Payne in the ass: Max Payne 3 (360)

Max leapt and spun like a leaping and spinning thing, puking bullets in every direction, but unable to hit anything he aimed at. He grumbled to himself, dry and overly serious, deeply committed to the newfound film noir tone the original game had parodied. Max drank and took some painkillers, because that’s what haunted men do. They also shoot people.

A lot of people.

Meaty with a crisp feel: Rage (PC)

Light defines the experience of Rage. Well earned and unflattering comparisons to Fallout 3 and Borderlands aside, light and how we perceive it drives every frame of Rage. The air appears so clear and crisp that one can taste it, like morning in the mountains.

Time to Defeat: Dark Souls (360)

After a 30 min travesty with Demon Souls, I expected Dark Souls to beat down my spirit and break me in a similar manner. It did, it just took longer.

After fighting my way to the same boss a dozen times and spending 4 hours playing the same sections over and over, I finally conceded. The repetitive grind of pattern recognition and trial & error is not for me, though it is fascinating to watch my step-son wind his way through the game. He grinds souls veraciously, leveling and releveling, immune to the fear of losing souls, but still afraid of every new area. Dark Souls is a triumph of game design for players immune to crushing defeat.