The word unique gets thrown around a lot in gaming, but The Unfinished Swan is truly unique, an experience not to be missed. It will show you that games don't need combat to be engaging, and they don't need color to strike a chord with your imagination. Simply put, this is one of the best games of the year, and my very favorite gaming experience of 2012.

Everything about this game is fantastic except the parts where you have to actually play it. That's what makes recommending this game really tough. Devout Fable fans will enjoy the check-in with the world as well as promises of what's to come, and some children may be indiscriminate enough to not care about perfect accuracy in controls. Everyone else should avoid the heartache.

NBA 2K13 improves upon its already solid foundation of basketball gameplay and presentation, and turns it up a notch. Improvements and additions to MyCareer mode as well as the addition of MyTeam mode will provide for great depth this season.

For the Poke-Maniacs out there, these two games are easily the definitive versions of this generation, but only because they offer a few added side missions and graphical enhancements. For anyone that played and enjoyed the two games before, Black 2 and White 2 can be skipped without question.

With Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, the game is starting to feel stale. The Pokemon series has been living off its laurels for some time now, and the series is in need of change.

It's clear that Enemy Unknown was made by people that both really loved the original XCOM and understand how to make games more approachable and enjoyable. Yes, some of those adaptations cause Enemy Unknown to lose some of the bite that the original had, but it's an unquestionably better game for it.

The average visuals, clunky animations, clumsy controls, and nonexistent lip-syncing represents a distinct lack of polish, but this doesn't ruin the otherwise solid game tucked within.

It's fun, easy to pick up for any newcomer, and something to play when friends come over. It's also a nice little distraction when you want something that's fast-paced yet demands less attention than a triple-A game might require.

Dishonored is a good game. It falls flat a bit on the pacing, the AI has a laundry list of quirks that become frustrating real quick, but on the whole the game delivers an experience you won't find anywhere else this year.

Don't get me wrong, I love the amount of jiggle, it's been a ridiculous and hilarious theme for several sequels now. But what I was really hoping for was more focus on how to play the game and tools to improve. I didn't see that in this installment.

Unless you've been practicing your finger exercises and reviewing your combos, Marvel vs. Capcom Origins may wind up with somewhat limited lasting power. Sure, unlocking the various extras in the Vault will take a long while, but in the end, fighting games are simply meant for fighting others.

Tokyo Jungle has the addicting gameplay to complement this rare animal takeover premise.

Unless you're desperate for some mindless local multiplayer and attach an unhealthy sentiment to the Fire Pro brand, you can leave this one in the locker room.

Torchlight 2 might not turn the genre on its head or delve drastically into any unexplored territory, but it is a fantastic action RPG and overall a blast to play, especially with friends.

Even with all its flaws, and it has many, Resident Evil 6 is still an exhilarating action game. It's just not the return to form we were hoping for. It still has control issues, and isn't as scary or as puzzling as the series' high water marks Resident Evil 2 or 4.

Red Johnson's Chronicles: One Against All is for puzzle lifers. The puzzles are intense, complicated, and obtuse. To top it all off, you attack these puzzles back to back without much levity or downtime to let your brain recover making it even less friendly.

They really don't make games like Hell Yeah anymore. It's one of the most random and oddball games I've played. It's one of those games where a bunch of wildly creative developers got together, had a bunch of fun, and made a game without ever asking "why?"

The gravity fluctuating gameplay combined with simple platforming make for devilishly difficult levels that only hardcore puzzle fans need apply for.

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita isn't only one of the best LittleBigPlanet games ever, it's one of the best games to pick up for your Vita. It's got creativity, fun, and challenge – entertainment cornerstones that most people would argue make up a great video game.

Captaining a spaceship is a dream that many gamers have had for years, and FTL pulls it off near perfectly. If the difficulty, randomness, and repetition of rougelikes doesn't scare you away, FTL will give you an experience you can't find anywhere else.

And while all these pieces are solid, reliable, and improve the product, they won't set any soccer fans' pants on fire. So do you upgrade? If you haven't since FIFA 11, then you're due. If you're a new recruit in '12, then maybe you can wait until '14.

In PES 2013 there's a distinct realism to the flow of the game, how players move, how they receive the ball, how they pass, and how they look for space. It still lacks polish in both execution on the field, and particularly execution in the menus and management to make a serious run at FIFA's crown, but PES 2013 will absolutely wow soccer purists on-the-field, and if that's important enough to you, then this is the pick in the 2013 virtual soccer stakes.

Double Dragon: Neon achieves everything it set out to: reinvigorate the Double Dragon franchise while adding new elements and retaining the core gameplay that made the original games popular.

