Suddenly, the indicator that our first control point is being taken begins flashing. Stealth be damned, I accelerate up out of cover and use my booster to come roaring in towards the control point. I let an EMP grenade precede me, and barrel into the little section of corridor at full speed, rotating in space so I land feet-first in the direction of my motion, latching onto the wall and stabilizing my position for firing. There are two blues in here, drifting slowly, control electronics temporarily blown out by my grenade. I unload on them at close range while they struggle to draw a bead on me with their tactical HUDs crippled. I smash the faceplate of one and fatally damage the suit integrity of the other. Then I become still. I wait for another threat, still standing sideways on the wall. The bodies of my two kills float about aimlessly, bumping into the walls and each other. I'm alone in my suit again, listening to my own breath, when, without warning, I'm drifting dead in a burst of my own oxygen. A blue in quiet mode has snuck up behind me and stabbed me, rupturing my spacesuit. Still, I got three kills, so that was a fairly productive life.

In Shattered Horizon, tense moments of sneaking and hunting rapidly explode into violent flurries of rifle-fire exchange. You might storm an enemy position in a group, jetpacks blazing, only to be thrown flailing into disarray by a well-timed MPR grenade, forcing you to desperately accelerate in an attempt to find some cover. You have complete freedom of motion in space, and the maps take full advantage of the fact. You might be orienting yourself on a piece of moon rock, or standing on the ceiling of a corridor, lying in wait for the enemy to blunder past. It's not very difficult to get the basics of how to move -- the game is well-designed in that respect -- but you probably won't feel as if you've mastered it for a few days. Once you reach this point, the very act of flight transforms into a raw joy that's difficult to describe.

The idea behind Shattered Horizon is truly novel -- I don't know of any other online, multiplayer, tactical space combat games. There's only one weapon (although it has a zoom mode), and several different grenades, and there are only four maps, but the depth lies in your progress in mastering the game mechanics, and the teams you end up playing with. The gameplay is emergent and your enjoyment tends to increase along with your skill. The pinnacle of the experience are the moments that you completely dominate, feeling utterly in control and unstoppable. It's almost transcendental. SH is a bit like Counterstrike in that regard.

It's unlike Counterstrike in that the SH community is largely friendly and supportive, not to mention similarly near the beginning of the learning curve, resulting in a less frustrating experience for new players. The only problem is that there aren't that many players yet. The release of Shattered Horizon really slipped through the cracks this month, what with all of the chaos in the wake of the Modern Warfare 2 release. It's actually pretty easy to get to know a good portion of the regular players out there since there aren't a ton of servers and, even then, only a few of them are heavily populated.

That being said, SH isn't without it's issues. The story arc in is totally your own -- you coming to grips with the motion controls, your mastery of aiming, sneaking, and stabbing. There are no villains, except that bastard that keeps headshotting you. It's more like a game of basketball than a game of Final Fantasy, by nature demanding intensity and focus. If you're just looking to relax and watch some story play out, SH won't be your thing. Also, there's a glaring lack of voice chat in the game. I suppose I can understand the reasoning behind this decision; Counterstrike is riddled with players insulting you for every mistake, making racist comments, gay-baiting, etc. Perhaps the lack of voice chat is one of the reasons why the community in SH is so amicable, but it's an obstacle to effective teamwork at times.

The game also requires a newer system to play. Since it's DirectX10 only, you'll need a dx10 video card and either Windows Vista or Windows 7. This isn't much of a surprise considering SH is the first offering from Futuremark Game Studios, the development wing of the same company that produces the 3DMark benchmark for video cards. Luckily, the game actually looks pretty good and remains very playable at low settings, so even an older dx10 card will suffice. There are a couple of other nuisances, such as hitting escape in an attempt to cancel your chat, but instead opening your game menu, but they're relatively minor in light of the overall experience.

Overall, at $20, Shattered Horizon is an easy, but conditional recommend. It's space combat pared down to the very essentials, which works because the game mechanics are so sharp and perfectly tuned. However, it's by nature more of a hardcore, confrontational type of game, which might not fit your play style. The underpopulation of a lot of the servers is worrying, although Futuremark has recently established a guest pass system in an attempt to bolster the community. As for those on the fence due to the amount of content -- four maps -- there's currently another, free, map-pack on the way.

Now your first question may be, like mine was, "Who is Vilgax, and why is he attacking?"  As it turns out, this brings up a pretty important point about the storyline of the game.  From the very first cut scene, anyone not familiar with the Ben 10 TV series is left out of the loop, because the game starts in the middle of the action, giving little to no background on any and all characters, including Vilgax, and ignoring the need for an explanation of these characters' motivations, including Vilgax.  So, to make a long story short, fans of the TV series (i.e. the same, younger crowd that watches the show) will enjoy the plot of the game, as it really is just a fluid continuation, and everything seems to fall into place without any reiterating.

