While Dance Central 3 is lacking in innovation, it's straight up fun, just as Harmonix's sequels have been in the past.

Pick up DJ Hero 2 as it's easily the best rhythm game released so far this year and quite possibly a contender for my favorite rhythm game ever.

Every bit of the lighting and digital-effects are top-notch and we can only dream about what the next game will look like, it’s just so damn polished looking.

Project Gotham Racing 4 has superb graphics for a racing title, some decent controls, and one hell of an offline/online package. As I said before this is the flagship title of the series and with new developers coming on board it is going to be hard to beat in the future.

A great NHL experience that all but the most strategy-deficient gamer will enjoy. This ain’t your daddy’s NHL game.

The new wireless Les Paul guitar alone is reason enough to shell out the money for this game; it can also be used when replaying a little GH2. An amazing track list, new boss battles, characters, and an entirely new online mode just keep the list going of reasons to buy this game.

Fight Night fans and fighting game veterans will stand-up and applaud at the stunning visuals and solid mechanics that Fight Night Champion brings to the table.

Out of all the Summer of Arcade titles, Lara Croft earns that $15 the hardest. It could be my favorite Tomb Raider game of all time, and it is something no fan should miss.

The single-player experience is worth this game by itself but throw in the multi-player mode and you have yourself a candidate for game of the year.

Easily and by far the all-together best game of the franchise.

If you have ever played a Guitar Hero game, then you will feel right at home with the game play because it is completely unchanged. To me this is a good thing.

Overall, a truly Next Gen title that is hopefully a sign of things to come as this console matures.

Pure is, without a doubt, the most unique racer to release in the second half of 2008. Forget driving cars and trucks; pick up Pure and kick up mud with your own custom ATV. There aren’t any better options when it comes to off-road racing on the Xbox 360.

Although everything is not perfect in Soulcalibur IV it is still one of those games that every 360 owner should have in their collection.

If you love Forza and love exploring, there really isn't any reason why you shouldn't pick up Forza Horizon.

Although Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 lacks in multiplayer diversity and a story mode that makes some kind of sense, its fighting action is as enriched as ever, and the presentation knocks our socks off.

This is easily the most-versatile music game to date, doing so much right for so many different gamers. Even though the basic gameplay is the same thing GH fans have come to love over the past 5 years, there are enough new features and little tweaks that we can finally say this is the true franchise sequel we have been waiting for.

Dead Rising provides a very entertaining experience and the gameplay is solid. It still doesn’t change the fact that the gameplay is very simple, and can sometimes even be frustrating. The save system in Dead Rising is one of the worst in recent games.

It took three tries, but EA finally gave us a solid NFL game for next gen consoles. The fact that our Madden is better than the other guy’s is just icing on the cake.

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.

Addictive and compelling.

FEAR is roller coaster of thrills and action. It is a great game and easily worth a look for anyone in the market for an enthralling experience.

This game is freaking gorgeous for its genre.

Xbox 360 typically lacks good platformers, but Bionic Commando Rearmed is a great one. Though it only takes several hours to beat, you will keep coming back to find more secrets and best your times in the challenge rooms. This is one of the best remakes ever made for a current generation console, check it out as soon as humanly possible.

The game successfully drives home the themes of poverty and desperation. The voice acting is also up to task, delivering solid performances throughout to keep you engrossed in the story.

Also, after two weeks of Gears of War, it’s truly refreshing to see a multiplayer experience so streamlined.

The random costume drops and incredibly clever Achievements will keep gamers playing this one for weeks on end; beyond that, the addictive gameplay will make it hard to put down the controller, even with the few obvious blemishes in Live gameplay and limited single-player levels.

Crysis 2 manages to top [Bulletstorm and Homefront], but just barely, thanks to a storyline that actually stands its ground (despite lapses in logic), gameplay that puts a twist on first-person shooting antics, mind-bogglingly good graphics and strong multiplayer options.

It’s a great game with fantastic style and quality, no matter what age. Don’t miss out on it.

With its great visual style, simple mechanics, quality level design, and goofy sense of humor, Twisted Pixel has created a game that makes even its most maddening parts a good time.

Beyond Good & Evil HD is a finely crafted remake that's well worth the 800 Microsoft points. Buy it for yourself…and then your pig uncle.

It's definitely got something to offer for those who put the time and effort into it. Everyone else, however, may want to hold off and wait for next month's Virtua Tennis 4 from Sega's camp, or you'll throw more fits than John McEnroe on a bad day.

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.

Moving on from all the glitz and glamour a fighting game is nothing without solid controls and fight mechanics. Once again, the controls and characters movements are phenomenal.

Though Assassin's Creed III isn't quite the perfect killing machine, it's a damn good one, and a game that definitely lives up to the hype.

This year’s installment however will not disappoint as 2K Sports have made numerous adjustments and added several features that makes this installment a true contender in this year’s NBA title bout.

Each one of the sound effects and songs that blast out of the speakers while kicking some devil ass is done with developing perfection, helping the overall atmosphere that is created in the moody setting.

