From the thankfully-revamped shooter interface to driving sequences that aren't out to simply punish you, from Hollywood-level cutscenes with great characters to a difficulty level that mostly goes up smoothly rather than in massive jumps, this is simply a better game than before.

If there's only one Wii game that you buy this year, make sure that it is Super Mario Galaxy.

Does GTAV live up to one of the pedigree of one of the best franchises gaming? There's no doubt for me that it does, and a few minor issues here and there don't get in the way of this game delivering such a lively and large world to explore or from presenting such an entertaining way to do dozens of activities - and I love that for the first time for GTA in nearly a decade, the developers aren't relying so heavily on mind-numbing, straightforward gunfights with thugs and cops.

Prime is an excellent single-player game that successfully follows the classic Metroid formula while modernizing the graphics, atmosphere, and non-linear style.

Multiplayer modes would have made this game even better, but it seems Rockstar Studios didn't find it worth the time it'd have taken to finish it (plus, there's the chance they're planning a whole separate multiplayer GTA game for later). Despite its problems and lack of multiplayer, GTA3 is a wonderful title that'll keep you whacking gangsters and cops for weeks.

Half-Life 2 will dominate the first person shooter market for years.

BioShock is one of those games that goes down in history as a shining example for other developers to learn from.

Regardless, Uncharted 2, despite a few nitpicks, is the best reason to own a PS3. Chasing fortune and glory has never been so much fun.

Mass Effect 2 is easily one of the most compelling, exciting and emotionally affecting interactive experiences you’ll ever have.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim may not deliver on every hope, wish or fervent demand you've been formulating ever since you realized how many flaws Oblivion was carefully hiding with its immense charm, but it most certainly lives up to the name Elder Scrolls and will easily qualify for millions of gamers' best-of-the-year lists.

Otherwise, get updated drivers, play the demo to make sure your system definitely meets the minimum requirements and hold on for the ride - BioShock is definitely worth your gaming dollar if your machine can power it.

While I can't say that GTA: San Andreas is another revolution in gaming like GTA3 was, it is an evolution that goes light years beyond what we saw with the last two titles in the series.

Rockstar Games have managed to do something very unique for a game: they captured the atmosphere of an era better than most movies could do, and simultaneously managed to pack in a wonderful, open-ended game.

With a well-thought-out mythos, a mildly original take on the zombie survival game that relies more on superb execution and storytelling than innovative mechanics, acting that's so good we actually see character development happen without even words being spoken, and Naughty Dog's impressive engine and top-notch production values, it all comes together to make for a wonderful reminder that not all big-budget action games need to be measured in headshots-per-minute.

Twilight Princess definitely was not a disappointment, though I really wish there had been a traditional control scheme offered.

With this sequel, Valve has ramped up the brain-cramping puzzle elements and expanded the cast with immensely lovable characters, and they did it just enough to make sure the whole thing feels fresh and interesting for the longer campaign.

Sky-high production values, Rockstar's signature style, and variety-packed gameplay that actually feels natural to the story and setting make this an easy Game of the Year contender.

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who has enjoyed a previous THPS game, as it is easily the biggest and best one yet. There are a ton of goals to complete, insanely hard challenges that'll keep you coming back, and the best online play yet.

If you had nearly any kind of fun with Rocksteady's previous effort or you're just looking to jump into a good comic book game, then Arkham City should be at or near the top of your list.

Mass Effect 2 delivers a story that's deeper than what many novelists are capable of, and its action is better than what most Hollywood directors are creating nowadays. It's an addictive, engrossing experience that many gamers will replay over and over while they hold their breath waiting for the third game.

Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games made in recent years, but it's at least partially because it was built on top of a solid foundation two years before, and this new target audience only gets to scratch the surface of that foundation before being thrust into a war with the Collectors.

The PC version of Vice City is just as much fun as the original, with great frame rates, better graphics, more control options, and all the content that made the PS2 version an instant classic.

Gears of War raises the bar for action games and gives the Xbox 360 its first true killer app.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the best game in the series yet, largely due to the change in setting and the level of emotion that Infinity Ward has embedded into their story.

On PC, BioShock Infinite absolutely shines. The use of the venerable Unreal Engine might surprise you, considering just how stunning this game looks, especially with the high-res textures exclusive to the PC version that balloon the game to about 15GB in size.

This last installment for Master Chief in the Halo trilogy isn't perfect, but it comes pretty close.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion moves the RPG genre forward with a massive world, a beautiful presentation, deep gameplay and action, and many great plots and quests to finish.

Criterion has done it again with Burnout 3, as this is about the best you can get when it comes to arcade racing.

While I generally don’t often gravitate towards ultra-realistic military shooters, Modern Warfare 2 is easily one of my top games of the year.

Kojima claims MGS4 is Snake’s final chapter. And while I'm saddened to see one of gaming's greatest protagonists retire, I'm thrilled he got such an outstanding swan song.

God of War is a must-have for any action gamer. It's a remarkable experience with plenty of depth, great graphics, intense and rewarding combat, and one of the biggest badasses you'll ever get to take control of in any action title.