But storyline aside, there is a lot to like about this game.  The graphics are crisp and the colors are bold, almost as if the 2D cartoon has just been turned slightly to make the whole thing 3D.  The soundtrack is also a pretty close match to the show, which isn't to say all that much, but it fits with the genre and creates the feel that developer Papaya Studio was definitely going for, an interactive installment in the Cartoon Network series.  The voice acting is also, you guessed it, about on par with the show.

But the gameplay is probably this game's biggest asset, although it probably won't appeal to the more mature gamer.  Through the magic of science developed by Professor Paradox, Ben and his comrades Kevin and Gwen are transported back in time before Vilgax does indeed attack earth, allowing them the opportunity to travel to the home worlds of many of Ben's Omnitrix forms and battle it out with the various aliens.  As Ben, you can change between any of the ten Omnitrix aliens to begin with (later in the game you have to continue playing to unlock some that become "unusable" for a time). Each form offers its own unique moves, generally activated by the right trigger, and weak and strong attacks performed by the X and Y buttons, respectively.

Of the aliens, there's Humongousaur, my personal favorite, who is exactly what he sounds like: a big dinosaur creature who just smashes and runs through things and generally just hulks his way through obstacles and levels.  Some other fun and useful forms are Spidermonkey, who has a pretty simplistic, Spiderman-esque way of web slinging around obstacles, and Big Chill, who is kind of like a giant ice moth who glides and shoots shards of ice at his enemies.  These are only a few, but each alien offers a different way to progress through levels, like Brainstorm's ability to hack into computer systems which launches a number of consecutive timed mini-games that provide a nice break from the action.  There are also some hidden power-ups to find around the levels to get you to explore a little bit, which can either add to your health or your power meter.  On top of that, enemies you kill drop orbs that function as experience, and when enough experience is gained, you can unlock new moves for each alien form.  While this is another nice addition, I kind of felt gypped by the end of the game, because there are a lot of different moves and forms to unlock, and the amount of experience you get simply isn't enough to explore all of them.  Does this give the game any more replay value then?  Not really, but it adds a level of depth to the game that feels appropriate to the story and the show.

So what is there to know about this game?  It's a fun jaunt through intergalactic cartoon battles that, although fairly simplistic, do offer some cool variety with the use of the ten alien forms.  The gameplay is generally pretty linear and straightforward, but a few platformer, puzzle, and level-up elements do break it up nicely, and give the player a more complete feeling about an otherwise direct import from the TV series.  Again, this game is definitely geared towards a younger crowd and to fans of the series, but if you are neither, you will find a number of redeeming moments in this fairly short saga that ultimately leads Ben face to face with the evil Vilgax.

Now, you're probably thinking to yourself, "How does a soundboard have anything to do with gaming?" Let me explain. iMEvil uses popular voice actor David Sobolov, who has provided voice work for games such as Halo Wars, Brutal Legend, Dragon Age, Call of Duty 4, and Chronicles of Riddick. The second reason is that iMEvil just received a free expansion pack, featuring Overlord 2 sound clips, and this is what attracted me. I'm an Overlord nut. I love the games' dark humor and minion command gameplay. If you can't crack a smile sending your minions to kill baby seals, you're probably a better person than I.

iMEvil features 32 different clips, ranging from phrases such as "I am in control," to "You insolent child!" and my personal favorite, "I'd buy that for a dollar." Each line is delivered in a convincing and hilariously scary tone from Sobolov that is perfect for playing jokes on your friends or saying your favorite evil phrase without messing it up. While these phrases are all good, I feel they don't have a full range that makes good soundboards great. I tested the iMEvil soundboard by calling a friend (yea, I'm a great friend), and I ran out of believeable responses about 3 minutes in and the con was up.

The Overlord 2 pack, though, features a charming range of hilarity that will please Overlord fans all over, containing 35 sounds. Phrases from the game are replicated perfectly, such as, "So don't delay, be evil today," "Hippie Wasters," and "But remember folks, evil isn't just for kicks, it's a career!" They even manage to throw in two of the minions' songs, which are the best parts of the game. You get the "Ring around the Rosie" and "Soldiers" songs, the two that made me laugh the most while playing Overlord 2 and still evoked chuckles when I put iMEvil to use. I used this soundboard throughout the day in various situations that I though were appropriate (or inappropriate; I get the two mixed up sometimes). My girlfriend made a call to argue with a printer about photos she took to be developed, to which I played a minion screaming, "Show 'em who's top of the food chain," getting a eye roll and smirk. During a game of Left 4 Dead 2, a friend picked up the guitar melee weapon and I played into the mic, "Now don't let the power go to your head!"

