The mountains are impressive, offering lots of jumps, hidden paths and design diversity to make you feel like you're going through Russia, Siberia, whatever, without confusing the terrain.

Players should not come in expecting a balanced single player and multiplayer like the competition may offer, but instead be pleased by the solid campaign that is different from any other shooter.

A game that's merely good, rather than great. Still, the good part is well worth the investment, provided you can find the right team members to join you in a firefight.

It's loaded with options, wildly offbeat characters, and the kind of online action that a good fighting game deserves.

The right analog stick controls make the game a joy to play, but everything else surrounding the gameplay doesn't have that same labor of love.

It's very clear that they wanted to make an anime, but somehow wounded up making a video game instead. It's a short game that you will watch more than you play, only taking about 6 to 7 hours to complete on the hardest difficulty setting. Replay value is laughable, with the only unlocks to be found are different looking health bars.

It would've been great to have multiple people battling the dark simultaneously, but this is the next best thing, very competitive and lots of fun. And with different weapons to upgrade to, it just keeps on going.

If you're up for a harder kind of game experience and don't mind a little infuriation to go with your gameplay skills, Warp may just be the thing for you. It's got the kind of challenges to really keep you coming back, especially in the challenge rooms. However, if you're a newbie and prefer a platformer that's not so punishing, we recommend a rental first.

NeverDead had some interesting ideas, but they play out badly here, between the loose, flawed gameplay and the problematic presentation, not to mention the lack of any significant replay value, despite a few decent game moments and the presence of co-op.

Monolith has made the most out of this outlandish idea, making it throughout enjoyable to romp through stages and level up like a pro. Some online modifications would be nice, but for now, this game's good enough to drive you Bat-ty.

Players looking for a side-scrolling game proud and unapologetic for its blunt machismo will get a kick out of Shank 2 and is priced fairly at 800 Microsoft Points.

There is plenty of rich content, gameplay, and unlockables in UFC Undisputed 3 to crown it the champion of MMA games. But with little to no competition, lets hope each installment can continue advancing as much as this one.

Even though we liked the original game in limited ways, The Darkness II is a fresh sequel that avoids the pratfalls of most comic book licensed games, instead opting for ridiculously bloody gameplay, a solid (for the most part) presentation, and a multiplayer add-on that doesn't feel like a cheap addition, for once.

If you are looking to fill the void left after you completed Skyrim then I can refer no other game than this one. It has everything you expect from the Elder Scrolls series and the combat is really good beyond its minor flaws.

The comic book sequences and multiplayer have a few fleeting moments of entertainment, but not nearly enough to justify the $50 cost. Go rent a Bruce Lee flick instead and try to pretend you're him, you'll make a stronger Impact than you ever will here.

We're sure devoted fans will love what Konami has done with The Simpsons Arcade Game's home release, and now it can be introduced to a new generation of players who will discover just how joyous it is. It's a blast from the past that has very little going against it, outside of its length. However, the replay value, particularly from playing alongside friends, easily makes this one worth the D'oh!

While SoulCalibur V doesn't quite excel with some of the greatest fighting sequels out there, it's a huge step forward from IV, complete with online multiplayer that's meaningful again, a worthwhile character roster (Ezio rocks it, we're telling you) and a presentation that's as good as the series has ever seen.

Puddle isn't likely to be a big hit on Xbox Live Arcade due to its ridiculously high difficulty scale and its physics-heavy gameplay. However, if you're a fan of the LocoRoco games or are seeking out a whole different kind of platformer, this one's worth getting your feet wet over.

While Quarrel doesn't really do too much to push the word genre forward, it's really not that bad a game at all. While the AI has its moments of cheapness and the presentation could've used a little more ingenuity (and for that matter, lessened loading times), the game has a light-hearted appearance, gameplay that can really grow on you (especially if you're an English major) and online options to make it a real party.

If you've got proper funds and a skill set to match, you'll have a good time with Scarygirl. While the presentation isn't as top shelf as those nifty stop-motion animated films I mentioned, it definitely holds up compared to other platformers of this nature. And the gameplay is fun too, as long as you don't develop an over reliance to throwing things around.

It's a bit pricey, but it delivers heftily on the great gameplay and supreme challenge, so if you're hardcore, you'll definitely get your money's worth here.

This is one of the worst games of the year, and we're not even at the end of the first month yet. It's poorly realized and a huge technical failure, and no one – not even die-hard survival horror fans – should touch it. Someone banish this kid to a private school and never send her my way again.

