Destructoid

Assassin's Creed 2 has tried all sorts of tactics to improve upon the original, but none of these attempts have worked. The game's variety and length come across as nothing more than smoke and mirrors, the endless, grinding busywork that contributes nothing to the overall gameplay is inexcusably plentiful and mind-numbingly repetitive, and to top it all off, the game can't even compete in the visuals department and somehow looks worse than the original.

Left 4 Dead 2 is, overall, a terrific way to follow last year's game. There are some let-downs, like the new Survivors' personalities, and the sometimes strange balancing issues during the co-op Campaign, but the ultimate package is a more than worthy successor to the Left 4 Dead name. The original premise has proven more versatile than I ever would have imagined, and the new modes, new Infected, new Campaigns and new items make it feel like a completely different experience.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a game that truly lives up to the title of "Game of the year." It carries itself with the style and swagger of a blockbuster action movie, it remains fully committed to making the player feel exhilarated and satisfied every step of the way, and not once, not ever, does it ever slow down. It's one of the most superbly paced games ever developed, and is packed so full of content and awe-inspiring gameplay that only somebody with standards higher than human comprehension could feel cheated.

If you've for some reason found that Ratchet & Clank isn't your cup of tea, it's likely you're suffering from an illness, but take note that A Crack in Time is similar enough that it probably won't change your mind. For those of you who've never embarked on an adventure with the furry-faced hero and his brainy metal friend, you've got a lot of catching up to do, but it'll be worth it -- Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time is easily one of the best in the series.

Even when I feel that the game is starting to get repetitive, there's something about it that keeps me playing. Even my plans to jump into the game for five minutes to grab screenshots would suddenly turn into hour long play sessions without me even realizing it, and even having done most of the quests twice, I still want to head back and try again with a new character class. Despite a few imperfections, the game is simply fun -- and at the end of the day, that's what really matters.

These aren't entirely inconsiderable faults, but they should in no way dissuade you from playing a game as atmospheric, focused, and altogether clever as Machinarium. If you were interested enough in the adventure genre to hit the jump and read this review, then don't worry -- some hiccups notwithstanding, Machinarium is just plain one of the best adventure games ever made.

Is Brütal Legend brutal? Definitely. Is it metal? The world, its inhabitants, and the 100-plus metal tracks that nearly tear out your speakers as you play are proof enough of that. But unfortunately, those things didn't quite add up to an amazing game, instead leaving us with a title that could have been so much more.

Forza Motorsport 3 is the new king of racers. I can safely say that I've never played a better racing game. Scalable difficulty lets anyone play, making sure that everyone from novices to pros have a good time. Drop-dead gorgeous graphics will satisfy anyone's car lust. But it's that lovingly crafted and exceptionally realistic control that wins me over. Forza 2 was already great. They've just polished it to perfection to make 3.

If you own a PlayStation 3, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves belongs in your collection, no questions asked. If you don't, know this -- there's no other game in its genre that even comes close to it on any other platform. Whether or not that makes Among Thieves the system-seller Sony's been looking for remains to be seen, but it's without a doubt among the best exclusive games found on any console this generation.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is worth checking out for PS3 owners who like hardcore action games and have never played the Xbox 360 version. The new additions, however, simply aren't worth replaying the game for if you have the original version, and the removal of the blood has done the game a significant disservice. If you only have a 360 and were worried that Tecmo was gypping you, don't worry. You've not really missed out on anything important.