Currently the strongest contender for the Halo throne the Gears of War franchise has returned with the second installment of its revolutionary third-person shooter. Gears of War 2 ($60, Xbox 360) picks up on the story of COG Marcus Fenix in his mission to exterminate the Locust Horde. Featuring new vehicles, new styles of play and new weapons, part 2 also includes massively immersive levels and a fairly solid storyline. If you're feeling at a loss after Dead Space this is probably your most solid contender.