drums.

A fairly unique composition in terms of first-person shooter meets role-playing gameplay with a stylized presentation, Borderlands offers hours of leveling to do and a never-ending supply of enemies to experiment destructive weapons on.

While the idea is there, and it's great to see a director and studio trying new things, the execution unfortunately falls a bit flat.

Among Thieves is not only one of the best games of the year, it's also the benchmark for action games to come.

Tight controls and an overall engrossing story told through equally as compelling direction and action make Dead Space: Extraction a benchmark for Wii shooters.

In the end, Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a standout licensed product; one that every movie-game tie-in needs to learn from.

Despite its outdated control scheme, its ambiguity of being either survival game or action thriller, and the abandonment of all things scary, Resident Evil 4's true sequel is a completely satisfying experience.

The gameplay is nothing without the unique graphics Madworld sports. The game is entirely black and white except for the red that dots and smears the screen and gameworld when you slay a person.

Sure, we argue that the game may be a bit of a watered-down version of the PC-centric genre with some shortcomings, but with satisfying action, streamlined controls, and a non-Master Chief story that still holds your attention (done in cutscenes that are worthy of their own feature), Halo Wars makes for a strong introduction to both the RTS scene, and the UNSC-Covenant conflict.

Essentially a straightforward first-person shooter with a crazy girl giving your character headaches and hallucinations of damnation, F.E.A.R 2 may have some things going for it, but for the most part, its execution lacks imagination.

The ability to mask linear, scripted gameplay with addicting platforming is evidence of the game's brilliance...and damned if it isn't one of the most beautiful games to-date.

This is an okay skateboarding game that utilizes the Wii's special controllers to give you a realistic experience.

To those who doubted the concept of MKvsDC, doubt no more because Mortal Kombat is back with a vengeance.

To those who doubted the concept of MKvsDC, doubt no more because Mortal Kombat is back with a vengeance.

On the whole, Mirror's Edge is the type of first-person experience we need more of, spotting the ever-growing landscape of shooters out there.

In conclusion, the millions of Gears of War fans will undoubtedly be thrilled by the sequel.

With open-world games there often seems to be a disjointed equilibrium between gameplay and technical execution; Ubisoft Montreal, however, have done well in bringing these two elements together.

With open-world games there often seems to be a disjointed equilibrium between gameplay and technical execution; Ubisoft Montreal, however, have done well in bringing these two elements together.

Entertaining and scary elements make up a game that is familiar in its theme and within its genre, but it's also a title that has destructive weaponry, a necessity for skilled gunplay, and zero-G believability.

Multiwinia is a superb showing from the developers at Introversion with approachable, entertaining RTS gameplay and style to spare.

Overall, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is a well balanced and fun MMO, that has had one of the smoothest launches to date.

This is a great game package, for a great price. It will not disappoint any Crysis fans or new players, but it might leave them wanting more!

In the end, whether it's your first time touching a Soul game or not, it's hard to not appreciate what's been done here: beautiful, crisp and bouncy graphics mix well with a fighter heavy on a classic formula of strategy, timing and execution, with it all backed by inviting-yet-deep character customization and creation.

In the end, whether it's your first time touching a Soul game or not, it's hard to not appreciate what's been done here: beautiful, crisp and bouncy graphics mix well with a fighter heavy on a classic formula of strategy, timing and execution, with it all backed by inviting-yet-deep character customization and creation.

A weak song selection and poor audio quality make On Tour a good travel-friendly game, but not a standalone franchise maker.

It's fun, but it's not the Rock Band experience.

A simple, fun and well designed game, Kung Fu Panda doesn't offer the deepest narrative or most though-provoking gameplay for the more mature audiences; it's more of a guilty pleasure.

True, keeping with wired mics is still a bother, and there isn’t any online play to be found. However, the facelift, Eye compatibilities and new social networking elements sets the game above other karaoke solutions on the Sony’s system; nay, any platform to-date.

When all is said and done, Boom Blox is one of the best examples of a casual title that can cater to multiple kinds of gamers: hardcore, pick-up-and-play and even children.

Although it's a bummer you can't download and saver others' puzzles, for 10 dollars, you're more than getting your money's worth here.

Mario Kart has been around for nearly every Nintendo system, with the Wii's version acting more like a "Greatest Hits" compilation of past racing glory.

The Gran Turismo series is heralded as being the top of litter for racing simulators, and based on Prologue, it looks like GT5 will uphold such claims.

When all is said and done, Okami is a game that shows it's possible for a third-party title to be successful on the Nintendo hardware.

Ultimately, Nanostray 2 caters to the hardcore, traditional shooter fan.

Crysis is one of the best first person shooters to be released this year, right up there with Bioshock and Halo 3 and drops action by the payload.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is a welcome standalone expansion which adds a large set of features to the already great Supreme Commander.

In a year that has already seen the release of several incredible games, Call of Duty 4 sits at the top of the stack.

If you are an RPG fan, don’t hesitate for one hour, minute or second about buying this!

In sum, Fires of Liberation is the complete package for any fan of the franchise, or anyone looking for a fairly accessible fighter-sim.

All in all, Prism: Light the Way provides a large amount of entertainment in a simple and easy to pick up package.

Other than a few little issues this game has a ton of things going for it. From the freedom, the tight control, the music, options, impressive cast of pro skaters with some exciting videos, ramps, pipes, and rails, at every turn.

Though it is true that Tony Hawk now faces its stiffest competition in a long time, the amount of improvements present in Proving Ground shows that there is still life left in the franchise.

If you’re looking for a deep, interesting shooter, where the story goes a bit beyond the map description….then this game isn’t for you. If you’re looking for something a bit more in depth than the quick fixes Unreal Tourney provides, but not quite as sluggish as Battlefield, then feel free to open up your wallet, just don’t blow the budget on it.

If I had to describe this game in one word, it would be "solid" – the weapons feel just right, the sounds represent impact perfectly, and the sound effects themselves are entirely suitable.

All in all, World In Conflict offers an awesome amount of bang for your Buck (or Quid if you’re like myself, or perhaps you’ll be spending Euros or Australian Dollars), features plenty of Kablammo! Kicks an awful lot of ass, shows the strategy genre a slightly alternative route and offers hours of intense, cringe inducing (in a good way – only because you’re imagining that poor sod you just nerve gassed) entertainment, suitable for fans of all branches of strategy, and is a fantastic ambassador for bringing in those who wish to start playing strategy games!

If you're into puzzle games, especially multiplayer puzzlers, you can't afford to pass this one up. Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix harkens back to a golden era of hyperactive arcade play yet is perfectly enjoyable in a 3rd generation environment.