But if you're a big fan of F1 – or motorsports in general – and you're up for a challenge, you can't go wrong. F1 2012 feels like it comes from a developer that truly gets the sport and has tried not just to simulate the handling of an F1 car, but capture an insider glimpse of what its like to have an F1 career. And it totally nails both.

Dogfight 1942 isn't offensively bad outside of the racial issue, it's just completely forgettable. It doesn't do anything that other games haven't already done better, so why would you waste your time?

The wacky world that Gearbox has built really shines in Borderlands 2. It doesn't just work as a means to deliver funny lines of dialogue, though. Here is an established universe providing ample free reign to contrive silly gameplay mechanics that defy both first-person shooter and role-playing game conventions in way that has me convinced we'll be seeing a lot more Borderlands in the future.

The artistic aspects of the game are timeless, and I'd recommend the game without batting an eye to anyone that's interested in quirky games or unique visual design. People that just want a fun game though, that's trickier. By all means play it if you missed it the first time around, just understand that the value is in theme and presentation rather than timeless gameplay.

Awesome gameplay and graphics. Tons of fully customizable items to unlock that you will be playing this game for years to come. Snoop Dog (or Snoop Lion). It hits all the right notes for true fighting game fans.

NHL 13 is not a bad game, don't get that idea. It's really fun when it isn't bending you over a barrel and cheating its way to victory.

Though the level of precision required to solve some puzzles is a little beyond my taste, it's great that games of this nature are starting to become so prolific that those looking for puzzles with a little more bite can find them.

Mark of the Ninja is not "the game that they were meant to make" because Klei is a talented enough studio that can do even more with different styles of 2D gameplay. Yet, the studio has not only redeemed itself, it also managed to make one of the best stealth games of this generation and also one of the best ninja games ever made.

Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition is one of the worst PC ports I've played. It's also one of the best games ever made, so don't let a few trivial issues push you away.

A unique blend of turn based and real time battles is squandered on bland battles and a pacing that is far too slow.

Only problem is that novelty doesn't make the game concept really workable, and thus you get a jumble of mechanics that partially invalidate themselves.

Long Road Ahead is still fantastic, and it sets up the conclusion to this series nicely. Buying and playing this episode is a no-brainer (no pun intended).

Rocking out to your favorite band is a blast, and the ability to instantly use all past DLC is a very smart move, but the game doesn't have the same wow factor as the original.

There are minor issues with the game, notably the exclusion of public matchmaking, but they can be looked past when the game hits its prime and you're murdering thousands of pointy-toothed orcs.

With the exception of quirky platforming physics, there's nothing to not like in Sound Shapes. Fantastic pre-made levels and a profound level editor make the game a great value as well. Whether you're academically interested in the more experimental line of games on the PSN or you just want a unique and enjoyable platformer, you can't go wrong with Sound Shapes.

The inclusion of a brand new game engine, new broadcast team, and wide ranging career mode make this year's version of Madden the biggest leap from one year to the next since the move to this generation of consoles.

I'm appreciating it not out of some overly indulgent childhood nostalgia but rather for what it's doing right now. It's been way too long since the Transformers property has been this good but High Moon's take on the universe is shaping up to be the modernized reboot the franchise desperately needs.

Lovers of dark fantasy and charming characters should play Last Story without a second thought, but a gamer used to modern-day levels of production value and polish won't easily set those expectations aside.

The story can get confusing and nonsensical at times, and the camera gets caught up in some funky angles, but these are tiny flaws in an otherwise stellar RPG.

The controls are clunky, the graphics are student project-basic, the plot isn't worth discussing and the levels so repetitive you'll have seen all it has to offer within half an hour.

Nintendo clearly took an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality to this sequel, and given how good this game is, I can't fault them for it.

By removing peripheral complexities, Hybrid focuses completely on what makes, or should make cover-based shooters fun. It reminds me a lot of NBA Jam - not in the sense that you'll pull of crazy tomahawk dunks as a futuristic mech soldier, but in that it creates basic, tight, and rewarding experiences by focusing on a few core gameplay mechanics.

Vigil nailed the Zelda formula in Darksiders 1. In attempting to evolve that in this sequel, the team stumbles a bit. It's like they wanted to keep Darksiders 2 mechanically consistent without drawing such overt references to their source material. Some story and technical blemishes crop up from this process but they don't distract from the great dungeon design and combat. Darksiders 2 is a great game, with still considerable room for improvement.