No, NFL Blitz isn't PRECISELY the same as its old counterpart, because, yep, we do miss the late hits. But it's as good as arcade football gets, a must-have Xbox Live game that easily overshadows Madden NFL Arcade as our favorite go-to sports game. It really goes well with NBA Jam: On Fire Edition.

The different challenges range from easy to exhaustingly difficult, and the gameplay is so addicting that you'll want to complete every one. The level design and multiplayer components are subpar, but Joe Danger: SE makes up for it with a stellar career mode that will keep you playing all night "for just one more star."

So PC fans, don't panic – even though I personally believe Crysis for console is better than the PC version, it's not meant to totally replace the PC version. Rather, its purpose is to give the original Crysis experience to the masses, and honestly, why wouldn't PC gamers want that?

The sloppy gameplay and missing long-term replayability leave it being stuck in the "Kinect gimmick game" pile, rather than standing out.

Stop torturing those poor worms, Team 17!

Anime fans will devour it alive, but everyone else probably won't get just what the hell Cell is.

This game is freaking gorgeous for its genre.

Improved gameplay, new mechanics, and an even stronger story denote whether you care about Batman or not, it's still a game worthy of your time. With some easter eggs possibly hinting at plots for a third game, let's hope Rocksteady isn't quite done with the Dark Knight.

An acceptable entry in the kart-racing genre. While there aren't many folks online, the local multiplayer makes up for it, and the modes included here will keep you busy if you're all about power sliding and bombing someone's car with a sack of yard scraps.

The overall experience is reminiscent of something you may have loved on the Super NES or Sega Genesis. Young gamers should find it appealing especially if they liked the movie, but even the low price tag can't quite muster a bang for your buck.

Kinect Disneyland Adventures really is a dream come true – but, please, don't let it stop you from seeing the real thing.

If you're a wrestling fan, this is a must.

War in the North is not a bad game, but it is an average one.

Whether a newbie or a hardcore veteran, you owe it to yourself to check out the King of Fighters XIII – especially at its discounted price of $50.

This is Jurassic Park we're talking about. It doesn't deserve anything in the realm of mediocrity. I may have been entertained with the story-telling but that isn't enough to excuse the gameplay or the fact that none of the dinosaurs were generally scary.

The game is way too short and there isn't enough to its narrative to get even close to being interested in playing it again. While there are some cool moments, I generally found myself getting too bored or frustrated with the races and the game's conclusion only made the story even more pointless.

This Assassin's Creed is a noteworthy conclusion to the current saga, and it leaves us wondering just what kind of butchery awaits us when Ubisoft releases the next game in 2012. Hey, if it's something of this quality, we'll gladly take it. Blood, guts and all.

Yeah, it would've been nice to have a downloadable upgrade rather than pay for a new product, and more modes would've been nice, but Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 still does what it set out to do, enhancing the original experience with a great new slew of characters and added features. Fighting fans will definitely get their fill with this, especially once they get their hands on Ghost Rider and Rocket Raccoon.

I had a blast playing Rayman Origins, and it certainly stands out as a game that developers should take notes from if they're aiming to rejuvenate 2D gaming.

If you have never played Halo: CE before or just want to Pistol 3-Shot your friends once again, Halo: CE Anniversary is a must buy for all Xbox 360 owners, especially those that are fans of Master Chief in any way.

Volition has fully released grips on this one, letting the player do literally whatever they want as they complete missions and wreak havoc in the city. The presentation is the best yet for the series, and though the lack of competitive multiplayer may be a turn off for some, the inclusion of Whored Mode, Survival waves and co-op more than makes up for its omission. This is one of the wildest gaming experiences you'll have this year.

Whether you're wondering around the wilderness, enjoying the melodies from a bard in an inn, casually strutting about town, or going head to head with a dragon; the music and sound effects add to the immersion in the same way they do in a Lord of the Rings or Star Wars film.

All of that aside the final product that is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the complete package. It has a solid, single-player campaign (which is long enough if played correctly but feel free to complain if you want); a feature-rich multiplayer mode that has new modes and will be played by millions of gamers for years to come; a great Spec-Ops mode that includes an all-new Survival gameplay mode; and is the first Call of Duty title to launch with the new Elite service, something that will become a standard in the CoD franchise for years to come.

