Trenched is not only a great multiplayer game, it can also be a great way to introduce players to the Tower Defense game genre. And whether playing for 10 minutes or 10 hours, Trenched will keep you addicted thanks to its thoughtful and well balanced gameplay and co-op structure. It is fun, addicting, action packed but yet strategic. And yes, a game you will want on your 360's hard drive.

L.A. Noire feels and plays like an attempt at doing what Uncharted did in regards to Indiana Jones, in translating its genre of crime drama to video games. Despite its flaws and the one game-freezing glitch I ran into, it's worthwhile to explore the detailed city streets that might as well be a time capsule from the 1940s. Although this ambitious combination open-world adventure with complicated cases fell flat at times, Rockstar has certainly laid down a solid base for games like L.A. Noire to grow from.

There has never been a better time to jump on the FFIV bandwagon. The extras and lower price point more than justifies the content and quality in this collection. More added value is included with the purchase of the game as it ships with a download code for Dissidia 012: Duodecim (a new skin for Cecil) and character cards. Fans and newcomers should eat this one up.

For anyone out there that can't get enough of this genre, and can't wait the month for the next Telltale release of whatever they are working on, this is a pleasant buy. Anyone else who might be getting leery of this content feel entirely free to watch some videos of the funnier stuff on YouTube.

It is not that Top Spin 4 revolutionizes the tennis game genre, it just provides a comfortable control scheme, an extremely robust career mode, and a presentation that has yet to be matched in a tennis title.

Total War may be one of the more complex series out there, and in the past there have been many reasons to avoid it-- mainly stemming from the fact that at times it could feel unapproachable through simply the amount of choices given. The hardcore have always had it as a staple to call home, but this time around it feels as if everything finally met in exactly the right spots, and enough assistance that anyone can get into it if they want.

The game really only takes a few hours to complete but its charm has the most staying power.

If the $15 price tag makes you question such a gamble, just know that there is plenty of content to be had. While the main story quest can be completed in a few hours, each area has a multitude of secrets, from special challenges to complete and dolls to find as well as Hi-jinks that make use of the crazier abilities.

Before you play Uprising, understand that this is a challenging game. To many players, I am sure that it could become more frustrating as opposed to pleasurable just because of its shear pwnage. However, if you take the time to learn the ins-and-out of the game, power-up your character, and start to memorize each stage, the game's challenge will be appreciated.

While many people will argue that games don't need to pretend that they aren't games, Dead Space 2 is able to hide its seams so well that the total package feels wholly unique.

Still, the PC version of Plants vs. Zombies remains the one that most gamers will want to start with, but if you only have a DS or want a full-featured portable version of the game, the slowdown is the only major problem with the port.

The Commissioned Officers Edition is a great way to update the rather painful experience of entering EVE for the first time, even if there is still a couple of pacing problems that pop up at some point in its life.

Super Mario All-Stars is undeniably a shameless attempt to make money from old games on Nintendo's part, but it is an enjoyable and fun shot at gamers' wallets that's held up well in the 25 years since the debut of Super Mario Bros.

It's true that Sonic Colors is an imperfect game, plagued by dull boss battles and uneven difficulty, but it's still an enjoyable DS title with enough similarities to 16-bit Sonic games to keep both old and new fans of the franchise entertained.

Since it started, Popcap Games has been pumping out quality titles, and Bejeweled 3 is no exception.

For those that are looking for more Majesty this is the perfect option, although this addition isn't going to convince anyone to run out and buy it.

Sonic Colors is a refreshing step in the right direction after years of disappointing titles.

You know this game is repetitive. You know this game has the most simplistic gameplay. You know this game has a terrible plotline, graphics, and audio qualities. You know spamming attacks is an incredibly cheap tactic that throws off the balance of the game. But with all the negative aspects going against it, X-Men Arcade is still absurdly entertaining - a quality very few games possess.