The Overlord 2 pack overshadows the stardard iMEvil one thanks to the minions manic banter and dry, dark humor. This isn't saying David Sobolov's voice acting isn't great, it just can't compete with minions singing "Ring around the Rosie." But, as far as soundboards go, iMEvil and the Overlord 2 pack are a bit lacking. There's not a good enough range of clips to really carry a conversation with, but at a $.99 for the app, I can't not recommend it for Overlord 2 fans. It's a opportunity to carry the minions in your pocket and that's a joy you can't pass up.

Such is the case with Academy of Champions, the new soccer game published by Ubisoft. I found myself enjoying the light-hearted, fantasy-inspired tale, which is basically Harry Potter with soccer balls. The academy is run by soccer legend Pele, and Mia Hamm makes a guest appearance as well. The premise is simple: create your player, recruit other players, build a team, and win soccer games. As you play through the single-player story mode, a surprisingly deep experience point system allows you to customize each player as you see fit. Want the team captain to share the ball? Increase his passing skill. Want your goalie to be more about speed to the ball than finesse? Focus on his quickness. The experience points add a layer of sophisitication to what otherwise is a fun, simple game of soccer. 

The controls are very simple: A passes or tackles, B shoots, C switches characters, and Z dodges or sprints.  When the momentum meter at the top is filled, shaking the Wii remote will enable a special shot on goal that, for me, was successful 7 out of 10 times. Not automatic, but helpful enough to be considered. The complexity lies in the pace of the game, as it can sometimes be hard to remember which button you want to press when two defenders are quickly bearing down on you. The gameplay is smooth and fast, each game being only 4 minutes long, but the goals can rack up quickly. My main issue involves passing to teammates: there is an arrow underneath your character letting you know in which direction they are, but since it is not a full field view, you cannot see where the defenders are. Unless your teammate is right next to you, you're going to get intercepted a lot. This can be frustrating, as what seems to be an open man in front of the goal can quickly become a 2-on-1 the other way, and that pass wouldn't have happened if I had seen the defender.

Graphically, the game will appeal to anyone who has ever watched a cartoon. The colors are bright, the faces are bold, and the backgrounds are beautiful. However, the cartoony feel of the game does go a bit overboard at times, specifically with Pele himself. I don't recall his head being shaped like the bottle from I Dream of Jeannie. The soundtrack shares the traits of the graphics, as light, bouncy tunes follow you through the course of the game. However, the character "voices" are, a la Animal Crossing and The Sims, all gibberish, which can be annoying and distracting in the midst of a match. 

There is a ton of content to be unlocked through the story mode, starting with equipment that will improve the team and eventually leading to more players, including many famous faces from Ubisoft's library. Players can enlist the help of Altair from Assassin's Creed, the Prince form Prince of Persia, Rayman and his Raving Rabbids, and even Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell. The multiplayer 5-on-5 mode allows two frieds to lock up in frantic soccer action, much like Mario Strikers Charged, but without the bells and whistles (see: multi-goals). 

All in all, Academy of Champions was a refreshing surprise: a game that I had virtually no hope for turned into an enjoyable Wii experience, something that is becoming more and more rare these days (unless the game is made by Nintendo). If you're a soccer fan, or if you're looking for something to play with your kids, Academy of Champions will not steer you wrong, as its fast-paced, cartoony presentation will entertain any and all ages.

Step into the shoes of the young Eddie Brown, aspiring adventurer. His father, the celebrated Gilbert Brown, has suddenly gone missing after a brief expository cutscene at the beginning of the game. Even though Eddie's still green at the age of sixteen, he's determined to follow in his father's footsteps, and hopefully pinpoint the lost hero's whereabouts. However, as is the case with simple journeys, this trip turns into something much more complicated. Eddie is joined by fellow Londonite Pad, a young witch named Melody, and an amnesiac healer by the name of Fiona, who can recall one crystal clear detail: Eddie's father saved her life.

In pursuit of the mythical forces that kidnapped Eddie's father, you will take this ragtag bunch around the globe, visiting exotic, real-life locations such as Tokyo, New York, London, and Cairo in order to discover hidden items of treasure and intrigue that Gilbert's captors would risk life and limb to recover. Though you begin with such humble means in London as a neophyte adventurer, you're soon pulled into an adventure of epic proportions.

Nostalgia is a traditional RPG in the truest sense of the word. You'll level-grind, quest for riches, and carry out quests all in the name of the greater good -- getting your father back and thwarting the plans of a certain secret organization along the way. You'll earn money for newer equipment and weapons, new skills, and you'll level up. While you might assume there's a typical overworld available to explore, you're wrong! Surprise! There's no overworld to get lost in, er, traverse. Instead, you'll travel via the Maverick, the airship previously belonging to Eddie's father.

