D3

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.

I burst out laughing when a skyscraper came tumbling down after being hit by a single rocket, but not in a good way. Meanwhile, nearly infinite swarms of bugs and thick mobs of robots clustered together so tightly that they clipped over and into each other, blocking off all view of anything except more bugs and robots.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Violence, Animated Blood and Mild Language

Intelligence is a complex thing, and the proper way to gauge it is not easily performed, or even clear. Everyone has heard about IQ tests and whether or not they're valid—cultural issues come into play, the value of one kind of intelligence over another, and several other factors make estimating such an intangible thing a sticky proposition better left to intellectuals and specialists.

Game Description: Introducing the revolutionary new generation of intelligence puzzle games. PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient is the first PSP system game allowing you to measure how intelligent you really are while solving life like scenarios. Based upon psychological research, your PQ score will be determined by how quickly and effectively you solve each life-like situation.