By setting its action in a literal out-of-body experience, Limbo changes our perception in two major ways that make it essentially and marvelously different than its peers.

Despite bigger games pushing the boundaries of technology, a short little Flash game about robots has more personality and charm than any number of its blockbuster competitors.

Brian and Spencer discuss The Damned United, new albums by The New Pornographers, Broken Bells, Titus Andronicus, and seeing Pavement live. Plus, the friendship-crippling online game Neptune’s Pride and the questionable behavior of Steve Jobs.

A desperate letter from inside the biggest game ever.

The troubling implications of Uncharted 2’s distaste for genuine problem-solving, as compared to Assassin’s Creed II and The Da Vinci Code.

Our panel of two sat down for an epic virtual discussion of our absolute favorites of 2009 — in every category we could think of — and set about explaining why each one made the list.

What Modern Warfare 2 does as a game makes it a must-buy. But what it says, and how it says it, is a much more fascinating question.

Just as Rockstar are verging on gaming’s closest thing to a Scorcese film, they swing the needle back toward a big zany playground for something that’s bigger, but not necessarily better.

Brian and Spencer discuss Paranormal Activity, Beatles Rock Band, Trials HD, new albums by Girls and The Mountain Goats, the novels Child 44 and The Magicians, Glen Beck’s misdeeds and turtle stackery with our bonus guest Gino.

Though there are moments of brilliance, elements of the game fight against each other and prevent it from being the instant classic it could have been — not unlike another long-awaited metal masterpiece.