Considering many of the missteps that the newer SimCity games have taken I am more than happy to say that Cities XL is more than able to contain the mantle of spiritual successor.

Divinity II is simply a great game. While there might be some odd little shortfalls that pop up that keep it from the halls of true greatness, there really is just so much going for it in the way of immersive world and enjoyable gameplay that it is worth exploring.

Vanquish is an adrenaline infused rocket ride of a game.

There's a lot to love about Rock Band 3 and there's been some awesome DLC already released…it's just that to get the full experience, you're going to need to drop some major dollars.

GoldenEye Wii is nowhere near a straight port of the N64 classic and it is not supposed to be. Instead, players are treated with a classic experience but told through fresh eyes; the experience is impressive.

Like the Modern Warfare titles before it, Black Ops is an action packed and shocked induced gaming experience thanks to high presentation values.

Fallout New Vegas is basically everything that Fallout 3 was, just in a new environment, a new story, but with more bugs and a few new bells and whistles.

Like so few games before, it King Arthur - The RPG has managed to make many an early morning "quick game" turn into a late night session of "just one more turn".

Whether or not this means the triumphant return of Sonic, this game is worth your time if you can appreciate classic gameplay without the classic frustration it usually brings.

By itself, Lords of Shadow isn't a bad game. But as a Castlevania title, fans might be disheartened to learn that there isn't much Castlevania here. Sure, it might be the best 3D installment in the series but the 2D Castlevanias are still the highlight. There are a few rough edges in the overall game design, but there is still a fair amount of entertainment to be had with Lords of Shadow.

Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is a huge step in the right direction of the series and it's made me nothing but excited for the already announced forth game in the series that will be coming out on the 3DS.

Shattered Dimension might not be the best Spider-Man experience of all time, but it surely is one of the better games in the series.

Drawn does much to invoke the spirit of Myst and manages to do it a whole lot better than most modern day ports of the original. Pacing faults aside, Drawn is a decent game worth a play through.

The only negative aspect about this game is that we are going to have to wait a while for another installment.

People who have been playing the series since the early versions may want to skip this skip this edition for a less expensive one later on as well, or just wait for the game to be discounted somewhere.

The $60 question will determine whether or not you should buy this. It really depends on how desperate you are for this type of game. I can't really stress this enough…GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption are much, much better. If you've already played those and are looking for another crime-themed game, then this is worth checking out.

It looks great, contains solid gameplay, and has a wonderful sense of balance in almost every aspect.

It throws clunky mechanics to the side and opts for something more fluid, which is definitely worth the purchase if you don't expect a revolutionary storyline or funky-fresh graphics.

Is Despair an enjoyable game? Yes, but it's not the definitive co-op Castlevania game that fans were hoping for.

Simply put, Limbo is a remarkable gaming achievement, and stands out as this year's Braid.

This entire season is a buy, regardless of the short fallings of this one episode. This small inconsistency is completely fine in the long run and still stands as a solid adventure title.

The Saxons expansion is just what anyone who enjoys this brand of RTS games is looking for, and when combined with King Arthur it is hard to not suggest this game to anyone.

The only flaws that can really be brought up are the nit-picky ones of a true fan. Besides that the game is a wonderful blending of Japanese culture and RPG goodness that should be experienced by anyone with the means to do so.

It may not be the most innovative shooter to come along this year, but it certainly is one of the best put together shooters of the year and a definite recommendation to any shooter fan.

For anyone that is still wondering if they should spend the money on Season 3, they should. Telltale has managed to craft something so great that anyone who has a PC should pick it up. It is a very rare for a string of episodic releases to be this good.

Transformers has quite a history behind it and WFC will definitely make fans happy by giving them a Transformers game that they have always wanted.

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker is a fantastic game.

Playing through this game after 16 years after playing it for the first time, it still holds up.

The bottom-line is that if you like traditional Tetris, then you'll like, maybe even love, Tetris Party Deluxe.