Tequila Works certainly understands the 2D space and there is some sense of satisfaction in navigating Randall Wayne through miles of hallowed out buildings, a treacherous underground, and zombie-infested roads.

The updated visuals give the dated games a fresh look, but the exclusion of levels and options like the park editor are sorely missed.

The 3DS itself seems like an odd choice for a game like this, what with its small screen and isolated user base-compared, at least, to the massive communities surrounding PC games in the same genre.

The variety in the minigames mixed with the exceptional soundtrack make for a delightful combination.

Most Civ players will find the changes too minor and the original game complex enough that an expansion isn't necessary.

While Gungnir is in no means a bad game, there isn't anything about it that calls out to be played. The story isn't entirely original, but the lower class uprising setting fits well with the gameplay (as it does with most titles in the genre).

It helps to think of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy as a digital celebration of the series' music and culture rather than a deep gaming experience.

The stellar writing and character development continues at a superior level, and the decisions the game asks you to make are gut-wrenching.

The Amazing Spider-Man has laid an awesome foundation of gaming mechanics through its open-world design; I just hope to see more of it embraced in future games.

The inclusion of a fully voiced cast and the open-world setting of Gotham make this one of the most ambitious games in the LEGO series to date. If you only play one Batman game that comes out this year, it should definitely be LEGO Batman 2.

If you just want to click your brain off and shoot some guys, Spec Ops is not for you. That's ok though, gamers looking for that can find it in, well, almost every other game ever made. Spec Ops is unique in its intelligent treatment of adult themes. If you want a different take on the war game, I can't recommend Spec Ops enough.

The game is crafted like a shoot-'em-up, meaning you really need to dig in and master it to understand where its value lies. If you have the temperance for that type of play, Lollipop Chainsaw is one of the best brawlers in the last few years. Combine that with an effortless sense of humor and Suda 51's one-of-a-kind style, and you have gaming perfection for the right kind of gamer.

A breath of fresh air into the somewhat stale Pokemon series. Creating a strategy game that is both accessible for newcomers and deep for veterans is quite a feat, and this game has done just that.

It's both cohesive and inviting, mechanically and aesthetically. And if you're interested in a game with elaborate and interesting puzzles, you're not likely to find something better this side of Portal.

The controls are not only responsive, but they show a subtlety we don't normally see in motion-controlled games. It's just too bad that what could've been a fun, magical romp is deflated by generic fantasy tropes and equally uninspired visuals and sounds.

But much of the time, the controls simply don't work, and instead of feeling immersed, you feel enraged and helpless. If the graphics, story, or even gameplay mechanics weren't as good as they are, I wouldn't be wasting my time with a game with such messy, unreliable controls.

This isn't a bad game at all, but its relatively low score is more a reflection of how much gaming bang you get for your buck. It's just not quite worth the ten dollars it costs on XBLA-especially considering you can get pretty much the same game for five on Google Play. Babel Rising is mostly saved by its multiplayer options.

Somewhere, hidden within Gas Guzzlers: Combat Carnage, is a fun racer. Unfortunately, the fun is locked.

All in all, everything here is fantastic-I just wish that there were about twice as much of it.

The addictive core gameplay of hunting, gathering, and building is intact, with streamlined crafting and multiplayer that make the console version unique. It's definitely not a game for people with short attention spans or addictions to hyper-violence.

The gameplay is frustrating and not worth the time you'll spend on it.

For longtime fans of the DiRT games, especially those who appreciate its realistic approach to rally racing, Showdown is an abomination, an overly simple sell-out, or a bad joke of a spin-off... But for fans of off-road racing games who want something more forgiving than DiRT but still somewhat rooted in reality, or someone wishing Forza Motorsport 4 had some off-road races and a demolition derby or two, Showdown is anything but a bumpy ride.

Gravity Rush is a journey. An artistic, unique and intriguing journey. It's not as free or interactive as its 'open world' might have you think, but forget about that. It's an adventure through an odd and interesting land that pulls you through a twisting quest of isolation, dubious friendships and selfless heroics.

Mechanically, the series holds up better than expected. But where Rockstar's influence really shines through is in the character of Max. He's one of the most compelling characters in recent memories and following him on this messed up journey of self-discovery is reason enough to play Max Payne 3.

GRFS is a solid entry in the shooter genre, and one of the standout third-person shooter experiences on any console. The emphasis on intel and squads make this a must-have for anyone looking to play as a team and work together.

It may not be saying much but Dragon's Dogma is the ballsiest, most ambitious thing Capcom has attempted in years.

