1. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

With the holiday season approaching fast, most of us are on our way to get some shopping done. Christmas presents are getting tougher and tougher to choose because of the huge quantity of products that are available. For the gamers in your family, you can narrow some of the choices down pretty easily by picking the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim title. As far as video games go, there really isn’t a better role playing experience available. Narrow down your video game shopping to one or two genres and do not forget to put Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on the list!

2. Batman: Arkham City

The best thing about Batman: Arkham City is the graphics. No, it’s the spectacular storyline. No, it’s the fact that it appeals to both gamers and Batman fans. Well, even if it is difficult to decide what is actually best about Batman: Arkham City, it’s not difficult to see that this is one of the best purchases you can make for the Christmas holiday. Since the holiday season is getting here fast, searching for Christmas gifts is on everyone’s mind. Video games are one of the top purchases of any holiday season and this year, Batman: Arkham City is sure to be a best-seller.

Rocksteady Studios is following its hit Batman: Arkham Asylum with Batman: Arkham City. The game, of course, is based on the DC comics Batman character that has been a staple in homes, Halloween costumes and on the big screen for over 50 years. The game is rated M for mature and contains some dark story lines and particularly scary scenes. Arkham City is basically a super-maximum prison with imposing walls set inside of Gotham City. Every bad guy you can imagine is contained within the dark center of this fortified district. True to the Batman style, the scenery is stunningly Gothic. Dark shadows flicker across the screen and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Playing as the Dark Knight, stealth and Batman’s terrific gadgets allow you to navigate the streets of Arkham City while completing missions.

3. Battlefield 3

The holiday season is a frantic time for many shoppers. Picking the perfect give for everyone on your list can take plenty of time and effort. For the gamers in your family, sifting through the new video game titles can be a nightmare. Do they already have this game? Is it worth the money that you are going to spend on it? Battlefield 3 is definitely among the top games for the Christmas season and offers a first-person shooter experience like no other.

3. COD: Modern Warfare 3

Great graphics and powerful weapons mixed with open warfare and exciting “Deathmatch” games keep the play interesting and fresh. The live games are toned down to allow for newbies to appreciate the skills of veteran players without getting bounced out of the game immediately upon entering. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is the perfect mix of the new and the old, creating a game that offers the best of all worlds.

5. Assassin’s Creed Revelations

UBI Soft’s new offering for the gaming market is Assassin’s Creed Revelations. This is not your ordinary first-person shooter or role playing game. Assassin’s Creed Revelations offers a thrillingly rich story and award-winning graphics that draws a player in from the moment that you insert the disk.The game begins as Ezio Auditore steps out of his old life and enters a new search for meaning in an entirely changed life. Ezio travels to the wild city of Constantinople where the Templar army is wreaking havoc on the area. Your lethal skills and improved weapons make you a more dangerous killer than ever before. When darkness descends on Constantinople, the most frightening person on the streets is you.

6. Rage

Indoor activities, including video games, are a huge part of everyone’s winter lifestyle. Picking the right game as a gift for your family or friends can be a tough choice. There are tons of new titles out there and the holiday season is making them more affordable. Rage is definitely one of the game titles to add to your list for this Christmas and it’s a game that everyone’s talking about.

For now that’s the end of the list but I plan to comeback and edit the list at a layer time. Hope you enjoyed it.

New Rule: If you make a sequel that picks up immediately following the events of the first game, or shortly thereafter, you must provide a recap of the story so far. I don’t know, a cinematic or something. Anything. This goes doubly for Crysis 2 since, as I just mentioned, this is the first time the franchise is appearing on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game opens with a brief intro scene, followed by the title screen and opening credits. As the credits roll a cinematic plays in the background, highlighting the series’ trademark Nanosuit. If you ask me, it would have been the perfect opportunity to brief players on the events in Crysis (something along the lines of the “Prophet’s Journey” trailer Crytek released back in late February). It’s no surprise the story suffers some as a result.

That story revolves around you, a U.S. Marine codenamed “Alcatraz” who is arriving in New York City to aid in the quarantine process following a deadly outbreak of the “Manhattan” virus. When an alien craft capsizes the submarine you’re traveling in, it quickly becomes evident there’s more going on in the Big Apple than you were briefed on. “Prophet,” the team leader from the original Crysis, rescues you and, without giving away too much information, it’s not long before you inherit his Nanosuit along with the task of saving New York City from the Ceph invasion.