But if your Wii is connected to the internet, you are probably better off downloading Tetris Party for less than half the price - it is basically the same game found on this disc based version.

The ability to let you and three of your friends jump onto a single console and play together is great and should be applauded. This is more than most companies are willing to do in an era when online multiplayer means more copies sold and revenue through unnecessary subscriptions doesn't need justification.

Hexyz doesn't do anything at all wrong, but it misses the mark pretty clearly on doing almost anything very well.

In short, Alan Wake is exactly what ii says on the box, a “Psychological Action Thriller.” You’ll be grasping at straws for most of the game, trying to figure out what exactly is happening in this quaint little town.

Anybody who enjoyed Grand Theft Auto will be able to jump into Red Dead Redemption and have a good time.

The Tomb of Sammun-Mak is simply one of the most enjoyable adventure games that has come out in recent memory, and is a very easy recommend to anyone with a computer.

Rocket Knight will undoubtedly provide an entertaining experience with its welcoming visuals, detailed control and perfect pacing whether you played as Sparkster on the Genesis or not. The only solid flaw that this game has is its pricing.

For anyone who is a super advanced DotA player, Newerth is a must buy, if only to keep up with the tournaments. Everyone else really should stay away due to the terrible community.

This game offers a lot to action adventure fans especially ones that have memories of classic 8-bit titles.

All praise for the game aside, this should probably only be purchased for people who have bought every other title on the PSP. The game gets rather difficult early on, is rather unforgiving, and seems to expect a level of knowledge out of the player that no one new to the series should have to go through.

The game looks great on a high end gaming PC, and will even run on pretty much anything with a dedicated video card, so most people who even have a passing interest really should check the game out. Sadly the cost of admission might be the one thing that would keep the people who would really enjoy the game away from it.

The Penal Zone is a really good adventure game, and has the chances of being the best Season of Sam & Max that has come along, but it still has some minor bugs to work out with the interface.

Creating havoc has not been this much fun since players were first treated to GTA3 many years ago.

Just Cause 2 isn’t a perfect game, many of the story missions are blah and the player isn’t really let into the joke of the game until late into it, but even with its very minor faults it still manages to be one of the best games I have played this year.

The Red Star is a great game, just one that wasn’t designed for most people to get excited about.

Combat is sometimes a little too loose, but the atmosphere, sense of realism, and highly creative game design makes this FPS highly enjoyable and quite the pleasant surprise.

The ending may not be the most satisfying conclusion to a trilogy, but the journey there is pure action-adventure bliss.

I couldn’t recommend this game to a lot of people though, as it is more of a movie then a game. It’s niche and like I said, I can’t blame anyone for passing it up on store shelves.

If you have enjoyed any version of Arkanoid, or Breakout, then Shatter is worth a purchase. It might even be worth it for some people that don’t even enjoy the genre that much, it is that good.

For those that are really into the genre it is a no brainer, for anyone who has enjoyed a tower defense game before it is still a solid investment.

Regardless, Pokemon SoulSilver is a quality game if you take it on its own merits, and it’s a safe pickup if you’re looking for either a casual play-through, or want to go the competitive battling route.

While the story is beyond confusing and gets further complicated by the cockamamie Japanese nuances and character archetypes, the game is still something that can be comfortably tackled by veteran RPG players.

If you enjoyed Kirby's Canvas Curse or are looking for the next puzzling platformer, this could be a good way to spend 1000 Nintendo Points.

The only issue is that the intricate tech tree system sets a pretty steep learning curve for the game that can scare off lots of young, inexperienced players. Because of that, it’s hard to recommend this to people just looking to dive into the RTS genre, but it may be worth looking at for all you Starcraft and Command & Conquer veterans.

However, if you come into this with a longing for the adventure games of decades past, or simply want to have a video game experience that hasn’t really been done before, then this game hits right on the mark.

While Tropico 3 on the Xbox 360 is enjoyable, there’s no reason to get it on the console if you have a PC capable of running it. The game is still an entertaining experience, but the controls are plain-and-simple better on the mouse and keyboard.