While you'll still be battling in dungeons and subsequent different locations, your main mode of transport will be the majestic Maverick. Yes, even traveling in an airship will present challenges. Your party's skill sets will be changed to reflect their in-air combat prowess, and as you progress through the game the Maverick will be able to rise higher and higher into the sky, able to pass different types of land below. Careful, though -- the higher you go, the higher difficulty your foes will present. Airship status effects come into play and force you to alter your strategy a bit by compensating for Fire (similar to poison in that it saps life away) and Electrocution (fewer turns in battle). There is a higher difficulty curve in air combat, but it's one I was happy to go along with. And there's no shortage of monsters. Whether you're traveling by foot or by air, throughout the sprawling storyline you'll face many kinds of different foes, such as reptiles, ghosts, rats, and plenty more colorful beasts.

Unfortunately, one caveat to Nostalgia is that its combat can be painfully easy at times, especially if you grind enough to reach a level where foes just can't touch you, or if you experiment successfully with the skill grid. You'll unlock special skills, attacks, magical spells, and various other abilities within the grid, much like Final Fantasy X's upgrade system. It's great fun to pour your hard-earned skill points into beefing up your party substantially, but it also plays a part in making Nostalgia so much easier than it should be.

If combat and the intriguing storyline began to wear thin on your nerves though, thankfully Adventurer's Guilds placed throughout a good portion of the game's locations should provide some entertaining diversions. In the guilds you can quest for pay. As an Adventurer, you can take on tasks to complete for cold, hard cash, or several different types of rewards. They're entirely optional to complete, but tackling them gives you an excuse to hoard more money and lord over your foes (if you're into reigning supreme over the baddies). It's too bad that a glut of the quests see you running headlong into the same dungeons over and over again, performing some of the same tasks. The idea had some potential, but ultimately squanders what could have been in order to make your quest a bit easier. In the wide scope of things it's acceptable, but it would have been interesting to have been assigned something more interesting than fetch quests or exterminations.

Luckily, Nostalgia looks and plays fantastically. It's a pet project from the very same team responsible for the venerable Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV DS remakes, so you should know what to expect in terms of sprightly, innocent 3D models. Lilting and peppy orchestral movements, as well as unique battle and "danger" themes complement the game's "adventurous" motifs well, and it was a pleasure to hum the battle theme while breezing through dungeons.

Nostalgia should net you 20+ hours of gameplay, and that's at the bare minimum. There's absolutely nothing here that you haven't seen before, and while normally I would balk at such sameness, there's an underlying charm here that I can't quite turn away from. In its simplicity there is a sort of calm that I haven't found in other RPGs as of late -- a soul that reminds me why I enjoy the genre to begin with. It's simple, short, and it's sweet. And just like recent heavy-hitter Modern Warfare 2 has shown us, sometimes that's all you need to provide a great experience, no matter the genre.

The latest installment of the storied fighting franchise is a powerhouse of a game, succeeding in (finally) delivering the Tekken experience to the new generation. Tekken fans will be pleased with the sixth installment, which offers familiar fighting with enough tweaks to make it feel fresh.

The roster swells to 40 this time around, including all 34 characters from the previous installments and 6 brand new faces, ranging from the Spanish brawler Miguel to a new Mishima descendant Lars. Some characters are similar, like King and Armor King, but for the most part, each character brings a unique move set for players to master. The fighting is fast and furious, not suffering from a single frame-rate drop. The new motion-blur feature adds a new coat of paint to the already incredible graphics, making the characters seem like they are truly moving faster than meets the eye. Of course, if you don't like the new motion blurring, you can always turn it off. The stages are beautifully rendered and range from the expected (a dark chamber with blue flame) to the ridiculous (in the midst of a giant tomato fight). This is also the first time the stage can interact with the fighters, as floors will fall from under their feet and animals will bounce around the stage if knocked into.

The scenario campaigh accomplishes something that not many other fighters can: it gives Tekken 6 an interesting story. The story centers around Lars Alexandersson and Alina Boskonovitch, two of the newest faces in the franchise. Lars finds the cyborg Alina in cryosleep, then loses his memory in an explosion. Together, they take on the Mishima Zaibatsu, now headed by Jin Kazama, and the G Corporation, headed by Kazuya Mishima. Every character will take part in the story at some point, though most have to be unlocked. The way the campaign plays is reminiscent of Tekken 3's Devil Within mode -- full 3D free-roaming beat-em-up combat. The scenario campaign mode adds a lot of playtime to the game, even if you only planned on taking the fight online against the best of the best.