Unfortunately the story is the weakest part of the solo campaign. For one, silent and obedient are traits I don’t much care for in my protagonist. Second, you can’t reference events from the Lingshan Islands, the fictional setting in the original Crysis, and expect newcomers like myself to have any sense of context. Third, there are recurring characters that have key revelations throughout the game, but again, without any context or significant character development their discoveries aren’t nearly as impacting as they should be. Last but not least, the plot as a whole, with its many twists and turns, ends up being a little confusing. So as you can see, a recap of the events in Crysis would have gone a long way in filling some of the holes in the sequel’s plot.

The Nanosuit is the star of the show. At the press of a button you can become super strong, super durable, super fast or invisible. Version 2.0 also allows its wearer to combine powers, such as becoming invisible and super durable at the same time. Using these powers drains the suit of its energy so you have to be constantly aware of the suit’s energy level. You may need to duck away for a moment to allow the suit to recharge since without its powers you’re significantly more vulnerable in firefights, particularly against the Ceph.

Gameplay in Crysis 2 alternates between firefights in tight corridors and open environments, with a few vehicular segments sprinkled in. When you arrive at an open area, the Nanosuit will prompt you to engage its Visor Mode. While in this observe-only state, you’ll be able to scout the battlefield for the location of specific weapons and ammo depots. The visor also provides tactical options such as sniping positions, flanking opportunities and potential stealth approaches. Ultimately it’s up to the player to decide how to tackle each encounter. Do you engage the Nanosuit’s cloak and stealthily eliminate the enemy or bypass a firefight entirely? Do you activate the Nanosuit’s armor mode to take on multiple enemies, mowing them down with heavy weapons, grabbing them by the throat and tossing them around, or smashing them by hurling objects at them? The freeform, dynamic gameplay keep things fresh, especially when you have to replay sections.

What you see isn’t all you get. When you kill an alien, they drop Nano Catalyst, a sort of currency that you can use to upgrade the Nanosuit. The Nanosuit has four upgradeable slots, one each for Armor, Stealth, Speed and Tactical. Each slot has three modules available for “purchase,” though you can only have one module active per slot. For example, if you purchase and equip the Stealth Enhance module in the Stealth slot, the rate at which your suit uses energy while cloaked decreases, while purchasing and equipping the Deflection module in the Armor slot grants you the ability to deflect some weapon fire from your body. Customization doesn’t end there. You can also customize your weapons with different attachments including reflex sight, laser pointer, sniper scope, suppressor, grenade launcher, and other scope and alt fire attachments.

The other highlight of the game is the graphics. Crysis 2 is the Mila Kunis of video games, stunning to look at. While it’s up for debate whether this is the best-looking console game ever, I’ll say this much: New York City has never looked so good. There’s no mistaking such landmarks as Wall Street, Times Square, the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, Central Park and Grand Central Station, even if they don’t always go by those names. As you fight in the streets amongst the skyscrapers, the sense of scale is incredible. Even as New York City becomes increasingly ravaged by the Ceph invasion, the ruins are a sight to behold. Crysis 2 makes great use of lighting, especially light bloom, and the character models and animations look really good. The only downside in terms of the visuals is the occasional slowdown and a few technical glitches that we’ll get to in a moment.

The soundtrack is the highlight in the audio department. Composed by Hans Zimmer, it features an eerie theme. Unfortunately the rest of the sound design isn’t quite as memorable. Compared to the likes of recent Battlefield installments, the weapon effects in Crysis 2 lack punch. The voice acting is decent (I like the effect used in the “voice” of the Nanosuit), but I don’t think enough actors were used for the voices of the C.E.L.L. soldiers. In fact, the voice that was used the most frequently sounded a little too much like Prophet’s. The first couple of times I heard it I actually caught myself looking around, half-expecting to see him.

Now, about those technical issues I mentioned earlier. In several instances I came across an enemy who was continually walking or running into a solid object. I also came across a few enemies who literally died right in front of me before I even had the chance to kill them. They just keeled over as if they suffered a heart attack. It’s not uncommon for your melee attack to send an enemy clipping into a solid surface (which makes it difficult, if not impossible to pick up their weapon and/or Nano Catalyst). The AI, in general, is very erratic. Sometimes an enemy will spot you a mile away and start shooting you through the most minute of cracks, while other times you could be standing right next to an enemy, uncloaked, and they can’t be bothered to do much about it.

