It’s that time of year again; a time when countless Xbox 360s will have copies of a new Halo game spinning in their disc trays for hours on end. Whether you’re waiting in line for it or arguing that it’s over-rated, you know we’ll all be playing it at some point because it’s so dang convenient (why can’t more games let you combine local and online multiplayer?).

But while Halo: Reach may have the spotlight, it’s far from all the quarter has to offer. Head past the break to see our full list of anticipated Xbox 360 games for Q3 2010.

Halo: Reach

“The Halo series has sold an estimated Kajillion copies. The franchise has been the face of Microsoft’s X-Box for nearly a decade. So whenever a new game is released, the entire industry takes note.

With a whole new squad, new armor abilities, and expanded and refined multiplayer, Reach is going to take the series to a whole new level of awesome. If you own a 360, you’re virtually obligated to buy this game.” -Dave

Crackdown 2

“If there is one thing that not enough open world games give you, it’s super powers. Sure, stealing cars and causing havoc is fun, but scaling buildings and throwing cars is even better.

Crackdown 2 brings back the over-the-top hijinx of the original. You will once again take on the roll of a member of “The Agency”, the city funded group of hi-tech criminal elimination machines. The ability to level up your character’s super-powers has been expanded, giving you the ability to customize your character (upgrades in the first game were preset).

You will also be fighting more than just the city’s gangs. At some point between the two games, “freaks” (mutant creatures) started invading the city. The third person shooting aspects of the game have been expanded to require different strategies for different enemy types. Plus, the entire game is designed to be played in up to four player co-op, which is never a bad thing.” -Jonah

Dead Rising 2 [Hands-On Impressions]

“While the first Dead Rising had it’s share of flaws, it was, overall, a lot of fun to play. I have heard it described by several game writers as ‘the best bad game ever made’.

Even if all the kinks of the original aren’t worked out for Dead Rising 2, it looks like Capcom will, once again, be bringing the fun. There are more zombies, more weapons, and more craziness. Not only can you pick up and use anything and everything to stay alive, but a new mechanic allows you to get creative and use duct tape to combine items and create new and unique means for destruction of the zombie hordes.

The addition of co-op play also has me excited. If other games in the zombie killing genre have taught me anything, it’s that fighting alongside a friend makes everything that much more awesome.” -Jonah

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

“The original Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm was the best looking use of cell shaded graphics I had ever seen, bar none. The sequel somehow looks even better. This is a game with visuals that look far better than the source material on which it is based. The frantic, full-3D fighting returns, this time taking its cast from the second Naruto series, Shippuden, meaning even the returning characters will be very different.

With the addition of online matches, over 40 playable characters (including Tekken 6′s Lars Alexandersson), dynamic stages with destructible environments, and new gameplay systems to deepen the combat, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 looks to pack a punch… and maybe even a Rasengan.” -Jesse

Front Mission: Evolved

“I’m not going to lie, I am pretty skeptical about Front Mission: Evolved. I love Strategy RPGs (Front Mission 3 being one of my all-time favorites) and seeing the series turn into yet another shooter is a bit disheartening. Still, the game looks like it has some potential.

A few of the series’ staples do remain intact, including in-depth wanzer (read: giant mech) customization. This time, though, the wanzers have a greater emphasis on speed and mobility, even adding the obligatory bullet-time mechanic. While it certainly isn’t what I asked for from the series, I’m still willing to give it a chance.” -Jesse

Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions

“Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions looks to take everyone’s favorite wall-crawler in a very different direction. Instead of the same open-world city that we’ve been treated to since Spider-man 2, developer Beenox is crafting a tale that will blend together four unique takes on the old web-head. Each “universe” features a different gameplay style which should help to keep things fresh. As a comic fan, I am excited to see these different Spider-mans in action.” -Dave

Mafia II

“This game has been in development for so long that I had almost forgotten how excited I was to play it. But the idea of making your way up through the ranks of the Mob in a fictitious early 1950′s city sounds like a pretty sweet way to close out the summer. The game features an immersive city to explore and a story that looks like it was lifted right out of a Hollywood movie. Also you can read girlie magazines and drink beer in your underwear (its like your wife’s gone to visit her mother for the weekend.)” -Dave

What Xbox 360 games are YOU looking forward to this quarter? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: anticipated games q3 2010, Crackdown 2, Dead Rising 2, Front Mission: Evolved, Halo: Reach, Mafia II, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions, Xbox 360

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