Speaking of the online, I experienced no lag during the 20-plus ranked matches I took part in. All of the fighting was as smooth as the offline fights. During the final replay of the match, however, there were some obvious "I'm disconnecting now" stops, but other than that the game ran like a dream. The only load times I found, oddly enough, were the load times between matches in single player. I must say, though, that these load times are un-friggin'-bearable at times. During the scenario campaign, I was literally able to make a sandwich while waiting for the next stage to load.

If online isn't your thing, you can still fight against hundreds of pre-loaded ghost characters based on some of the best Tekken 6 fighters in the world. Of course, the ghost characters aren't nearly as smart as their human counterparts, but the challenge is still there if you want to take on the best. If you're tired of the ghost characters, go online and download more. If you want to know what kind of fighter the ghost you're downloading is, watch their uploaded replays as a preview of what you can expect. Tekken 6 is one of the most online-friendly fighters out there, adding replays and ghost data to the already robust matchmaking system.

The soundtrack is similar to the previous installments: techno beats with lots of heavy drums. Though they can be a bit generic, each song fits its stage, most notably the techno yodeling that plays in the mountain stage with the bouncing sheep (yes, I did just write that). The sound effects are the only virtually unchanged aspect of the game, as the yells, "hi-yas," punches, and kicks are the same as they've been since Tekken's introduction. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it'd be nice to hear the fighters' voices in taunts to their opponents in the midst of battle, a la Soul Calibur, instead of just in the cutscenes (which are remarkably well-acted, by the way).

Whether you like a good single-player mode or mindless fighting action, Tekken 6 will not steer you wrong. If you enjoy fighters at all, make sure you give this a try.

The short answer? Yes. Modern Warfare 2 is one of the biggest, best, and most intense experiences I've had playing a videogame. It is an emotional and exciting game that surprised me with its amazing single-player campaign and blew me away with its refined multiplayer. Modern Warfare 2 is one of the best games this year, and takes an important step in the direction of videogames being able to present a real message and communicate an emotionally engaging story.

Modern Warfare 2 stands on three pillars of content: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Spec Ops. Each mode presents a different core experience and feel, yet each one compliments the next.

**SPOILER WARNING: I will be writing about levels and events in Modern Warfare 2. There will be minor spoilers in the following paragraphs, so if you want to stay unspoiled, skip to the italicized "END SPOILERS" note.**

Starting with Campaign, I was genuinly surprised by Modern Warfare 2's story. Call of Duty 4 had a pretty bland single-player component that felt very much like the series' World War 2 entries, but spruced up and brought into the modern era. It was a step in the right direction, but an old relic dressed up in a pretty suit. Spawn lines, invisible lines that once crossed by the player stop enemies from appearing, were rampant and the exciting moments were few and far between. Modern Warfare 2 fixes all of this and brings one explosive moment after the next. Taking place 5 years after Call of Duty 4, an international terrorist named Makarov has been causing mayhem across the globe. Enlisting the help of a promising Army Ranger, PFC. Joseph Allen, General Shepherd has Allen infiltrate Makarov's group to take them out from the inside. The plan goes wrong and Allen is blamed for a brutal terrorist attack and left for dead. Now, as Russia invades the U.S., it's up to Task Force 141 and Captain 'Soap' McTavish to find Makarov and bring him to justice.

I can't speak of the single-player without speaking of the controversial level that has everyone buzzing. Yes, you do participate in a heinous terrorist attack on a Russian airport. The level itself may be a horrible thing to some, but I found it to be emotionally moving and terrifying. The reason for this is that Infinity Ward has done such a great job with their graphics engine and animation that the scene feels very real as it plays out in front of your eyes. You are forced to move at a slow and methodical pace, witnessing people fall over, scream, and crawl away in pools of blood. Some wince in pain as they die and other hide in corners hoping for it to end. You can shoot if you want (I didn't), and you can also skip it and just get a quick recap of the situtation. However, I personally can't see how someone could skip it and deprive themselves of the resulting emotional involvement in the rest of the story. I felt like I had to continue to the campaign with a sense of ultimate urgency. After this scene, it was important for me to take down Makarov, a feeling I haven't had playing a game in a long time. The shock and awe moments don't end their either. You'll be chasing bad guys on snowmobiles, fighting Russian soldiers in the White House, and witnessing a particular wonder that I can't reveal. You have to see it for yourself.

**END SPOILERS**

Single-player is full of these moments and it never loosens its grip on you. I was thrilled from beginning to end and I'm amazed that Infinity Ward improved so much upon their single-player effort in Call of Duty 4. Your AI partners actually take down enemies now, they shout and bark orders to you, and their voice acting is so genuine you can't help but get attached. The modern weapons and toys are also upgraded. If you thought the AC-130 level was awesome in COD4, wait until you get the Predator Drone. It's a giant leap forward in content and story, like an action movie turned up to 11, that I am ready to experience all over again. That is, if it wasn't for the multiplayer.

