Ever since it was announced at E3 2006, Final Fantasy XIII has been one of the most anticipated games of all time. Though the US release date is still about a month away, I was able to import the PS3 version of the game from Japan. With my Japanese language skills and additional translational help on the internet, I was able to dive right into Final Fantasy 13. About 50 hours later, I was finished and completely blown away. There are many reasons why this game could appeal to you (or not), so I’ll try to look at it as objectively as I can.

What would the outcome be if you combined the creatures of the Pokemon universe with the traditional Japanese ink line art style seen in Okami? If you answered complete and utter awesomeness then you would be correct. Apparently someone else thought so too, and the artist has gone to the trouble of drawing 251(!) Pokemon in the manner that the Japanese illustrate folklore monsters.

After watching the first four episodes of the new Starz original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, we’ve got the final word on whether the series is worth watching. As we’ve established, the series follows Spartacus Andy Whitfield, a Thracian warrior, betrayed by Rome and serving Batiatus (John Hannah) as a gladiator. The plot is easy to establish. Whether you should continue to watch the show is not as clear, however.

I have got to say, this is pretty amazing. The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and while I've never been very much into football, I am very much into movies. This hilarious and/or awesome video poses the question, "What if famous filmmakers directed the Super Bowl?" The answer is pretty spot on and features segments for Tarantino, David Lynch, Wes Anderson, Jean-Luc Godard, and Werner Herzog. Check it out below:

The Super Bowl ad for director M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, The Last Airbender, is surprisingly appealing. The film is based on the hit cartoon Avatar and follows Aang, an "avatar" with the ability to wield all the elements: fire, water, air and earth, one of the last people who can do so. I was never a fan of the show and also have never been a fan of M. Night, but this short, sharp and shiny trailer actually looks rather interesting; not to mention some neat special effects for the element attacks. How it all comes together will be interesting to see (the test screenings have had mixed reactions), so to will be whether it gets the chance to be the trilogy Shyamalan wants it to be. But right now, check out the trailer and let us know what you think about M. Night's latest.

The Fallout 3 spinoff New Vegas has just received it's first teaser; no gameplay, but some very interesting visuals. While it's not being developed by Bethesda, I think Obsidian (Kotor II, Neverwinter Nights 2) should have no problem handling it, especially now that the core mechanics have been established. Check out the teaser below, what do you guys think?

2009, what a year. Such a crazy year, in fact, that we are a full month late with our annual "Best of" posts. So, sorry about that, but rest assured the time was put to good use. And by that I mean very productive Modern Warfare 2 matches, arguing whether or not New Moon was a terrible, terrible thing (it is, Musashi...), and mostly just catching up on all the movies and games we couldn't afford when they came out (the donate button is to your right, just saying). So without further ado, check out the recipients of the very prestigious 8th-Circuit's Best of 2009 awards:

What do you get when you mix an underwater city, a hulking behemoth in a diving suit and an awesome fight scene set to a jazz soundtrack? The latest trailer for the much much much anticipated Bioshock 2, that's what. I could go on and on about how awesome this game looks and how excited I am for it, but I think the trailer speaks for itself, check it out below.

Everyone loves a bad movie every once in a while, they're fun to point and laugh at and joke around about. Some movies, though, are just so bad that they deserve some kind of an award for how bad they are. That's where the Razzies (or Golden Raspberry Awards, as they are officially known) come in. After the jump, you can find the list for their nominations for some of the worst films, acting and directing of 2009, along with some presonal commentary.

Wow, it is a really good week for TV lovers with another great Amazon Gold Box deal. Deadwood: The Complete Series is 58% off for today only, priced at $74.99. The near-universally acclaimed western series can be yours on 19 discs, chock-full of special features and the like. It's a great deal, but only available until midnight, so get moving!

When we posted the Oscar nominees earlier today, we noted that one nomination in particular was especially surprising. That one would be The Secret of Kells for Best Animated Film, surprising mostly because no one I know has heard about it until now. It had received a short qualifying run last December, but a full-on theatrical release is being planned for this March. If nothing else, the trailer makes it look really cool. A very unique art design combined with an interesting story could make for a very cool piece of animation. Check out the trailer below:

The first Ong Bak was one of the coolest action/martial arts movies I have ever seen. The second was really weird, and was the cause of one of the strangest director meltdowns ever. Now the third film has received its first trailer, and while still very odd, it shows a lot of promise with Tony Jaa both starring and back in the director's chair (sans emotional breakdown). While the second Ong Bak was at best a spiritual successor, this one appears to be direct sequel to the previous. Spoiler Alert: people get hit, a lot of people that is. Plot synopsis and trailer below:

There's another awesome Gold Box deal today for all you TV buffs out there. Six Feet Under: The Complete Series is on sale now at $67.99, 62% off it's original price. For anyone who enjoyed this quirky, poignant series by Alan Ball, the creator of HBO's "True Blood,", now's the chance to pick up the whole bit. In addition to the show's five seasons, you also get your fill of special features spanning over 24 discs; and an exclusive booklet filled with character bios and memories from the show's creators. The offer ends at midnight, so get on it!

Well the Oscars are almost upon us, and fittingly, the official nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards have been released. Check them out below, and be sure to stick around to give us your thoughts on these (historic?) Academy picks.