Multiplayer in Crysis 2 plays a lot like Call of Duty and a little like Halo, but once again it’s the Nanosuit that allows the experience to stand on its own. The Nanosuit works a little differently in multiplayer than single player. Besides the fact there is no Visor Mode, the suit’s energy drains noticeably faster when cloaked and slower when sprinting; at least initially. There are 6 game modes to play (the usual assortment of deathmatch, capture the flag and objective-based variants) across 12 maps. A ranks system allows players to level up and unlock new modules specific to the suit’s three states: Stealth, Armor and Power. As you level up your Armor state, for instance, and complete challenges unique to the current Armor module, you’ll unlock new Armor bonuses and options. The same goes for Stealth and Power, and there are considerably more suit modules in multiplayer than in single player.

Killstreaks are present, granting players and teams support bonuses such as “Maximum Nanosuit” (unlimited suit energy for a period of time), but in Crysis 2 it’s not enough just to kill an enemy, in addition you have to run over to the dead body and retrieve their dog tag (players earn and choose from over 250 dog tags to represent themselves). In other words, snipers can’t just pick off enemies one-by-one and then call in a “Ceph Airstrike” or activate a “Nanosuit Jammer,” they actually have to come out of hiding to earn the bonus. For those on the losing end, Fatality bonuses are also available. It takes a little longer to rank up in Crysis 2 than it does most shooters, and some of the unlocks are bizarrely positioned (you can’t play ranked matches in certain game modes until you reach a higher level, nor can you play without Nanosuits until much, much later), but overall multiplayer is fun and rewarding enough to keep a spot in your regular rotation for months to come.

Crysis 2 is more than just a pretty face. The single player campaign is well paced and at a running time of 9-10 hours is nearly twice as long as your typical shooter. Multiplayer draws heavy inspiration from the likes of Call of Duty and Halo (mostly the former) but still manages to hold its own thanks in large part to the Nanosuit. Crysis 2 isn’t a flawless experience by any means – the plot is weak, the AI is erratic and there are a handful of technical issues – but getting back to the initial question: Should you invest in yet another sci-fi first-person shooter? Absolutely. Suit up and I’ll see you in New York City.

We begin Dead Space 2 with Isaac locked in a straightjacket inside a hospital in Sprawl. Isaac is released by Franco before the latter turns into a necromorph. Isaac tries to escape on his own. But along the way, Isaac is captured by Diana, a Unitologist, who deems him the original creator of the Marker, the device responsible for the mutation-inducing infection, thus requires him to build more. After a miraculous escape from Diana, Isaac begins his mission to destroy the markers with the help of survivors and visions of his girlfriend, Nicole.

Dead Space 2 is nothing short of frightening and exhilarating. Everything from graphics to musical score fits the very concept of the game. The already scary necromorphs are a lot scarier and more diversified in Dead Space 2 with the addition of new species like Pukers (whose screams are as horrible as their appearance) and the immensely grotesque crawlers. If the look of these necromorphs already had you running to mama, you can’t beat the equally eerie background music plus the random devices that come right at you at any moment.

But it goes without saying that Isaac got his own developments in Dead Space 2, too. Isaac’s developed kinesis abilities which allow him to pick up materials on the ground, like broken limbs, and use them against enemies. His weapons got better, too. The Plasma Cutter got a little upgrade, but that’s nothing compare to the new Javelin Gun, a spear gun that impales whoever it hits. Basically everything from the original Dead Space was given a touch up.

Dead Space 2 managed to achieve its primary goal and that is to infuse intense amount of horror in gaming. But perhaps creators have gone a bit too far especially with players having to contend with shooting mutated babies (crawlers). The added sidesplitting terror was there, but some players couldn’t handle having to kill these necromorphs especially with their human-like characteristics still somewhat intact. Note moral issues right here.

Basically, Dead Space 2 made the first one seem like a fancy walk in the park. Things are more hyped up in Sprawl, right now. But nevertheless the goal of the game is still the same: kill as many necromorphs as you can and keep safe while you’re at it.