Multiplayer has been vastly improved, balanced, and tweaked over COD4. The perks have been reduced, and replaced with Perk Challenges. By using a certain perk more often, you are contributing to these challenges. Get 25 kills using Sleight of Hand, and it will upgrade to Sleight of Hand 2, allowing you to reload even faster. Each perk has these challenges and can upgrade up to 5 times. It allows you to focus on certain perks you really find useful and build a character that fits your style of play. Killstreaks have been greatly expanded and go up to 25 kills now. After 3 kills, almost every additional kill has a reward associated with it. If you're thinking to yourself, "I probably won't get to 25 kills," then Infinity Ward has you covered. Certain Killstreak awards are supply drops now. These drops can be more munitions, or they can be a Killstreak award. So even you aren't the best player, you can still gain the option to call in that armored attack helicopter. Of course, these drops can be used by the opposing team as well, so you'll want to get to them fast.

Speaking of balance, there are also Deathsteak awards too. If you die three times in a row without getting a kill, you'll gain a special Deathstreak perk. Copycat lets you take the loadout of the last person that killed you and Painkiller gives you a large boost of health for the first ten seconds of your spawn. Two old favorites are now here as well. Martyrdom and Last Stand are now Deathstreak perks, which is fitting (both give dying players a final chance to take down their opponents) and helps to better balance each match. With Killstreaks and Deathstreaks, Modern Warfare 2 is always rewarding you in some way during your play time. Get a headshot? More xp. Shoot a guy from a distance? More xp. Kill the guy who killed you last? Guess what, more xp. That visual feedback and xp gain from this and many other situations in multiplayer make for an addicting experience that any player, no matter your skill level, can enjoy.

But the rewards and xp don't stop there. You now have a Callsign card that can be customized with different titles and emblems that you earn by leveling up and getting certain xp awards. This card pops up on the opposing players' screens everytime you kill them and even comes up for the person who got the first kill of the match. There are hundreds of titles and emblems to unlock, so making your card stand out is pretty easy. If that wasn't enough content, you have accolades to earn, challenges to complete, and more custom weapon mods than I could fathom. This really is the definitive multiplayer shooter out now and will continue to be popular for a long time to come.

Spec Ops rounds out the package and is, quite frankly, the only hit-and-miss part of the game. Spec Ops has you and a buddy run through different co-op scenarios. These missions stand on their own and have no story or introduction. They're like arcade levels that can be played together. Each completed level earns players a star rating that will then unlock more missions and achievements. While the star ratings make for a very rewarding arcade experience as you try to attain all three stars for each mission, the missions themselves are, again, hit and miss. Some of them are really cool, like racing your buddy on snowmobiles. One of the missions is downright awesome, where one person is on the ground trying to get to a certain building and the other player is piloting an AC-130 to provide support. Hearing your friend shout "rain some kickass down on these enemies for me" while you shoot from above is pretty thrilling stuff. Some of the missions, though, are just regurgitated from the single-player mode. The Rio Rooftops mission isn't very spectacular by itself and a stealth snow level from the single-player campaign just isn't that great with another friend. While some of the missions can be completed by a lone player, some of the missions require two people, so if you can't grab a friend from your friends list -- since there is no matchmaking in these modes -- you won't be able to experience all of them. Infinity Ward could have easily solved this with an A.I. partner for those who want it.

This isn't saying Spec Ops is the black sheep of the package, it just isn't as exciting as the single-player and multiplayer portions. That being said, Infinity Ward could easily fill this mode out with more DLC missions that are innovative and fun, so expect Spec Ops to grow in the future and hopefully add some missions that aren't just cut directly from the single-player.

With all this said, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is one of the greatest FPS games ever made. The emotional and intense single-player game is a thrilling rollercoaster ride of exciting moments, while the multiplayer is truly a definitive experience for online FPS players everywhere. This game lives up to its hype and then some, and won't disappoint even the most jaded of gamers.

Rabbids Go Home is a departure from earlier games starring the crazy critters, and it abandons the minigame-filled party structure in favor of a more cohesive "comedy adventure" design. It's arguable whether or not the game is any more complex than its predecessors, as it can most aptly be described as a collect-a-thon with a singular goal and repetitive gameplay, but it manages to maintain a Katamari-esque sort of appeal, regardless of (or perhaps because of) its elementary design.

The game's premise is this: The Rabbids' usual gig of tormenting Earthlings is old news, so now they're dead set on venturing to the moon. Their only idea for getting there, however, is to build a giant pile of miscellaneous objects high enough to reach it. So a few Rabbids set out with nothing but a shopping cart and an unwaveringly maniacal sense of enthusiasm to grab anything and everything they can find, and that's where the player comes in. Players control the Rabbids as they collect thousands of toys, clothes, clocks, radios, animals, food items, and any other loose junk they can find throughout 30-plus levels in what plays like a blend of platformer and kart racer with a case of ADD.

