That's Dark Souls in a nutshell. The stakes being as high as they are adds a level of excitement all too rare in the hold your hand games of this generation. Without the punishment, there's no real fear, and without the fear there's no thrill. And in Dark Souls, much like Demon's Souls before it, you will most definitely fear.

I’ve always been fond of GTA for the story, as ludicrous as it may be, because it closely resembles all the great combat and intrigue of a summer blockbuster. What’s different about this is that, while full of gun, porn and explosions, there’s a complex and mature story beneath it all.

For a real visual treat, pop it into a Nintendo DS and enjoy the game with true backlighting.

While it is unquestionably about fighting other guilds after you reach the cap, there is also a very solid PvE (player vs. environment) game as well.

Simplistic and intuitive controls are what make the game fun to play. The analog controls are dead on, and very precise.

Max Payne will quickly rank as a favorite for most action gamers. This one's not for the kiddies though, as it is loaded with blood, killing, and dead babies. Enjoy.

World in Conflict is a game very much worth purchasing. You don’t even need to be a Ground Control buff to truly enjoy it, as the helpful tutorials and gradual difficulty curve will help ramp you right into the campaign, just in time to get deep into the thick of things in the versatile multiplayer engine. This one is a certified winner.

Well "Project Gotham Racing 3" is still king of the hill in the simulation category, but for overall racing fun, you cannot beat Burnout Revenge. In a smiles-per-mile analysis, it comes in first place every time.

I love the music, the graphics, and the gameplay. If you did not have enough reasons to buy a Nintendo DS, this would be it.

There's nothing that really gets you going. There's nothing addictive about it, save for a few rare moments when you hit that double loop or speed ramp. Otherwise, Sonic just gets blurred with every other platform/adventure game out there.

Coupling that with inconsistent plot coherency and questionable physics, it seems important to stress that while this is a very shiny game demonstrating a very robust engine, there is more beauty than guts here, and many players may find the colorful candy shell does not deliver as delicious a gaming experience.

Dead Space is most frightening when you’re backed into a corner and fighting for your life in the darkness, and absolutely awe-inspiring during the quiet moments of solitude. From major elements like the HUD-less display and the believably intricate machinery to the simplicity of a forgotten magazine, the attention to detail is absolutely staggering.

The way a sequel should be: stuffed full of new features, better graphics, improved game play, and be so damn addicting that you can not put it down, even to go to the bathroom.

As a complete package Battlefield 3 absolutely delivers and if you don't have some angry agenda against Origin it's a must-play. The PC version in particular ushers in a new era of graphical magnificence and the disparity between the consoles begs Sony and Microsoft to up the ante. Shooters don't come much better than this and it's a great way to kick off this year's holiday game rush.

It's an addictive romp into a time long past that keeps many gamers begging for more.

Dead Space 2 is without question a better game than the original despite the fact that the gameplay remains nearly unchanged.

With deep, involving ethical questions, and systems that test players beyond their ability to pick the right gun, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is – in many, many ways – a game for thoughtful players.

Although Riddick may not be the longest game on the market and the replay value is pretty much non-existent with only Live Aware and no multiplayer to be had, for doubters and non-believers alike, Chronicles of Riddick is absolutely one of the best Xbox games ever released.

Once again the developers at Harmonix have shown the gaming industry how it’s done.

L.A. Noire is a game you should play, if for no other reason than to experience how one game can be both brilliant and yet relentlessly tedious.

With summer here there is going to be more gaming on the go as handhelds get taken on road trips. And just in time, Nintendo has given us a blast from the past to take along and relive the fun of our wasted youths. The game mechanics show a bit of their age, but it is still a lot of great, simple fun.

Things like reducing the on-screen fog, the chance to pick up a chainsaw as a weapon and multiple endings really make it a lot of fun to go through a few times.

As a story and a game, Peace Walker is wonderfully open-ended, encouraging you to replay missions, level up weapons, improve your staff, unlock gadgets, and even go online for head-to-head action or special recruitment missions.

A must buy for fans of the series and a serious look for those that have always wondered why the series is regarded by many as the best fighting game out there.

The graphics, the sound, and the street games... Sega knows how to make a winner.

There are other modes like the new My Player which allows you to live the life of an NBA player, giving press conferences and rising thorough the ranks from D-League to NBA Superstar and the aforementioned Jordan Moments but really it's the gameplay that sells NBA 2K11. It's a huge step for basketball fans and every other game that comes out is going to be inevitably compared to it.

The City is enormous and beautiful, the cars are amazingly detailed, and the control is divine.

Once again the developers at Harmonix have shown the gaming industry how it’s done.