It’s a far more nuanced game than you might expect, but it’s also very forgiving, allowing the player to find his own role in the fight. You could think of it as a multiplayer game that’s very friendly to the single-player mentality. Or you could think of it as a kick-ass online action game. Either way you’d be right.

The sheer scope of the episode and what it accomplishes with the story makes it feel essential. Even more importantly, episode two is the best kind of DLC by being both distinct and deeply connected with its associated game. If you’re willing to invest in the struggling first episode, episode two considerably strengthens this interesting extension of Bioshock’s world.

FIFA 09 may or may not have 250 new additions, but it's a strong-playing game with an extensive amount of modes.

Once you get into the rhythm of each faction's style of play, Natural Selection 2 opens up the throttle on one of the most interesting and intense multiplayer experiences you'll find on PC.

The quality of the combat, the diversity of the dialogue from lead characters to two-bit crooks, and the sheer amount of things to do make this stretch of Gotham an enjoyable place to visit. Origins proves the Arkham formula is strong enough for another team to tamper with, but if the series wants to really break free of its restraints in the next generation, they’re going to have to teach this old bat even more new tricks.

Super Mario Maker is worth checking out to prove what’s possible with the Wii U’s often-ignored gamepad controller. Few games have you staring at the second screen for longer stretches of time, and it just feels good to put stuff together.

Space invaders Extreme 2 reaffirms that remaking a classic can be done in a very thoughtful and entertaining way. Its gameplay is clever and addicting, and its stunning presentation makes a strong impression.

Half-Minute Hero moves like a bullet train, with non-stop laughs and light speed gameplay. There's more depth to it than you'd expect, but its bite-sized chunks make it great to play in short bursts. If you've ever wanted your RPGs to pick up the pace, don't pass this one by.

Point Lookout adds miles of new territory to Fallout 3, with a sense of freedom that matches the core game better than any of the previous chapters. The quality of Fallout 3's DLC has been on an upward climb, and Point Lookout edges past Broken Steel as the best addition yet.

There's a lot here, the price is right, and games this well-realized don't come along very often. If you ask us, this manic little ball of fire has a long career ahead of him.

The most obvious addition to the gameplay is lead blocking control. This basically allows you to control another offensive player when the ball is snapped, make a block with that player, and then take control of the runningback. It takes a long time to get the hang of it, but once you do the results can be devastating.

Not even counting user-created content, LittleBigPlanet is one of the strongest games on the platform this year, even with the minor control issues.

Capable and shaped to its purpose, Bastion proves a well-crafted and entertaining experience. Easily justifying its $15 price tag, this downloadable game offers a simple but complete package that's charming, playable, and worthwhile.

Blur is essentially Mario Kart with deeper driving mechanics and more strategy, but those characteristics are potent enough for it to stand on its own. The unpredictability of races packed with drivers, as well as the wealth of vehicles, tracks, and challenges, ensure that you’ll keep coming back for more.

From the seamless online options that encourage you to compete to the graphics engine that ensures a level playing field, the entire game has been built to maximize play. The result is a game that's just flat-out fun. The more interesting moments tend to be fleeting and the single-player is anemic, but it's a great mix of old and new that will satisfy both fans of the series and first-time rippers.

GRID 2 has a handful of head-scratching design decisions, but it's a solid, varied, and challenging racer set in strongly realized environments. Allow yourself to think outside of the cockpit, and you can't go wrong.

Longtime fans may appreciate the engorged roster and Pride rule set, but others may not find the extra purchase, or year long break, justifiable by any other regard. Bear no reservations if you're looking for another year of top notch brawling in the octagon, but if it's evolution you're looking for, Undisputed doesn't deliver.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix is a superb effort that delivers some of the best games the series has to offer, and reminds us why we’re still excited for what lies in store in the next chapter of the franchise.

Dissidia boldly marries an interesting new approach to fighting with some of the touchstones that the Final Fantasy series is built on. And though it takes some sizable risks at being different, the end result is great. It's everything that you wouldn't expect a Final Fantasy game to be, but if you're looking for a feature-rich time-sink with fight and flair, then Dissidia is well worth your consideration.

The action is high-quality, free-roaming stuff, and the game earns major points for its smart way of dealing with getting shot up, patched up, and bailed out. The story does keep you on a leash and your objectives tend to repeat without too much variation, but if you enjoy this line of work, Far Cry 2's dangerous African landscape is a great place to be a merc.

It evokes classic Metroid, without the massive backtracking, as well as Ratchet and Clank's weapons.

There’s a whole lot of game here, but that was true last year, and for every gameplay improvement there’s something annoying to dampen the enthusiasm. It’s still an excellent football game, but the casual player is going to like it a lot more than the grizzled vet.

Some days you'll blow the computer out, while other days you'll be battling to the last pitch. Each game offers something new, something that will surprise you, making MLB 08 one of the most enjoyable sports games you'll play this year.

If you've never experienced Sins of a Solar Empire before, you'll find no better entry point than Rebellion. But if Rebellion commits any sins of its own, it's in the $40.00 price tag, which seems excessive for an expansion that will almost certainly strike its loyal fans as little more than a meaty content patch.

It’s not better or worse than the old method, but it’s new, and at times it’s incredibly taxing on the brain - in a good way.

The world feels alive and treacherous, the combat gives you lots of gruesome options, and the enemy army is always evolving. It might not offer the challenge you crave, but if you enjoy killing orcs, there are two maps filled with the savage monsters and they're all looking for a fight.

Despite infuriating DLC practices Forza remains a fantastic drive, and with some improvements, Drivatars could set a new path for competitive AI.

Dishonored goes out of the way to encourage freedom in how you approach your obstacles, and it plays the long game, offering up layers of experimentation.