IGN

It’s disappointing that there are still areas where other sports titles are outshining Madden, and with no new gameplay modes it’s hard to recommend it to players who were bored last year. However, in terms of pure gameplay, Madden NFL 12 looks better, hits harder, and runs faster than ever before.

It's a visionary, considered piece of work, and while my thoughts drift to the things that could have been and the compromises made due to the possibilities of video games in 2011, they're just as quick to consider playing through it again. Human Revolution is a smart, rewarding piece of transhumanist noir that does justice not just to Deus Ex, but to the fiction that inspired it.

When I beat Bastion for the first time, I reloaded my save and played through for the second ending. When that was done, I started my new game plus. I'm not the repeat type of gamer, but Bastion's leveling, weapon upgrades, and difficulty tweaks are just too gosh-darn addictive. The story could've been better, but it doesn't matter.

A second playthrough with the HUD certainly provides for an improved experience. And the game's aesthetics are its saving grace. But regardless, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron simply isn't a good game. And that's too bad, because it certainly had the makings of one.

Everyone needs to play this game, despite its imperfections, because its uniqueness deserves your attention. Pick up this crazy, super stylistic, ultraviolent adventure. It shines, despite its technical shortcomings

Toy Soldiers: Cold War nails the 80&#Array;s toy aesthetic while blending great strategy and action gameplay under one democratic roof. While there may be camera problems, the thrill of the fight is too great to deny in this living toy box. As your Commando Action Figure freedoms his way through fifty troops with a machine gun and bazooka at the same time, you'll be hard-pressed to wipe the smile off of your face.

Trapped Dead has some good ideas and its low price tag (a mere $10 on Steam) may be very tempting. Killing the first few zombies in the tutorial level alone shows the violence and tactical planning that could have made the game something special. As you progress however, all the bugs, all the inconsistent controls, all the unbalanced gameplay, and the awful checkpoint system completely ruin the experience.

Temple Run is a fast and frenzied iPhone experience. The combination of swiping and tilt controls gives each session a frantic feeling. Right now the package feels a little basic and derivative, but still quite fun. Gamers craving a new iOS time waster should give Temple Run a long look.

Urban Champion is not a classic, it never was, and 3D is entirely wasted on it.

There are only two games in the Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions collection worth playing: Pac-Man Championship Edition and Galaga Legions. They're both amazing games, and for some, these may be reason enough to buy this collection (though for anyone who has played the DX version of either game, it's very hard to go back).