Adventure/Explore

Game Description: Metroid Fusion is a side-scrolling action game that's more in line with the series' NES origin than its GameCube contemporary, the first-person action game Metroid Prime. In this one, players take the bounty hunter Samus on an extermination mission through a research facility to kill X parasites--nasty creatures that absorb and assimilate the powers of their host. After she survived an X attack through the use of a vaccine made with X parasite DNA, she can now absorb the parasites to regain health and obtain special powers, like the morph ball, space jump, and wave beam. The problem is that the parasites are quickly making their way through the research lab's many dangerous projects and subsuming their abilities.

All the (Wet) Work With None of the (Wet) Fun

HIGH: Making waves with water kinetics.

LOW: Everything else.

WTF: See below.

Game Description: Powered by the revolutionary HydroEngine, the world's first true fluid dynamics engine for games, Hydrophobia is an experience unlike anything you have played before. This jaw-dropping technology models flowing water which behaves completely realistically, resulting in the most dynamic and dramatic gameplay you've ever seen. Engage in mind-blowing "flow combat" where gameplay results in a never-the-same-twice experience. Unleash floating oil fires, electricity, and the power of the water itself to wipe out your enemy as you discover the terrifying truth of the Malthusian agenda—Save the World, Kill Yourself.

As a little change of pace—and because Dead Rising 2 is the subject of a lot of conversations at the moment—I decided to try and track down someone who's actually earned the infamous "7 Day Survivor" Achievement in the original Dead Rising. I was successful.

We're less than a week away from the official debut of Capcom's Dead Rising 2 and earlier this afternoon the company released the official full-length launch trailer for the zombie-murder simulator (where is Jack Thompson to protest this? Won't someone think of the zombies!?!?).

I've been really excited about this follow-up to the popular first game, particularly since I played Dead Rising: Case Zero a few weeks back. I can safely say, based on that experience, that Capcom has corrected many of the issues that frustrated gamers like yours truly in the first title. You can catch the new clip after the jump—I won't spoil any of its best parts here, aside from mentioning that new protagonist Chuck Greene needs an official duck tape sponsorship after his work in this game.

Dead Rising 2 lands on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 28th.

As someone who was extremely critical of the first game for its numerous shortcomings, I can tell you that Dead Rising 2 looks to be on the right track. Capcom's fixed almost all of my major issues from the original Dead Rising—and I'm excited about the prospect of guiding new series protagonist Chuck Greene through a zombie-infested Las Vegas.

Subtraction by Addition

HIGH When the game starts inverting and magnifying gravity.

LOW The cut-scene preceding a major boss encounter that depicts Samus as a sobbing child.

WTF Could you have maybe let me use the Varia suit before I spent all that time dying from heat?

Game Description: Metroid: Other M is a single player shooter for Wii that takes the beloved Metroid franchise into uncharted and exciting new territory. Set between the events of Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion, the game features unprecedented access to the backstory, thoughts and in-game interactions of the usually closed off heroine of the series, Samus Aran. Developed jointly by Nintendo and the celebrated Japanese development studio, Team Ninja, the game also features exciting play options, including the ability to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, pointer and sideways Wii Remote controller orientation, stunning in-game cinematics and a classic blend of Metroid action and puzzle-solving gameplay.

Completed Dead Rising 2: Case Zero last night. I was having so much fun that I decided to go for all of the Achievements and just wrapped it up a few hours ago.