If you're a One Piece fan or someone looking for something just a little different from your standard Dynasty Warriors title, One Piece: Pirate Warriors gets a heavy recommendation. Just keep in mind that "different" is the key word, for both better and worse. Your money buys a whole lot of content, so it won't be wasted. The Main Log, while mostly enjoyable, takes a bit of patience, but the other modes are worth the price of admission all by themselves.

Marvel vs. Capcom Origins is a near-royal treatment given to a duo of games that have stood the test of time. These should have come far earlier than they did (namely, before the current-generation releases of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and 3, and arguably even Tatsunoko vs. Capcom), but hopefully this collection will give two great games a new lease on life. If you think the current Marvel fighting games have a little too much going on to track of, then I would absolutely recommend going back a couple of decades. There's still a ton of fun to be had there.

Home Run Stars is meant for brief moments of gaming and nothing more. The hitting is quite fun, though the aiming takes some time to get used to, and the addition of targets gives provides some variety. Multiplayer is fun enough, but it really takes off if you have a Smartglass-capable phone, especially since the online community for this is pretty much nonexistent.

In a world where development houses like Vanillaware, Wayforward and ska Studios are giving us exceptional examples of the platformer action genre, there is no excuse for this to exist. Stay far away from Thundercats, and let's hope that we can get this right again in yet another couple of decades.

Ultimately, Zone of the Enders HD Collection is something of a niche product. While the HD remakes are competent, The 2nd Runner is the reason to purchase the collection. It is noticeably the better game, in every respect. The original Zone of the Enders is nice to have for historical sake, but anyone who's not a core fan won't spend a whole lot of time there. It's all about the second outing. If these are ever made available as separate digital downloads, The 2nd Runner will be the one to get.

In the end, WWE '13 is driven by nostalgia for an era that shocked people and made wrestling mainstream once again. With so much attention paid to the Attitude era, that's the type of wrestling fan who would enjoy this game the most, especially since there isn't much for present-day wrestling fans to enjoy, beyond the updated roster.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star is a solid game. It doesn't quite reach the heights of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, but it more than manages to seal the deal.

Grand Slam Tennis 2 is worth picking up, and the fact that the online portion of the game is still active certainly makes for an appeasing purchase.

Ultimately, Darksiders II often makes you think of how it is similar to other games in certain respects, but it still feels like its own creature. The combat is enjoyable if a bit mindless, but considering how some of the puzzles can be, that might not be a bad thing. However, since skills and gear have such little leverage in the game, it feels like something substantial is missing. The rest of the game doesn't suffer, and the title is certainly engaging, but Darksiders II feels like it hasn't lived up to its full potential.

As a single-player game, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is simply good.

It feels like Ubisoft's teams forgot everything they learned from excellent titles like Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Die-hard fans of the franchise will find a lot to like here, but everyone else should go back and try the older, and better, Ezio-focused games.

TTT2 is a great game on its own merits, but the jury's out on how well it bodes for the state of fighting games.

Just Dance: Disney Party is certainly the best of the series' three dance titles for kids. The production values have been increased greatly, and the presentation is creeping closer to the main game. While the song list may be short, the songs are great, and there are fewer "undanceable" songs than expected. Those looking for a dance game that caters to younger kids will be perfectly at ease with this title.

Instead of innovating, 343 has played it safe in just about every aspect. Halo 4 competes favorably with Halo: Reach, but it doesn't exceed Bungie's final installment.

For those who are still looking to fill their pockets with coins, collect mysterious weapons from a faraway land, and carefully craft their avatar, adventurers can't go wrong with Torchlight II.

It's not the worst Bond game, and it's not the worst take on the films that I've seen, but while 007 Legends may have some of Bond's best lined up in one place, the empty routine tarnishes this license to kill.

Dragon Ball Z for Kinect falls flat, so fans of the anime would be better served with the HD releases of Dragon Ball Z Budokai 1 & 3, which are coming in a few weeks.

Forza Horizon does a splendid job of bridging together arcade-style and simulation racing into a package that feels like the best of both worlds.

Dead or Alive 5 is certainly one of the better games that has come out since the fighting game genre made a comeback. While the core of the fighting system remains the same, the new additions give it a much-needed boost without ruining the balance. Though it could still use some improvements, the presentation is a little better than its previous home console incarnation, and the online play is also smoother.

It would be easy to overlook Skylanders: Giants as "just a kids' game," but to do so would be a disservice. Giants is one of those rare titles that offers something for everyone, whether you're a kid, a casual player or a hardcore gamer who has been playing for years. In the end, it's plenty of fun, and that's what really matters.

Adventure and stealth fans should definitely have this title in their video game libraries.

All in all, Supernatural may be my favorite expansion so far for The Sims 3. It gives enough options so that you really try something new, though it does border on having too many options. While it doesn't add as many new gameplay mechanics as some other expansions, the additions are interesting and well crafted. No two people look for the same thing out of The Sims, but for me, if you're only going to buy one Sims 3 expansion, it should be this one.

From its tough yet fair challenge to the way that all of the systems interconnect, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is an absolutely fantastic game and somehow balances what could have easily been an overwhelming palette of gameplay elements into one ridiculously engaging package.

Qasir Al-Wasat: A Night in-Between stealthily snuck on to my radar during Steam Greenlight, and I'm glad that it did. It is an amazingly fun and well-crafted adventure that delves into a rich backdrop of legend and myth that's infrequently visited by game developers. Couple that with simple gameplay and the tough puzzle challenges, and Qasir al-Wasat might just be the oasis that players desire.

Packed with features and polished to a sheen, Dance Central 3 is a true evolution of what has come before. It hasn't lost focus of the core features that made its initial success popular, but the developers also haven't rested on their laurels. Much more than a simple track pack or yearly update, the latest game is sure to please anyone who plays it.

Double Dragon Neon is a game that fully understands the job it came to do and fulfills it admirably. It holds up to the classic games, even surpassing them in some respects, while being tons of fun to both play and watch. While it leaves you wanting more, it does so in a relatively good way. While Neon has a few obvious flaws that arguably should never have happened in the first place, the overall product still knocks it out of the park while bursting with pride in everything that it is.

The concept may no longer be original, but Fractured Soul still boasts some great gameplay.

In the end, I don't think I'd recommend Port Royale 3 as a great purchase on the Xbox 360. There's some novelty and a bit of fun to be had, but it quickly overstays its welcome unless you're in love with the idea of a hardcore merchant simulator.