The catalogue of songs is among the greatest selections for Metallica fans, even if they aren’t into rhythm. Sure, not every Metallica single is presented, but for the 30 or so tracks provided, there’s a plethora of singles for fans of the metal gods.

Thanks to a slow, unbalanced Live experience, the game falls well short of delivering the kind of replay value that the price-tag demands.

While Codemasters did lean more towards attracting casual players with F1 2012, we can't help but feel that those most familiar to the series – or the sport in general – will be better catered by it.

Stacking reminds us an awful lot of the vintage films from the 20's. The music is pure ragtime-style ballads, but with a lighthearted tone so things never get too down in the dumps.

NBA 2K9 is an amazing title that is just a little spit and polish away from perfection.

The presentation is mostly right on, and the gameplay feels on par with Criterion's best work.

Since it came into the office it has taken over as the number one requested “party game” when people stop by, even if those gamers are not what most would consider hardcore. It has the ability to reach into the core of nearly anyone and bring out that experience that games of this type should result in.

While Bulletstorm could've used a little more balancing in the multiplayer department and maybe some more coding work on the AI, it's an overall fun ride that's been well worth the wait. What you get out of the game specifically depends on what you put into your kills – be as sick as you want to be, and you'll reap the rewards.

The Mojave wasteland is packed with memorable locations and characters and is a worthy followup to Fallout 3. I just expected more from New Vegas but in the end it all feels like a giant expansion upon the premise laid out two years ago.

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.

It’s amazing how little additions like getting off the board, fastplanting, and even sorting your replays into categories can have such a profound affect on the whole experience.

Whether you’re a FPS, RPG or racing fan, this is a must-play game and with multiple different gameplay types, it’s guaranteed to keep you busy for an endless number of hours.

The Locomotion engine allows players to move more realistic[ally] than the previous iterations of the Madden series. Players will now move in ways never seen before in an EA Sports football game.

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

I'd be hard pressed to say that there is a moment of silence in Vanquish' 4-6 hour campaign, as Sam tears through the Russian opposition. Yes, you read that right, 4-6 hours, but every hour is an adrenaline rush hardly seen in shooters in recent memory.

Let’s cross our fingers that EA and Digital Illusions are already hard at work with new maps, vehicles and classes for downloadable content. We can’t tell you a reason not to pick up Battlefield 1943 via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the ultra-low value of 1200 Microsoft Points; it’s available now.

Gameplay that constantly changes with each weapon you pick up and challenges galore, especially in the arena. The presentation is also top notch, a true sign of dedication from Joe "Mad" Maduriera and his team.

N+ is a reminder that flashy graphics and high concept gameplay are not necessary to create a killer casual game. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.

One of the more impressive aspects of Halo 3: ODST is the soundtrack, a symphony of fantastic and epic music that will inspire players to fight their hearts out every minute of the campaign mode. More than once while playing the subtle music ran a chill down our back, reminiscent of something available in only the most intense of films. Overall the title is exactly what we expected it to be, a different look at one of the most beloved franchises on the Xbox 360 console.

From the moment you put the disc in the tray, everything about this game says “first class”, until you try to play on Xbox Live. If you’re a gamer that is not completely turned off by wretched multiplayer support, then DiRT should be a welcome addition to your library.

After beating the game every way possible in each and every mode (in co-op and on the solo) we can honestly say that we want more, more zombie killing please?

An immensely enjoyable game that is suited not only to the hardcore, but the casuals as well.

Graphical hitches and gameplay tweaks aside, it's still one of the best first-person shooters out there, loaded with exciting moments and a story that – wait for it – is actually worth experiencing. Throw in the hours' worth of addictive multiplayer and you have something that'll hook you well into the next generation.

It really sneaks up on you and delivers an ultimate fighting experience, and not from the usual source that you'd expect. Everything clicks to some degree, and the number of modes, along with online functionality, will really teach you a thing or two about fighting games.

A welcome return to the "bullet hell" tradition, but offers enough new content and goodies like leaderboards and extra modes to keep it from being just another offering in the genre. It might be too tough for some, but hey, you gotta learn your skills somewhere, right?

To simply spell it out, Need for Speed: Shift is the racing title that fans have been waiting for.

The graphics, sound effects, and controls are only a bonus to everything else that makes up a quality racing title. For a first attempt on new hardware I have to commend EA for a job well done.

But even with the new online options and, not to mention, the ability to create custom conferences in the dynasty modes, NCAA Football 10 isn’t a huge leap forward for the franchise – unless you want to count their suicide leap towards making gamers play for extra content and features already included on the disc.

The animation is superb and the backdrops look exquisite.

I had a blast with the game, but in the interest of full disclosure, I enjoy simple addictive fun sometimes. The game isn't deeply challenging or fully fleshed out as far as gritty open-world games go, but I can't say it wasn't a fun ride. More puzzle platformer than anything.

UFC 2009 Undisputed is one of the best real-life fighting games out there on the Xbox 360 and should by no means be ignored by sports fans across the globe, especially those that have been waiting to spill some blood on the octagon floor.

