Video games have the power to surprise our imaginations and leave us in a state of awe and wonder.  These top five recommended games seem to follow these expectations. Check out these previews that may just grab that $50-$60 straight out of your pocket.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Get geared up to play as treasure hunter Nathan Drake in this action-packed action-adventure title. Like its predecessor, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Uncharted 2 seems to appeal to fans of the Tomb Raider or Indiana Jones series or pretty much anyone who enjoys adventuring through a virtual world while shooting guns and laying the smackdown on bad guys. This looks to be a beautiful game with plenty of moments that will force several "oohs" and "ahhs" to slip off your tongue. Add cooperative and online multiplayer to the mix, and this game is set to be a top contender for game of the year.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Modern Warfare 2 expands the non-World-War-II universe of the Call of Duty franchise in this sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This first-person shooter's predecessor still sees many online multiplayer matches, and the sequel seeks to further expand and improve on the appeal of multiplayer by including cooperative modes. As for the campaign and other gameplay, the graphics look amazing, and the game looks like just plain fun; having a radar-enhanced rifle along with a smart ally who responds to your every move are just some of the things that make this game look very playable.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

In 2006, New Super Mario Bros. revamped the classic Super Mario Bros. and also improved on the graphics, gameplay and power-ups of the original.  New Super Mario Bros. Wii looks to be Nintendo's way of saying, "Hey.  We know you still love Mario and those little mushroom dudes. So, here's another Super Mario game that you can play with your kids without having to bust out your crusty NES."This game aims to further improve on Nintendo's original moneymaker by allowing up to four players to simultaneously run through the 2D-world of the Mushroom Kingdom while battling each other or working together. Even more new features and power-ups have been added since the previous port.

Assassin's Creed II

Scaling the beautifully-rendered buildings of 12th century architecture, throwing knives into unsuspecting victims and shoving civilians into city guards are what made the first Assassin's Creed so much fun.  The exhilarating experience continues in Assassin's Creed II where the setting has brought us from 1191 Holy Land to Renaissance Italy.  According to GameSpot, the player will now be able to buy supplies, such as poison, from vendors and merchants; this hints that the player will have more customization on how they want to execute assassinations.  This action-adventure looks to be a must-have for any video game collection.

Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead was an instant success for online gamers and apocalypse enthusiasts alike.  Those crazy zombies are at it again in Left 4 Dead 2, and it's still your job to survive while the infected strive to dominate the apocalyptic world.  Melee weapons will now be available at players' disposal; a handy chainsaw is necessary for maximum enjoyment of zombie-slaying.  As reported on GameSpot, some new "special" infected have also been added to the sequel, such as the Jockey and the Spitter.  Pick up this title in November and feel the rush of fear as hundreds of bloodthirsty zombies dash toward your throat.