With Diablo III, Blizzard made one of the most approachable and enjoyable games in the world even better. In fact, aside from the annoying online-only infrastructure, I can't imagine a single thing I would change to make this game better. That's when you know you have a classic on your hands, and that's also when you know you should play this game as much as you can.

I was nonetheless impressed by the interdependence of the sea and ground battles, and it's the kind of gameplay mechanic of which I want to see more in future games. Battleship is worth a rental for sure.

With terrible dialogue, a horrible story, and gameplay that's equivalent to matching shapes and colors at its most complex, I can't imagine the person that would be entertained by this game… but if he exists I hope I never meet him.

Mario Tennis Open is like Jessica Alba with a giant, puss-filled zit right on the tip of her nose. Its flaws are glaring and hard to overlook – a beginner-friendly control system that harms competitive online play for purists and, more crucially, a distinct lack of imagination.

Game of Thrones is satisfactory at best, and dreadfully slow and ugly at worst. But there is fun to be had here. Despite all the shortcomings, I had fun, and with video games that's the most important element for my enjoyment. It's not for everyone.

If you dig DotA and want to play a streamlined version of that game on a console, Awesomenauts will deliver big time. But don't be surprised when, well, you wind up never being surprised.

An overall completion time of around five hours doesn't help the game either.

Starhawk is definitely a game that was made; I just don't know if it was a game that was designed. Its scope seems at odds with its mechanics. There's nothing inherently broken about Starhawk, it's just painfully straightforward, as if the question of "why" was never asked. And it's one I continued to ponder as I played the game and don't think I ever really came up with a satisfying answer.

The scope of the storytelling in The Walking Dead video game is almost never attempted in downloadable games, let alone executed this successfully. This is a top-flight narrative, and an excellent example of episodic gaming done right.

Prototype wasn't a bad experience, but Prototype 2 builds on that framework, and provides a much richer gameplay experience. You might not replay this several times, but the main storyline provides about 12 to 15 hours of enjoyment, and the completetists out there will continue leveling Heller up long after the game is over.

The retro gameplay is an ironic breath of fresh air for the genre. A high challenge and rewarding leveling system makes each enemy kill worthwhile and addictive. Solving puzzles is just as satisfying as slaying ogres, but sometimes the difficulty can get the better of you with a particularly hard puzzle of fight.

What is it about this game that is compelling me to a completest level never-before-seen? It's fun, simple, playable, looks okay, and you feel like a bad-ass… that'll do for another eight hours.

While it drips with cinematic style and unrelenting action, the game is held back by camera issues and a game-breaking exploit that can't be ignored.

While it partially succeeds in exploring some of the aspects of pirate life, it doesn't deliver on it enough to make the experience super exciting.

An extremely competent and oftentimes innovative platformer that has a ton going for it.

With dozens upon dozens of tracks to complete by yourself or with friends both on the couch and online, skill games to break up the traditional track racing and obstacle coursing, and an insanely in-depth, user friendly track creator that should extend the life of the game and the Trials community immensely, the game is a rock solid purchase for the price.

If you're digging the dark fantasy of Game of Thrones or the demanding challenge of Dark Souls, buy this game without hesitation.

It's got a great art style and an interesting enough gameplay hook. But don't let it fool you into thinking it's all about platforming and world turning. It's not. It's a game about taking in information and using it in ways you never would have expected.

The only 3DS game that rivals the AR integration in this game is the card collection that came with the handheld. It's just too bad Spirit Camera's play length is disappointingly short, even when you include the non-story modes.

The game's long-term entertainment value is tied up in multiplayer, and while I'm confident the user-generated tracks will always yield new and interesting experiences, playing with other players won't so much.

While the graphics are barely passable in many instances, the frame rate inexplicably drops to a total crawl with every other in-game cutscene.

I'm not sure if Anomaly: Warzone Earth is the first game to flip the tower defense genre on its head, but for me it's the first game I've experienced that does and on the whole I enjoyed it.

It's one of the best games on the Wii, it's one of the best RPGs in this generation, and more than that, it's one of the better JRPGs ever made.

Linear gameplay and an incredibly short length means the game can be completed in a matter of hours, which is a problem considering the high price point. For those of you willing to pay the price of admission Yesterday is a fun nod to an earlier form of gaming with a story you won't soon forget.

Warp implements fun new mechanics that haven't been fully embraced in a genre that just doesn't see much innovation. It's a brief, well-paced adventure that makes you actively use your brain along the way.

An extremely solid game, and a successful relaunch of a near-forgotten franchise. The biggest question consumers should ask themselves is whether or not they think they'll be able to cope with the unique controls.