From start to finish, the single player campaign of Bound in Blood definitely provides one of the most memorable FPS gaming experiences of the year.

The time you spend earning it is well worth it, not just because it makes your hero stronger but also because of the additive fun you have along the way. Despite the torturous AI, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is easily one of the most original games to hit the PlayStation Portable.

Heck, it's one of the strongest games of the season, period.

At its heart, this is a rock-solid, gorgeously drawn platformer with enough new tricks up its sleeve to recommend to anyone needing an excuse to play their Wii.

Picross 3D is that kind of game, the kind that burrows itself into your mind, puts down hooks and never, ever leaves.

A truly satisfying adult game on the Wii—which is a true rarity. This game may not be everyone’s cup of tea with the violence, language and mature subject matter that hits you from everywhere, but despite the rated R subject matter, there is no denying that this is one of the best games available on the system.

Trauma Center was one of the original sleeper hits for the DS and this is just another step ahead of the pack. Under the Knife 2 is more of the same, but it feels so good to get the scalpel back in hand.

It’s this blend of casual pick up and play feel, deep, challenging gameplay and copious amounts of activities that makes this a very hard game to put down.

What really makes it different is the level of immersion that is offered. It was so easy to start playing and only come up out of the game when the body’s demand to expel waste and take on more fluids became an urgent scream.

The pacing is accelerated in comparison to the original game.

It’s hard to find a game out there for the Wii that provides more value for the money, or has more to see and do. The huge roster of well done, interesting characters combined with the wackiness of the in game items and the interactivity and challenges of the various stages packs the game full of memorable moments regardless of which portion of the game you decide to spend time with.

Come for the old-school charm, stay for the multiplayer mayhem.

One of the biggest, and most appreciated, changes is the toning down of the training mini-games. In story mode, you hit the bag every great once in a while but you aren't required to lift weights and run laps in twitch-reaction style as you might expect.

With everything there is to do in this game, I don't know why you'd need another golf game next year, or hell, ever.

NASCAR 2009 is a no-brainer purchase for fans of the sport, but also offers a high quality experience that any racing fan can enjoy.

One of the biggest, and most appreciated, changes is the toning down of the training mini-games. In story mode, you hit the bag every great once in a while but you aren't required to lift weights and run laps in twitch-reaction style as you might expect.

Split Second's longevity isn't in its innumerable tracks. It's in finding new ways to better yourself in its smaller set of them.

The biggest problem with Modern Warfare 3 is that it doesn't surprise, aside from the fact that there's more for the solo player to do than you might expect. It feels very safe, which is understandable given the budget and its sales expectations-as well as the rabid fan base that doesn't necessarily want innovation.

It's a fast and fun racing game that is easy enough for beginners to pick up and enjoy while still a challenge for veteran players to master. The addition of online play (other than it's not so friendly friends system) and the introduction of the Wii’s motion technology add even more oil to what is already a pretty slick offering.

Dissidia 2 is the marriage of a fighting game with a ridiculously detailed RPG. So unless you're looking for a shooter or a racing game, this may very well be the last PSP game you ever need.

Capsized recalls memories of Turrican, Commander Keen, and Cybernator, but this is not a nostalgic retro-rehash. You won't find chunky pixels, chiptune soundtracks, or tongue-in-cheek nods to the past. Capsized is a modern original; a nearly pitch-perfect blend of combat and exploration that manages to be as beautiful as it is exhilarating.

A sleeper hit.

This blend of familiar gameplay and contemporary aesthetic lends incredibly well to the game, giving you the sense that it’s something wholly new, with plenty of nods to a bygone era.

It's easy to sit back and view the game through the lens of what hasn't changed, but to do so would cause you to miss out on all of the wonderful tweaks and additions to a series built on an already strong foundation.

The game is a lot of fun, even if the challenge level is out of this world. If you’ve been around for all 20 years of Contra, this is a must purchase.

The game may not come with a red hat, but it makes me feel like a DJ nonetheless.

An old-school, level-oriented presentation with unrelenting difficulty, making it one of the most refreshing experiences to be had on the DS this holiday season.

All in all, don’t let the rather generic and short single player campaign deter you from picking up Bad Company 2. The multiplayer is a fantastic gaming experience and without a doubt it gives Modern Warfare 2 a run for its money.