Heavy Rain is undeniably unique and an important footnote along the evolutionary line of videogames. It's not even a "game" so much as an engrossing experiment that tasks the player with accepting their choices, sticking by them, and seeing how far you'd go to protect the ones you love. It's not without its flaws, but it's still a remarkable achievement.

I'm a big fan of Dragon Age: Origins, so it was only natural that I'd download the latest DLC – Return To Ostagar – so that I could get the full experience. As a diehard fan it's a nice little tribute to a major part of the game, but in terms of length, challenge, enemies, and loot, the experience is more cool than rewarding.

Much has been said about Dante's Inferno – namely that it's nothing more than a God of War clone. While it is definitely a God of War clone, it's a damn fine good one, which does enough in this opening installment to pave the way for what I can only hope is a series that covers the entire length of The Divine Comedy (or at least continues in a way that's just as interesting). If you've got the stomach for it, Dante's Inferno is a really fun and exciting game.

It took me three separate tries to make it through the original Mass Effect, because for whatever reason I never could "get it." Characters got stuck behind objects. Difficulty fluctuated wildly. Shepard ran on what looked like a slant when you turned him. Regardless, something clicked that third time, and I fell in love with the game, despite the flaws it had. Mass Effect 2 feels much like that third time for me. I love the game, and yet there are things changed – for better and worse – that somewhat take away from the original game and the potential of this sequel.

Whenever someone starts to review or talk about Darksiders, talk inevitably turns to the game being a loving tribute to franchises such as The Legend of Zelda and God of War…and for good reason too. Whether you're trying to solve a puzzle in a dungeon or trying to defend off a wave of enemies, it ultimately feels like both games the game is trying to recreate. It's flattering and fun to play a more mature Zelda game, but Darksiders ultimately falls apart by the time the end comes.

It's with a certain measure of dismay that the final chapter of Tales of Monkey Island has now come and gone. I've waited years for new installments of this cherished series and now that it's over, I want more. However, there is definitely room for improvement.

We've now got up on YouTube our second video review ever - this time it's of Bayonetta for the Xbox 360. We'd love to hear what you think about these video review. Are they too long? Would you rather have written reviews? Let us know!

It's not the New Year yet, but we've got a brand-new feature we're trying out: video reviews! Hooray! Oooh! Aaah! We're still experimenting with the format and trying to get everything nice, but I don't think it's that bad for a first time effort. I would say that, however, as I'm the one who did it. So let those reading skills take a breather and watch our very first video review of Tekken 6 for the PSP. We hope you like it and hope to hear what you think. Will be making changes accordingly!

I loved the original Puzzle Quest, as it blended two genres together – puzzle and RPG – and did so in a spectacular way. Along comes Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, which continues the tradition of the genre mash-up, but with a new puzzle system and plenty of strategy to take into consideration. If the idea of an RPG meets strategy game meets puzzle game sounds intriguing to you, this just might be the game to keep you busy.

The original Assassin's Creed certainly had some flaws – hello repetition – but overall it was an excellent game that was filled with future potential. Assassin's Creed II largely capitalizes on that potential and develops a worthy sequel that is in almost all respects better than the original. Historical fantasy and sci-fi intrigue bring to life this second installment, which I can only hope leads to an eventual third game, because there are a lot of questions left hanging.

I think I've played more Dragon Ball games than any other franchise. The one consistent that I've learned when it comes to this franchise is that if there's a good game to be found, it's generally only when it comes to the fighting game genre (and even then they aren't always perfect). Side-scrolling beat 'em ups – pass. Card battling game – it was okay. I've never played a Dragon Ball based RPG before now, however, but it seems like there's a reason for that…it doesn't make for that great a game.

I loved Bioware's KOTOR and Jade Empire, but Mass Effect was a game that – for whatever reason – I could just never get into all that much. After hearing about Dragon Age: Origins and its high-fantasy setting, I was excited to see Bioware leaving behind the sci-fi setting for a more traditional fantasy one. While the game still fails to reach my love for games such as KOTOR, it does feel more like a return to form.

Changing the scenario of these episodic games is a way to keep player interest throughout the series. After the first two Tales on Monkey Island, it was refreshing to see the setting change to the inside of a giant sea mammal, so when I heard that chapter four was going back to the same island as chapter 1, I was a bit reticent. Would it be a rehash of jungle exploration and visiting the same places over and over again? I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

I've always had a certain fondness for cheerleaders – many of my high school crushes were on the school's varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders. Also, if the Bring It On series has proven anything, it's that being a guy on the team isn't a bad place to be. With that said, however, I never could see myself being a member of the cheerleading team. So imagine my surprise then when the unexpected We Cheer 2 showed up at my door and forced me to become something I'd never thought possible – a cheerleader. Another thing I'd never thought possible was me actually liking We Cheer 2, but that's exactly what happened.

The Dragon Ball Z franchise is one of the most known and beloved by otaku, as it was often the gateway drug for many Americans into the world of anime and manga. One thing I've always really enjoyed about the franchise is how well various companies manage to milk the franchise for all its worth…really nailing down the qualities that define the series and making it so that every fight feels ripped straight from the anime.