PAX East 10

The first PAX on the east coast, this show was my own third PAX, and I have to say it carried the legacy quite nicely.  Since we're on the road to E3 currently, there obviously weren't too many big reveals to be had at the show, but what was there was sufficient to sate the appetite of all but the most jaded showgoer.  Here's just a small list of my favorite games from the showfloor. 
 
1. Monday Night Combat:  This game just came out of left field.  I'd never heard of it before Gabe (or Tycho, can't remember which) said it was his favorite game on the floor at the opening Q&A.  After playing a round myself, I have to choose it as my game of show.  Coming out sometime this year for Xbox Live, this game combines Team Fortress 2 and DOTA, with enough visual flair and humorous tone to allow it to stand out as more than a homage to popular past titles.  My favorite class was the Support guy, but that's just because I've always been partial to any class that uses pets, be they giant battle cats or stationary turrets. 
 
2. Shank:  Though they were still showing the same demo level they've had at other shows over the past year or so, this was my first chance to play it, and I was quite impressed with how easy it was to pull off smooth and flashy combos.  With 3 buttons associated with shanks, chainsaw, or guns, it doesn't take long to look like you really know what you're doing, even if it's not the deepest combo system ever.  The comic book look works well with the over the top action, and as long as it remains smooth Shank could be one of the best looking games of the year. 
 
3. Split Second:  I played this game at PAX Prime 2009, and it was one of the most unique and entertaining racing games I've played in a long time.  With the new track they showed us at PAX East, my opinion is solidified even further, especially after I called down the (not) Space Needle to smash a few of my competitors, thus diverting the racetrack to an entirely new rooftop segment. 
 
4. Puzzle Quest 2:  I somehow never got around to playing the first Puzzle Quest, but I respected it for what I saw of it.  This game seems to be much of the same, though the shift from the old map only style of travel to a close range isometric view seems to add some more character to the whole affair, also allowing the player to become more acquainted with their chosen hero.