Dead Rising 2

Dead Rising 2 delicately balances wanton destruction with thoughtful objectives. Just about every aspect of this game is entertaining, ensuring that you're having a good time whether you're fighting psychopaths, rescuing survivors, or just trying to find hidden secrets. The weapon-creation system continually rewards you with unique ways to kill your brain-starved foes, but it's the tight structure that provides the main draw.

Though Dead Rising 2 isn't a perfect game, there is so much fun to be had with this new entry in the series that its good points far outweigh its shortcomings. The game's variety and huge amount of side-missions ensure that you'll be playing it for quite a while, and its B-movie-style plot is definitely entertaining. The game also features a co-op feature that allows you to mow down zombies with a friend, which adds some new dynamics and strategic elements to the gameplay.

I wish the game had better inventory control and an item storage system to allow you to really explore all of your weapon options. But it's the other stuff--the still messy survivor AI and poorly built boss battles--that really mars the Dead Rising 2 experience. It's not an impossible game to love, but as with the first game, you'll have to look past a lot of blemishes to find happiness.