Namco

Game Description: Breakdown is the story of a young man freed from a mysterious organization looking to brainwash him into submission. You can not only smash soldiers, government agents, and supernatural enemies using your fists, but call upon a special energy that imbues your arms with powerful concentrations of light., Trapped inside a mysterious laboratory and unable to remember his past, Derrick Cole discovers his extraordinary powers as he fights for survival against a determined military faction and a legion of seemingly invincible super-human warriors.

Breakdown is a perfect example of the sort of great-thinking, rotten-playing game that has a great brain, but neglects the basics backing it up. It has a great hook, especially when you consider that most respected developers today say the elusive feelings of emotional involvement and immersion are what they're after. Breakdown certainly scores major points on that front, but taken as a whole, the project achieves disappointingly uneven results.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

The optimist in me looks forward to the day when "drumming game" can be seen not as a novelty, but as an accepted subgenre. Wishful thinking, I know.

Game Description: In a world on the brink of global conflict, you find yourself back on the front lines of battle. Only this time, you're not here to prevent a war. You're here to start one. Dynamically use your environment as cover hug objects and terrain, popping out to fire from protected positions;Your enemies use all of the same tactics available to you, to take you down.

Some games are the bearers of creative brilliance, striving to expand the boundaries of gaming as we know it. The inspired work of inspired people, you can see these titles coming a mile away—and you might not be the same after being exposed to such masterpieces. On the other hand, some games are content to provide thrills and technical experiences without covering much, if any, new ground. These titles are the staples of a videogamer's diet. Safe and familiar, you know what you're getting.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Strong Language, Violence

Boxing is often called the "sweet science." The strategy, execution and skill make up the "science" and I'm assuming the thrill and satisfaction of victory is what makes it "sweet." In Soul Calibur III, I feel there's very little "science" that goes into the combat and consequently, victory isn't particularly "sweet."

Game Description: A new page in history has begun as the most highly-anticipated fighting game ever finally arrives! The greatest 3D weapons-based fighter will provide non-stop action, excitement and surprises as you go one-on-one against your favorite challengers.

If someone heard my buddy Joey and I playing Soul Calibur II, they'd think that it's probably the funniest game ever.