If you were hoping to get a post-holiday break from hot new game releases so that you could finally go back and finish that Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise garden that you’ve been neglecting since 2009, I have some bad news: Horstacio is going to have to wait, because this week brings some highly anticipated new titles.
The Darkness II The sequel to 2007’s awesome first-person shooter, The Darkness II finds Jackie Estacado promoted to don of his New York crime family. He’s held back The Darkness for a long time, but events unfold have him unleashing the demonic force (and his imp companion) on those who dare to cross him. Forget dual-wielding: With a pair of guns and another pair of super-powerful demon arms, you’ll quad-wield death and destruction against your enemies in this well-written, fast-paced shooter. A demo of the game is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. 
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning What happens when you take a game-loving baseball player (Curt Schilling) and have him assemble a team that includes author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion lead designer Ken Rolston? You get an awesome new role-playing game with some seriously entertaining quests. I’ve been playing this fantasy epic for the past few days, and I’m seriously impressed. Along with an interesting and enormous world to explore, the game features an innovative character system that not only lets you balance your own favorite class skills from the fighter, thief, and mage areas, but also completely re-spec your character along the way if you decide to try a new approach. And doing so makes complete sense in the context of the story. If you thought you might get a break between epic role-playing games before Mass Effect 3’s release, think again. You can check out the demo on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
The Darkness II and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning are both available in stores now.
You'll also want to check out Xbox LIVE Arcade, where this week's additions are the over-the-top action game Shank 2 and the hilarious and action-packed superhero-wannabe brawler Gotham City Imposters.
What are you playing this week? Let us know in the Comments section below!