Mafia II (XBOX, PS3, PC)
Price: $59.99 || OFFICIAL SITE
Thick Brooklyn accent. Check. Soaring views of a New York City doppelganger. Check. American Dream dystopia story. Check. Which means Mafia II has everything you’d expect of a massive free-roaming action game set in gangsterland 1940s. The solid plot will keep the Godfather fans happy and, if you’re not in it for the story, why are you here and not in Liberty City? Fans won’t be disappointed with the combat system that makes for lots of fun whether you’re mowing down Mussolini’s soldiers or rival family’s capos. 2K Games puts a good foot forward into this sandbox (now with map and overhauled checkpoint system) and pays off gamers that played the first entry with nods back to the original. Now just sit back, cruise down Broadway and don’t be late for dinner or the sauce will burn. Oh, and say hi to your mother for us, willya?
Number of Beers to Enjoy: Skip the beers and pop open a bottle of Chianti.
Shank (XBLA, PSN)
Price: 1200 points or $15 || OFFICIAL SITE
Downloadable games have been ripping it up lately and Shank is no exception. Hyper-stylized and downright visceral, Shank is a 2D side-scrolling shoot-stab-and-chainsaw-em-up that has you button-mashing your way through level after level of lowly minions and insane bosses, all the while splattering blood in your face, just like you’d expect of a hero with a name like Shank. There is a lag issue in the controls department but when you’ve mastered the art of having one thumb press three buttons at once and win that way, is it really a concern? Multiplayer stays local on this one (WTF?) but adding Shank’s buddy Falcone to the mix makes for a good time. We’re just upset that they overlooked using Shiv as his buddy’s name but, then, that’s what sequels are for, right?
Number of Beers to Enjoy: 10, that way the controls won’t be the only thing lagging.
NHL 2K11 (Wii)
Price: $49.99 || OFFICIAL SITE
Fear not, hardcore hockey fans, this year’s PS3/XBOX hiatus for NHL 2K is probably a good thing. While 2K Sports goes back to the drawing board trying to figure out why you should buy a new hockey game each year, they come through on the Wii so that anyone who hasn’t ruined furniture while trying to poke-check can finally have their moment. The inclusion of Mii’s make good use of the Wii’s unique abilities but modes like Trivia Challenge reinforce the sentiment that you’d better be a real hockey fan or native Canadian for this to be for you. Pumped up computer opponents, better graphics and online matchmaking are good reasons to take a look, but for anyone wondering where they’ll get a serious hockey fix that doesn’t involve your Mii’s big head will probably be looking forward to the release of NHL 11 in a few weeks or hold off and see if the extra year can make the big boy versions shine like Lord Stanley’s beer mug.
Number of Beers to Enjoy: 3 Molson Ices or 6 of anything else.