Borderlands
Available for: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Developed by: Gearbox Software
Published by: 2K Games
Release date: October 20, 2009
Official website: www.borderlandsthegame.com

Review Summary:
Borderlands successfully merges the addictive elements of skill-building in role-playing games and action in first-person shooters. There's plenty of replay value packed into Borderlands that make this game a keeper in your gaming library. Read on to see why you don't want to miss this surprisingly fun wasteland romp.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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DJ Hero
Available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and Wii
Game Developer: FreeStyleGames
Game Publisher: Activision
Release Date: October 27th, 2009
Official Website: DJHero.com

Review Summary:
Dj Hero offers a variety of music from Hip-Hop to Rock, which will suit any gamer old and new into music & rhythm games. The turntable controller feels very durable, however the crossfader on the controller will need some adjustment. It doesn't seem to want to lock into the center very well, causing problems like missing notes, breaking your multiplier, etc. With online multiplayer, downloadable content, and some very challenging tracks, you should definitely give Dj Hero a spin, as it will provide hours upon hours of gameplay and excitement in your living room!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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FIFA Soccer 10
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, DS, PSP
Release date: October 20, 2009 (US)
Official website: fifa.easports.com

Review Summary:
Another year, marks another release in EA Sports' FIFA series. What else can be done to improve this already stellar soccer game? Will gameplay additions deter from the overall experience or amplify its realism? Find out in the our full review below on what EA has done to try to solidify FIFA Soccer 10's reign amongst the competition.

Rating: 5 out of 5
[PLATINUM BITHEAD AWARD] - game of the year contender

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Half-Minute Hero
Developer: Marvelous Entertainment
Publisher: XSEED Games
Platform: PlayStation Portable (PSP)
Official website: www.halfminutehero.com

Review Summary:
Growing up on 8-bit RPGs is something that many of us have done. They are close to our hearts and XSEED Games has already roped you in because of this fact. Half-Minute Hero on the PSP has a great time mechanic and developer Marvelous Entertainment has created a fun, addicting and quirky RPG. You play the Hero, have thirty seconds to save the world and you try to succeed thirty times over. With six modes, multiples difficulty modes, does Half-Minute Hero hold up and is it worth your 30 dollars? Read on my friends.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Undead Attack! Pinball
Developer: Lucas Mendes Menge
Platform: iPhone and iPod touch
App Store Price: $2.99
Official website: attackpinball.com

Review Summary:
If you're looking for a unique spin on pinball gaming, Undead Attack! Pinball is a refreshing change. It's a nice two-in-one combo of pinball and fighting off zombies, or what the developer calls "gate defense." There is a mix of different iPhone/iPod touch control mechanics as you fight off waves of zombies across three different pinball tables. What keeps the overall game back is the repetitive nature of the gameplay, which you feel after a few waves of fighting the steady stream of the undead. Overall, it's a great looking game that is easy to pickup and play.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space
Available for Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Release Date (XBLA): October 14, 2009
Official website: www.telltalegames.com

Review Summary:
Although the episodes which comprise Sam and Max: Beyond Time and Space have been out for over a year on the PC, only recently have they come to the Xbox 360's Xbox LIVE Arcade. Knowing this still does not harm the game's overall luster. It is a fun game with the best character acting and art seen in a game by Telltale Games.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Axel & Pixel
Platform: Xbox 360
Developed by: Silver Wish Games
Published by: 2K Play
Release date: October 14, 2009
Official website: axelandpixelgame.com

Review Summary:
Axel & Pixel is a very colorful puzzle game, both in design and character. It suffers, however, from being exceptionally short and not terribly difficult. Axel & Pixel feels like it is geared towards the younger game players.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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Brütal Legend
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Developed by: Double Fine Productions
Published by: Electronic Arts
Release date: October 13, 2009
Official website: brutallegend.com

Game summary from EA:
"Brütal Legend tells the tale of Eddie Riggs, played by Jack Black. The ultimate roadie, Eddie is the first person anyone calls when they need guitars tuned or stages rigged, and has a love for hot rods and a photographic memory for every heavy metal album cover, and the lyrics those albums contained. One night, a stage accident knocks Eddie unconscious, and he awakens in a world that looks very strange yet oddly familiar, a world where every heavy metal album cover and lyric Eddie knows has come to life, and where the evil emperor Doviculus and his demon army, The Tainted Coil, have enslaved the last remaining humans. When an oppressed people request Eddie’s knowledge of modern warfare, he pulls from his own experience in the only occupation he’s ever had, a roadie for a heavy metal band, and under his command, this barbaric force of hot-rods, Marshall stacks, leather, and chrome will bring this ancient world into the age of metal."

