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.

When it comes down to it, Rage is a pretty-faced attempt at combining elements done better in other games.

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.

Dead Island's teaser trailer made it look as if the game was going to be one to actually bring the emotional conflict to the forefront, something they almost achieve in once instance out of many. Instead, the game's released as but another vehicle for insipid violence.

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.

It's a perfect bargain bin timesink, maybe.

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.

The game makes no major missteps, but neither does it surprise, innovate or evolve the genre in any significant way.

I can't and won't say Guerrilla was a perfect game, but it was far and beyond more ambitious and entertaining than Armageddon.

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.

If you enjoyed the original, then chances are you will still like this release, but sadly this isn't the kind of driving game that will make your heart beat out of your chest.

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.

An interesting premise and setting is torpedoed by a lackluster presentation, and while Bleedout definitely kicks things up a notch for high-level players, it's hard to recommend Crimecraft for the kind of long-term commitment an MMORPG typically requires.

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.

With hours of violent action capable of being employed, Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage is certainly an easily rentable option if you're looking to kill time as mercilessly as the in-game enemy, but anything beyond the re-skinned Dynasty half only proves to be a chore.

With hours of violent action capable of being employed, Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage is certainly an easily rentable option if you're looking to kill time as mercilessly as the in-game enemy, but anything beyond the re-skinned Dynasty half only proves to be a chore.

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.

Blood Stone may not be the best Bond adaptation or action game in general, but it's not a gross misappropriation either.

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.

Without a doubt, Blue Castle Games and Capcom continue to show us abuse of the undead makes for good gaming-it's just unfortunate Dead Rising 2 accomplishes little else.

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.

New Vegas is a proclaimed non-sequel, and it shows. By bringing little else new to the experience and with it being as buggy as ever, New Vegas could have been adequate as a smaller-sized expansion disc. Instead, it's a game where the play clock is measured in time spent plodding through loading screens and not actually doing much.

Ultimately, as an expansion franchise, Medal of Honor's debut in the Modern Warfare League isn't a championship run.

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.

Dark Energy has undoubtedly created some impressive technology and fiction, but neither are expressly enjoyable in what's playable.

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.

Though I'm sure the timetable may have been tight and the work not easy, especially with a newly formed studio, to make this sequel, it's simply disappointing to see such light fare being passed off as a new SKU. Crackdown is certainly a franchise-worthy IP, but if Ruffian and Microsoft plan to green light a third iteration, they need to hit more than a few nails on the head.

Although its core shooter gameplay is enjoyable, Singularity suffers from being far more derivative than original, with elements appropriated from at least a dozen other, better games.

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.

Had Naughty Bear been a free or inexpensive indie game or XBLA title, and really taken its absurdist, twisted premise and wicked theme in a more extreme direction, we might praise it for being a hip, ironic commentary on videogame violence...or something. As it stands, Naughty Bear is overpriced and undercooked.

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.

There's just no winning with the action element in Alpha Protocol.

Surprises that turn into expectations; non-adventuring; facial animations that can't keep up with the scenery and objects in the game world without weight physics: these are all elements, that if done well, would round out the game to make it the epic it was hyped to be. In the end, I feel safer in Remedy's woods than I do in the actual backcountry of Washington.

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.

In short, if Lost Planet 2 was a budget-priced multiplayer-only title, it would be hard not to recommend it; unfortunately it's a full-price game with a seriously flawed single player experience.

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.

Dark Void ends up a mediocre package despite housing such promising fiction—even if we wish the story of the Watchers, the Void, and even Will would have been fleshed out with more than texts found in-game.

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.

At five or so hours, Blood Bath and Beyond is not a long game, but with its stripped-down gameplay and one-note humor, it begins to outstay its welcome some time before the final credits roll. As a $15 download it's certainly a better value than its full-price predecessor.

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.

You'll have to get comfortable with the game's difficulty and spartan UI. You'll need to tame the camera and overlook the sometimes low-budget visuals, sketchy tech, long load times and a host of little bugs. It sounds like a lot of work, but Divinity 2 does have its charms and more often than not, I felt surprisingly compelled to see what was waiting around the next turn of the road.

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.

While there is a lot to be proud of scattered throughout the double-disc set, a hub system that drags the main game's action to a halt and some unnecessary inclusions detract from an entire package with an unjustified MSRP.

On the whole, the game feels like it struggles with itself: On one hand it presents some enjoyable artistic and campy elements, as it plays homage to an old film genre, and delivers a star cast of mildly acted voice talent complemented by a superbly fitting rockabilly soundtrack; while on the other, it tussles with quirky gameplay mechanics that sometimes just don’t work.

With detailed attention paid to its more lacking qualities, there's no reason why this couldn't burst into a full-fledged contender in the FPS genre. However, such was also the argument made for its predecessor.

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

Wheelman delivers in some entertaining driving-based action that tries extremely hard to capture any who lust for a Driver rebirth; however, there's just too much missing from the overall formula to make it an engrossing offering.

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.

The game is fun for the hour you'll spend beating it. Just in that time alone, you should be able to collect over half of the items, but playing through the levels again to get the rest just seems unnecessarily repetitive.

Though 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand can boast fluid controls and a well-designed co-op mulitplayer, there isn't much to push the game past it qualifying as either an expensive XBL/PSN arcade title, or interactive merchandise for the 50 Cent brand.

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.

As a condensed version of the anime, hardcore fans may walkaway from Afro Samurai with mixed emotions, while the full-fledged newbie will most likely be somewhat pleased...and accompanied by a curious case of bloodlust.

As a condensed version of the anime, hardcore fans may walkaway from Afro Samurai with mixed emotions, while the full-fledged newbie will most likely be somewhat pleased...and accompanied by a curious case of bloodlust.

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.