GTA4 isn't bad, but it doesn't really "grip" you, if you know what I mean. I would regularly put it down and forget to pick it up for a week/two weeks/a month/what have you, and that was before I finished the "amazing story", which isn't as good as some people claim, so make sure you don't set your hopes too high.
Dead Rising is stupid fun, but it is really fun. The story is okay only because it's a nod to how Romero stories tend to go down. Still, there's a lot of enjoyment to be had here, but once you've gotten the true ending, the replay value can kinda dry up.
Gears of War is six hours long, and they're a few months from putting out the sequel. It also has no story, completely unlikable characters, and the worst color palette ever. That said, I love the gameplay. I'd still wait for the sequel though, if you're going to go this route.
Do not get Ninja Gaiden 2. It's bad. It's very extremely bad.
I liked Bioshock a lot. The story is great for the first two thirds of the game, and passable for the ending. The gameplay is fun and rewarding, and telekinesis is a blast to play with. It'll keep you busy for a little over ten hours on your first playthrough, and it's engaging from start to finish. Overall this gets my vote.
- J
