Contributor: Kevin Simpson

Dead Space 2

To market its bloody new horror shooter, Electronic Arts told potential customers that Dead Space 2 is “revolting”—and that “your mom’s gonna hate it.” Thanks, EA, for writing our review for us.

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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit

It’s a speed junkie’s cops-and-robbers fantasy as high-octane lawbreakers get chased by policemen with unlimited vehicle budgets down 100 miles of twisting roadways.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops

This cruel and quite usual Call of Duty is selling big, despite the fact (or is it because of the fact?) that it’s a Cold War battler with a heart as dark as its name.

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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

Never mind that Starkiller died at the end of the first game: He must once again save the galaxy from Darth Vader and his evil empire. Too bad the whole exercise feels a little … forced.

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Medal of Honor

Electronic Arts’ storied wartime franchise jumps from World War II to present-day Afghanistan … and takes fire from all sides in the process.

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Halo: Reach

This franchise’s halo slipped years ago, and this game doesn’t right any old wrongs. Instead it just jumps back into the fray … before the fray even began.

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Mafia II

Sleek suits and Italian leather shoes. The Andrews Sisters on the radio and a bloody body in the trunk. These are the “joys” of life in Empire Bay.

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As I Lay Dying: The Concert

They’re the most aggressive-sounding band in the genre, in my humble opinion. Their front man is a lumberjack-sized fellow with a booming, guttural growl that can shake the walls. But here’s the thing: They do it in the name of Jesus Christ. I’m talkin …

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Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Snake is sneaking in to save the world once again. This time exclusively on the handheld Sony PSP.

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Alan Wake

Alan Wake has been pulled into a dark world of his own imagining. But it’s gamers who may walk away with nightmares.

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Lost Planet 2

Debuting at No. 1, a popular third-person shooter returns with a slightly less frigid set of bug-killing missions and a very specific online campaign.

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Just Cause 2

Chaos and destruction rule the roost and gain all the applause in this new action/adventure game. Why? Well, just ’cause.

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The World Is a Thorn

Demon Hunter is on the prowl again with two new guitarists. Has the personnel change impacted the band’s bluntly prophetic metalcore message?

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Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Bad Company’s out for blood—again. More than 2.3 million copies of this popular sequel have been sold in less than a month. It just goes to show that carnage sells.

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Prey

In today’s cookie-cutter video game world, developers frantically search for something to set their titles apart from the pack. They also hope for a breakout sales leader that might finance the swelling budgets of other creative projects. So, instead o …

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