I’m just going to come right out and say it: I never played the original Crysis. I didn’t have the super computer needed to run the game at a reasonable frame rate so if you’re looking for an across-the-board comparison between the two titles, you might want to look somewhere else. Having said that, considering this is the first time the franchise is appearing on a platform other than the PC, I imagine there are a lot of console gamers out there like myself who are wondering if they should invest in yet another sci-fi first-person shooter. Let’s find out… Read More

There’s a good chance I’ll never hurtle down the backroads of Finland at more than 100 mph in a BMW Z4. To be honest, I’d be terrified to cross into triple digits on roads so narrow. But to be able to experience such a feat in a safe environment is divine. Dirt 3 delivers this power, reminding rally nuts what a fun ride this series is.

The driving in Dirt 3 feels tight and responsive, and the six tuning options return to balance out any terrain type. Driving through Finland, Michigan, Norway, LA, Kenya, and Monaco feels superb. Cars respond effectively to the slightest control touches and the need for tight braking stands out. Every slide from gravel onto tarmac or snow feels significant and the variations require extreme concentration. When competitors kick a spray of snow onto the windshield, the effect is appropriately chaotic. The addition of rain, snow, and nighttime driving is not simply cosmetic – headlights are required, wipers stay busy, and tires are tested… Read More

First off… LA Noire is NOT a clone of GTA 4 nor Red Dead Redemption. Yes it is an open world game but it has its limits. You can not recklessly do things the way you would in other Rockstar games. Younger people may not appreciate this games worth. You are a cop and things should be the way they are in this story.

Gameplay-
As far as gameplay goes. This isn’t really action driven and it shouldn’t be. In order to solve cases, you have to interrogate and search for clues. The authenticity of those activities is amazing. There are shootouts and sometimes you may have to make the tough decision shoot someone but it does a great job of making you feel… Read more

Chell is armed with the now legendary portal gun, which can instantly create two connected portals on any flat surface. A number of other new gameplay mechanics have been added as well. But her journey isn’t the only action you’ll get out of Portal 2. The developers are creating an entirely separate co-op campaign where you and a friend work together to solve the mind-bending puzzles at hand. This campaign will revolve around two robots that can operate their own portal guns and give big robotic hugs. Adorable.

Using a highly experimental portal device, you’ll once again face off against a lethally inventive, power-mad A.I. named GLaDOS. And this time you won’t be alone. Meet an expanded cast of characters as you think your way through dangerous, never-before-seen areas of Aperture Laboratories.

Break the laws of spatial physics in ways you never thought possible, with a wider variety of portal puzzles and an expansive story that spans a single player and co-operative game mode… Read More

Dead Space 2 is an amazing game. I’m going to write about its scary moments, cool kills, and how much I dig the main character’s internal struggle, but Dead Space 2 is about more than this. When I beat it for the first time, I sat on the couch with my heart racing and dissected the journey I had just taken. Then, I started my second playthrough, and when that was done, I jumped into a new game for the third time. Dead Space 2 is just that good.

It’s been three years since the events of the first game, but protagonist Isaac Clarke still can’t catch a break. At the beginning of Dead Space 2, he wakes on a space station known as the Sprawl and finds the place is overwhelmed by an outbreak of reanimated corpses called Necromorphs. From the very first moment of the game, Isaac’s fighting for his life… Read More

At face value I shouldn’t like Bulletstorm. It comes off as obnoxious and crass, full of toilet humor, emphasizing a sort of dickish boldness and attitude that’s been driven into the ground by countless shooters over the last few years. The “kill with skill” tagline and profanity laced combo names seemed so hollow when free of any context. To coin a phrase, it seems like Bulletstorm is compensating for something.

So it’s a surprise then that Bulletstorm is actually something kind of special. Sure, it’s still brash, and it’s still full of toilet humor, but with context, Bulletstorm is a violently charming popcorn shooter that plays well with some great design.

Note: The games are not listed in any type of order yet.

The driving in Dirt 3 feels tight and responsive, and the six tuning options return to balance out any terrain type. Driving through Finland, Michigan, Norway, LA, Kenya, and Monaco feels superb. Cars respond effectively to the slightest control touches and the need for tight braking stands out. Every slide from gravel onto tarmac or snow feels significant and the variations require extreme concentration. When competitors kick a spray of snow onto the windshield, the effect is appropriately chaotic. The addition of rain, snow, and nighttime driving is not simply cosmetic – headlights are required, wipers stay busy, and tires are tested.