As they wheel, slide, and scream through settings such as office buildings, airports, hospitals, and department stores picking up the objects that are strewn about everywhere (and conveniently circled on the screen for easy identification), their feverish grab-and-go tendencies are matched only by their gleeful affinity for terrorizing the conformist, cardboard personalities who spend their days wasting away at these institutions. Those feeble folks are horrified by the little monsters, and just one of the Rabbids' "bwaaah!" screams scares them clear out of their clothes. The "bwaaah" attack, which is triggered by shaking either the Wii remote or the nunchuk, is the Rabbids' primary form of defense against hostiles, and can also knock the "stuff" out of cabinets, dumpsters, vending machines, and other such containers. Skills learned later on include a brief turbo boost for jumping gaps or running people down, and the ability to occasionally pick up and toss bombs. The game's controls are super sharp, and despite the wild carting action, players will feel like they are firmly in the driver's seat the entire time.

Each level contains one large, 600-"stuff"-worth, "XL stuff" object that must be flushed down the toilet at the end (everyone knows that Rabbids transport their junk through the sewers) in order to open up the next area, but by grabbing more of the smaller "XS stuff," the pile grows faster and more places open up for ransacking. Players also earn gifts for gathering specific amounts of "stuff" in each location. These are mostly tattoos, headgear, and face-manipulating tools that are used in the Rabbid customization portion of the game, which is accessible between levels. Once you've unlocked enough options there, creating zany, multicolored, deformed Rabbids can be a real hoot, even if it's completely pointless to do so.

The biggest drawback I encountered while playing Rabbids Go Home is that many of its levels, though different from one another, take place in the same locations and end up feeling recycled. If the game offered a bit more variety, it'd do a better job of sustaining its massive initial appeal. On the other hand, the few race-based and tube-sliding levels thrown in to mix things up were refreshing, and it would have been nice to see this aspect of the game expanded upon, or other, differing gameplay segments included. Stages range from moderately free-roaming to completely linear, but the game works best during the latter, when the pace is quickened and progress is streamlined to match the Rabbids' frantic and straightforward personalities; it's the more open levels that have the greatest potential to weary players.

Aside from the action, much of the game's fun comes from watching and listening to the humans populating the game world, especially the female voice that can be heard over the PA system throughout nearly every level. It's through these characters that the game's satirical humor shines brightest. Clever jokes and criticisms of society, commercialism, religion, etc. are found throughout (I got a kick out of the soda-filled dumpsters with radioactive spills surrounding them in the nuclear facility), making the game more interesting to those who pay attention.

Similarly, the soundtrack seems chosen to portray the very play-it-safe nature of the human citizens, with a selection of recognizable classics offset by the Rabbids' wildly uproarious brass band, but even those licensed tunes are great. From the opening "Come Go With Me" by the Del Vikings (a 50s doo-wop band nobody from recent generations has ever heard of), to the elevator jam, "Rivers of Babylon," with plenty of John Denver in between, every song that drifts along the airwaves seems perfectly selected for the game. Then the Rabbids come trumpeting and tuba-ing through on a high-speed spring mattress to kick things up a notch. Excellent.

Although Rabbids Go Home may be simple and repetitious, the game's efficient and responsive play control, comedic subject matter, and eternally likable protagonists will keep players coming back for more. Some added variety in the level locales, a greater focus on faster-paced gameplay, and a more pronounced difficulty curve would improve the experience, but overall, players will be sure to have fun and stay smiling with the Rabbids' first "comedy adventure."

On a planet ten light years away, you've been sent to uncover the mystery behind a silent communications tower. All of a sudden it's gone silent and it's your job to figure out why. As a Weapon Hazard Intervention Protocol (W.H.I.P.), you reach the planet and find out that it's been overrun by malevolent aliens (go figure!). It's time to take it upon yourself and run out the alien infestation by throwing around your "master" and battling said aliens.

In essence, you will be cracking a small black whip in order to "crack it," hitting onscreen enemies. It's another take on the thumbstick shooter, but your only means of defense is via behaving like some sort of dominatrix. No, seriously. Cracking the whip takes a few seconds to get used to since it isn't instantly reactive, but as you begin smashing through enemy power blocks in order to reach their defenses and absorb energy, it soon becomes second nature. You'll need to collect certain amounts of enemy charges in order to dissipate the threats, as well as protecting your Master. It sounds difficult, doesn't it? It definitely does take a bit of getting used to, as controlling a whip is unlike what most other games offer.

