Be honest -- how many New Year's Resolutions have you broken already? Luckily, the games you play won't judge you. Unless of course you're playing Wii Fit or EA Sports Active. Even if one of your goals for the year isn't to play more games and you're simply avoiding your inevitable failures, we've still got our picks for the most awesome titles in January. Happy New Year!
PlayStation 3 Mass Effect 2 |
Mass Effect 2 may be a year late to the PlayStation 3, but it was worth the wait. Even without access to the original game, players can still work their way through the most complete iteration of Mass Effect 2 on PS3, rife with DLC. Its staggering production value, high-quality gameplay and amazing storyline don't only make it PlayStation 3's best game this month, but arguably one of the best games available on the platform, period. |
Xbox 360 & PC Dead Space 2 |
Dead Space 2 takes everything people loved about the original (creepy environments and terrifying monsters), tosses in a bunch of improvements, and layers on a personal story along with lots of action. In short, it's so solid it easily surpasses the outstanding original. You're back behind the plasma cutter and taking the fight to Necromorphs on a space station, which means new environments and children turned into monsters. Oh, and your character is going crazy as the game progresses. Enjoy the mental train wreck. |
Nintendo Wii Lost in Shadow |
January has traditionally been a slow month for video game fans, but for Wii owners, the first month of 2011 has been downright depressing. Only one game of any worth was released – Lost in Shadow. Between its clever concept (you are a shadow and interact only with the shadows cast by objects) and some great level design, the game is certainly worth playing… but be prepared for some significant shortcomings. Regardless, as the only major release in January, Lost in Shadow is the Game of the Month for the Wii. |
Nintendo DS Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective |
Fans of games like Phoenix Wright and The Secret of Monkey Island are going to love Ghost Trick. Stepping into the spirit of a recently-deceased fellow with no memory of who he was or why he was murdered, you have one night to unravel these mysteries. It's a spirited point-and-click adventure that manages to innovate in an aging genre and the animation has to be seen to be believed. |
DSiWare Glory Days: Tactical Defense |
Tower defense games are a dime a dozen in Nintendo's DSi download shop, but Glory Days: Tactical Defense managed to set itself apart from the competition this month by tapping into developer Odenis Studio's slick, 60 fps 3D engine, adopting a unique control scheme and pricing the whole package at just two bucks. This is definitely January's DSiWare to get. |
Nintendo WiiWare Nothing |
There was nothing good on WiiWare this month, so please to enjoy this picture of a LOLcat. |
PlayStation Portable Angry Birds |
Angry Birds has already been downloaded a bazillion times on the iPhone, so it should be no surprise that the PlayStation Mini version is fun, addictive and packed with replay value. Flinging a disgruntled bird across the screen in hopes of bringing down a house and killing a bunch of evil pigs is simple with the PSP controls and perfect for short bursts of gaming on the go. There are special birds to get the hang of, stars to earn, and Golden Eggs to find. |
Xbox Live Arcade ilomilo |
ilomilo is a challenging game disguised in an adorably harmless costume. If you're a fan of visual logic puzzles, definitely check it out. Not only will your brain get a workout, but the slightly-out-of-tune-elementary-school-band soundtrack is a delight and the whole package has a sense of humor that will have you grinning. It's nice to take a break from shooting people in games and instead help two friends get together. |
PlayStation Network Tetris |
Tetris has been around forever, and people just keep buying it. Play a bit of the PlayStation Network version, and it's easy to see why. EA has taken the classic game, slapped on the HD polish, and tossed in a whole bunch of bells and whistles. There's online multiplayer where you can take on friends or play with them, online leaderboards that show you how much you suck, and a number of different single-player modes. Like a line piece slamming into a column-sized whole, this just feels right. |
iPhone Dead Space |
Dead Space wasn't just shoehorned on to the iPhone, it’s a real-deal chapter in the fan-fave console franchise. Using smart controls, you push back a Necromorph infestation on a creepy mining station. As you might expect, much blood is spilled. The visuals are excellent (especially on a Retina display) and the soundtrack is wonderfully creepy. Dead Space is also available for iPad, but as a separate download. It, too, is excellent. |
Think we got it right? Or did we leave your personal Game of the Month off our list? Let us know what you played the most in January.