While Microsoft's Xbox 360 has its Halos and Gears of Wars, Sony's PlayStation 3 has been searching for that big exclusive multiplayer title to keep gamers on the system. Of course many would argue that Killzone 2 already filled that void a little under two years ago with its own brand of unique, first person shooter action. It hit a lot of the right marks but it never felt like the game broke through into the mainstream. Enter Killzone 3.

While Killzone 3 will have a full deep singe player campaign that many are no doubt looking forward to, the real of meat of Killzone 3 is the multiplayer. Sony recently rolled out the closed multiplayer beta for the game and I can count myself one of the lucky people to try it out. After spending many hours with the multiplayer I can attest that there has truly been some great improvements to the game as well as a couple of additions that will surely improve the dynamics of playing Killzone 3.

Hit the jump to see the rest of my hands-on impressions from Killzone 3.

The three main problems with Dragon Age: Origins, according to our presenter, are graphics, combat and story. Now when I heard this I was a little confused because I really only agreed with two of those. I had major problems with the combat in the game and certainly the graphics were lacking, but I always thought the story in Dragon Age was great. The world, characters and overall plot were the only things that kept me going in that game. However if Bioware thinks they can tell a better story than they did in Dragon Age: Origins I certainly am not going to stop them.

With these three areas of focus set from the beginning it appears that Bioware is taking a very Mass Effect-esque approach with Dragon Age 2. They seem to have a good grasp on the problems from the first game and are looking to open up Dragon Age 2 and make it more appealing to the masses. After getting my hands on the game I can say they have certainly done their job at giving it a broader appeal. I just hope that, similar to how I feel about Mass Effect 2, they don't end up losing part of Dragon Age's identity in the process.

Hit the jump to see why when you hit a button in Dragon Age 2, something awesome will happen.

When Gears of War 2 added Horde Mode to the classic single-player and multiplayer offerings, I never thought it would become as successful as it has. While Gears did not exactly create the genre it should prove how successful the mode is when you hear that games like Halo and Uncharted are adding a "horde mode." In Gears of War 3, Epic is upping the ante by adding a further variation that flips Horde Mode around to a different perspective.

In Beast Mode the goal is simple. You and up to four friends take the place of the Locust with the simple purpose of eliminating the opposing COG soldiers. The game moves in waves just like Horde Mode. The largest difference is that instead of bunkering down in a defensible position, you are on the attack. You are expected to die -- and die a lot -- especially in the earlier waves. As a member of the Locust horde you also get to spawn in various different forms. The combination of the different "beasts" to play as in addition to the entirely new focus of the mode leads to a game type that is familiar in style but offers a totally different and very fun experience.

Hit the jump to see why Beast Mode is going to be fighting Horde Mode for your time.

When I heard that there was going to be a multiplayer component added to Assassin’s Creed, I thought that we were simply seeing another series with competitive multiplayer being shoehorned in. However once the details surrounding the multiplayer came out I started to gain hope that the multiplayer in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood could be something interesting and possibly something fantastic. After getting my hands on it I’m still a little unsure about it.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood continues the story of Ezio. The game’s main concept is that he is recruiting other assassins to join him in his fight against the Templars. In the real world (remember all of this is taking place in the virtual world of the Animus) this amounts to Desmond training up other members into becoming awesome assassins just like he will be. The multiplayer then serves as a sort of training ground for these lesser assassins to hone their skills. In it you are given another player that you must find and then kill. However at the same time there is another assassin who is stalking you. This evolves into several layers of cat and mouse with a lot of tension going on in each match.

Hit the jump to read the rest of my impressions.

Duke Nukem Forever exists. It’s true. I’ve actually played it. We had all heard the rumors that Gearbox was reviving the dead piece of vaporware known as Duke Nukem Forever. I don’t imagine many people believed it. I’m sure many people still don’t believe it now. When PAX Prime opened on Friday morning imagine my surprise when I was wandering around and found a big square booth plastered with Duke pictures. “Wow,” I thought, “it actually is true and it actually does exist.”