The game is a safe pickup for FPS fans, and something worth looking at for anybody wanting a unique adventure…assuming you played the original.

Tomena Sanner on WiiWare is a perfect platform for this user friendly/cheap thrills style of quirky gameplay.

Max & the Magic Marker is well worth a purchase for anyone who has a younger PC gamer in the house.

While Mass Effect 1 was a good game, this sequel really just improves everything. With a wide range of gameplay tweaks and some slight nudges to the presentation, the game ends up really reaching its full potential.

While this is still mostly a game for the younger crowd, that’s not to say us grown-up gamers can’t enjoy it. It’s a solid action platformer that you can play without cringing.

Bayonetta is made for the hardcore gamer. Its sensationally over-the-top style may turn a few players off but underneath all that flash, style, and madness is one of the most engaging, satisfying combat systems in action games today.

Tales of Monkey Island is probably one of the best games that came out last year, and probably one of the best adventure games that has come out in recent memory.

Stoked: Big Air Edition is not for everybody. It doesn't fill in the void left by the fabulous, over-the-top style of the SSX series. For players looking for the realistic equivalent of Skate to the snowboarding sport, Stoked is where it at its strongest.

Gyromancer is fun though, despite the weird difficulty curve but playing against human opponents can be more entertaining. Here’s the skinny: it’s defiantly not as great as Puzzle Quest, but it’s defiantly better than the oft forgotten Puzzle Kingdom.

It is true; L4D2 plays out very similarly to the original smash hit. But the fast paced four player co-op is quite entertaining and the new material is enough to experience this sequel even if you have played the hell out of the first game.

CONR3 really maximizes on the underlying potential the series has always had, and the online mode really pulls everything together to make it a game that, truly, can stand alongside the plethora of great fighters that have come out this year.

The single player stages are much too linear, the co-op missions are reused from the single player campaign, and the main multiplayer deathmatch style modes are very unbalanced, especially for new players. But like Uncharted 2, MW2 is like an insane action packed movie that you can participate in… too bad the game’s heavy use of scripted events make the player feel like they have do not have any control regarding the out come of the final experience.

Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble is the brawler that most old school gamers have been hoping will come out. Sadly at the current price point most of them aren’t going to even make an attempt to pick it up.

Go do yourself a favor this holiday season. If you’re looking to buy a game for a friend, or even for yourself, buy Dragon Age as it could get overlooked this crowded holiday season.

Band Hero definitely will bring the “band” back to together, but it ultimately it can still be considered a clone of GH5 only with a more kid friendly soundtrack. But only with minor gameplay complaints, Band Hero could be the best option for beginning modern day music game players or parents looking to start a family band.

With only one month to go, it seems like an easy recommendation to anyone with a PC to pick up this game.

If you’re a fan of the series and have some local competition, the overall gameplay is the best the series has to offer yet. Otherwise, I would recommend waiting a bit to see if the online will be fixed in a timely matter.

What Forza 3 does best is progress the design of racing simulators with its accessibility, excellent physics mechanics, and focus on community contribution among other things.

The game is simply worth it, and PC gamers should definitely check it out.

Nostalgia is very niche, being a must buy for anyone old enough to get the feeling.

While it isn’t a perfect game it does manage to come rather close to that mark. If you have a PC that is able to run Tropico there is no reason not to run out and buy the game. It is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.

The only people that wouldn't appreciate this download are either people with no sense of humour or who can't appreciate a less action-orientated title.

This is the kind of pet project a developer gets to make only once, and if you love metal music as much as Tim Schafer, you’ll find something to love about Brütal Legend.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is, without a doubt, the kind of game you can buy a Playstation 3 for.

With a perfect sense of humor, a new bold design, a vintage graphical style and gameplay perfectly suited for a portable system, Half Minute Hero is one game that cannot be missed by PSP owners or any fan of an RPG.