Torchlight II represents the perfect iteration of a series, combining solid innovation from Runic along with a deluge of feedback courtesy of fans and player mods. Runic and Perfect World have given us everything we've asked for – I can't think of a single game that can make that claim in recent memory.

With all that in mind, FTL remains a great game – not perfect, not legendary, but a great indie title that offers up something pretty unique as opposed to a cheaper version of a game that mainstream devs already do and do better.

If you're not prepared to implement the tweaks and fixes mentioned in this review, then you should stay away from the game or hunt it down on its native consoles instead. If the previously mentioned 360 Review doesn't describe the sort of game you enjoy, then stay away altogether – not even bug fixes and gameplay tweaks will make this a game you like. But if you're willing to implement a couple fan-made patches and you crave a game that's beautiful, dark, cryptic, challenging and just plain unique in so many ways, grab this game and give it a go.

Guild Wars 2 represents a raising of the bar for MMOs, taking the best aspects of a great many titles that have come before it and polishing them up in a way that makes it addictive and fun for all. Given the rate that ArenaNet has been addressing player concerns and patching them, I think we can expect great things from Guild Wars 2.

For those who still haven't had a chance to enjoy the amazing experience of Mass Effect 3, the DLC will integrate well with your experience and enhance an already enjoyable game, but for anyone looking for a reason to dust off their copy of ME3 for Leviathan, the DLC may prove too much trouble for such a brief expansion and not worth the $10 price tag. If you're a hardcore ME fan however, you won't want to miss out on the exciting content revealed about the Mass Effect universe.

The game feels like a healthy upgrade and a new dawn for this franchise. While there are still some minor issues that hold back NHL 13 including jerky animations and some odd bugs, but this is easily the best NHL title I've played in some time.

Time will tell whether it has the legs to keep up with more traditionally-styled MMOs, but for what it is, I'm certain that the gaming world will always have room for experiences like The Secret World.

Either wait for Damage Inc. to hit the discount skids, or pick up any of the comparable Mad Catz flight sticks – this flight title is not flight-ready.

In the end I came to the conclusion that made the most sense – Rock Band Blitz is another accessory for my Rock Band experience. When you stop thinking about it as a separate product, picking up this downloadable title just makes sense.

If you're a fan of Resident Evil or rail-shooters and you own a Move controller then Resident Evil Chronicles HD Collection is a no brainer.

Madden NFL 13 makes huge strides this year, but also makes a few rookie mistakes. Seasoned football fanatics and casual onlookers should be satisfied with the end result. As seen in my previous Madden reviews, you know that I have had my fair share of issues with the game. If you have been skeptical of Madden before, this year's edition is worth a look. If only they could do something about the number of interceptions.

It's technically great, but Nintendo needs to do more than repeat old ideas with its flagship franchise, especially if it wants to release not one, but three main entries in the series in the span of a year (Super Mario 3D Land released last November, New Super Mario Bros. Wii U comes out at launch).

While not perfect, Dust: An Elysian tail is a solid 10-15 hour action game with impressive visuals, a huge map to delve into, and tons of secrets to uncover. Even with a lack of difficulty, fans of the genre, and even fans of action games in general, will find plenty to love here.

I'm stunned by just how much fun Fall of Cybertron is. This isn't a game that will redefine the genre or anything else hyperbolic in nature. What it is, however, is a tremendous amount of fun.

Hybrid is a unique experiment in multiplayer cover-based shooting, and it succeeds gloriously.

The Kinect idea is a solid one, but the problem is that with a poor implementation and no customization (save the underused controller itself), you're looking at a potentially unplayable game.

Despite the changes, the game remains largely the same, which is its biggest strength and its biggest weakness. The core gameplay remains the same, but with better physics, which makes the game as entertaining and challenging as the original, but in many ways the game is too old to endure as a modern title.