A few hiccups here and there stop Sonic Generations from being a classic, but it's definitely a huge step in the right direction for Sonic Team and Sega, especially considering how cluttered the previous titles were. It's a throwback to the carefree days of Sonic platforming fun, while still packing the kind of modern components that will keep you gazing at the screen in sheer delight.

Fairly fun, and an excellent choice for those who liked the first game so much. Plus, you can always show off video of yourself if you feel like you need some humility.

The presentation, while slightly flawed, is amongst Eurocom's best work, and the gameplay delivers, both in single and multiplayer.

We do wish the menu was a little more accessible, though. Sometimes the game has a hard time reading certain gestures of your hand. Luckily, the added voice control makes it a little better, so you can shout out what you want to do instead of forcibly moving pointers around.

Battlefield 3 may not be the absolute powerhouse I desired; as it still suffers from some irritating glitches and a mediocre campaign. If you're not going online, there really isn't enough to recommend this game. The multiplayer stands as a game on its own and is the absolute reason to pick up Battlefield 3 ASAP. If it isn't all the unlockables that keeps you playing month after month, it will certainly be the exposure to a massive online shooter that creates a different experience with every match.

This game is definitely not for everybody. If you don't have Xbox Live, prefer to play games by yourself, or just don't have very much patience, you should probably pass on this.

The design is quite inspired for a product designed for younger players, and the presentation is surprisingly high in value.

Fans should enjoy it, but, for us, it just covers too much of the same territory we plowed through before. Give us Dead Rising 3 already…and not Dead Rising 2.5 or 2.7.

If there is one weak area, though, it's the soundtrack. Some of Forza 4's tunes are pretty good, but the techno tracks are kinda forgettable.

The animation is superb and the backdrops look exquisite.

It's still a hell of a relaunch to a long-running series, an imaginative – and captivating – trip through various game types, including overhead bombing and some breathtaking dogfights. If you thought Wings of Liberation was a nice piece of flight fun, you haven't seen anything yet.

Unparalleled presentation, in-depth options and smooth-as-butta gameplay.

The story is tight and fast-paced; the presentation really shows Beenox's improvements over the past few months; and the gameplay is engaging, even if there's not much actual web-slinging to do this time around.

The gameplay, both driving and shooting, is wild, gory fun; the graphics raise the bar on how a next-generation product is supposed to look; the audio is top-quality; and the multiplayer stuff that does exist is more than enough to keep you and your fellow gamers busy.

If you're more experienced and have an idea of what you might be getting into here, it's worth the pain and suffering – in a twisted way. The presentation is top-notch material; the gameplay, though punishing, does pick up over the course of the game; and the multiplayer is surprising, mainly because you don't know whether to expect a friend or foe.

Even if you aren't an avid fan of soccer, you owe it to yourself to check this title out and see just how good a sports game gets.

Silicon Knights may not be treading into its Eternal Darkness territory here, but at least it's steering clear of its Too Human regime. This Destiny's got some weight behind it.

It falls short in all areas, and even its over-the-top brutality can't save it from being a mundane effort.

This is one of the better values you can get for your buck right now, and proof positive that Twisted Pixel is gonna do just fine on the retail front.

The gameplay is both intuitive and entertaining, while the presentation goes head and shoulders over most other shooters out there. You might have missed it the first time around on the Saturn – but whatever you do, don't miss it this time.

Gears of War 3 is the game all Gears Fans have dreamt of since playing the first title back in 2006.

If there is one aspect of this game that is brilliantly executed, though, it's the presentation.

Small issues aside (including the lack of co-op on the disc), Warhammer 40K Space Marine is an epic battle that deserves your time and attention. The multiplayer, despite being barebones, is great fun, and the single player campaign offers plenty of blood to spill, even if you're a newbie to Games Workshop's world.

San Francisco has been faithfully re-rendered, down to every street block and tourist spot. And you can easily view and zip to events on a map using a useful HUD that shows you where everything is. The characters look great, too, and, thankfully, they never get out of the car to run around, like they did in Driver 2. This is one smooth-looking ride, baby.

We're quite impressed with how well the Kinect controls worked in Rise of Nightmares. The combat itself, while repetitive is sloppy fun, as you lop off heads and kick someone back into the middle of next week – or maybe even an elaborate trap. Still, more could've been done with walking.

NHL 12 just adds in the Icing on the Cake with the fine tuning put into this year's game. Whether it's the new Presentation or additions to Be a Pro, NHL 12 is a phenomenal sports game.

