D3

Game Description: In this DS remake of the classic Bangai-O, you take the roles of Riki and Mami and strap into the powerful Bangai-O suit to undertake the task of catching criminals red-handed. Bangai-O Spirits provides gamers with shooter gameplay and punishing supermoves, along with strategic and tactical elements. The game also offers co-op, competitive multiplayerfor 1-4 players via local wireless, and a powerful level editor tool which allows players to edit in-game levels or create new ones from scratch.

Game Description: Dark Sector is a third-person Action/Shooter that thrusts players into a sci-fi flavored nightmare scenario set in the post Cold War era. Playing in the role of Hayden Tenno, an unscrupulous covert operative sent on an assassination mission into Lasria – a fictional Eastern European city on the brink of ruin and rumored to be contaminated by a mysterious and frightening plague, Hayden takes out his mark, but before he can escape is attacked by an unknown enemy. Not killed outright as expected, he is instead infected with the virus that is causing the plague.

Having worked with Dan here at GameCritics for so long, sometimes it feels as though we think with the same brain. More often than not, we champion the same underdogs and see value in titles that others don't. However, there are rare occasions reminding me that as often as we agree, it's still a fact of life that we will occasionally take entirely different positions on things. Case in point: Dark Sector.

Dark Sector is a prime example of great execution elevating a tired premise. A cursory look at the plot: Special Forces Guy vs. Mutants might lead the average gamer to think they've played it before, and they probably have—it just wasn't this great before.

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

Although the game's rough edges would sink most titles, it's to Vicious Cycle's credit that I felt compelled to play through the unpleasantness and walked away from Dead Head Fred with a respect not only for what it accomplished, but for what it tried to accomplish.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, and Strong Language

Game Description: Dead Head Fred is a unique 3rd person-action game created exclusively for the PSP. An original 1940's inspired alternative universe is blended with a slice of old time Americana, producing a morally bankrupt town ruled by violent organized crime and populated with mutants spawned from toxic waste. You are private detective Fred Neuman, savagely murdered and then resurrected in a bizarre scientific experiment without your memory or your head. Embark on a quest for vengeance as you solve your own murder by using the severed heads of enemies to battle your way through environments designed to showcase each head's unique abilities.

Ending the Basement this month is The Adventures of Darwin—a colorful, uncluttered title with the power to cleanse this jaded critic's palate and remind him that sometimes a game is just a game, and that's OK.

Game Description: Earth Defense Force 2017 makes you Earth's last line of defense! Planet Earth is under attack from alien invaders, and the EDF is our only chance for survival. Grab your gun, join your squad and repel the attacking forces. Already a smash hit in Japan, the Earth Defense Force series comes to the US for the first time in this action-shooter exclusive to the Xbox 360. Join a friend in co-op mode and work together to battle your way through the alien swarms Fully destructible environment—Battle alien invaders but watch out—your stray shots will bring down skyscrapers, bridges and other structures.