The thought, “taking a sledgehammer to a zombie’s face would really take the edge off of my day right now, I wonder how much I can get Dead Rising for” will creep into your head and again and again. Eventually you will own it. It’s just that simple of an issue and that addictive of a gameplay.

Luckily, the gameplay stays true to its roots, favoring fast paced action over realistic football. As a result, those who have been Madden fans in the past should definitely grab this one, and those who have not enjoyed past titles should hold out against the marketing tidal wave.

What is very clear to anyone who plays Red Faction Guerilla is that there is no other game quite like it.

There isn’t much to complain about in Far Cry 2. As I’ve already raved about before, the visuals are gorgeous, the use of fire is amazing and the gunplay is viscerally satisfying.

If you enjoyed Modern Warfare or FPSs in general, this is one of the higher quality shooters you'll find this year. If you're not a fan of grit and prefer your war games more sanitized, such as in Halo, then you'd do well to steer clear.

With addictive gameplay, varied achievements that despite a real lack of difficulty, help to keep the player engrossed in seeing more of the game, topped with unbeatable charm, Viva Piñata is definitely a fun title for people of all ages.

The controls are spotty, all the good stuff is hidden behind a byzantine unlock structure, and the graphics are a notch below par for the Xbox.

In closing, while Devil May Cry 4 seems to be a hard fit in the series due to Dante’s significantly reduced role, the gameplay is as tight, stylish and entertaining as it ever was.

At the end of the day, Guitar Hero: Metallica is essentially what it sounds like: a Guitar Hero game for Metallica fans; by the fans, for the fans in the purest sense.

Borderlands isn't perfect. Far from it. But its addictive gameplay and unique features makes it different from the pack.

The characters are memorable and the storyline is great, even if it gets a bit "out there" towards the end. It's games like this that deserve to be called art, instead of just "games". If you buy one more Xbox game this year or ever, make it Indigo Prophecy.

Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike doesn't just add some new modes, maps, and eye candy; it actually improves its gameplay formula, making it an all around better game than Ghost Recon 2.

ProControl and On-The-Fly Coaching are ground-breaking innovations. And as mentioned before, they've allowed for innovation without forcing you to break the bank to experience it.

Despite the less-impressive graphics, the game holds its own with its balanced fights, new punches, and replayability.

Need for Speed Shift sets out to try and accomplish a number of goals, with the primary two being to deliver an authentic racing experience and potentially revitalize the series. Although it doesn’t quite manage to fully accomplish either of these, this is still a valiant effort that, had it given some more development time, could’ve been a far superior package.

The cop AI is ingenious and will regularly outwit you without making you feel as if they are unfair.

If there was a game to dethrone Halo 2 as multiplayer king, it'd be TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. This game's multiplayer is just incredibly fun, offering tons of variation as well as multiplayer bots to fit whatever your heart desires.

I’ll admit I was hooked for the first five hours, but as the game waned on, so did the entertainment of the game.

UFC 2009 Undisputed has the flash, the look, the gameplay, but doesn't have the style and easy pick-up-and-play feel to make it that undisputed, unbeatable champion.

If you simply can't get enough Fable, then by all means give the developers and publisher some more of your hard earned cash.

Pac-Man CE is a solid arcade title. It doesn’t revolutionize the game but it does add some new elements to keep it fresh. 800 points is a tad pricey for a game with slight variations on game modes, but at least you know what you’re getting into with Pac-Man.

You will fall in love with the police-chases immediately, and you are still offered the great racing aspects that you already know and love.

In short, if you’re a fan of the original Vegas or have more than just a passing interest, then by all means, check this one out; just don’t expect profound amounts of innovation.

If you have not played Viva Pinata, then it's most unlikely this release will do anything to change your mind to the contrary. If you expressed an interest but did not make the plunge the first time around, I would highly recommend this as your first foray due to all the excellent additional features included.

While The Darkness may not hit the mark on everything it tries for, it's not nearly enough to knock the experience off track. Even for an average 10-15 hour campaign, The Darkness hits a lot of nails, and only bends a few.

Probably the most boring racing game I’ve ever played. While some folks may find driving virtual exotic cars around a bland replica of Hawaii relaxing, I find it frustrating. Especially when the cars control like they are on ice.

Doom plays quite well in single player on the 360 thanks to tight controls, crisp (but definitely dated) graphics, and a smooth frame rate. Split screen is also flawless and it’s a blast to play with four people in the same room.

Mega Man 9 is definitely a challenging game and designed for the hardcore gamer that remembers a simpler time consisting of two button controllers, cartridges and 8-bit graphics.