Next week, gamers will need to make the most important choice they've made this generation. No, it isn't choosing between the DS and the PSP or about picking the Xbox, PS3, or Wii as a primary console. It's a much bigger choice than those somewhat minuscule decisions. Gamers will need to decide which game they're going to be playing first: Brütal Legend or Uncharted 2.

Even if you're planning on picking them up at the same time, one obviously has to get preferential treatment. One has to go in the disk drive first, and that's an important choice to make. Each game has its own reasons for being the game to get next week, and we've assembled a list of pros and cons to make the choice easier. Or harder.

Let's start with the underdog: Brütal Legend. Tim Schafer's masterpiece has been in the making for several years, being bounced from publisher to publisher, and is finally releasing in a few short days. With a veritable galaxy of heavy metal stars, and Jack Black embodying the role of Eddie Riggs, Brütal Legend has a lot going for it. Let's look at the reasons Brütal Legend should and shouldn't be the first game you play next week:

PRO:

• Tim Schafer. The man knows what he is doing with gameplay, and can make a wonderful world and an amazing script.
• Jack Black. He's a pull, and his voice mixed with Schafer's words should lead to a story that's worth paying attention to.
• Multiplayer. It has been teased and explained a little, but it's still hard to see exactly what Legend's multiplayer will be like. There's a chance it's completely awesome.
• Multiplatform. This isn't really a benefit for everyone, but since the 360 has sold more than the PS3, there are definitely going to be some people that have had the choice made for them.  
• Supporting original IPs. Games that take artistic risks have had a rough time recently. Bold games such as Mirror's Edge and Dead Space never reached huge audiences, and that is simply because not enough of us bought them. If we want developers to take chances and create innovative games, we need to pay.
• Make sure it sells. Double Fine has a history of making good games that don't sell well, and it's part of the reason Activision dropped Brütal Legend in the first place. Now, as consumers, we're better informed than ever, and we can make sure this trend doesn't continue.

CON:

• Unproven. For as awesome as Double Fine is, they've not yet dipped their toe into the current generation, so the game might have problems.
• Activision threw it away. This might mean nothing at all, and the fact that they later tried to sue to get it back may verify this, but there might be something they knew that we don't. 
• Multiplayer: As mentioned earlier, the multiplayer might end up feeling tacked on.
• Limited appeal. Sure, there are plenty of people out there who love all things heavy metal, just as sure as there are plenty of people who love everything Tim Schafer. Hell, there are people who will buy anything Jack Black touches. However, there are also people who hate metal, don't know Schafer, and are annoyed by Black, so it might not be for you at all.
• All hype? The gaming industry, present company not excluded, has thrown Brütal Legend on its shoulders for some reason, trying to champion the game before anyone had laid a finger on it. At preview events we were able to verify that the game is, indeed, fun, but there's a chance we were wrong.

Now on to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Naughty Dog has spent the past few years creating what looks to be one of the most cinematic gaming experiences since, well, the first Uncharted. Calling the early buzz for the game positive would be an understatement - the industry and press have practically soiled themselves over this game more than once. Let's look at why Uncharted 2: Among Thieves should and shouldn't get your $60 next Tuesday.

PRO:

• Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was awesome. We have something to go off for Uncharted 2. The first game was fantastic, and there's little chance this one will disappoint.
• Crazy good previews. Now I know you're waiting to hear Gamervision's word on Uncharted 2 before getting too excited, but the early previews for Naughty Dog's sequel have been crazy good.
• Continue the story. It's a sequel, and we love sequels. We want to be Nathan again, with his half-tucked shirt and shoulder holster. We want to see what happened between him and Elena. We want to know, and the sooner the better.
• Cinematic experience. Jack Black is awesome. Ozzy? fantastic. Nolan North? Sorry, fellas, he might have you beat. The animations, cinematics, and voice acting of the original Uncharted were breathtaking, and the sequel looks to take it to the next level. It's hard to ignore something that looks this good.

CON:

• Multiplayer. Now now, I'm not saying the multiplayer isn't going to be fun, it's just that you've already played it. In fact, you could be playing it right now, the demo has been live for weeks. No reason to rush to put the game in for a multiplayer experience that's already available.
• It's a sequel. This is almost an extension of the multiplayer con, but it's true: you know what you're getting with this game. That said, it's going to be something awesome, but there still won't be as many surprises as there will be with the competition. 
• It's going to sell with or without you. For as silly as it sounds, Uncharted 2 doesn't need your money as much as Brütal Legend does, at least not right away. If Legend doesn't have a big week there's a chance it fall off the radar. Uncharted 2 is going to sell. Big. No matter what.

That's it, folks, the ball is in your court now: which game are you going to buy next week? I feel like a strong case can be made for either one, but ultimately you control your own wallet. And if you are buying both, which are you going to play first?