For all of its shortcomings, its flaws, and its failures, I still enjoyed my time with Deadlight. I wanted to find out what happened to Randall and his family. I was driven, compelled to finish, and I would still recommend that it be played. Fans of side-scrolling platformers, and zombie games in general, will find an original, if imperfect, experience here. And while the price is a bit steep for the content, I think there's a great game to be found in here.

Little pieces like a sprawling sidequest system, additional RPG-lite conversation trees, getting a "This is the story so far…" recap any time you click 'continue' from the main screen, the beautiful and incredibly-scaled heavily-varied environments, and the depth of the nuanced and familiar loot system all come together to support a fantastic storyline.

The four pillars of the game that I mentioned earlier represent a fantastic amalgamation of some of the best games we've played, giving us a serviceable shooting and driving game, a great free-running game, and a fantastic combat engine all in one package. Anywhere Sleeping Dogs might have lost points for originality, it makes up for in managing to combine all of these elements into one coherent game.

Spec Ops: The Line isn't a perfect game. The multiplayer is essentially a miss, the gunplay is somewhat formulaic, and the controls have a bit of a snag, but it is a great return to the franchise.

If you're an SRPG fan you should not miss Gungnir.

Beenox has done the impossible. The Amazing Spider-Man is a return to the days when I enjoyed web-slinging through New York City. They've made a story worth enjoying, and wrapped it in a game worth playing.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion adds some nice features to a great, proven winner of a game. Those features are nice, but as nice as they are, I couldn't really see myself running out and throwing down forty bucks for this standalone expansion if I already owned the original Sins, to say nothing of its expansion packs.

If you want to travel on the road with Snake, then the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is the right thing for you.

Lollipop Chainsaw does one thing exceptionally well – it never takes itself seriously. It's fan service, it's over the top, it's beyond ridiculous, it's cute, it's funny, and it is more fun than it should be. While it does have a few flaws, the sum of all of the ridiculousness is a game that will have you laughing. Whether it 's out of discomfort or a few of the genuine funny moments is entirely up to you

Fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy here, but the rough start and hefty (for an indie title) price tag might keep a lot of potential players from pulling the trigger.

While it may not be as "Future" as it was when it was announced 5 years ago, the sum of everything it brings to the table sets it apart from its fellow shooter contemporaries.

While the decent storyline, the online auction house, the active post-release tweaking and the addictive gameplay may be compelling reasons to own Diablo III – Blizzards newest game is king for one reason : accessible gameplay and repeat visits to Sanctuary.

If you are a hardcore fighting fan, or someone who wants to learn all of the nuances to become better at fighting games, then at least give Skullgirls a look.

Rockstar took their time with this title, and it shows. Rebuilding not only the universe, but the characters in it, they managed to capture what we loved about the previous titles and matured it for this sequel. The multiplayer is a good addition to the series, enabling players to experience the world Remedy created with the staple bullettime modes intact.

It's decent fun for the $20 price point, but good graphics and a nice interface aren't enough to mask poor AI and a complete lack of depth.

The fact is that TERA has an incredible amount going for it as an MMO. It forges ahead of most other offerings in terms of graphics, it presents a style of combat that not only sets itself apart from most options but manages to be a major selling point for the game, it comes with a diverse array of fun classes to play as, and it does it all with style and grace.

Overall, it's a fun game that I would play again just because it's exciting and offers a sniping experience that can't be found anywhere else.

If you haven't gotten a chance to play it yet, then take a look at the Xbox 360 version. You won't be left disappointed.

This combination brings me to one conclusion: Out of the Park Baseball 13 is the most complete baseball simulation on the market.

The star here is clearly the new combat engine, and boy does it deliver. You rise from incredibly powerful to obscenely powerful over the course of the game, and it never gets old.

Oddly enough considering the game's concept, Pickers has turned out to be a bargain itself. While the gameplay has a very tight focus – sifting through items to buy and sell may wear on some gamers – if the prospect of hunting for treasure in a marketplace instead of a dungeon appeals to you, this is definitely one game to check out.