However to come away from PAX I can not only say that I have played Duke Nukem Forever but I can say that the king is back and better than ever.

Hit the jump to see what you can expect from Duke in 2011.

Army of Two: The 40th Day seems to have a crazy, completely nonsensical story involving a lot less fistbumping and a lot more dead civilians than the first. Although I’ve seen the game a couple of times now, I cannot for my life figure out just what is going on, besides that our mercenaries are in Shanghai and there’s a bunch of psychos in red wandering around shooting stuff. But I guess that’s part of the intrigue. But what else is there besides the obtuse story? The multiplayer, naturally.

I had a chance to play through the various modes that’ll be available in the game when it hits January 13th, as well as a mode that’s only available to preorderers at launch. I also got a cursory glance at the PSP version of the game, as well as talk briefly with the lead designer of the game’s multiplayer, Eric Chartrand. Read about the event after the jump.

There are several AAA games scheduled for release this holiday season, and the one that could sell the best might not have Spartans, zombies or even guns at all. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is coming out later this year and it should easily appeal to the hardcore and casual gamers alike due to its nostalgia factor for the hardcore as well as its ease of play for the causal fans. Sounds like Nintendo has the recipe for the perfect game right? I had the chance to sit down with Nintendo's upcoming blockbuster and I have a full report below.

Hit the jump for more information about my hands-on time with the game.

Despite anyone outside of Infinity Ward actually having played it, many fans of the series have been asking themselves, Modern Warfare 2 is it the game of the year? Activision recently invited members of the media to attend a first look multiplayer event for Modern Warfare 2 and after having about 4 hours of hands on time it is safe to say the question has been answered; Infinity Ward has out done themselves (again) with Modern Warfare 2.

While at PAX, one of my main goals was to check out Capcom's area. They've always been a favorite company of mine, and while I was treated to some great games, one stood far and away my favorite game of everything I saw at the show. I'm a bit taken aback by the fact that Dark Void isn't getting more attention. It certainly deserves it.

The hustle and bustle of the show floor didn't really lend itself to sussing out story details. Thankfully, supplemental materials that were given at the booth flesh things out a bit. In Dark Void, you play the role of Will, a pilot dropped into a parallel universe called "The Void." In the Void, you are given access to a jetpack designed by none other than Nikola Tesla, ostensibly to help a rebel group of humans called "The Survivors." You're recruited to help defend against a mysterious alien race currently besieging the Earth. While that may sound slightly shallow, keep in mind these are bare bones details and the story is sure to go a bit deeper than that.

A story means nothing without gameplay though, and that is where Dark Void truly excels. Strap on your Tesla powered jetpack and hit the jump for the ride of your life.

At events like E3, it's very easy to be swept up in the excitement of big-name PS3 and Xbox 360 titles. Heck, I'm not immune to the hype for games like Mass Effect 2 and Uncharted 2. But if I really sit back and think about it, the game that really instilled that "wow" factor wasn't a high-tech, visually dazzling title. Instead, my energy was focused on a handheld game, something that hasn't happened in a very long time.

When I first caught wind of Scribblenauts, the mere concept of the game intrigued me to no end: write anything you can think of, and it will appear in the game. Seriously, how cool is that?

Naturally, I expected quite a bit from the game when I first got my hands on it at E3 2009. I had all these images embedded in my brain about how amazing Scribblenauts would be. My life experiences have taught me that real events rarely live up to these lofty expectations. Luckily, in this case, the game impressed me more than I could have imagined.

Hit the jump to find out why Scribblenauts is my "Best of E3" winner.

Early Tuesday we had the opportunity to swing by the Bethesda booth (the first official stop at E3), where Jeff Gardiner was kind enough to guide us through a portion of the Point Lookout DLC. It seems that several changes have been made from the previous packs, the first being the fact that although you take a ferry to the swamplands of Point Lookout, you are free to travel between there and the D.C. Wastes as often as you please. The artistic style gives a very distinct impression, featuring a dilapidated Victorian style mansion and crumbling lighthouse near where you leave the docks.

Tighten up your boots and jump off the boat for the rest of our hands-on preview.