Knights of the Old Republic is a near-perfect execution of a new and bold idea: a traditional computer RPG, done in full 3D, brought to a console, imbued with the Force.

Every aspect of the Smash Bros. series has been expanded. From the many interesting new characters to the tons of new items and stages to master, I don't see how any diehard fan can't be happy.

There's just the right amount of micromanagement to start without feeling like you're "fixing" bad AI by controlling every single movement.

Rockstar has done a fantastic job packing a large amount of content onto a tiny DS cartridge. Not only is there a ton of stuff to do in GTA Chinatown Wars, but all of the little touches add up to an experience that's greater than its parts.

It's hard to find any real fault in Unreal Tournament 2004.

But combine all this with an excellent dynamic soundtrack, wonderful action, great voice acting for a pretty big range of characters, and an epic scale that will dazzle any PS2 gamer (and even a few Xbox 360 and PS3 players as well), and it quickly becomes clear that God of War II is just as much of a contender for Game of the Year as the first one was.

Starcraft II is far from being the most ambitious or original RTS game this decade (or even of the last five years), but it's tough to deny that it's probably the most accessible and polished - and the online community and mod-making features will help it to be the most long-lasting.

It's hugely accessible but includes the depth that serious gamers are searching for, and all of it is viable to bring online for some great action.

While the graphics will definitely pull you into the game at first, but the Japanese inspired world, the unique gameplay elements, the fun story with some roots in mythology and the excellent music will keep you there.

What this game lacks for in screen resolution, it makes up for in its excellent open world, beautiful art design, and grand architecture.

I just can't find a good reason not to recommend Fallout 3 to any serious gamer out there.

Rock Band 3 is a knockout in just about every way it can be. If you enjoyed anything from Harmonix in the past, you owe it to yourself to rush out and buy this.

Bioware's awesome RPG Knights of the Old Republic feels right at home on the PC with high-res graphics and an excellent control scheme.

It's still quite possibly the best game ever made, and Rockstar's done pretty much all they could to make San Andreas the best it could be on the Xbox.

World of Warcraft may not be the great savior of MMORPGs, but it's certainly the most solid one to come out in a long time.

Rockstar has delivered their best PC port of a GTA game yet with San Andreas.

It is familiar, despite its amazing additions and PS3 paint job, but if you loved the previous games, this one will rank as your new favorite.

You're not going to get more powerful guitars or more powerful characters (you will get different skins, though) – your rewards come in with the actual improvement of your manual dexterity and the sheer enjoyment you get from 5-starring a song like YYZ or Psychobilly Freakout on Hard or Expert.

Overall, I feel Rock Band is a great game that will please many a music fan. The available songs and the vast amount of promised downloadable songs in the future will ensure that you play this for a long time to come.

People who were expecting a revolution in strategy games should realize that Blizzard wasn't aiming at this. They simply made another solid game with their tried and true style of gameplay and some great visuals at the same time. They've delivered on that.

So what does Forza 3 do that no other game like it has ever really done? It's hard to explain, but for me it's a combination of the slick interface, extremely solid racing without a ton of special effects to complicate the experience, the ability to rewind in the single player mode, and amazing-looking cars that all adds up to one of the best racing experiences I've ever had on a TV screen.

Minor gripes aside, Arkham Asylum is a remarkable achievement both in design and in finally giving Bat fans the game they've been waiting for.

Soul Calibur 2 is an evolution of the original on all levels - it might take you weeks of play to figure out all the changes made from the first game.

Better or equal, Guitar Hero 2 is a must have for any music lover, PS2 owner or person looking for a most excellent party game.

Either way, Rock Band 2 is the best music game on the market right now, and while it may or may not lose that title when Activision's offering is released next month, for now I don't care.

Despite my complaints about the sound and music, and my half-hearted desire for a less linear style of play, Metroid Fusion is a great game that should be checked out by anyone who owns a GBA.

If you're a huge fan of SFIV and would like to see more, this one's a must-have.

Pure FPS fans may not be too excited and there are a few minor problems, but this is a rare gem that anyone looking for a more cerebral action game should be paying serious attention to. And by "paying serious attention", I mean that you should buy it.

Harmonix has another excellent game on their hands with Guitar Hero, but the reliance on an uncomfortable controller not only raises the game's price but it also is just sometimes too much effort to even want to play.

Put simply, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King is MMORPG gaming at its finest we've seen yet.

Whether you're looking to fill the Metroid void until Other M arrives, or you're just wondering what all the futuristic female bounty-hunting fuss is about, this content rich offering is not to be missed.

Rock Band 3 is a knockout in just about every way it can be. If you enjoyed anything from Harmonix in the past, you owe it to yourself to rush out and buy this.

The tense and exhilarating action is broken up perfectly by moments of true serenity that really make the world feel more real, even if it is "emptier" than what most gamers are used to.

While the gameplay is somewhat linear, the gadgets are fun to mess with and there are plenty of different moves to do to finish the missions.