All in all, Haunted Houdini is a great entrant into this particular style of game. If you enjoy visual puzzles and an adventure based around occult mystery, then really, head on over to the Steam marketplace and give it a look.

And for those of you who do and who want to get a little drawing time in, you can't really go wrong with Colors! 3D. It's available for a reasonable price – $6.99 in Nintendo's eShop – and allows you to put your 3DS to use honing an actual useful skill.

Third-world politics have fundamentally changed in the 21st century, yet the world of Tropico has been left behind.

For you guys who love to collect gear and customize/create avatars, particularly mechas? Again, this is worth a look. Everyone else, you may want to give this a pass for now and wait to catch it at a discount.

It combines aspects of great RPG games and first person shooters, wraps them into a package that will appeal to the historian, and tosses in a dash of addiction to combine into one great final product.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations offers enough new content and changes that fans of the previous two games will find plenty of reasons to upgrade to this version and newcomers to the series will find more than enough to keep themselves busy.

Overall, ToGf is a fun RPG with an absolute ton of things to do through the game.

If you are a fan of classic Dungeon Crawlers then there isn't a whole lot to complain about with Legend of Grimrock. This is a tribute to games like Dungeon Master, Eye of the Beholder and Ultima Underworld.

If you can get past the wait times and don't mind playing against the AI, then Street Fighter X Tekken is an enjoyable game and a worthy addition to your collection. I would just recommend having a fightstick if you are serious about playing.

No one in view of the Kinect sensor is safe from the fun that Happy Action Theater brings – at 800 MS credits, it's well worth it for anyone who has kids or entertains guests. In fact, I'd recommend MS bundle this with every new Kinect – this is a simple-yet-effective use of getting some unexpected fun from your 360.

If you go in with tempered expectations and know there isn't much of a game, you'll have an enjoyable experience.

For $40 minus one cent, Army Corps of Hell is a difficult recommend, but when it drops to $20 or lower, I believe it would be a welcome addition to anyone's Vita library.

Whether it be friends you've made along the way, or long-time companions, everyone is at risk...Very few games pull me in like this.

So does Grand Slam Tennis 2 give you a reason to dust off your Move controller and give your right arm a workout? The answer is yes. I didn't have high hopes for Grand Slam Tennis 2's move implementation, mostly because I haven't been impressed by the Move at all prior to this game. But I can honestly say that this game is way more fun with the Move controller than with the regular analog stick controls.

While I can't help like feel like Starbreeze missed the mark in relaunching the single player experience, they have locked onto my neural pathways in a big way in multiplayer.

Dead Island is a hell of a ride from start to (near) finish and is a zombie game that stands out from the rest of the pack.

All in all, I'd say Alan Wake's American Nightmare is an easy pick for anyone looking for an action-heavy title with a horror twist. It's got the graphics, it's got the gameplay, it's got the diversity of weapons… all this plus a nice, dark story, for a very reasonable price. If pumping bullets into deadly, frenzied humans hasn't gotten old for you yet, be sure to check this one out.

It's good, it's solid, but the price can't be ignored. If you want this kind of game and if you have access to an iPhone, iPad or Android device, hit their respective app stores – your money will be better spent. And if you wait long enough, with the way things are going, I Heart Geeks may end up in those same stores at a reduced price after a while.

If gunning down zombies in a gorgeous survivor horror world sounds like your idea of a fun portable adventure, I'd say give this one a look. At the very least you owe it to yourself to check out the demo to get an idea of just what Capcom is offering this time around.

Treasures of the Sun is a nice side diversion with Dungeon Siege 3. The core game remains a fun hack-and-slash loot-a-thon, and the DLC gives you several hours more game. The dungeons are well laid out, the enemies are challenging, the loot is plentiful, the art is gorgeous, and it's absolutely worth your time if you enjoyed the original game.

Playing SSX is a little like riding a bike. If you have played it already, it won't take much for you to get into the game. If you haven't, then it might take you a little while to get used to the controls and see the lines within each level. However, once you get it, the snowboarding is a lot of fun. It's really a wonder why EA hasn't come out with a new SSX game sooner, but as they say, better late than never.

