Dragon Age: Origins (Electronic Arts; PC, PS3, Xbox 360; rated mature)

This game is more of a traditional role-playing game than many of the hybrids we've seen lately that inject more action into the gameplay, so expect longer conversations and deeper skill trees. It also means that combat graphics are not a priority, so don't expect the kind of controller response you'd get in a shooter or action game. You won't be disappointed by how the blood looks, though. Origins is a bloody game, and the developers at Edmonton's BioWare must have consulted a blood-spatter expert—the presentation of blood is that realistic.

The story involves the rise of the Darkspawn, “tainted” creatures that are waging war against humans. There are six possible openings for the game, based on the choices you make when customizing your character, but regardless, you'll become a member of the Grey Wardens, the fighting force created to stand against the “blight”. Some annoying frame-rate and audio glitches plagued the PlayStation 3 version I played, and, while the console controls won't prevent you from enjoying the game, Origins looks, plays, and feels like it was designed for the PC. Purists take note.