Dead Island joins the ranks of other zombie games like Dead Rising and Left 4 Dead as one of the best experiences in the genre. While the melee combat and first-person perspective will take some time to get used it, the experience is absolutely rewarding, especially if you can gather up a group of fine zombie killers to come with you for the ride in co-op.

While its limited multiplayer and even more limited AI will keep it from being as legendary as, well, the other A-list stuff, it's still worth a look, mainly because of its entertaining weapons play and its solid visuals. If you're in the mood for an off-the-grid shooter or just want to blow shit up while you wait for EA's masterstroke, lock and load.

I have enjoyed my 2 weeks with Madden NFL 12 more than any other football game I have played Bar-None.

This is the way to make a comeback for a series.

The graphics are really outstanding for a game of this type, and the combat/stealth/social scenarios are second-to-none, giving you a wide range of choices, whether it's how you play through the game or adapt your body to make situations fare better in your favor.

The presentation is inspired, and the gameplay maintains a careful balance of strategic thinking and crazy action.

A game for all ages to enjoy. That is the rarest kind of game to behold these days, and each game that fits this description is a treasure to be respected.

Though El Shaddai could've used a little more replay value (or perhaps even some online multiplayer – not just leaderboard support), this game definitely looks and sounds like the sort of product that deserves multiple playthroughs, if only to relive its majesty for repeat visits and see what a talented development team can do.

It's almost as if Techland rushed this through testing merely to get back on Dead Island development…which would make sense if they had an idea how bad this game was getting.

Beautiful, it plays great, and is an amplified breath of fresh air.

While a better difficulty scale would've been appreciated, we can't really argue with Atlus' ingenuity. That said, rent it first, just to be on the safe side. Consider it a one night stand.

Fails to rise above the other fitness games out there, due to its spotty body movement detection and questionable audio choices.

An improvement over Sega's previous comic book screw-ups, and that's saying something, but there's still a handful of errors that keep him from truly saving the day.

A good way to get a taste of things to come for the THQ vision of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and is definitely worth your time.

There are some slight issues here that weigh the game down, and, let's face it, D3 Publisher wasn't looking to dethrone any kings. Now, that said, it's a romp and a half, a bug-killing fest that has plenty of destructive flair to spare.

The sound is exquisite. Along with an inspired soundtrack featuring several original ditties (complete with vocals straight out of the 80's), the game also has terrific voicework for Ms. Splosion Man, who utters everything from Valley Girl talk to Madonna to current lines by Lady Gaga.

The best football game to date.

We do think some critics (including one that rhymes with Spy Flee Hen) were a little too harsh to dismiss this one as a forgettable hack and slasher. There's some substance here, particularly if you're a fan of the old Mobile Suit Gundam series. And it is fun, especially when you get friends involved as a team.

Being able to take down enemies with Fattel is worth the price of admission alone, as you don't often see a supernatural deity do his dirty work. Put the F.E.A.R. behind you and check this sequel out.

Shadows of the Damned isn't without its problems, but at the end of the day, it's good demon-blasting fun, with one of the better soundtracks we've heard in a while to boot.

Fans of the series will appreciate the class system and the numerous characters, while newcomers will enjoy the approachable combat and beautiful worlds. It's a win-win across the board, and we'll take that any day of the week over a recycled Final Fantasy adventure.

The original is a more inspired game, but kudos to Spicy Horse for making this second foray through the looking glass more than tolerable.

More extras would've been good, but overall this game is about the journey, not the destination. And what a refreshing journey it is.

Is Duke Nukem Forever as awful as some folks are saying? No. But is it a project that's been worth waiting for over the last decade? Also no. It's disappointing that Gearbox couldn't quite make the whole experience a worthwhile effort for someone like Duke, while, by the same token, it sticks to its retro guns fittingly in some parts, enough to make the game worth a rental.

If you're conquered War For Cybertron already and seek to strike new ground with your favorite robots, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a more-than-acceptable action fest. There are hiccups throughout, sure, but the solid multiplayer, tightly wound action and fan service-friendly set-up are more than meets the eye.

Poor controls ultimately doom it, making you feel even clumsier at kung fu than Po ever did. Skip this drudge and go see the movie instead. You'll have more fun, and enough money left over afterwards to take a karate class.

A worthwhile follow-up, a splendid sci-fi shooter with lots of destruction to go around and awesome supplementary modes, both solo and with friends.