If you have been curious about Ascension but weren't ready to pay the price for the actual board game or don't have any local friends to play it with, the iOS version is a great option to play it. Because it plays so quickly, you can get a game in at a fraction of the time.

After putting in more than a dozen hours, it is very clear to me that UFC Undisputed 3 came to play. The improvements across the board show the results of the extended development cycle, and it has paid off. Every facet of the game has been made more accessible, and the new submission system removes a huge issue with the two previous games.

You won't be disappointed by the changes that have been made to make this a great experience.

It's not that the Zombii Attack tries something new and aggressive but fails to pull it off, but that it hardly seems to try to be much of a game at all.

The combat is what really sets the game apart, and once you play Reckoning you'll notice how stiff the combat in other RPGs is. I have to hand it to 38 Studios and Big Huge Games with their first RPG attempt. They have not only hit a home run, they hit it out of the park.

If you are a fan of the series, you'll likely enjoy the new mechanical improvements. If you are a newcomer to the series, you'll enjoy the diverse roster and online play. My only suggestion is to avoid the single player mode and don't get too hung up on cranking down the difficulty level – Project Soul is trolling you by calling it 'normal'.

Final Fantasy XIII-2, like its predecessor, takes bold chances that pay off in nearly every way. It is clear that the folks at SquareEnix have listened to their fans and have made a great many changes based on that feedback. While there are some aspects that could use some shoring up, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is very worthy of the mantle of this long-standing series.

Need for Speed The Run is a game that has just enough issues to make it an average game. It is filled with potential, and it eventually could have made a really great game. The cross-country race is a great story-telling mechanic and the cutscenes are well done. The progression of the Driver Level to gain more bonuses could have been given out more consistently and some of the cars could have handled better. If you don't mind driving for a while to unlock cars and abilities, then you should find a satisfying experience.

While Battlefield 3 was aiming to be the biggest name this holiday season, and while it has made strides towards knocking off Modern Warfare 3, it misses the mark. That's not to say it is a bad game, it's a very good one, but the polish and excitement that is found on the Call of Duty series feels missing here. Still, there are much worse games you could end up with this holiday season, and the competition between the two series should heat up significantly in the next few years.

As it stands Assassin's Creed: Revelations is worth playing, but not as a premium title. The content is thin, the game isn't as interesting, and Ubisoft shouldn't have diluted the game to make a yearly cycle. In a glut of other games to buy during the holiday season, it just doesn't stand out as a must-have.

The Old Republic hasn't raised the bar for MMOs, it completely reinvents the genre entirely.

It offers a fantastic adrenaline rush, great mood and dialogue to go with it, all while providing a considerable number of post-campaign and co-op challenges for those who want more.

But if you're a person who doesn't want to wait around for patches and who likes a gaming experience you can glide into rather than struggle through, I sadly suggest either giving this one a pass or at least giving it time to get patched up in time for a steep Steam sale.

When all is said and done, Serious Sam 3 is just plain refreshing. It's nice to have a game that relies so much on flat-out enemy decimation, and which does it so well, so beautifully, and while providing at least the opportunity to share the experience with friends online.

While there's definitely some fun to be had in the game, it's heavily tempered by frustration and boredom caused by the camera distance and the yawnfest that is the Voltron levels. Also, given how big a show Voltron was, twelve levels in three 'epsiodes' for 800 Microsoft Points ($10) seems a bit lacking.

Super Mario 3D Land is the first 3DS title that really takes advantage of the 3D capabilities of the system.

Even with the plot issues the series has, Naughty Dog has done a tremendous job with Uncharted 3 and they should be proud of it. It's an excellent game, and definitely one of the highlights of 2011.

Half-Minute Hero is a fun and quirky gem that is worth a second look.