On the event side, Dirt 3′s choices keep coming. Not only has rally returned to the forefront in event selection, entire disciplines can be minimized if they don’t hold your interest. Don’t get me wrong, every discipline has been expanded, but rally keeps the highest event count. The main tour is split into four seasons, but as the podiums add up, six discipline-specific tours emerge, pushing the total race count to even higher numbers. The locations, track variations, and event types make this a ride that lasts a long time. And with so many time-specific events, repeating races is a surefire path to longevity.

Codemasters made an odd choice with car collections. Money’s been thrown out the window and cars are automatically sent over by teams and sponsors through leveling up. It feels as though nothing’s been accomplished when the garage is full of random new cars I didn’t specifically choose. Also, the newest cars provide the greatest driving bonuses, so choosing anything less will lead to earning fewer points. My favorite cars gathered cobwebs for this very reason.

Regardless of their organization, the full set of cars is impressive. Dirt 3 reaches across all decades of rally racing giving the option to pull vehicles dating back to the sixties. Driving older cars, like the Fiat 131 Abarth, is a stark contrast to the feel of souped-up Trailblazer cars.

Dirt 3 is the best looking Dirt game to date. Watching sunsets and sliding through puddles in the rain is stunning, at both high and low speeds. Details like background fireworks and pedestrians scrambling out of the way are a nice touch in a world that feels alive, even in the remotest locations. Car bodies collect dust and snow buildup, and the shiny gleam of rain on the windshield sets the tone of a muddy race.

Dirt 3′s sound stands out. Not just in the roar of engines, but also in the details. From the trackside fan shout-outs to the crunch of packing snow, the details are what make the soundscape superb throughout. The impact of a bad drift or a head-on collision smacks you in the gut.

In Dirt 3, triangles are the design center of the menu presentation. These unfolding shapes reveal events, seasons, tours and freeplay options. Animated cars spit out bundles of triangles from the tires, and the look is spot-on, keeping in tradition with the unique, beautiful menu aesthetic the series is known for.

There’s no longer an RV that travels around the world stopping at different events as in Dirt 2. Instead, you begin as a professional driver just signed by an agent. This disembodied agent’s voice provides advice and direction through the game’s insane number of events. A mechanic and fan manager also help discuss car setups and how to make the most out of the community. Unfortunately these voices are bland and ultimately forgettable. The false positivity they provide through thick and thin is grating, when it’s really just the racing that matters. The fan manager constantly suggests uploading clips to YouTube, even when the footage isn’t compelling.

Race replays are lacking in Dirt 3. While I mentioned YouTube uploads, the clips are limited to thirty seconds, meaning one can’t show the world their flawless, five-mile Kenya run. Replays also can’t be saved, so unless you upload a small clip online, all records are lost. It’d be nice to get a second shot at seeing old footage, and not just in tiny increments.

Taking the race online opens up additional options that aren’t found in single player. The new Jam Session Party Modes provide capture the flag and tag-style events that are great in short bursts, but grow tiresome after too many rounds. Serious racers can tackle time trials and leaderboards, force cockpit views in hardcore mode, and even compete with up to eight people in Gymkhana as ghosts sliding through each other. These options are robust, so long after season four concludes, online keeps players racing.

Alan Wake is a bestselling horror novelist who moved to the small town of Bright Falls, Washington after suffering from insomnia and depression. Wake is able to sleep again, but after he meets a mysterious woman, he begins to have terrible nightmares. As he puts these nightmares on paper for a new book, he soon notices that all the things that happen in his book are coming true right before his eyes. Using cinematic effects and technology such as real-time lighting, shadows and reflections, you’ll be treated to a game that is oozing with atmosphere and able to invoke an emotional response from the player. The realistic environment features real-time weather and light changes that effect the game play for a remarkably immersive experience.

 

9. Fallout: New Vegas

This role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment. released in October 2010 for Xbox 360,the Story-line takes place during the year 2281, which is set in post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. players can Experience all the sights and sounds of fabulous New Vegas, Meet new people, confront terrifying creatures, and arm yourself with the latest high-tech weaponry as you make a name for yourself on a thrilling new journey across the Mojave wasteland.

8. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction

A few years have passed since the cliff hanger conclusion of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent, in which Agent Sam Fisher undertook a particularly dirty mission, full of questionable actions, in the shadow of the inexplicable and unmourned death of his daughter. Fisher is now a renegade operative digging into the events of the past and he doesn’t like what he has found. His personal investigation into his daughter’s death reveals that he’s been betrayed by his former agency, the Third Echelon. The agency responds by pursuing him, but as he works to elude them he becomes aware of a deadly terrorist plot that threatens millions. He is uniquely positioned and prepared to act against this, but success is doubtful without the help of former friends from the Third Echelon team, resulting in a series of life and death situations for himself and the country where trust can by no means be assumed.

7. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Live and breathe as Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, in his enduring struggle against the powerful Templar order. He must journey into Italy’s greatest city, Rome, center of power, greed and corruption to strike at the heart of the enemy. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire brotherhood of assassins who will rally to his side. Only by working together can the assassins defeat their mortal enemies and prevent the extinction of their order.

6. Call of Duty: Black Ops

Follow-up to 2009’s blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops breaks new ground in the Call of Duty series and the video game industry at large by delving into the not-so cold conflicts of the Cold War.

Inspired by the experiences of real Black Ops soldiers of the era, the missions of Call of Duty: Black Ops take the player to a wide variety of settings, ranging from snowbound mountain strongholds in historical Soviet held territories, to the jungles and urban settings of Vietnam War era SE Asia. Throughout all, care has been taken to maintain the traditional essence of Call of Duty style combat, while also introducing new types of player action that add to the gameplay experience. Additional features include co-op, versus and team-based multiplayer options, new vehicles like the SR-71 Blackbird and lethal new weapons such as explosive-tipped crossbows.

5. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Like the original Battlefield: Bad Company game, Bad Company 2 is a first-person shooter following the exploits of Company “B” of the US Army’s 222nd Battalion. In this new adventure, the more mature yet still infamous company of misfits are tasked with interceding in a series of conflicts that have the potential to ignite of a new World War. Game environments cover snowy mountains, all the way to jungles and deserts.

As the action begins players have their pick of four distinct character classes, and weapons, gadgets and specializations. Within these, players have over 15,000 kit variations to discover, and will be able to fine-tune their preferred fighting style to give them the edge in combat that they will need to survive and prevail. In addition, new vehicles like the all terrain vehicle (ATV) and the UH-60 transport helicopter allow for new tactics, which players are free to choose from. As players fight through mission play they will level up their playable character through the ranks as they accumulate experience points in combat for enemies eliminated and objectives completed. Excellence in the battlefield is rewarded with an extensive range of pins, insignias and stars to unlock along with 50 dedicated ranks to achieve. Battlefield 2 also features a major multiplayer component. Along with standard 24-player online multiplayer options across eight maps, players can also compete in 4-player teams in 2 exclusive squad-only game modes, fighting together to unlock exclusive team awards and achievements. During these online battles players can spawn on your squad to get straight into the action, and use gadgets such as the tracer dart in-conjunction with the RPG to devastating effect. Taken together these features make for one of the most realistic ground/vehicle combat experiences ever.

4. Bioshock 2

Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster — somehow familiar, yet still quite different from anything ever seen — has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city. It is a Big Sister, new denizens of Rapture who were once one of the forgotten little girls known as Little Sisters, known to inhabit the city’s dank halls. No longer a pawn used to harvest ADAM, the dangerously powerful gene-altering lifeblood of Rapture, from the bodies of others and in turn run the risk of being harvested herself, the Big Sister is now the fastest and most powerful thing in Rapture. You, on the other hand are the very first Big Daddy, in fact the prototype, that for some reason has reactivated. You are similar to the Big Daddies familiar from the original BioShock, but also very different in that you possess free will and no memory of the events of the past ten years. The question is, as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city beneath the waves, hunting for answers and the solution to your own survival, are you really the hunter, or the hunted?

3. Halo Reach

“Halo: Reach,” developed exclusively for Xbox 360, is theblockbuster prequel to the landmark “Halo” video game franchise and is the biggest game yet in the Halo series.“Halo” is one of the biggest video game series in history, and is the top selling franchise on Xbox. It has defined a generation of gamers and changed how people view video games.