Review Summary:
If you've ever wondered how a '70s or '80s Metal album would be like in video game form, Brutal Legend is the world in which you'll find out. Within this world, created from the mind behind Psychonauts and Grim Fandango, you'll experience a meld of various gaming genres. Also, with appearances by many famous Metal artists and an amazing soundtrack, gamers are sure to enjoy Brutal Legend. Try a new experience that you can't go wrong with. Read the full review for a more detailed breakdown of Brutal Legend's pros and cons.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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Tales of Monkey Island: Lair of Leviathan (Chapter Three)
Available for Windows PC, Wii (soon)
Release Date (PC): September 29, 2009
Developer: Telltale Games
Official website: www.telltalegames.com

Game summary from Telltale Games:
"In the third Tales of Monkey Island chapter, Guybrush gets in deep (literally!) as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes a scenic twist -- through the guts of a giant manatee! Trapped in the belly of the beast, our hero encounters a surprising band of castaways, including the long-lost (and obsessive-compulsive) explorer Coronado De Cava. Can the Mighty Pirate win the suspicious De Cava's trust? Will sexy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay prove to be a ruthless enemy, or an unlikely ally? Will the group find La Esponja Grande in time to save Elaine from the rampant Pox of LeChuck? And will the world be crushed by the gnashing teeth of a certain demonic skull? Tales of Monkey Island's moist and absorbing third episode, Lair of the Leviathan, will answer some of these urgent questions -- and raise still more -- as the five month adventure builds to its epic climax!"

Review summary:
Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3, The Lair of the Leviathan does not stray to far from the Telltale Games formula. It incorporates top notch voice acting and animations with unique environments to bring a great episodic experience to the player. You will not be disappointed with this chapter. It is definitely worth the price of admission.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Rock Band Stealth Head Drum Kit - "Whisper Quiet, Deadly Accurate"

After the release of Rock Band, many gamers started rocking to more than 900 of their favorite tunes provided via the Rock Band Music Store. However, there was always one problem. The drumset would slowly begin to break after each song. Not only that, but the set was as noisy as can be. After having my Rock Band drumset for a year, I was unable to complete a song without having problems such as the drums not recognizing my hits.

This is where the Goodwood Mods' Rock Band Stealth Drum Kit comes in! The Goodwood Mods are simply the best alternative to the quality that Harmonix provides you with. The mod is a set of replacement pads that you can install to make your drumming experience more realistic. The installation took me about 1 hour to complete and had about an easy to moderate level of difficulty in putting the set together. The mod requires you to pry open your Drum Set stock pads and replace a wire that is connected to the unit, which will void your warranty on the Drum Set. Doing this could damage the set, so I recommend you get someone with experience to do it if you are not sure you can do it yourself (see installation instructions here).

After switching from my Rock Band 2 drum pads (that have worn out), I immediately noticed that the Goodwood Mods were much quieter, sexier, and bouncier than the stock pads. The velocity sensitive feature was also included in this set, although it really does not make a huge difference as far as gameplay goes. The first thing I did after installing the kit is boot up Rock Band 2, and start playing "Run to the Hills" by Iron Maiden. For those who do not know, this song strictly rolls on the red pad which, on the Goodwood Mods, was easier to do and took less effort than the previous Rock Band 2 drum kit setup. On the Rock Band 2 drum pads, I was able to hit an average of 92% of the notes on this track, but using the Goodwood Mods I achieved an average of 97% percent. The bounce on the Goodwood Mods was the contributing factor.

I want to point out the quietness of the set because I think that is a very important part in deciding if you should purchase the Goodwood Mods or not. On the previous Rock Band drum set from Harmonix, I noticed that the sets made such a noisy disturbance that it was hard to listen to the music you are playing unless it was cranked up really loud. The Goodwood Mods uses a wire mesh that sounds virtually silent. I was especially happy when I could hear the drum noises while playing "The Trees" by Rush.

Now, don't base your purchase of the Goodwood Mods if you're thinking that this will make you a better drummer on Rock Band. This will only improve your score based on your current abilities; meaning, you will be able to hit rolls better and do some faster beats with less effort. You won't be able to jump from Medium difficulty to Expert just like that. However, in saying that, the Goodwood Mods will help you improve your gameplay and your scores (especially with some of the tough rolls that some tracks dish out).

Is it worth it? I must admit, I had my doubts on the product when I first heard about it, but their slogan "Whisper Quiet, Deadly Accurate" really puts out what I want to say. For $99, I think any hardcore Rock Band drummer will enjoy this mod as much as I did. If you are looking to upgrade your kit without paying the cost of the ION Drum Rocker, this is definitely the upgrade for you!

The Goodwood Mods will work on the Rock Band drum kit along with the Rock Band 2 drum kit on any platform (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii models). If you would like to purchase the Goodwood Mods set, please visit www.goodwoodmods.com.