Even though Madden NFL 09 is not perfect in any shape or form it is the best football experience available on the Xbox 360 and should be checked out by new fans of the series as well as twenty-year veterans. The new features tossed into the game give Madden 09 a bit of everything for everyone who enjoys football.

Loaded with options benefitting both single play and online interaction, it's got just about everything a fan would truly want except you still can't make Gretzky bleed.

All in all, P.B. Winterbottom is a wonderful casual game experience and it will keep players craving for more. P.B. Winterbottom is now available on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace at a reasonable price of 800 Microsoft Points so don’t worry it won’t break the bank.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow may not be a Castlevania game, but that certainly doesn't hold it back from being a fantastic monster hunt that gives me hope for future 3D games featuring the Castlevania tag.

What a great and “fun” way to start the New Year of video gaming, developer Vigil Games have a true action experience on their hands with Darksiders.

If all retro games received remixes this compelling, you would hear gamers begging for them rather than bemoaning them.

Had Tekken Tag Tournament 2 come with more side modes and an end boss that actually gave you a chance to win the game without killing yourself, it would've been something of legend. But even with these flaws, it's still one of the best fighting games out there.

Fans of the first-person shooter genre will find that Battlefield: Bad Company is an all right game with a few interesting features that’ll keep their attention for a few days or so. But when you have played all of the eight maps and finish the lousy storyline, players will venture back to their favorite FPS – whatever it may be – after their short diversion through Bad Company.

It’s got the great gameplay innovations from FIFA 2010 and should keep rabid fans busy until FIFA Soccer 2011.

One of longest titles available on the Arcade, and one of the best. The simple to understand, but hard to master, style of gameplay and solid online experience makes this an easy choice for best puzzler on the Arcade.

More than once Alan Wake reminded us of books, movies, and TV shows that we love and spend hours with every week; it helped merge the video game experience with those other memorable moments. For once a video game was able to show exactly what it means to create something that brings emotion to the gamer; on top of that Alan Wake was just damn fun to play.

The music is sensational, and though it was done by an in-house team hired by Dodrill, they definitely keep the adventurous tone flowing throughout, even with the slower town exploration themes. The voicework is great too.

NCAA Football 09’s addition of the Online Dynasty mode unquestionably saved this game from mediocrity.

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.

Defense Grid: The Awakening is not overly original within the tower defense genre, but does everything so exceedingly well in an anemic XBLA genre that it is impossible to resist.

We haven't seen a dancing game that's looked this fun since the old days of Dance Dance Revolution and the dance-bot. If anything here truly shines, though, it's the soundtrack.

What could've been a second-rate PC port for the service is instead a quality addition, one with hours' worth of gameplay, whether going on your own or joining up with friends in the building community. The stuff you can make is only limited by your imagination, and though it takes time, the effort is certainly worth it.

The gameplay itself is engaging and fun, and online play works pretty good, though there were times we ran into some lag, particularly during Jack Attack rounds.

Teaching your piñatas tricks, playing co-op with a friend, romancing piñatas, having the ability to trade piñatas with players online and much more make up countless reasons to pick up and have a wonderful time with one of Rare’s best Xbox 360 titles to date.

The only real negative are the unskippable tutorials that you get, featuring racing champ Vaughn Gittin Jr. Really, there's no way to get past his pep talks, and we really could've done without them for the most part.

Despite all it offers in terms of maps, vehicles, and weapons, the 360 version of Unreal Tournament III is unfortunately lacking. While PC and Playstation 3 users get essentially the same content to play with, the ocean of depth of their experience makes the 360 version look like the kiddie pool.

They took the old formula and added some new features making Marvel: Ultimate Alliance one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had on the 360 to date.

The best football game to date.

A violent and satisfying piece of visual poetry. The storytelling is one of the more impressive in recent memory and the abilities presented bring something fresh to console shooters. It’s just too bad the multiplayer is a disappointment. It’s the only thing holding me back from dubbing this stunner a classic.

It doesn’t try to just “blur” the line between the single player and multi-player modes; it completely takes the line out of the picture, creating a seamless experience that can be enjoyed by all with an Xbox Live Gold membership.

Unbelievably fun and unique.

Overall, it is certainly the best Hitman game of the series, and if you’re looking for a decent single player experience on the Xbox 360, then it’s definitely worth giving a go.

It’s literally a heaven for any metalhead looking for an extraordinary collection of metal and all of its subgenres. The art direction of Brutal Legend on the other hand is what pushes the visuals to the next level. Granted, the game isn’t the most beautiful game of 2009, but it’s definitely one of the more impressively designed titles to reach the Xbox 360.

Castle Crashers is a fantastic addition to XBLA, and a must-have for your collection. There are few games on the service that can match the depth here, and those that come close do not offer Live co-op.

It’s one of the best bargains on the Xbox 360 of more than thirty hours of entertaining gameplay. Since the original isn’t backwards compatible on the Xbox 360, this is your only chance to play through the unique Xbox FPS title.