“Halo: Reach” tells the tragic and heroic story of Noble Team, a group of Spartans, who through great sacrifice and courage saved countless lives in the face of impossible odds. The planet Reach is humanity’s last line of defense between the encroaching Covenant and their ultimate goal, the destruction of Earth. If it falls, humanity will be perched on the brink of destruction.

2. Mass Effect 2

Two years after Commander Shepard repelled invading Reapers bent on the destruction of organic life, a mysterious new enemy has emerged. On the fringes of known space, something is silently abducting entire human colonies. Now Shepard must work with Cerberus, a ruthless organization devoted to human survival at any cost, to stop the most terrifying threat mankind has ever faced. To even attempt this perilous mission, Shepard must assemble the galaxy’s most elite team and command the most powerful ship ever built. Even then, they say it would be suicide. Commander Shepard intends to prove them wrong.

1. Red Dead Redemption

This a Western epic, is set at the turn of the 20th century when the lawless and chaotic badlands began to give way to the expanding reach of government and the spread of the Industrial Age. A follow up to the 2004 hit Red Dead Revolver, this game tells the story of former outlaw John Marston, taking players on a great adventure across the American frontier.

Halo: Reach puts you in the shoes of Noble Six, a Spartan just assigned to the Noble Team. Times for the Noble Team haven’t been so great with one of their former members, the last Noble Sixth member, sacrificed his life against the Covenant. Some of the remaining Noble Team members are not too pleased with a new team member but planet Reach is under attack by the Covenant so all the boo-hoo bullshit has to be put aside.

Halo has always been about character development but before they only focused on no more than 3 characters at a time. Halo: Reach’s whole purpose was to deal with the back story with character we’ve heard about and already knew. Bungie does a fantastic job with the characters in this game, to a point it has as much character development as a major motion picture.

Bungie doesn’t disappoint with the campaign either, other than the length but how many of you are used to the 4 to 6 hour length from FPS games anymore? What Bungie does to maybe make up for the lack of campaign is how well done the story actually is. At no point did I feel angry through my body like I did with Halo: ODST. Reach will have your eyes glued to the screen until the final few minutes of the final Halo game from Bungie.

With their final farewell to the series, Bungie has added a lot more than you could imagine. Your team playing with you actually isn’t one-sided any completely useless and there are more enemies than the usual two groups. Ladies and gentlemen Halo: Reach has humans and animals trying to attack you! Halo: Reach also has people screaming and running away! This doesn’t sound like much, I know, but to a Halo game this is a pretty big deal.

Halo: Reach has also upped the difficulty rating just a bit. The enemy AI is hard as fuck on legendary and even on heroic it is hard. Reach has the most realistic AI to-date in a Halo game, which means you won’t be able to put it on the highest difficulty setting and brag to your friends that you are the man. When you can beat Reach on legendary then you are the man, by yourself too. You can of course play with friends too through the whole campaign which is a lot of fun, but I’ll get more into the multiplayer and co-op play a little later.

Most people scream when you talk about Halo and how cool the weapons are. Me, I think all of the weapons are identical, just different coats of paint was added to make it not so obvious. Bungie did manage to add some new weapons but they did at the same time take out a few (which makes sense since this is technically the first game in the series). If you’re like me then you’ll stick with the same 3 weapons the entire time.

One of the newest gameplay mechanics added to Reach are the armor abilities. There are such improvements as jet packs, camouflage, sprinting, and about half a dozen more. I think the armor abilities were a nice addition but at the same time why would they do this in the first game of the series (story wise)? Maybe I am just nit picking a little…ok Bungie it was cool, never mind me trying to make a point in your last Halo game.

It took Bungie how many games to finally upgrade the graphics? Halo: Reach is the best looking Halo game, hands down. Spartan’s actually look badass with their armor shinning at any location they might be at. The locations you adventure to are beautiful and it is simply stunning how much happens on the screen at once and there is no slow down at all. There are still minor clipping issues and your teammates do get stuck sometimes, but overall Reach is the best looking Halo game and I am glad that Bungie finally did something with their graphics engine.

Here is a no brainer; the music in Reach is amazing. This soundtrack is much better than most sci-fi movies, past, present, and hell even the future I bet. That is one thing you never have to worry about, a Halo game will always deliver the best sounding game. You really do feel like this world is real with the sound by itself.

