Contributor: Kevin Simpson

Brink

Brink is by definition a first-person shooter. But shooting is only half the battle in this intricate, strategy-intensive contest for control of a desperate island dystopia known as the Ark.

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Mortal Kombat

Those that don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. So what happens when you already know everything there is to know about Mortal Kombat—and you play it anyway?

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Crysis 2

The makers of this sci-fi shooter sequel aimed to create something they call “catastrophically beautiful.” They’ve definitely succeeded on the first part. But what about the second?

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Killzone 3

The makers of this popular PlayStation 3 franchise are cranking up the carnage once again. This time, via eerily realistic motion control and in high-def 3-D.

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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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