Gears of War -- Xbox 360

— -- When Microsoft showed off this near-future action game at E3 earlier this year, the crowd went wild, and more than a few Xbox 360s were sold that day. This gritty, violent and extremely bloody game is not for little kids. But for the big kids, it's a thrill ride from start to finish.

In Gears of War, you play disgraced war hero Marcus Fenix tasked with saving mankind from the sinister and somewhat disgusting Locust Horde, an evil race that has risen from the bowels of the planet to wreak havoc. Spectacular graphics and great enemy AI make for an exciting and challenging experience that, while not wholly new in it's execution, is thrilling through and through. Gears of War is rated "M" for mature, and is available in both regular and collector editions, for $59.99 and $69.99, respectively.