Now let’s get to the part that most of you care about. Halo: Reach has 13 multiplayer maps and 8 Firefight stages. The modes you can pick for your online parties are Assault, Infection, Juggernaut, CTF, Oddball, King of the Hill, Slayer, Race, and Territories. Those are just the old favorites because you also have Stock Pile, Invasion, and Head Hunter, the new modes Bungie has added to the online experience. There is a lot to do with this game when it comes to online play!

Halo: Reach’s campaign can be played with your friends, dropping in at anytime. I know other Halo games have done this before but this time around there is almost no lag at all while playing. It also has to be brought up that this can be done since some FPS games still won’t add this to their game. Reach is co-op friendly and it does to show you that Bungie listened to their fans when it came to making this game.

For quite a time Burnout: Paradise was creating so much hype all around to be the most awesome game ever. Whether it is pure anticipation, or instinct of the fans, however since the moment gamers had their hands-on the demo it was really impressive to unveil the great strides the gameplay enveloped.

The expansion of the overall gaming session together with the integration of an entirely open-world system, adds up to the positive aspect of this newest revelation of the Burnout series. The open-world system introduced in Burnout: Paradise has taken a toll to a complete new and enhanced gaming experience. Players will be able to drive around and face new challenges periodically all through out the game. Moreover, all the events in the gameplay will occur on a single map, thus it will immensely help to drive a bit around and get the real feel for the area. The map gives you the opportunity to drive around and monitor your surroundings.

Despite of the fantastically designed gameplay, it is also worthwhile to notice the graphics involved in the game is pretty much awe-inspiring. The vehicles, as well as locales, with vivid details appear like life-sized objects. The surrounding appears to be very much clear and smooth.

There is much to explore and experience in the Burnout: Paradise with huge portion of challenges to confront blended with plenty of fun. Watch out this awe-inspiring series of Burnout to cherish an unforgettable gaming experience.

To explain in one word, this new game for the Xbox gaming console is simply “amazing”, and this game is extremely intensified and vigorous as there is lot more in stock for gamers than just completing the main quest line. Once you are done with the main quest line, the choices you make in the gaming session will determine the outcome of each and every phase. Moreover, the association of a faithful dog companion in the Fable 2 is truly an incredible part of artificial intelligence that will assist you to fight and locate treasures throughout the game.

Next, the customization is also a plus point, and significantly the option to swap into female in the gaming session might appeal to a few female gamers, who for so long craved for such customization. Furthermore, the female gamers will doubtlessly love the collection of diverse clothes and hair styles which is in store for them to choose from. Initially, you will find the graphics breathlessly amazing along with fascinating decals given to indoor as well as outdoor landscapes. One of the drawbacks of the Fable 2 game is the slow-paced loading speed. It might take up to 30 to 40 seconds extra, but it’s somewhat acceptable as the huge game that is fitted into such a small disk explains on behalf of the speed.

Nevertheless, the one button combat system offered by Fable 2 is indeed an incredible idea that fully assists the gamers to rapidly pull out a weapon and attack instantaneously. In my opinion, the Fable 2 actually outruns the original version of Fable, and I highly recommend this game for any occasion. Try it out!   

Initially, it appeared as if the second version was sort of an extension of the original version, but it was amazing for gamers to find out a totally new game. Though, still the same cover system is present as known by Gears of Wars fans. The cover as well as the shoot system is excessively addictive integrating a whole new dimension within the game. Following this, is the striking visual characteristic of the game, where every small details is designed spotlessly, labeling Gears Of War 2 as the most graphically eye-catching game that ever came into existence.

However, unless and until you don’t indulge deeper into the game it’s not possible to learn about its actual potential. Whereas, majority of the shooter games happen to avoid the campaign with the intention of formulating an enhanced multiplayer environment, it is a treat for Xbox gamers to have both of features present in Gears Of War 2. Moreover, the campaign is intensified as well as enjoyable all through out the gaming session. As it provides credulous backdrops, unforgettable showdowns together with an appealing storyline, doubtlessly it keeps you clutching until the games concludes.

Next, it is the multiplayer of the Gears Of War 2 that takes to the upgraded level. The inclusion of numerous newly designed guns, bots, maps and obviously the Horde mode makes the new multiplayer exceptionally adventurous and unique. Needlessly to say, the original version of Gears of Wars has attained enormous popularity, with million of gamers across the globe playing it regularly online. Now, it seems the Gears Of War 2 is all set to beat the upsurge of popularity!