The high that has accompanied December’s flurry of awesome games has been followed by an equally powerful crash, and gamers everywhere are looking for a cure to their post-holiday hangovers.

My advice is to get some hair of the dog that bit you, for I can guarantee there are still some gems of last season that you haven’t given a shot yet.

Last year’s lineup was, at least, where I had to look as I sought a game to review this week, and now that I’ve written about all of the games I’ve had a personal interest in playing, I had to step a bit out side my comfort zone.

Thus explains why “WWE ’12,” released in November, made an entrance into my XBox 360, with all the excessive boasting, baby oil and flashy lights that are typical of the WWE franchise’s entrances.

Let me preface this review by saying I think pro-wrestling has three demographics it appeals to: little kids, rednecks and drunk college students. Everyone knows about the first two, but have you ever scissor kicked your friend into a teammate’s lariat takedown after downing a couple brews? Try it sometime.

I’m not trying to say you can’t play this game sober; on the contrary, this game is one of the better wrestling games I’ve yet to play. But given the competitive spirit this game inspires, and the spontaneity that accompanies the human element of fighting games, playing with your buddies is worlds better than against the computer.

Anyway, “WWE ’12” looks to reinvent the pro-wrestling genre. Shirking the former moniker of “Smackdown vs. RAW,” “WWE ’12” is a step up in both gameplay and presentation.

Controls are somewhat simpler than in the past, with your character’s arsenal of special moves getting progressively more damaging as your opponent becomes increasingly more bloodied up.

Grapples, kicks, punches and throws chain together fluidly, making this installment feel a lot more like a legitimate fighting game, as opposed to a “wrestling simulation.” On top of that, “WWE ’12” runs on the new “Predator” engine, which offers largely improved graphics from the “Smackdown vs. RAW” games.

For those of you who actually follow wrestling, you’ll be impressed to see more than 60 popular wrestlers from WWE available to pick from.

If that’s not enough for you, several DLC packs have been promised to follow up on the initial library of characters.

Even a pack consisting of at least six popular female wrestlers will be available shortly, if not already (see? I told you this game appeals to college students).

I think most gamers would agree that at this time of the season in Central Ohio, recreational time is better spent indoors than out. Fan of wrestling or not, I think most people will enjoy “WWE ’12,” so in the spirit of WWE, I suggest you “get your CANDY ASS to the store, and pick up ‘WWE ’12’ NOW!!”