Once you get an hour into God of War: Chains of Olympus, it's sometimes easy to forget that you're playing it on a portable system - it feels so similar in so many ways to the home console originals that you might be fooled for a little while at a time. From that perspective, well, I'm not sure there's a better endorsement for a handheld game.

Blizzard has really added a lot to the game – a ton of new quests, flying mounts, the ability to hit level 70, fun new zones and more.

Either way, one-man armies and multi-player masses alike should all head to Helghan; I hear it’s beautiful this time of year, even if the locals are a bit restless.

While the torch has been passed to fledgling studio 343 Productions for future Halo content and games, Bungie's final effort in this universe still stands as a fantastic final chapter to a gaming dynasty that's lasted most of a decade.

Is this Bioware's best game? No. But Mass Effect is still a damn fine game with a huge scope, dozens of hours of play from beginning to end, and it's got just about everything that makes sci-fi so compelling in the first place.

These relatively minor issues make Forza Motorsport 4 narrowly miss the bullseye, but this is still the best racing game released this year.

Whether you've already played the originals, or are yet to discover one of gaming's best action franchises, this one's not to be missed. May the gods have mercy on your soul if you pass it up.

Despite a couple of minor complaints, Capcom has done a fine job porting SFIV to the PC, and its integration with Games for Windows Live is about as good as I think we can expect at this point.

The PC version's controls are certainly sharp and I found myself pulling off many more headshots and quick kills with a mouse and keyboard than I could on the console counterparts, but if you really do want to play with a gamepad, Fallout 3 does fully support the 360 controller on the PC as well.

Gears of War 3 takes us to new places and tells us some great stories, and while the shooting action might feel just a little tired for veterans of both previous games, it's still very much worth the price of admission - especially once you start digging into the online modes.

If you've never played the Baldur's Gate series, Planescape: Torment, or Icewind Dale, it's a fine single player game with the possibility of some very engaging multiplayer action.

It's still a fantastic game, though, and Bioware is to be commended for taking what could have been a tired fantasy setting and injecting just enough newness into it to addict us all over again.

Cataclysm is a love letter to fans of World of Warcraft, as it celebrates everything that made the original game so successful while carefully updating the old game to the new standard of play that Blizzard has set.

Sexual overtones or not, there’s never been anything quite like Bayonetta.

It looks great, it plays great, and depending on how interested you are in playing all the mini-games and collecting all the stuff, you're looking at 40+ hours of fun-packed gameplay.

But that's alright - for a $20 add-on, you get a lot for your money with The Lost and Damned. The quality of the acting, cutscenes, story, and missions is just as good as in GTAIV, and the convenience of not having to switch discs is handy.

Overall, Phantom Hourglass is a pretty good game. While the controls do prove to be an issue, it succeeds in other areas, and does so with flair.

Putting Portal into the Orange Box package was a great idea on Valve's part.

Panzer Dragoon Orta is a fine action game in a classic style with some new bits of gameplay thrown in. If you are a fan of arcade-style shooters, stop reading now and go buy this game.

On its own, Episode Two might not seem like much for its price tag, but as part of the Orange Box package, it becomes an excellent value that's packaged alongside two very different first-person games.

Braid may lack accessibility for some of its audience, but it's still a landmark in design that should stand as an example for how games can create stories in a way that no other medium can.

If you're looking for a game that will stick with you-and maybe even pop up in your nightmares- LIMBO is waiting to consume you.

This is still an excellent title, but to me it just doesn't hold up on the Wii quite like I expected it to.

The huge variety of missions, solid story, and great visuals and details make up what I think is the best portable Grand Theft Auto yet.

With sharp new visuals and great sounds, it winds up being the best-looking game of its kind on your 360, and will offer many hours of great action if you get into it.

The new controls allow for precision aiming once you get some practice with the Wii Remote, to the point where you need to lock on only rarely. It lets you spend more time immersed in the worlds and the boss fights will really get you pumped up.

There are still many annoying or silly things we've seen in the last decade-plus worth of MMOs that Guild Wars 2 didn't fix, but ArenaNet's efforts so far have delivered a huge range of disruptive changes that should pique the interest of any dedicated player.

Despite a few issues, this one's easily a must-have for PC gamers and DX fans, so get over to Steam and put your money down.

It's kind of a lose-lose for Rockstar at this point, and it's too bad, because GTAIV is a wonderful game that doesn't deserve the problems this PC port has.

Raven Software has taken a big chance, trying to cover all the bases with Jedi Knight 2. Luckily, it has paid off, as this is an excellent game. It's got tons of stuff that players have been wanting since the first Jedi Knight, includes an engaging and fun multiplayer game, and delivers it all on the very stable and solid Quake 3 engine.

Even if you're getting a little sick of the WW2 shooter genre, I'd suggest you give it a shot, as its gameplay is the right mix of fun and realism and the multiplayer modes are plenty of fun.

Between the new tracks, hugely satisfying new features, challenging re-worked Crash mode, and hot new advancement system, Revenge manages to take out just about all the bad and add plenty of good to this popular franchise.

Metroid: Zero Mission offers a perfect balance of retro gameplay with new graphics, sounds, story, and a few surprises.