Dead or Alive 4 (Xbox 360, 2005)

I'm not a huge fighting game fan, but the Xbox 360's limited library of games forces me to buy anything new. Luckily for me, DOA4 is not a mistake buy, this game should be in any Xbox 360 owner's library.

The graphics are just so jaw droppingly beautiful (oh, I have 720p HDTV) and the music/sound effects and stage backgrounds are so much fun. You can get hit by running cars, shocked by walls, hit by Triceratops, thrown on fruit stands and chairs, and more. I can't wait to play with a bunch of friends. A DOA4 party.

Then there's the gameplay. You really need to practice, but once you get the hang of it, it's definitely possible to beat the AI, until at least the Boss (Alpha 152). She's pretty hard, and I can win maybe 1 out of 6 times. There are strategies out there, but it's not 100% successful, you still have to be quick and know your moves.

I haven't played a fighting game since Super Street Fighter 2: Turbo Edition. They've definitely come a long way, and this is the coolest one. Controls are great, and you should have plenty of fun learning and hopefully getting better at this game.