You'll be racing against the clock, pitted against a number of different kinds of baddies, each type possessing unique abilities meant to hinder your progress even further. You'll need to make sure that the Master absorbs charges as quickly and efficiently as possible, lest enemies regain them before he can make his way to them. He can't directly be attacked, and neither can W.H.I.P., but it's prudent to keep an eye on him at all times in order to speed through the levels without too much static. If watching for enemies isn't enough, you can also destroy charges by yourself, so be cautious when navigating each level.

Though WhipCrack is quite simple to pick up and play, a voice explains each and every move you make, including advanced maneuvers and other difficult-to-understand mechanics that you may overlook by simply jumping in to play, like most of us usually do. This was an exhaustive measure and one that I appreciated, as it was much more efficient than a short tutorial and it taught me the basics well. Be forewarned, however, that you simply cannot get by aimlessly whipping around and assuming that's all that is required of you. WhipCrack requires much more skill and a patient hand, which puts it in a league above other, similar endeavors.

WhipCrack features 19 single-player missions, as well as an "expert" mode that you can tackle after completing each one of them. The prerequisite of most games these days -- multiplayer -- is included as well, and you can play with local friends only. Up to four of you will simultaneously eradicate bad guys and collect charges on the same screen. Of course, rounding up four players to play WhipCrack online would likely be a feat, since it seems to be a bit more obscure, and even "mainstream" titles are waning in online popularity these days.

The game is simple, but it sports clear and sharp presentation with a neon, glowing whip lash and stylish menus and fonts. For an amateur submission, the voice overs and music were very well thought-out and gave a very professional feel to the game, which is something I usually never expect for the paltry sum of 240 Microsoft points ($3.00). It's absolutely a superb effort, and one that fledgling independent developers could learn a thing or two from, so maybe they won't be stuck submitting pointless slot games or dating games to the queue on Xbox Live. WhipCrack is most definitely worth your time and attention if you're looking for something a little bit different.

For what's essentially a current-gen replacement for the classic Asteroids, Ion Assault is an enjoyable Arcade title. Simply eliminate all enemies, collect power-ups, and destroy any obstacles that happen to get in your way.

As you begin each stage you'll find that the entire play field is rife with ammunition -- ion particles -- that allow you to make progress. You won't begin the stage with a full ammunition gauge, and thus you'll need to draw in the particles with the right trigger. The more ion particles you've collected, the more powerful your shots will become. Of course, that's where physics comes into play. If you're a glutton and draw in as many particles as possible, the result is a heavier ship that can't exactly maneuver past obstacles, ships, and asteroids in a very sprightly fashion. You may also utilize the particles as a type of shield against oncoming threats, though a certain degree of care must be employed when making decisions regarding the use of this privilege. When enemies are downed you may siphon your used particles back from their remnants. There are several different ways to put the ion particles to good use, but no real "right" way to play. It's all up to the player to decide how effectively and efficiently he or she will use what's available in each stage.

Each stage progesses rather slowly, rife with enemies and asteroids that threaten to grind you into dust. There are several different types of enemies available that will jet onto the scene so quickly that it sometimes becomes difficult to differentiate them from power-ups, so often you'll be running straight for them thinking you'll receive a speed boost, and instead an instant death occurs. Good thinking, right? When faced with an onslaught of enemies and other debris, your best bet is to become accustomed to their strategies and plan accordingly.

And, as previously mentioned, make good use of power-ups. They're not just there to look pretty. They become quite useful when you're staring down four or five ships who want you dead. Intriguing power-ups such as the Vortex and Plasma Torus will prove themselves useful time and time again, either sucking a massive amount of enemies into a cosmic whirling dervish or acting as shields to absorb the brunt of damage that you'd otherwise be taking. Rather than fluff and a reason to implement pretty colors, they're quite solid complements to Ion Assault's gameplay and require different strategies of their own in order to utilize properly.

Of course, as previously mentioned, the game takes more than a few cues from Geometry Wars. First off, there is a lovely neon color scheme spilling over with glowing, pulsating color for your ship and immediate surroundings. Ion particles are bright, luminous objects that make for a sight to behold. Streams of colors such as blue, pink, green, and purple are marvelous, representing the color that you chose at the beginning of the game. Each enemy is varied in looks and actions, and the game has a decidedly "techno" feel to it, right down to its pumping soundtrack, complete with a commanding female voice who feels the need to announce every single facet of gameplay.

Ion Assault can be completed just over a couple hours if you really get into it, but the real meat of the game lies within its stylistic and well thought-out complexities like the intuitive power-ups and requisite tactical usage of ion particles. It's a great little shoot-'em-up that's quite affordable and easy on the eyes. Along with very few faults and that thumpin' techno bass, this all makes Ion Assault a game to watch. Give it a try, especially if you're a fan of the classic Asteroids or even Geometry Wars' slick presentation.