Maybe it was the art style seemingly lifted straight from the “I Spy” books of my childhood that initially pulled me in to the world of The Splatters, but it was the simple addictive gameplay that kept me playing.

Much like the train industry preys upon those who fear flying, the survival horror genre has taken advantage of their customers by offering increasingly laborious experiences. Do you know how long it takes to get across the country in a train? It takes forever. Do you know long it takes you to find anything worthwhile in Silent Hill Downpour? I sure don’t.

Very few games deserve to be trimmed of content as much as Reckoning. The inevitable plot twist only mustered an “Oh neat” out of me after so many hours of mediocre gameplay and story. There is a fun game to be found within Reckoning, but without a guide you would have no idea which quests you should spend your time on. It isn’t that Reckoning is terrible; it is more that it falls short of most of its peers and what goals it sets for itself.

Repetition mixed with a weak story and a lack of vehicle customization kept Sol: Exodus from being more than a somewhat entertaining distraction. Space combat fans will find a lot to enjoy, but others may be put off by the lack of polish. It turns out that in space no one can hear you scream for Freespace 3.

The Holidays would not be complete without the release of a Call of Duty game. In fact, the economy may even have suffered without it. Fortunately for all of us Modern Warfare 3 will fill your heart with the familiar sounds of gunfire and explosions. For better or worse MW3 is extremely similar to past titles in the series. Some will find this comforting while others will be left wanting more innovation.