Having covered this game since it was announced I was really hoping to find a great DBZ game. After all, the graphics look great and the presentation during the fight scenes is top notch. The problem is that the actual gameplay is so bad that I can't recommend Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi to even the most hard core of DBZ fans.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is not only one of the best Wii games of the year, it's one of the best games to hit the system ever.

The game makes you feel like a badass from the word go, and it just gets even more out of control as things progress. Sure, there are some hiccups graphically, and sometimes things can be a little clunky mechanically, but there is no doubt that Saints Row The Third is crazy fun from start to finish.

Skyrim delivers a mind blowing level of content wrapped in a package that would be worth the experience at twice the price.

If you enjoy open-world RPGs with real-time action-based combat, it's definitely worth considering a purchase of the Velvet edition once it's released.

There's something here for you guys who like the general approach of solving problems with a whole lot of sword-swinging, experience upgrades and looting – but the gameplay gets a bit worn the longer you play. So is the story enough of a draw to push this into the buy column for you? How about the prospect of having a game experience you and your friends can share? If neither of these things would push you from the undecided column to the must-buy column, approach this one with a bit more trepidation.

From the opening cinematic to the garage to the customization to the races, you can just tell that the developers just love cars and they have poured that into Forza Motorsport 4.

Those looking for a good turn based strategy RPG with a lengthy campaign will find a lot to like with Heroes VI

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a completely crazy tour-de-force that carries you through trenches all around the world, as well as giving a great refresh to the multiplayer mode that has all but defined Activision in the console market.

There is no doubt that Battlefield comes with some warts courtesy of a few mission features and the forced inclusion of Origin, but once these are ironed out we should have a title worthy of carrying the series name.

I had high hopes with Spider-Man: Edge of Time after last year's Shattered Dimensions. I thought that having two Spider-Man characters instead of four would bring about a more cohesive story and more refined gameplay. While the story was tighter and the effects of making changes in one universe to affect the other were interesting, the gameplay didn't grab me as much as I thought it would.

In the end, Skylanders knows exactly what it trying to be – a family friendly affair featuring cool creatures.

So if you loved Demon's Souls, or like games that sadistically punish you for your mistakes, go out and pick up Dark Souls right now. If you like those types of games, and haven't played Demon's Souls on the PS3, then go get both (if you have a PS3). While it's not perfect, it can be a hell of a lot of fun and is definitely worth the purchase price.

A fantastic romp with the Dark Knight through a suitably dark and depressing city, with your fists, your toys and a fantastic new take on the story. While it engages more sandbox gameplay, it ultimately is a true sequel to the Arkham Asylum in both feel and presentation and is a worthy purchase, even if it isn't that long or that large.

If you've never played Resident Evil 4, then the $20 price of entry is worth it and I highly recommend you experience the survival-horror genre at its finest. Especially considering that the genre has become something of an extinct race, particularly on consoles. If you're already familiar with the game it really comes down to how fond you were of that first experience.

NHL 12 is one of the best sports simulations available that is accessible by both hardcore simulation buffs and casual fans. While the improvements are subtle, they are definitely worth the price of admission, especially if you haven't picked up a copy for a few years.

If you're looking for a new co-op players-versus-AI-horde game, Dungeon Defenders is arguably the best option available right now. Great graphics, lovely music, tense gameplay – all with enough content to keep you coming back again and again, and avenues for both official and player-made content.

Getting back on track, I really can't recommend Spider-Man Edge of Time on the DS to anyone. The gameplay is extremely basic, the story is neutered, the graphics are a dull mess, the map system is broken, and the game's level design can't hold a candle to the games it is trying to emulate.

If you're the sort of person for whom playing games on the Wii usually involves more than one person sitting or standing in front of your TV, you should give Go Vacation a look.

While it isn't necessarily aimed at people used to more recent RPGs, Persona 2: Innocent Sin is a prime example of the entire reason many of us have loved Japanese RPGs for years.

If you've played LoTRO before, and all you want is more quests, and new zones to experience then by all means Rise of Isengard is well worth your purchase. But, if you have already burnt out on LoTRO then you won't find anything new here to change your mind.