EA Sports' hockey series returns with a new focus on skater speed, updated modes, a completely overhauled A.I. system, and all the forechecking, face-offs, and fisticuffs of its predecessors in NHL 13. More than 1,000 new gameplay animations have been added in an attempt to replicate the explosiveness and top-end speed of the world's best skaters, while the new A.I. ensures that players make quicker and smarter decisions. The revamped "GM Connected" mode lets up to 30 users be a general manager, coach, or player and compete in the same dynasty league for up to 25 seasons.

Gamers can also create solo leagues, play classic versus or co-op games, head online for six-on-six team play, act as a general manager, or just make strategic in-game decisions as a coach. The "Be a Pro" mode returns to let users experience the career of a single player, while "NHL Moments Live" lets them relive or rewrite pivotal moments from real NHL games. And the popular "Hockey Ultimate Team" mode returns to once again combine hockey action with the managing and collecting of player cards. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Dogfight 1942 puts amateur aces in the cockpits of more than 25 American, British, and Russian fighter planes as they engage in intense aerial battles with the German Luftwaffe and Japanese fighter planes. Players can go on more than 20 combat sorties, including bombing runs, escort missions, and furious dogfights over Great Britain, Eastern Europe, and the Pacific Ocean. Gamers can join the action in both "Simulation" and "Arcade" modes, and deft piloting will earn players upgrades to their planes. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

EA Sports' definitive NFL football series returns to Xbox 360 gamers with a new real-time physics engine, redesigned passing, new announcers, and Kinect-enabled playcalling in Madden NFL 13. The new, more realistic passing gives quarterbacks 20 dropbacks, 20 different pass trajectories, eight in-pocket moves, and shovel passes, and now receivers and defenders must actually see the ball before they can make a play on it. Kinect gamers can also issue verbal commands to call plays, adjust blocking, send receivers on hot routes, and snap the ball.

Madden NFL 13 has received a complete presentation overhaul designed to more closely resemble a real CBS broadcast. This includes dynamic in-game transitions, a live ticker, and commentary from Phil Simms and Jim Nantz. The new "Connected Careers" mode melds the traditional "Franchise" and "Superstar" modes, and combines them with a variety of online features. Gamers can still control current, created, or Hall-of-Fame players, or become a coach and manage every aspect of their team's operations, but now they can do it all as part of an online league with up to 31 other people. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Xbox 360 gamers get a glimpse of the final days on the Transformers' home planet as they take part in the brutal civil war between the Autobots and Decepticons in Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Players can control a variety of familiar Transformers from each side of the battle, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Starscream, and each character can dynamically transform from robot to vehicle at any time. Each level is tailored to a character's specific skills, resulting in 3D action, shooting, bombing, flying, melee combat, and even stealth missions.

Fall of Cybertron includes an expansive arsenal of weapons, and gamers can stop at stations around each level to log into the in-game computer network Teletraan and purchase weapon upgrades, power-ups, and permanent ability perks. The co-op campaign mode from War for Cybertron has been removed, but players can still create their own Transformer and join up to 11 others for a variety of online multiplayer modes. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Darksiders II has you guiding one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, Death, on a quest to redeem the alleged cataclysmic actions of his brother, War. As Death, players will attempt to save mankind by defending what's left of humanity from an ancient evil. The sequel to 2010's fantasy action game, Darksiders II features a larger world, more expansive dungeons, and all-new enemies and boss characters to battle.

The action once again takes place from a third-person perspective, with the hack-and-slash combat now enhanced by upgradeable weapons and armor. Darksiders II also features more role-playing elements, incorporating both a leveling system and skill tree. The world includes multiple cities that serve as a launching point for side quests, dungeons, and conversations with non-player characters.

Darksiders II is available in both a limited and collector's edition. The limited edition, given to those who pre-order the game, includes a code for the Argul's Tomb downloadable content pack. The collector's edition features a replica Death Mask with stand, an art book, a downloadable soundtrack, the Argul's Tomb content pack, and the "Shadow of Death" in-game weapon and armor set. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Atlus' long-running series about demon-battling high-school teenagers abandons the realm of role-playing in favor of classic 2D fighting in Persona 4 Arena. Set two months after the events of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, players find themselves entering the "P-1 Grand Prix" fighting tournament in order to learn why the character Teddie is suddenly hosting a TV show. There are more than a dozen fighters culled from Persona 3 and Persona 4 (not including their persona alter egos), each offering unique heavy, light, and persona attacks, as well as persona rushes.

Combat places a special emphasis on fast-paced combo attacks and defense, and gamers are encouraged to liberally switch back and forth between their character and his or her persona, though personae that take too much damage become temporarily unavailable. A number of gauges frame the cel-shaded, anime-inspired action, including: the "Life Gauge"; the "SP Gauge," which allows player to perform special attacks and even one-hit kills; and the "Burst Gauge," which can be used to send opponents sprawling backward. Persona 4 Arena also includes an online mode as well as a unique story mode for each character. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Risen 2 is an action role-playing game from German developer Piranha Bytes, best known for the Gothic series. The storyline finds the nameless hero from the first game on a mission to stop the evil Titans and restore hope to a fantasy world. The game takes place on the southern continent of Arborea, the only locale that has been spared by the Titans. Players will interact with the natives of Arborea, comprised of warriors, hunters, and shaman, members of the Inquisition army, and a band of drunken, shifty pirates who aren't above using "dirty tricks" in a fight.

The combat once again relies on the player's proficiency in edged or ranged weapons (including the new addition of firearms), with the ability to parry, block, and sidestep to avoid getting hit by enemies. Skills to enhance your character are unlocked by first assigning "learning points" to specific areas of interest. Accompanying you on your journey is a gnome named Jaffar, who will scoop up treasure and assist in combat. You can also choose to align yourself with either the natives or Inquisition, each offering a quest line that will shape your character's story in different ways. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

EA Sports' long-running college football series returns to campus with a new mode and enough updates and adjustments to fill a college textbook in NCAA Football 13 for Xbox 360. The most significant change for this season is an emphasis on more realistic passing and pass defense, with "Total Control Passing" allowing quarterbacks to take specific dropbacks, pump fake, and change the trajectory of each pass, and the new "Read & React Defense" producing more realistic reactions from linebackers and defensive backs by requiring them to see the ball before they make a play on it.

Adding to the franchise's stable of career modes is the new "Heisman Challenge," in which gamers can play as a selection of former Heisman Trophy winners and attempt to duplicate their award-winning stats. The popular "Dynasty" and "Road to Glory" modes return, once again allowing users to guide a single player or an entire team through multiple college football seasons. And game presentation has been overhauled in NCAA Football 13, with new trophies and pre-game traditions, updated commentary from Kirk Herbstreit, Brad Nessler, and Erin Andrews, and dynamic studio updates from ESPN analyst Rece Davis. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide