Abe also manages to remain challenging while never becoming irritating. Words cannot express how important this is. [Overall Score = 97]

Maybe it's because the cinemas that push the game forward are so amiable and bizarrely infectious with their dubiously likeable characters and ridiculous story that you simply can't escape the essence of the game.

Even at its most frustrating lower points, Tomb Raider 2 satisfies, and when at it's peak of effectiveness, the game is a soaring masterpiece. [Score = 98]

Tony Hawk definitely contributed all of what he knows that makes skating fun and incorporated it into a game that lets anybody feel like a professional skater.

Don't wait any longer if you don't have this game -- THPS 2 is the most fun and solid purchase any Playstation owner can make.

Valkyrie Profile comes highly recommended and is by far the best role-playing game I've played so far this year.

One of the best games of the year on any platform.

The story is rich and interesting with just enough plot twists and turns to keep you on your toes, but not too many to make you scratch your head in confusion...Without a doubt, one of the finest games for the GBA to date.

There is a perfect blend of simplicity and complexity that makes this game so highly addictive.

Graphically the game looks fantastic. The game is insanely colorful and the sprites are well animated.

With a pleasant mix of a fantastic storyline, great character development, good pacing of action and adventure, pleasing graphics, and challenging, but fun puzzles, makes Golden Sun practically the “dream” game for fans of the RPG genre.

Just another bright and shining jewel on the Miyamoto crown of accomplishments! This often overlooked masterpiece will finely get the time in the lime light it deserves.

One of the most innovative titles to come out for any platform in quite some years.

The music in The Minish Cap is simply wonderful. Around 70 percent of the music is composed of previous Zelda music, but redone to fit the new game.

The game most easily comparable would be "Half-Life," but even that just pales to the overall scope and vision of Halo.

It is gorgeous, full of different modes to play and things to unlock, and most important of all, fun to play and accessible.

A visually and aurally overpowering game with playability to back it up.

If you purposely waited those extra months in hope that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 for the Xbox would be the definitive version, you made the right choice.

It is online gaming at it's best, and nothing really compares. You can single handedly blow away your enemies, team up, or whatever, it's up to you.

Game play is where Pro Racer Driver leaves most games behind. The computer A.I. is top notch, and reacts like a real driver and not just robot drones that are either set in one pattern, or trying to wreck your car purposely.

The simple yet addictive gameplay, amazing and strategic boss battles, and wonderful sense of style make it a keeper and a must have for any Xbox owner.

A fantastic and gorgeous “arcade style” rally racing game...that has finally bypassed GT3 in terms of visuals...The best racing game of the year, arcade or otherwise.

One of the most amazing aspects of this game is how the world responds to your actions. It is very open ended, and the decisions that you make during the course of your adventures directly affect the outcome of the entire game... One of the greatest RPGs that I have played thus far.

The bottom line is a basketball game that has almost airtight controls, wonderful graphics, along with the most immersed franchise mode you can find, (outside of working for your local team’s front office) can only described as a finely tuned and polished basketball game worth buying no matter what system you own.

Make no mistake about it, this game does not trounce, destroy, walk all over, or replace "Grand Theft Auto." It is a better game though, as it is more refined and makes a nice addition for those who like the genre and are looking for more.

From the huge open mountain to the convincing radio station to the numerous events, this is one cool experience.

First Person Football is the monster addition though. With everything in the gameplay that was updated for 2K4, I don’t know how they found the time to add this big of an addition. First Person Football is a game unto itself, and you get it for free.

The best Rally game on the market, bar none.

What really impressed me about Thief: Deadly Shadows was its exquisite attention to detail in all regards. From the graphics to the sound to the level design, every aspect of Thief: Deadly Shadows seems lovingly crafted by those who genuinely cared about what they were doing.

The best way to enjoy this game online is to forgo rank matches, find a few real life friends that have the game and a few online people that share your interests and play with them.

The visuals are cleaner, more vibrant, and oozing with a slick presentation. The audio is, to coin a phrase from Good Times, "Dy-no-mite!"

Combining hardcore action gaming with a grand environment and an intense feeling throughout... A crucial title that needs to be experienced to be truly believed.

Forza has turned out to be a true force to be reckoned with, and hopefully the next game in the series will uphold the original's legacy of realism and online innovation.

To say that this is the best career mode for a boxing game to date would be an understatement.

It really is hard to imagine how games this good keep getting better and better, but they apparently are finding ways.

Without a doubt the best the stealth genre can offer... One of the best games I have ever played.

In regards to the gameplay, I'd have to give the overall advantage to the Xbox version, again, mostly due to the better framerate. Being able to smoothly spin around the camera, in the vehicles and on foot, makes a big difference in how the game plays.

Indigo Prophecy is unique, artistic, immersive and beautiful. There's no reason in the world why any self-respecting gamer shouldn't have this game in their collection.

It takes strong foundations from both the genre and the source material, then layers things on top that make the entire game a solid, intense experience throughout. It's amazingly fun, amazingly wrong in that Rockstar kinda way, and amazingly right in every fundamental design choice. In short, Rockstar has made a modern classic with The Warriors.

The game looks great, sounds better, and has more depth than 3 fighting games put together.

The best game to hit any system in the past few years. No game has captivated me more or been more fun than Metroid Prime in a very long time.

The Hawk may have competition, but it still flies higher than anyone else.

The amount of detail that has been shoved onto all of the game's character models is fantastic – some of them it would be hard to differentiate from FMV models.

From the moment you turn the game on you’ll be instantly captivated.

It is likely that a few months from now, Super Monkey Ball will be one of the few launch titles that you still will be playing, especially if you have friends to play with.

Resident Evil on GameCube redefines fear...You think you know, but you have no idea.

A top-notch wrestling title on the GC. The characters all have tons of personality, the gameplay is great, and there are enough modes to keep players pummeling till the end.

A stunning example of how creativity can blend seamlessly with gameplay without sacrificing one or the other. The top-notch gameplay coupled with out of this world superhero stunts is the freshest take on a classic side-scrolling action seen in years.

The controls in the GC versions of Zelda are airtight, even more fluid and responsive than the originals on the N64... The coolest bonus disk ever!

It's the best game on the GameCube and the best game I've played in a very long time.

From the huge open mountain to the convincing radio station to the numerous events, this is one cool experience.

Without a doubt the best the stealth genre can offer... One of the best games I have ever played.

Visually Fight Night Round 2 is simply stunning.

The game looks great, sounds better, and has more depth than 3 fighting games put together.

Speaking of play mechanics, I can honestly say that I haven't had this much fun playing a game in a very long time. Not only do the controls harbor the utmost precision, but the camera has been refined as well.

I consider it one of the best games to be released in the past 3 years.

Forget "Lemans," forget "Ferrari F355," forget "Gran Turismo 2," and forget "Ridge Racer V," this is the new king of racers.

Shenmue II literally is 5 times the game Shenmue: Chapter 1 is...an incredible experience for me, from start to finish. The core gameplay formula isn’t much different from the first game, just packed with more action and improvements.

With increased detail running at a higher resolution and maintaining the same frame rate, it quite literally leaves the arcade version for dead. That's 640x480 at a constant 60fps.

Without a doubt the finest football gaming experience on the DC - and as a football game compares favourably with EA's Madden series. DC owners should run, not walk, to check out NFL 2K2 immediately.

There's no two ways about it folks: NBA 2K2 is the best-playing basketball game on the planet.

Even trivial things like the special effects for the Super Art have been changed, and like the new character voices, it's a small touch that goes a very long way towards making an attractive, complete package worth buying.

Of all the incarnations of the versus series, never before have I had so much fun, said "WHOA!" so many times per match, and been so frustrated as to which characters to pick.

If you have a passion for golf and want the best representation of what the video game world has to offer, this is it. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters is golfing's greatest video game masterpiece.

It packs in a ton of characters, a lot of unlockable content that's actually pretty cool, and it returns MK back to its ultraviolent roots, something that was sorely lacking for most fans in the otherwise decent Mortal Kombat vs. DC game.

If you have a passion for golf and want the best representation of what the video game world has to offer, this is it. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters is golfing's greatest video game masterpiece.

Portal 2 has enough appeal to welcome any gamer no matter what type they claim themselves to be. The end result is a gaming experience you will not soon forget.

It's a visually striking game, combined with a beautiful soundtrack and challenging platforming and the pacing of the new abilities and moments between boss fights is pretty well executed.

With the Masters as the game's primary focus, honestly you can't use another name as Tiger has had more accomplishments and Masters Moments than any golfer. So the choice was easy, has been made, and the result is near perfection.

Such a f..king treat. Rarely does a series so lavishly reward its fans for participating in a game's fiction as the Witcher series aims to do, but the fruits of CDProjekt RED's labor are readily apparent in Assassins of Kings, and a total joy to experience.

Easily one of the best games I've played this year, and while it's definitely early in the year to start calling out the GOTY, Child of Eden is certainly in the running.

It seriously is one of the best Xbox Live Arcade titles to be released so far this year, and I highly urge every 360 owner to give this one a look.

It's a perfect time waster that doesn't take much in the way of set-up to get into, and the Kinect functionality is really spot on.

For Madden NFL 12 it is truly in the game, it has game, and is the only and best NFL game to date.

There's some serious challenge to the game if you take the time to find it, and that holds true with the 3DS version as well. Also, the game is well suited to portable play, as each mission only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

With enhanced anti-aliased visuals running at 60 fps and 1080p, both games on the PlayStation 3 look about as fantastic as you would expect them to when making the transition from a 480x272 pixel portable screen.

The best representation of the sport ever created. I don't think I can praise it any more than that.

It's a great shooter and a great video game in general. It caps off the trilogy extremely well, perhaps better than any recent video game trilogy that I can think of.

Easily worthy of a score equal to what both games scored individually. Especially with all of the enhancements and extras included, on top of the remastering itself and $39.99 price tag.

No matter which system you play this little gem on, you will easily get your time and money's worth as the game is very appealing, addicting, and appropriate for pinball players of all ages.

Arkham City is huge, filled with secrets, and if you're a big Batman fan you'll love all the appearances tossed in, both for the good and bad guys. The addition of a New Game Plus mode also provides an astounding amount of replay value, and if you're any kind of completionist, you'll spend dozens of hours exploring the city for every little secret it contains. It's easily one of the best titles I've played all year.

What better experience can you ask for than one that feels the part, plays the part, looks the part, and sounds the part, but the biggest part is that YOU control destiny, and for many power hungry fans, that may be just enough for some to ignore the real life version. NBA 2K12 takes us that one step closer, so you money hungry athletes need to take note and get your act together... or you may be replaced by a simulation.

It's a hell of a workout, and a lot of fun to play with friends. It doesn't really make any significant strides over the original game, but the first Dance Central didn't seem to need many improvements to begin with.

I'm literally floored by how much I enjoyed it, and I find it quickly rising in the ranks as one of my favorite Super Mario titles.

If you're looking for just one RPG to pass the time with this year (and probably next), Skyrim is definitely it.

If you haven't had the pleasure of playing Joe the first time around, then this game is a no brainer as a purchase. If you have already played it, I still say buy it, as the Lab mode is basically another version of the game's original career mode, but twice as hard.

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!!! is a perfect example and a showcase of what you can expect from well-designed, properly-priced downloadable games. Bigger developers may need to take note as well if they want us to pay full retail prices for their titles. Great job DrinkBox Studios!

It's one of the best platformers I've ever laid hands on, and it's a shame that I waited this long to play it. How this game didn't top more lists than it did as possible GOTY material in 2011 is beyond me, because it certainly deserves all the accolades it's received thus far (and more!). I don't toss out the A+ often (in fact, this is a first), but Origins totally fits the bill of what an A+ experience is all about.

The Mass Effect trilogy will undoubtedly go down as not only some of the greatest games ever made, but may go down as one of the best trilogies ever to exist in any form of media, and for that Bioware, we thank you.

If you have any love for pinball, you should definitely pick up The Pinball Arcade. Its presentation and re-creation of actual pinball tables is second to none, and deserves to be seen and experienced by as many people as possible.

There's a lot to love about Mortal Kombat for the PS Vita. The game controls like a dream, the modes and gameplay lend themselves extremely well to short bursts of play, and NetherRealm even included solid online multiplayer gameplay and functionality

All in all, this feels like an excellent port of one of the best PC titles in recent years. If you've missed out on the PC version of the game for whatever reason, do yourself a favor and check this out. And if you're a PC Minecraft veteran, but want to school your console friends on your Minecraft knowledge, then you'll be happy to know that game makes the transition to consoles without a hitch. It's a great port of a great game, and well worth picking up.

If you're at all a fan of shooters, then I urge you to run out and pick up Max Payne 3. It's a great follow-up to one of the best third person shooter franchises around, and while it certainly changes up familiar elements of the series, pretty much all of the changes work out really well. The shooting is, bar none, some of the best you'll see out of this generation of consoles, and really begs to experienced. So do yourself a favor and pick this one up, it really shouldn't be missed.

Overall I was surprised by just how much meat there was to Theatrhythm's gameplay, which ends up being a lot more than just tapping along with icons on a screen. The whole concept of building a party, outfitting them will skills and equipment, and leveling them up over the course of 40 plus songs is really a lot of fun, and insanely addictive.

All in all, for ten bucks you have 4 new tables to add to your already extensive collection of Zen Studio's created tables, featuring at least three stellar entries in an already excellent collection.

If you allow yourself to get absorbed into what Dyad is offering though, I think you'll admit that there's a lot more to Dyad than what a simple text description can relate. And for me that's the sign of something truly great, regardless of the type of media it's presented in.

There's little to complain about with Darksiders II, in fact, I pretty much love everything about this game. I won't be surprised to see it end up on quite a few Game of the Year lists at the tail end of the year, which I'm sure you'll come to understand once you lay your hands on it.

It's a great, 2D experience that harkens back to the popular Metroidvania sub-genre of adventures games, but manages to blaze its own path and stand out as a wholly unique experience. There's certainly little like it on XBLA, and I highly suggest picking it up.

If one thing can be said about what EA has accomplished this year it is that they have taken their efforts seriously and have delivered the most realistic playing version of the pigskin classic that gamers have ever witnessed.

Overall, I found Sound Shapes to be an absolute joy to play, with little to no complaints about the actual game itself. Outside of some clunky feeling mechanics on the level editing side via the Vita touch screen, this marks my favorite platforming experience since Rayman Origins.

Overall, Mark of the Ninja is a must have title for Xbox 360 owners, and something that any fan of the XBLA service should certainly be checking out. It's honestly a shame that this game wasn't a part of this year's Summer of Arcade promotion for Microsoft, because it's certainly better than just about every title promoted this time around.

If you have a PlayStation Vita, and whether or not it's gathering dust right now, you owe yourself a copy of LittleBigPlanet PS Vita. It's not only a great LittleBigPlanet game and a great Vita game, it's a great game, period.

It provides me with more loot whoring action than I can shake a stick at, and doles out a much bigger, more refined experience than the original managed to do. The inclusion of online co-op and offline co-op via LAN is certainly fantastic, but the game is still a blast even if you opt to play through it solo. It'll continue to provide me with hours upon hours of fun, and I look forward to exploring the game more fully in coming months. Definitely pick this one up if you haven't already, it really shouldn't be missed.

I definitely feel like if you own a PS3, then you owe it to yourself to check out Tokyo Jungle. It's a game that is almost literally a diamond in the rough, with some so-so visuals and lackluster presentation that doesn't instantly grab the casual observer, but if you manage to sit down with the game for a half hour or so, I think you'll find yourself hooked.

Episode 4 dovetails nicely into what is sure to be a hell of a conclusion, and I'm definitely anticipating the end with a level of anxiety that most episodic releases never manage to evoke.

The attention to detail given here is admirable, and pretty unexpected, making Retro City Rampage a real treat for retro fans.

Despite some of the tough love that XCOM: Enemy Unknown dishes out, it's a game that definitely, absolutely should not be missed.

It's also hard to deny that Halo 4 is a hell of a visual step up for the series. Part of that comes from the art design, featuring bright, neon like colors that infuse the new world of Requiem with inorganic life. But the texture work and character models are a step above what Reach produced, and help to show that that 360 still has a trick or two up its sleeve from a power perspective.

Combine the new 3D effect and art style with an intriguing look at Layton's history, along with a story that manages to propel the series forward, and you're left with what I believe to be the best in the series so far.

Overall, Ōkami HD is an experience that should not be missed. It's stylized graphics and engaging gameplay really show that this game was ahead of its time with its initial release. Old and new players alike owe it to themselves to download it and either relive the adventure, or experience it for the first time. With its updated visuals and awesome gameplay, this is one that should not be missed.

So if you've had the pleasure of playing the game previously, rest assured you'll have an equally hard time putting it down on the Vita, much like the original on PS2. And for new players, I envy the ability to go into this game fresh again, because it's really one of the best RPG experiences of the past two console generations. For either or, previous Persona 4 players or newcomers, this is one Vita game that can't be missed.

This is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the best gaming experiences of the year. It's still just a little too early to toss around GOTY nominations, but there's no doubt in my mind that The Walking Dead will be on a short list for a number of critics when those considerations start to make their rounds.

The voice acting is all wonderfully done, especially Death. He's such a great character and is very funny throughout the game, especially in the way he deals with some of the side-quests that characters give him. If you already own the game, there's very little incentive to picking up the Wii U version, but if you've held off or never had the means to buy it until now, I highly recommend the purchase.

Overall this is one sick Marvel Pinball table that once again shows the creativity and thinking outside the box that makes Zen Studios stand on their own when it comes to creating virtual pinball tables. This of course leads to my no brainer conclusion – if you have Pinball FX2, Marvel Pinball or Zen Pinball 2, BUY IT!

Pid is not only fun and challenging, but nice to look at as well. It's one of those games that needs to be experienced first hand as screenshots and video will not do it justice. If you are still on the fence, I recommend trying out the demo as always to see if it's a good fit for you.

Overall, Sine Mora is really an amazing game. Simple in it's gameplay, but challenging enough for even the hardcore Bullet Hell Players.

Ubisoft's balance of open world gameplay and FPS action really hits the mark, and overall the game does a fantastic job in providing players with an interesting, immersive gaming experience.

Under Defeat HD has that special charm that is either loved or hated by shmup fans. Its different controls and high difficulty may be too heavy for those new to the genre, but veterans will feel right at home here.

In the end, the fun, fast gameplay and incredibly cheap $5/400 MSP price makes this a must have. Don't even try the demo here, just download it, you will not regret it.

Skip the demo, shell out the cash (which isn't much at 400 MSP or $5) and jump right in, you won't be disappointed!

It may not be the best game you'll ever play on the system, but it's guaranteed to be one of the games that makes you fully appreciate what the handheld has to offer.

From a gameplay experience this feels like a greatly refined version of the last few titles, with a boost in presentation to push the franchise even further. 3DS owners will be doing themselves a favor by picking this up.

I should emphasize, however, that while these flaws exist, they're really fairly minor. They certainly didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of Rocketbirds and, I suspect, they won't hurt anyone else's enjoyment of it either. You'll forget about them pretty quickly, and you'll be left with the memory of a smart, funny inventive game long after you're done.

But for everyone else, Etrian Odyssey IV offers more of what you already love about the series, just this time it’s a little prettier in action.

A ton of love, care, and attention, not only to the fundamentals, but to what the fans have been clamoring for have been answered in spades. The end result is in not only the best version this series has seen, and not only the most authentic and realistic baseball game created to date, but easily one of the best sports games this reviewer has ever played.

In most other circumstances, I might be put off by the game's extreme difficulty, since I usually gravitate towards games that require the least amount of sustained effort…yet in this case, every death just spurred me to try again so that I might get a tiny bit further. Likewise, I'm not usually a fan of endless running games…yet, again, Runner 2 is a clear exception, with so much extra added in that it seems like comparing it to Canabalt or Temple Run does it a huge disservice.

For me, this has been the deepest and most rewarding Tiger Woods PGA Tour title I’ve ever played.

All of which is to say: buy Thomas Was Alone. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for your friends. Buy it for random strangers on the street. It's seriously that good.

All I can say is that this is what Mario Kart 64 should have been. Awesome.

A masterful game. It is a game with non-stop action and can be pretty tough at times. All of this is combined with just enough of a brainwork requirement to make this game more interactive, hence more enjoyable.

The framerate and action more than makes up for the slightly less than average graphics. This is a title that no self-respecting N64 owner should pass up. Nintendo has created the first true N64 classic since Mario 64.

This is a title that no self-respecting N64 owner should pass up. Nintendo has created the first true N64 classic since "Mario 64."

Not only are the graphics stunning, they are actually the reason the game is at the top of it's class in play mechanics.

Featuring unparalleled 3D environments, a deep and involved quest, brilliant and intuitive play controls, and a well-developed cinematic quality that enhances rather than overwhelms the whole game experience, Miyamoto's latest soon-to-be-classic title deserves to be played by each and every person who might deign to consider themselves a fan of great games.

Parasite Eve has been one of the only RPGs since Final Fantasy 7 to genuinely deserve any kind of hype, or at least anticipation.

Barking Dog's attention to detail and their sincere desire to improve almost every aspect of the original has resulted in an extremely solid title that easily stands up to any real-time strategy game released this year. I am impressed.

I have been playing MW4 ever since the beta came out around a month ago, and I still don't think I will be putting it down for a while. MW 4 has everything that MW 3 failed to offer.

It looks great, and more importantly, it plays great.

A surreal Viking-inspired experience that turns itself into is a somewhat simple hack 'n slash action game, but a very, very fun one, at that.

The opportunity to fight using Star Trek ships is something that all Trekkies should salivate over.

The commraderie, exciting combat, and RPG elements make Shattered Galaxy an incredibly unique and addictive game, able to take parts from other strategy titles and turn them into something that feels completely fresh.

To be blunt, I haven't been this addicted to one single game in a long time.

FIFA not only sports fantastic controls, but beauty to go along with it's other two outings ("Madden" and "NHL"). Is it just as good as the other two? You betcha!

Tecmo has gone the extra mile by including tons of extras in addition to the already spectacular gameplay and graphics that was already there.

The game also has replay value up the wazoo. Not only do you get to storm through 25 levels of insanity, but you have many extras to unlock as well.

This game is all around faster (than "Madden 2001") which makes the controls feel even tighter.

NBA 2K2 has set the bar for the rest of those basketball titles. No one has even come close to capturing the fundamentals of the game like this series does.

One of the best NASCAR games I've ever played. With a full 43-car field displayed, the atmosphere of NASCAR racing is front and centre, drawing you in from the get go.

A shining example of bringing together a wide variety of different ideas, executing them with a ever-engaging style, and delivering a polished product that is a thrilling experience from beginning to end.

The control is spot-on, player ratings make a huge difference in checking, skating and passing, and it just feels like real on-ice action. ESPN NHL 2K4 has ironed out most of the wrinkles from last year, and turned the presentation up to 11 - you won't find a better playing, better looking, or better sounding hockey game available.

This game is “near” flawless.

Graphically the game is astounding! This is easily the best-looking racing title on the PC this year.

Every course and environment in SSX is stunning.

This might not be the year that Sega's series tops Madden in the sales charts, but we might look back at 2003 as the year Sega's NFL 2k3 became the better game.

The amount of control you have over your character in Jedi Academy is one of those things we all asked for while we were playing "Jedi Outcast."

GT3 doesn't disappoint. The AI could be better, but everything else kicks too much ass to worry about it.

It combines an atmosphere that will have you changing your shorts at least twice per playing session with beautiful visuals and balanced gameplay that requires some actual thinking to make it through successfully.

A strategically intelligent game with a polished edge keen enough to slice through many jaded preconceptions about the future of RTS titles.

A nearly perfect conclusion to the Child of Bhaal saga, combining deft storytelling , an intelligent abilities system, and the trademark high quality fans of the series have come to expect into one superlative package.

With airtight controls, improved defensive and offensive AI, more animations, a deep and rewarding franchise that allows you to actually own a team this season, John Madden football looks to big in a great position to continue their reign as the undisputed champs of video football.

I found myself hopelessly addicted to this pseudo-dungeon crawl, and I have a feeling it isn't just me.

A no-brainer recommendation. The story moves along nicely, and the battles load quickly and provide you with enough strategy to stay reasonably interesting.

Despite my inability to pin down what really makes this title so special, it is easy to say that it is exactly this reason that I feel that it has actually one-upped the respected Pharaoh.

It's the best thing since Sliced Bread, other than its sequel, Sliced Bread II: Electric Boogaloo.

While the graphics took a small hit in the PS2 version, they have managed to tweak the control to near perfection.

There’s a dramatic war story and fantastic scenary, and the trademark Ace Combat arcade gameplay is more solid than ever.

One of the rare games that takes the best from lots of games, adds random dungeons, and a dash of its own originality, and ends up being a really great game.

Currently the best real-time strategy title I have played since "Homeworld."

An amazingly well put together role playing adventure that is easily one of the first candidates for game of the year.

The missions themselves are so incredibly enjoyable and entertaining to play through, and are what make Thief II such a fantastic title.

It’s the best that the genre has to offer thus far, and with a new detailed mapmaker, new weaponry and exceptional graphics, sound and game play.

An absolute must-buy to any fan of turn-based strategy or real-time strategy. The mechanics are sound, the atmosphere is spot-on, and the scale of the battles is truly epic.

Even if you aren't interested in the online portion, Activision and Neversoft have still nailed down another extremely solid sequel to the Tony Hawk franchise.

Not only has control of this environment been handled well, but the smoothness of overall presentation and gameplay seem to reflect an excellence from RTS titles that we should all be looking forward to in the future.

With smooth graphics and animations, a true feel for the art of street ball, fantastic controls, and a multiplayer mode that brings out the trash talker in even choirboys make NBA Street a must have for owners of any major console.

With AI that is light years ahead of EA Sports, a simulation experience that's second to none, and a fun - if somewhat fickle - online experience with Xbox, the serious hockey gamer should only look at one title this year.

Ratchet and Clank might have some of the most impressive environments yet in a game of this type.

Quite simply, the best arcade racer in years and a worthy follow-up to its PlayStation granddaddy...if you have a PS2, that is.

The best racing game I’ve played in months, and anyone looking to release a title in this genre now should look long and hard at what Rockstar’s been able to pull off here.

Seamlessly translates the PC experience straight to console players with simple controls, a clean interface, better graphics, and the same babble-talk that PC owners fell in love with.

The music is just plain amazing and it is perfect for the game.

Puts the word sequel to shame. Rockstar Games has really taken the time to put together a game that not only fits in perfectly in the GTA universe, but ups the ante for itself and others as well.

The real reason to pick up this version over last year's are the presentation upgrades.

The best racing game I’ve played in months, and anyone looking to release a title in this genre now should look long and hard at what Rockstar’s been able to pull off here.

It makes nice use of various special effects and never slows down, but those with epillepsy problems will probably want to stay away. However, if you're familiar with raves, you'll feel right at home.

Once you start this game you will find yourself thinking about it constantly.

Truly one of the most beautiful games I have seen this year.

This game looks amazing. The character models and animation are clearly the cream of the crop...If you're not completely sold by now, then the Kumite will definitely put you over the top.

The story aspect actually helps the flow of the game. Instead of just doing random tasks all over the place, you feel more of a purpose and progression for doing those tasks.

As far as realism, physics, and attention to detail, Colin blows away the competition.

One of the best playing baseball games I’ve played in recent memory... This game is for purists.

A great game from a gameplay standpoint but fails pretty badly when it comes to the story. As a result, even though I've given it an A-, it turns out to be one of my biggest disappointments of the year.

Despite the sometimes-baffling challenges (which, in all honesty, are pretty typical to the genre), EMI delivers exactly what the Monkey Island name promises-a lighthearted, entertaining, and well-written swashbuckling adventure game.

Playing double is almost like learning DDR again from the beginning. That means that you get to have all that thrill of progression one more time! Seriously, it’s worth the price of an extra pad.

The game may feel a bit too much like the last. But the fights are fair, the combat is fun, and the classic platform gameplay is executed to a sharp perfection.

Play this one alone and in the dark. The Boogeyman gives this title major props for the sheer terror it brings.

The best basketball game on the market today. The depth of the Legacy mode will keep you busy for months, and it provides the gameplay to match.

This has to be one of the most beautiful titles I have ever played on my computer. It looks as if Outrage has thrown in every visual effect in the book, and in doing so, removed the monotony of the previous Descent level designs.

Ok, when I said solid gameplay, I meant, "Oh my god, the combat is fun!"...I don't know if I can ever go back to single pulling, auto attack type battles. You don't even have to be into MMOs to enjoy this game.

This IS soccer in it’s raw and truest form. The game offers many more features, including a newly improved career mode to keep you busy for months on end.

You’ll never get enough of picking up a soldier, watching him flail around, followed by throwing him into a wall. The rag doll physics help add to the diabolical pleasure as limbs fly all over the place when tossed from one part of the room to the other.

The inclusion of the ability for people to make their own movies will surely spark a number of creative movies with endless possibilities, especially with the potential of future additional downloadable content.

Many games are excellent world-builders, and many are deep real time strategy war games. Rome: Total War sets out to be both and pulls it off wonderfully.

The AoEII environment is extremely rich in detail. Even more than the original, details on buildings are captured right down to the dead leaves resting on the rooftops.

The only real, but minor, issue I have with Allegiance is the stiffness of the tech tree. While it is a very big tech tree full of all sorts of upgrades, once a person commits to a path on the tech tree, the amount of resources required makes it really hard to change tactics if required.

The online gameplay is somewhat less inspiring than I hoped, but overall it looks and sounds great, plays extremely well, and most importantly is a ton of fun for single and multiple players.

This is the definitive Mortal Kombat title. You have more fatalities, self-fatalities (hara-kiri), stage fatalities, more characters, four deep modes of play, unlockable Krypt items, and online play.

It's really a no-brainer for RPG fans even with the genre being so crowded this season. Personally, I put Shadow Hearts Covenant in my top three RPGs this generation.